10-28-2012 The Last Two Thousand Years

Flags of the Nations at  Ein Bokek by the Dead Sea

He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many

peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears

into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither

shall they learn war anymore.  Isaiah 2:4

Lord, I was listening the other day to some music by an interesting Jewish artist by the name of Batshava; in particular a song she sings about the historical persecution of the Jews. She sings the phrase,

Jewish Worshiper at the Western Wall

“Why should they remember and add their tears

to the fountain of the last two thousand years?”

To my selfish way of thinking, my existence has been completely altered for the better by an event that happened two thousand years ago – the amazing life, death and resurrection of You, Messiah Yeshua – when You took on my sins, mankind’s sins and offered an eternal relationship for any who believe in Your relationship as one with The Father. I’m one of those who believe with my whole heart that You are the Son of The Most High.

Battle between Satan and Jesus portrayed in
mural at the Church of Jacob's Well

Yet for a Jew, who also recognizes You, YHWH as Elohim Adonai echad – The One Lord God – but who still waits for a Messianic appearance, things seemed to change for the worst around 70 AD. The Diaspora resulting from the destruction of Jerusalem by Rome and the ongoing pogroms and holocaust to follow; further crushed the spirit of Your elect. Their hope remains a tattered remnant. Still, the Jewish people persist in their hope, and that gives me hope that one day we all will recognize the same Messiah as Lord and Savior.

Depiction of Jesus enduring the Via Dolorosa

Because of the supposed dichotomy in our perspectives, I’m compelled to ask You a question, Lord. Are we Christians and our Jewish brothers and sisters really that different? A friend of mine who founded a ministry called HaYovel, which serves Israel, has also spoken about the Jewish perspective: That, in the back of the mind of many Jews, there is a harbored resentment for Christians because of cultural and political persecution at the hands of some so-called believers who thought themselves privileged to deliver.

Ironically, The Body of Christ, of which I am but a tiny appendage, also suffered in those early times after Your resurrection. Persecution, social/political ostracization, torture and death have been an ongoing part of our heritage as well – it should be the part of our history that we weep over together with our Jewish brothers; not one pointing to the other in accusation.

Church Face in East Jerusalem

And so I hunger to consider our commonality – the fact that we believe in and honor You, Elohim, the One true God. You, My Redeemer, are compelling me to consider – and ask both Your Jewish and Gentile followers to consider with me – another difficult thing; something else we should be adding our tears to and praying about: What about those for whom the last two thousand years mean nothing at all, or for whom any time is one empty of Your presence and therefore void of true hope? How do we reach out to them, walk with them and share our hope in You?

Peace Greeting at Hope School in Beit Jala

I’m concerned that we don’t have another two thousand years before “the end of the age”. At that time, no matter what or whom we blame, no matter in what or whom we believe, all things will change. And those who reject You, YHWH, will suffer not just for a day or a year. Their tears will be for an eternal abandonment. How can a Jew or a Christian not hope against that?

Should we not be coming together, rather than accusing one another, in our efforts to demonstrate Your love, Your covenants and Your commandments to the nations? Haven’t You clearly instructed us, Jew and Christian, to do this? Is this how You plan to bring all of Your children into relationship with one another?

Maybe for too long we have been blinded by selfish tears for our personal suffering rather than look clearly through new ways at Your Long Suffering, Self-Sacrificing example. Whatever time we have left, Adonai, whether one more second or two thousand years, help us to join together, with You, to share Your plan and Your desire (not ours) with the world.

Yadah Elohim Adonai!

Mark C.

PS to any others reading this blog – if you are interested in the 

                                    music of Batsheva, visit her site at www.ibatshevasinger.com.

10-8-2012 I Don't Know

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.       Ephesians 2:10

“If you go to live in Israel, I am so totally going to come visit you,” exclaimed a wonderful surrogate daughter of ours.

“I totally want you to,” I replied. And then Elohim, I began to think, “How will all this happen?” …And so the trouble of the ‘double-minded me’ surfaces once more.

King David and Solomon had the same problem; as did Jacob and Paul. Even Joseph, when he experienced his dreams; and Your disciples – when they realized the power You had available at Your hand – started preplanning and envisioning their roles in Your kingdom. I’m guilty too of wanting to assume I know how things are going to unfold; after all, You and I agree on so much.

If that were so, if I could so easily predict Your plan; why has my life been such a roller-coaster of events, both good and bad? Why did I not foresee the obvious opportunities or heed the warning signs predicting catastrophe? Now, looking back, they seem so laser-clear to my repentant soul.

But if it had been my plan prevailing, I wouldn’t have ever recovered from my first marriage failures as a husband. I would never have experienced the rebuilding of my life, even being gifted to learn a new career using a skill set in financial planning I never believed I possessed. 

Even if I had grasped the potential of all those redeeming moments, I would not dare have predicted that I would then once again lose my career livelihood, being humbled into bowing at Your alter to admit my total dependence on Your provision.  And at that low moment, I would certainly not have, in my wildest imagination, predicted that my wife and I would be offered the opportunity to go to Israel – You very obviously providing the means (ours  being so pathetically meager). 

I guess what I’m getting at Majesty, is that I’m trying to give up on predicting future circumstances. Yet certainly I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater: I hear Your calling strongly that we are to go back to The Land. I look at the headlines of strife and turmoil – even potential war in the region – and shake my head, thinking once again, “How will all this happen?”

It will happen because You have designed it to happen. It will happen when You deem it appropriate and it will be for Your glory, not mine. It will be obvious when that time and purpose is ready to be set in motion because everything will fall perfectly into place. The challenge will be to keep up with Your breathtaking intention as the groundswell of other followers will respond in words similar to our adopted daughter’s exclamation. Their hearts will shout, “I am moved by these events and by this example in ways I don’t understand and can’t explain.”

And You, as always, will amaze us by evidence of Your Spirit surging forward. In my own strange way, I’m comforted, Adonai. I don’t (and won’t) have to do any of the true “heavy lifting”.  My job will be to run as quickly as I can to keep up with You, shrugging my shoulders all the time and telling others along the way, “I don’t know how, I just know Who. I believe in the power of The One True God.”

Mark C.