Author: eejoseph

Fool the American people, not me

eejoseph

If Israel says she intends to eradicate Hamas,  believe her. If she says deradicalizing occupied lands is a priority, believe her. If she says she is pulling out all stops to prevent civilian casualties, believe her. I have stopped believing in all things Jewish. I cannot be a committed Christian and align myself with Israeli and United States policy and practice regarding Palestine. Racism underpins the community that returned from Persia. Christians know that demons inspire marriage bans. Give us a break. How does the Bible relate the beginning of the Davidide clan in the book of Ruth? Marriage to a Moabite. Racism has hollowed out American culture both in the United States and Canada.

War crimes and crimes against humanity

When Israel gives us the body count of civilians first, before the number Israel Defence Force casualties, and the number of Hamas fighters wiped out, we will believe that a heart beats somewhere in Tel Aviv. They will give us the Palestinian civilian body count first to prove that they are the paragons of morality and deserve the world’s unconditional support. The glory has long departed from Jerusalem. Isn’t that obvious? Isn’t it horrifying that the only nation that the world has rallied around to support and empathize with over violence and hatred, has now turned on its hoses of revenge, ethnic cleansing, and the brutality of famine and disease against the people of the West Bank and Gaza? This is not some cute battle against the people of Persia when Esther was queen. My love stands with the bereaved families in Palestine and I will not take a side in a conflict which has no legs to stand on. My prayer is for Jerusalem to open the curtains to the world’s press so we can see the wickedness and utter malice that plays out as patriotism and biblical orthodoxy. Imagine Moses on Mount Sinai, quaking in his boots as he hears Yahweh’s voice and then hearing the people say they don’t want to hear this Yahweh anymore. Imagine him believing the Jewish people in the 13th century BCE.

Nativity lectures 2023c

eejoseph

Christ is born: a Spirit-driven conception

20) But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. 21) “She will bear a Son; and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 1

The Spirit begets and the woman gives birth

We might well ask what is a conception. Human and animal offspring are born dead or seriously deformed often enough to be noticed. What ever is in her is holy; not to be treated with anything less than golden gloves. It is certainly not yet born. We may have fallen victim to the Greek use of gennao to refer to both the beginning of human life In the womb and the entry of that life into the world; I beget, I give birth. You see the essential gender split in matters of procreation! The thing begotten in her from the Spirit is holy “…τὸ γὰρ ἐν αὐτῇ γεννηθὲν ἐκ πνεύματός ἐστιν ἁγίου·” (Matthew 1:20, MorphGNT).

Spiritual salvation begins with saving people from their sins

The conception, the begotten holy one, is called a child, named and destined to be the one who saves his people from their sins. On a practical level, the babe in the womb was once in someone’s loins, to follow the human analogy, but the child may only be regarded as begotten. If Joseph was the genetic father he can be said to have begotten the child at conception. The people of Judea had not seen anything like a permanent solution to sin. They had a dramatization of paying for their sins with animals at the tabernacle with a wholesale dumping of all sin once a year and repeating the process year after year. There was neither heart nor Spirit to help the people out of condemnation.

The Spirit’s intention is apparent

Throughout the pregnancy the unborn is treasured as life or soul, nephesh (נפש) or psuche (ψυχη). The whole narrative is taken over by the Spirit. Joseph receives instructions from one of God’s messengers to (a) marry Mary (b) to name the child SALVATION and ( c) he receives a precise explanation of the name. For the Christ-child, conception is packaged by the Spirit’s sovereignty, his birth barely scratches the surface of his destiny, and saving his people will come thirty-three years later.

Lived, led by the Spirit to die to give life

The Christ child was definitely uniquely begotten, born like any other, lived and advanced like any other, but dying like no other. The promise of light breaking into human darkness comes with this baby and his connection to the Spirit of God.

There may be a dozen myths about the birth of Christ, his mother’s conception, and the meaning of his salvation, but the birth narrative is most magical and yet wholly unrelated to the tinsel, jingle, bells and smells of Christmas. And to think that the other dimension of the Matthew Nativity narrative shakes everything to its core, because the Holy thing entering the world brings God to humanity. He will die and rise from the dead and send the Holy Spirit to be permanently in the believers as Helper.

