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Pacific Beach Presbyterian Church

The Lord spoke to Moses:  2  See, I have called by name Bezalel son of Uri son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah:  3  and I have filled him with divine spirit, with ability, intelligence, and knowledge in every kind of craft,  4  to devise artistic designs, to work in gold, silver, and bronze,  5  in cutting stones for setting, and in carving wood, in every kind of craft.  6  Moreover, I have appointed with him Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and I have given skill to all the skillful, so that they may make all that I have commanded you

Shaped For Service (Exodus 31:1-6; 1 Peter 2:4-5) July 11th

The sun will no more be your light by day, 
nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, 
for the Lord will be your everlasting light, 
and your God will be your glory. 
Your sun will never set again, 
and your moon will wane no more; 
the Lord will be your everlasting light, 
and your days of sorrow will end.

The sun will no more be your light by day,
nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you,
for the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your God will be your glory.
Your sun will never set again,
and your moon will wane no more;
the Lord will be your everlasting light,
and your days of sorrow will end.

Isolation: The Absence of Others (Isaiah 60:19-20, Psalm 13:1-3), June 27, 2021

A high school class was reading King Lear, that selfish but well-meaning King of Denmark that trusted his daughters with his kingdom. The class was on Act III, Scene 4, where Lear and Edgar are outside their tent on the hill that overlooks Gloucester Castle, where a storm was raging. Lear has gone mad, but in his madness, he sees things. While trying to keep it together he comes out of his tent and says, “Poor, naked wretches that bide the pelting of this pitiless storm. Who shall house your heads, your unfed sides, from seasons such as these?” 
 
The teacher opened the discussion and a young cheerleader raised her hand and said, “I think he is praying.” The rest of the class laughed. They thought she was an airhead, but the teacher continued the conversation. She told the teacher that she believed he is getting kinder. She saw a “kind lament” over the people he once ruled. He was vexed with a heavy heart. 
 
The teacher recognized that both Lear and this girl melted into a message of hope and compassion. Both saw compassion as others caring for each other (as we see in Philippians), that we all need compassion when we are troubled or hopeless. God compassionately told the people, “The time of Israel’s punishment is complete.” When we are down, compassion picks us up. Compassion is the gift that lightens the burdens of our daily life. Compassion is the touch of a kind hand, or a kind word, to a broken heart. In our small community there are plenty of people to extend compassion to. It begins with a feeling of connection, a togetherness that uplifts us so we believe we are loved and have something to contribute. 
 
Israel is coming to the end of their suffering, and we are too. It doesn’t mean it’s over it means we are transitioning to something different. It’s not like we don’t need compassion because the threat of the virus is low, we need to hold each other up in this time of change when God has decided to be kind to us. We need to build something new, and with comfort from others. It’s the only way to get through the months ahead. We need compassion that translates into patience and persistence; and a love for each other that gives permission and help to build a new life. 
 
The Psalmist shows an experiential awareness of what it means to be loved and showered with compassion. Paul, in Philippians 2, is more instructional, providing clear direction on what it means. We are instructed to let other’s interests come before our own. In other words, compassion is a sacrificial tool that keeps the vision and action of Jesus alive. 
 
For both the Psalmist and Paul, sin is the trouble. It keeps us from working together, being able to offer comfort and fulfilling our mission. Compassion is not just a pat on the back, it’s a complete embrace of the life of another. In this, we find what is in most of us: anxiety, sin, guilt and weakness. In times of trouble, when we are stretched and confused, we need compassion to establish a buoyancy that gets us through trying to get over the past. What we really need is someone who has gone through deep troubles but made the necessary changes under a showering of compassion that make us stronger. 
 
Ecclesiastes is not a book about a life with little purpose, a work created to make a cynic instead of a person of faith. Ecclesiastes is a book about compassion. It reminds me of the compassion of Lear. He longs to feel compassion and laments the misery of others. The writer of Ecclesiastes sees the dismal state of Israel and says, “The toil that we perform is about envy, as well as production.” Our toil is not about hard work and despair, it’s about thinking well of what we are doing. We chase the wind if we don’t receive compassion from others, working hard with no purpose. We cannot live with working just to get things done. We need the feeling of joy about what is being done. Most of all, compassion provides us forgiveness. 
 
God knows what we need, our sins forgiven and our work done with love and care. Those that just see hard work as a tool, with little joy, see the world as vain and empty. Ecclesiastes provides compassion, as it soothes the heart from its constant toil. Many believe that he gathers us to face our fate before God. The Great Preacher’s message isn’t about despair, it’s about what living beyond despair to catch the freshness of God’s compassion. Compassion picks us up as our pain and suffering turn to a hard-pressed reality, into a more real presence headed toward the future. 
 
I love Van Gogh because he paints suffering into works of pleasure. I particularly like the Potato Eaters. An early work when he was a missionary. It’s colorless, drawn with pencil. It’s stark, yet he looked into their hearts and saw in them a masterpiece of God’s love. He looked through them, into the world, and was able to see a beauty he had missed for some time. This is compassion.

A high school class was reading King Lear, that selfish but well-meaning King of Denmark that trusted his daughters with his kingdom. The class was on Act III, Scene 4, where Lear and Edgar are outside their tent on the hill that overlooks Gloucester Castle, where a storm was raging. Lear has gone mad, but in his madness, he sees things. While trying to keep it together he comes out of his tent and says, “Poor, naked wretches that bide the pelting of this pitiless storm. Who shall house your heads, your unfed sides, from seasons such as these?”

The teacher opened the discussion and a young cheerleader raised her hand and said, “I think he is praying.” The rest of the class laughed. They thought she was an airhead, but the teacher continued the conversation. She told the teacher that she believed he is getting kinder. She saw a “kind lament” over the people he once ruled. He was vexed with a heavy heart.

The teacher recognized that both Lear and this girl melted into a message of hope

Comfort: Our Bridge to Healing (Isaiah 40:1-2, Philippians 2:1-2), June 13, 2021

Mark 10:32-34 -- Jesus’ Sufferings Foretold 
 
32 Now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him, 
33 saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles. 
34 And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him; and three days later He will rise from the dead.” 
 
Psalm 13:1-4 -- Prayer for Help in Trouble. 
For the music director. A Psalm of David. 
 
13:1 How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever? 
How long will You hide Your face from me? 
2 How long am I to feel anxious in my soul, 
With grief in my heart all the day? 
How long will my enemy be exalted over me? 
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God; 
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death, 
4 And my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,” And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.

Mark 10:32-34 -- Jesus’ Sufferings Foretold

32 Now they were on the road going up to Jerusalem, and Jesus was walking on ahead of them; and they were amazed, and those who followed were fearful. And again He took the twelve aside and began to tell them what was going to happen to Him,
33 saying, “Behold, we are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be handed over to the chief priests and the scribes; and they will condemn Him to death and will hand Him over to the Gentiles.
34 And they will mock Him and spit on Him, and flog Him and kill Him; and three days later He will rise from the dead.”

Psalm 13:1-4 -- Prayer for Help in Trouble.
For the music director. A Psalm of David.

13:1 How long, Lord? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
2 How long am I to feel anxious in my soul,
With grief in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
3 Consider and answer me, O Lord my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of 

Fear Is a Two Edged Sword (Mark 10:32, Psalm 13:1-4), June 6, 2021

There’s no doubt that, other than gifts as the source of organizational structure in the church, the unity of the church is at the top of Paul’s list. We may think that unity signifies the health of the church. This is true, but it’s not the most important aspect of unity. Unity is important because the Spirit is one with Jesus and the Father. To disrupt the unity of the church because of selfishness or willful exploitation is to destroy the mission of the spirit. We’re called to follow the spirit, which creates unity in the church. Our gifts for the service of Jesus are not to represent our individuality, but they are given to represent the unity of Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and therefore our purpose before God. The members of a specific church are not to judge one another, but to stand up for one another. Even for those of a different race or way of life. Our visible exposure of the works of the spirit, and the relationships of church members are to stand out, so that all can see the singleness and oneness of God. Unity is achieved through our fellowship because it’s achieved by our desire to live out God’s promise through the spirit. 
 
John, the Gospel Writer, explains why the church remains one. To maintain a oneness in the church, oneness of purpose, we must desire that the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost be displayed before the world. The activity of the church reveals God’s power to provide the church with all it needs and wants. Therefore, we are to maintain the unity of the spirit in the church because we desire God to be glorified. In this day of conflict and mean spiritedness, unity is an essential way of doing ministry. The work of the spirit is to maintain the unity for ministry. Today ministry is revealing to the world the oneness of the purpose of God in the church. If the church is unified and has an encouraging demeanor, then we are on the road to soothing part of the ills of the world. Ministry is not individualistic; it’s wholistic as it works for the common good of God and humanity. When the world watches the combined effort of the church to encourage, love and let go of pettiness, it becomes a statement of hope. 
 