Christ is born: the scandal

eejoseph

Nativity lectures 2023b

before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit. (18b). And Joseph her husband, being a righteous man and not wanting to disgrace her, planned to send her away secretly. (19)

Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 2

Juicy scandal

The label single mother was once a terrible fate for a woman, young or old.  In our times promiscuity, casual sex, and extramarital affairs are quite common and frowned upon.  They definitely were in New Testament times Judea.  In an age when no one gets engaged for marriage casually one realizes that there’s a certain amount of publicity to one’s romance. 

So what can happen when a woman is found pregnant in a society where women are often the victim of both crime and the justice system?

God impregnates a young girl

Joseph and Mary were engaged to be married when she was found pregnant.  The Bible contains no narrative about family discussions on both sides, meaning Joseph’s side of the proposed family alleging infidelity of Mary and her family suspecting that the girl’s the story is unreliable, and that Joseph had bewitched the girl to say that God had made her pregnant.  Scandal of scandals!  

How does one extricate oneself from such a dilemma is the subject of the following inspired words by Luke.

Joseph her husband

  1. 19) being a righteous man and 
  2. not wanting to disgrace her,
  3.  planned to send her away secretly. 
  1. (Verse 20)  But when he had considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife; for the Child who has been conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit.” (Matthew 1:19-20, NASB)

God’s word to Joseph. Something extraordinary is happening, proceed with your marriage 

It is apparent that Joseph being extremely reverent about the matter not only puts aside his plan to send Mary away into obscurity, he embarked upon 9 months of celibacy.  We may even consider that he did not follow instructions precisely, because taking the woman as his wife would normally mean consummating the marriage.

Here’s a great reason to remember the Christ-child and marvel at the mystery Again this aspect of the Nativity story is transformed graciously from scandal into stepping stone.  We see how the Christ child becomes known as Joseph’s son, the Carpenter’s son, along with his brothers and sisters.  Some scandal!

Here’s a great reason to remember the Christ-child and marvel at the mystery.  He did not stop being God to become the world’s Saviour. This twist of human affairs relates precisely with the  Son of God’s demonstrated ability to turn things around. This aspect of the Nativity story is transformed graciously from scandal into stepping stone.  We see how the Christ child becomes known as Joseph’s son.  the Carpenter’s son along with his brothers and sisters.  Some scandal!

Christ is born: the family

eejoseph

Nativity lectures 2023a


Christ is born: the family is the subject of the first lecture based on the following verse:

18) Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph

Matthew’s Gospel, chapter 1


To follow are three other lectures titled;
Christ is born: the scandal
Christ is born: a Spirit-driven conception
Christ is born: the God who is with us



Christ is born: the family


In the Catholic Church the family with which Messiah is associated has a high profile.  The mother, has her name adorning thousands of school buildings, houses of worship, and streets.  I, for a long time did not develop any curiosity about who St. Joseph might have been. Duh! Duh, and duh! My slow start does not change the facts.  Mary was a holy girl.  She didn’t have to do any miracles, and won’t be canonized by the Catholic church for her character to be declared unequivocally.  She didn’t have to do any miracles to be called a saint, or holy.  Joseph was a just man, loving and forgiving.  One does not quickly find a man who discovers his fiancee pregnant and works to protect her honour.  While the Christ-child is the Highest’s son (Luke 1:32) and Son of God (Mark 1:1, Luke 1:35, John 11:27), he is also Mary’s child, and Mary’s husband, having no part in the procreative process, is recognized as the boy’s father.

Father and mother, parents


“And His father and mother were amazed at the things which were being said about Him.” (Luke 2:33, NASB)

“Now His parents went to Jerusalem every year at the Feast of the Passover.” (Luke 2:41, NASB)

Siblings



“Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not His mother called Mary, and His brothers, James and Joseph and Simon and Judas?” (Matthew 13:55, NASB)

The wider family, the Davidide clan

The Christ-child belongs to humanity and the Jewish clan most associated with divine promises.  Here is the beginning of the clan into which Christ was born.