John also writes, “I’m praying not only for them, but also for those who will believe in me. Because of them and their witness about me, the goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind—Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us.” John’s point is that the spirit works to make all members one, even the ones coming much later who will be brought to faith in God because of you. But the spirit is not just the backbone of the community’s life, it is its message, as well. The spirit is the empowerment of the church and a part of its creed. Therefore, if anyone asks you what the church believes you can say, “We believe the church is one, bringing its healing power to a divided world.” The church in maintaining its oneness, provides a message to the world and our local community. 
 
When Jesus was with the disciples, he gave three pictures of his purpose of establishing unity. 1) John explains that Jesus wants his life to unite all life. 2) His redemptive service to humanity is to inspire all to come together and follow Jesus. Jesus desires that the church be united like the Father and Son. The spirit ties them together hoping to unite the congregation. 3) Finally, the church is to take heart in the joining of forces between the spirit, the Father and the Son. So, the shared goal is to witness Jesus’ power to unite the church, and the goal of giving Jesus’ praise for the providing a purpose for the goal, which is God’s goal. 
 
Both Paul and Jesus had their sights set on opening the world up to the living of Christianity. Their hope was that members of the church, or fellowship, live like someone who has been changed and now has a new outlook of life. Unity is the joining together in fellowship, to become the best that we can be under the spirit’s power. For the church to be powerful and fully functional, the church must bind themselves together, in the like-mindedness of Jesus and the spirit. When this is accomplished, the church becomes evangelical. It will have the capabilities to witness grace to the world through its oneness with Jesus and the hope it gives to the world. 
 
Seek unity, writer of Ephesians says, “You have one Master, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who rules over all, works through all, and is present in all. Everything you are and think and do is permeated with Oneness. (Ephesians 4:1-6)” Oneness is what we need to achieve encouragement in the church, but its also a part of the message of Jesus, who we are introducing to others. We mustn’t overlook the seeking of unity in the church. It’s essential to the church’s energy and message to the world. We seek unity over diversity. God wants us to leave behind our anger and bring kindness to others.

There’s no doubt that, other than gifts as the source of organizational structure in the church, the unity of the church is at the top of Paul’s list. We may think that unity signifies the health of the church. This is true, but it’s not the most important aspect of unity. Unity is important because the Spirit is one with Jesus and the Father. To disrupt the unity of the church because of selfishness or willful exploitation is to destroy the mission of the spirit. We’re called to follow the spirit, which creates unity in the church. Our gifts for the service of Jesus are not to represent our individuality, but they are given to represent the unity of Father, Son, Holy Spirit, and therefore our purpose before God. The members of a specific church are not to judge one another, but to stand up for one another. Even for those of a different race or way of life. Our visible exposure of the works of the spirit, and the relationships of church members are to stand out, so that all can see the

Unity of the Church (John 17:22-26, Ephesians 4:1-6) May 9, 2021

Luke 22:15-23 
15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. 
16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” 
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you. 
18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” 
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you. 
21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table. 
22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!” 
23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

Luke 22:15-23
15 And he said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer.
16 For I tell you, I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the kingdom of God.”
17 After taking the cup, he gave thanks and said, “Take this and divide it among you.
18 For I tell you I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”
19 And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”
20 In the same way, after the supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which is poured out for you.
21 But the hand of him who is going to betray me is with mine on the table.
22 The Son of Man will go as it has been decreed. But woe to that man who betrays him!”
23 They began to question among themselves which of them it might be who would do this.

Maundy Thursday Service - The Next Step (Luke 22:15-23) April 1, 2021

Isaiah 52:13-15 NRSV 
 
13 See, my servant shall prosper; 
 he shall be exalted and lifted up, 
 and shall be very high. 
14 Just as there were many who were astonished at him[a] 
 —so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance, 
 and his form beyond that of mortals— 
15 so he shall startle[b] many nations; 
 kings shall shut their mouths because of him; 
for that which had not been told them they shall see, 
 and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.

Isaiah 52:13-15 NRSV

13 See, my servant shall prosper;
    he shall be exalted and lifted up,
    and shall be very high.
14 Just as there were many who were astonished at him[a]
    —so marred was his appearance, beyond human semblance,
    and his form beyond that of mortals—
15 so he shall startle[b] many nations;
    kings shall shut their mouths because of him;
for that which had not been told them they shall see,
    and that which they had not heard they shall contemplate.

A New Servant for the World (Isaiah 52:13-15) February 21, 2021

A prophet is a “watchman.” A prophet awakens the people to the possible danger, about to come upon them, and then to demand that they make the necessary changes. Hosea, is a “watchman” for Israel. He lets them know that what they are engaged in, is not going to end well. By telling them what is going to happen to them, he hopes to change their behavior. But as we know, they did not in most cases. In the passage under discussion today, Hosea unfolds a message of consequences resulting from their greedy, idolatrous and disloyal behavior. While they may be starving for a divine connection, they have left the home of God to find it. They have walked up the mountain to the pagan shrines, surrounded by grape vines and wheat. Most likely, the priests own the land and engaged in making wine and bread for the festivals of Israel. But Hosea seems to indicate that they engaged in pagan festivals, as well as their own. This would increase their profits. But it polluted the truth of their religious belief. 
 
Hosea still uses the metaphors of prostitution to describe the actions of Israel. The metaphors most likely refer to idolatry and their propensity to greed, which comes at the expense of the poor and outsiders. In the first two verses Hosea paints a picture of an Israel that chases the pagan religion, and its practice of temple prostitution, for a price. They are willing to set aside their love for God for a few hours of pleasure and temple festivals for Ba’al. But he warns them that their hunger for these things, in the end will leave them starved. Nothing can fill up the spiritual emptiness of a human heart, accept the wisdom of God. Not even the exuberant celebration of the fertility cult can bring a fullness to Israel’s spiritual life. In fact, their mirth is a brash noise to God, as God listens to the empty words of desire, God’s heart turns to sadness and disappointment. Upon their loopy party like behavior, worshiping with drink and prostitution, God’s heart turns to anger. They have forgotten their spiritual purpose. They have exchanged it for the worldly pleasures of hedonistic purposes. 
 
The damage they are doing is not only against God, but to themselves. They are spiraling into consequences that will bring them poverty, emptiness and exile, by the Assyrians. Hosea asks, “What use will all your god-inspired silver be then, as you eke out a living in a field of weeds?” All that they have now will be gone. They have no spiritual or human courage to withstand those that are about to take over their world. And why is this about to happen? They are concerned mainly about filling their desires, instead of filling their hearts and minds with the wisdom of God. The world of distractions has taken away their vision for life, and their vision to maintain the glory of Israel. When everything comes to its fruition, Israel will be exiled in Assyria, and some will have escaped to Egypt, which will be of no help to them. 
 
This is the way it is with all communities and nations. If we ignore the maintaining of the foundations in which we live, we will find ourselves being taken over by forces that have no mercy. We need watchmen who have the credibility and the courage to speak forth to our communities to provide them direction and courage to maintain our foundations. This goes for the church as well as democracy. 
 
One of our watchmen is Timothy Snyder, a professor from Yale, who has been writing about the crumbling of democracy, and the fear of the disappearance of courage. In his book, “On Tyranny,” he says, that Europe’s experiment with democracy failed in the 20’s, 30’s and 40’s. Those that are not watching for the signs of crumbling democracy say, “It can’t happen here, which is the first step to disaster. A patriot says that it could happen here, but that we will stop it.” “If none of us is prepared to die for freedom, then all of us will die under tyranny.” These are important words for nations, as well as Christian Communities. If we stop paying attention, and just feed our desires, we will be in danger of watching things crumble, instead of participating in their future. 
 
This is why we need watchmen. We need those that bring us back to the foundations that we loved. We need to be awakened to the possible danger of standing on the sidelines, nudging ourselves out the door only if feel like it. Watchmen say, “Your actions matter. Be as courageous as you can. These are the motives and actions of someone who believes that goodness matters and God matters.

A prophet is a “watchman.” A prophet awakens the people to the possible danger, about to come upon them, and then to demand that they make the necessary changes. Hosea, is a “watchman” for Israel. He lets them know that what they are engaged in, is not going to end well. By telling them what is going to happen to them, he hopes to change their behavior. But as we know, they did not in most cases. In the passage under discussion today, Hosea unfolds a message of consequences resulting from their greedy, idolatrous and disloyal behavior. While they may be starving for a divine connection, they have left the home of God to find it. They have walked up the mountain to the pagan shrines, surrounded by grape vines and wheat. Most likely, the priests own the land and engaged in making wine and bread for the festivals of Israel. But Hosea seems to indicate that they engaged in pagan festivals, as well as their own. This would increase their profits. But it polluted the truth of their religious

The World is Starved for God (Hosea 9:1-6) January 31, 2021

There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light. The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light. 
 
In this prologue John unites the words Life, Light and Word together. You cannot get the full meaning of one word without the other. Word relates to the gift of Life, brought through the gift of creation, and Light relates to the wisdom and spiritual activity that is necessary to live within this creation. These are the foundations that are essential to joyful and purposeful life designed for all humanity. It was this Word, Life and Light that came into the world through Jesus. His birth was an explosion, the Word come in the flesh to bring light and life to a world tittering on implosion. 
 
John imagines a person beyond this world come to turn humanity from its erosion. This is a man who embodies the ingredients that created the world: wisdom, love, grace and purpose. What he knows, and is, is grounded in his wisdom that created the world and gave it life and light. He is God, come in the flesh. 
 
John writes, “The life-light was the real thing; every person entering life he brings into the light.” There is the difference. Word, Life, Light are the real things of this world. They are what pushes us forward, keeps our hearts touched by the spirit and what turns everyone towards the hope and love of God. In Jesus, we are grounded in these created ingredients of life. We are part of creation because we are part of the creator. 
 
You cannot keep balance without moral and spiritual guidance. The light is this balance. The light is a metaphor for the wisdom of God come to this world in one person. The light is embodied in a person; not an abstraction. We have seen the light, the truth, that walks and breaths within the very fabric of society. We cannot change what he did. 
 
We have many witnesses to confirm the life and words of Jesus, who is the Word. John is one of them. John’s purpose was to reflect the light. He was that reflective material that concentrated the light in one direction. He was able to be the witness of the light, that then created other witnesses to bend the light onward. Ultimately, the whole world will be bent toward the light. They can either chose to be drawn to it, or to run from it. 
 
With the coming of the Word and Light is faith. They are inseparable units that feed off each other. They are brothers and sisters in the infiltration of God’s truth in the world. 
 
Think for a moment about the Shepherds. They are witnesses of the light as well. Faith was connected to their movements in the fields, to the events at the stable. They were witnesses of the true light, that light that stands with humanity and against falsehood. These shepherds and John were drawn to the light and consequently, became reflective instruments, witnesses, of the one true light. 
 
Light can be harsh: the light that reveals the secrets of the world, and shines bright upon our heads. But there is the light that is encouraging and joyful. It opens up the beauty all around us. 
 
When I think of these different kinds of light, I am reminded of the Lincoln and Douglas Senate debates. I believe the one that caught my attention was in Springfield. Douglas just finished delivering his passionate, and slightly harsh, statement about freedom and slavery. He believed that both could co-exist. Then he ended his speech with, “If we can show ourselves to be righteous and fair to the Negro, then we can reveal that we can be the terror of the world.” Of course, he meant keeping them in their place and proving we can still be a generous nation. 
 
Lincoln countered with, “I do not think we want to be the terror of the world. I believe that we should be the encouragement of the world,” meaning that we can no longer live half slave and half free. We should show that we can live together with equality. Then the world will see that it can change its ways to a more just way of living. Then he ended his speech, “A house divided cannot stand.” 
 
The true-light can be a terror if used to demand rather than encourage. The church should be the encouragement of the world, providing hope, love and support. We don’t want to be the terror of the world, demanding our theology become the law of the land. I would hope that we wouldn’t demand that any human be forced into believing. I would hope that the church would encourage the world to step forward in love, believing in God who has sent the light to live among us. Come himself, in humility. 
 
Demanding that others believe is a losing strategy. Like John and the Shepherds, we are witnesses of the light, enlightening everyone. We are gift-carriers, not the pious that carry a whip against those that don’t believe. We are the encouragement of the world. We are its hope and servants.

There once was a man, his name John, sent by God to point out the way to the Life-Light. He came to show everyone where to look, who to believe in. John was not himself the Light; he was there to show the way to the Light. The Life-Light was the real thing: Every person entering Life he brings into Light.

In this prologue John unites the words Life, Light and Word together. You cannot get the full meaning of one word without the other. Word relates to the gift of Life, brought through the gift of creation, and Light relates to the wisdom and spiritual activity that is necessary to live within this creation. These are the foundations that are essential to joyful and purposeful life designed for all humanity. It was this Word, Life and Light that came into the world through Jesus. His birth was an explosion, the Word come in the flesh to bring light and life to a world tittering on implosion.

John imagines a person beyond this world come to turn humanity from its erosion. This is a man

The Purpose of the Light (John 1:6-9) December 6, 2020

Salvation on the Move 
A Call Back to Service 
Matthew 2: 19-23 
November 22, 2020 
 
19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 21 Then Joseph[a] got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.” 
 
The evil intentions of Herod drove Joseph and Mary to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. But the trouble for the family was not quite over. Archelaus, Herod’s son, was still carrying on a witch hunt to find the child, and was also a very determined and domineering king. Therefore, Joseph and Mary were stopped from coming back to Judea, where Herod ruled and they had lived. Instead, they took a turn west and went to the area of Galilee, settling in the small town of Nazareth. Matthew sees in this turn a fulfillment of the prophetic statement, “He will be called a Nazorean.” But if you go looking for this statement in the Old Testament you will not find it. It is most likely a statement that became used during the years just prior to Jesus’ birth, which was a conflation of many different statements throughout the Old Testament. Matthew used it as a means of connecting Jesus with the Messiah. 
 
The move to Nazareth provided two advantages for the family. First, it was out of the way. An almost unknown town. This provided some anonymity against the forces and gaze of Archelaus. Secondly, it provided Jesus the opportunity to get to know travelers on their way to the big city of Tiberius and Capernaum. Travelers coming from the south would have to go through this small town to get to these significant centers of learning and commerce around the Sea of Galilee. Jesus, being curious, would have enjoyed talking to these important people and what they believed. It was a tutelage you couldn’t get in school. So, the stage was set for his education, development and understanding of the world around him. These learning centers were also spiritual centers, where theology and history would have been embedded courses. 
 
Again, salvation was on the move, after a brief set back because of the forces of evil becoming present in Herod. God prepared the way for the instrument of salvation to be saved from Herod, and to provide him a place to stay that would have plenty of spiritual and educational stimulation. But also, a quiet place of reflection that provided the necessary conversation with his heavenly father, in which the future was under discussion. 
 
There is a mistaken idea in Christianity that salvation is saying some words and changing the mind of God about how you feel about yourself. But this is simply a shallow understanding of what God provides in His offer of salvation. If we look hard at this story and the life of Jesus, we will come to understand that salvation is an internal change that works itself out in our direction in life. Jesus’ life was not just contemplation, it was a life of action. Joseph and Mary acted upon the command of God, through the Angel of the Lord, and worked things out from an internal acceptance of God’s word. The world acknowledges the salvation of God through the actions of God’s servants. 
 
Building on the sermon from last week the first action for Joseph and Mary, and eventually for Jesus in his temptations, was to face evil and its desire to turn them from our faith in God. Salvation is about obedience. Confessing our sins is the necessary pre-condition to compel us into a world of service for God. Confessing sins is a way of acknowledging our human mistakes and vulnerability, making us aware of how much we need God. But if we believe that is all we need to do, to be true servants of God, then we are mistaken. We become subject to the purpose of evil, with a greater capacity to succumb. 
 
When Jesus answered the young ruler, who asked him, “What must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus remarked, “You shall love the Lord your God, with all you heart, all your soul and all your mind. And your neighbor as yourself.” This is a wholistic understanding of salvation. We are to turn our confession into loving God, with our whole being. Word and Deed. Then turn that it into an intentional plan of loving our neighbor. 
 
Joseph and Mary followed the angels advise and then worked out their salvation “in fear and trembling” to enhance the chance of God’s instrument moving into the world, and taking shape for its benefit.

Salvation on the Move
A Call Back to Service
Matthew 2: 19-23
November 22, 2020

19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” 21 Then Joseph[a] got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazorean.”

The evil intentions of Herod drove Joseph and Mary to Egypt to escape the wrath of Herod. But the trouble for the family was not quite over. Archelaus, Herod’s son, was still carrying on a witch hunt to find the child, and was also a very determined and do

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