Ruth’s son, a redeemer, destined for fame 

13) So Boaz took Ruth, and she became his wife, and he went in to her. And the Lord enabled her to conceive, and she gave birth to a son. 14) Then the women said to Naomi, “Blessed is the Lord who has not left you without a redeemer today, and may his name become famous in Israel.” (Ruth 4:13-14, NASB)

A “forever” deal

“He is a tower of deliverance to His king, and shows lovingkindness to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever.” (2 Samuel 22:51)



“But King Solomon shall be blessed, and the throne of David shall be established before the Lord forever.” (1 Kings 2:45, NASB)


“then I will establish the throne of your kingdom over Israel forever, just as I promised to your father David, saying, ‘You shall not lack a man on the throne of Israel.’” (1 Kings 9:5, NASB)



We have seen that the Christ, God’s anointed ruler, belongs to a family, but what is the distinguishing feature of the family at the time of birth we shall see shortly.

Holy and dysfunctional


Just like holy and girl we do not expect to find holy and dysfunctional united.  Why does God not pick a couple with no discernible problems?  What does he have up his sleeve?  Perfect people are usually proud and puffed up.  Coming down God’s sleeve is the mystery of the ages, an impossible thing happening in the public eye.  Consternation was the natural reaction to little unknown David going out to battle the Philistine giant.  We too may be horrified that Israel’s ruler – the môshal – comes from little Bethlehem.

“But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, Too little to be among the clans of Judah, From you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, From the days of eternity.”

Micah 5:2


Christ is born into a family with a husband who was sure that he was not the father of his wife’s unborn child.  The potential for dysfunction can hardly be greater.  The drama is gripping as potential dysfunction is transformed into a display of grace and cooperation with God.

Even the dysfunctional learn


We do not know how a pregnancy may have been hidden in first century Judea, but we have one clue. This supposed cover-up turns into a learning experience.  We learn that Mary conceives when her cousin Elizabeth was three months pregnant.



“And behold, even your relative Elizabeth has also conceived a son in her old age; and she who was called barren is now in her sixth month.” (Luke 1:36, NASB)


39) Now at this time Mary arose and went in a hurry to the hill country, to a city of Judah, 40) and entered the house of Zacharias and greeted Elizabeth. (Luke 1:39-40, NASB)


And Mary stayed with her about three months, and then returned to her home. (Luke 1:56, NASB)



We are certain that Mary learned some essential lessons about being a mother as she watched Elizabeth for the last 3 months of her pregnancy unfold.  Such is the family into which Christ was born: not endowed with great riches, huge estates and great fame, but united by God’s unique intervention.



The family into which Christ later baptizes believers is not unlike the family into which he was born.  Two features distinguish the Bethlehem family from the divine family: it is not limited by human DNA and no member dies.

Sunshine, rain and music

eejoseph,

When are you most happy?

Three things make me truly happy; sunshine, rain and the pursuit of creating music.

I like the sunshine because it powers our life here on the planet, and particularly on this day, the winter solstice, as the sun begins its journey back towards rising in the east where I can see it rise over the horizon, instead of coming up behind buildings later on in the day, I am supremely happy.

I love the rain because it cleans the air and causes food to grow to feed a hungry planet. I like the sound of the rain beating on the roof and I like the smell of the earth when it is touched by rain. I think it is my love of water, especially the ocean and its movement and sounds.

I like the pursuit of creating music because music is latent in almost everything I do: I am gifted to detect rhythm, harmony and melody in so many things around me. Sound is life! There is my happy package.

Desperation in prayer goes off the rails

eejoseph

When you listen to this prayer you will feel yourself saying “yes, yes” or the usual “amen”. You may notice how the prayer goes on to ask for things of the coming night and the next day.

While we surely have concerns about later today, tomorrow and the next year, it is not the way we are taught to pray. There is no need to try to cover all the bases of which we are aware in a prayer, and that is why the Lord taught his disciples to pray about today specifically in his instruction on prayer. Artificial intelligence can generate a meaningful prayer but can also profoundly overshoot by driving for perfection.

More reasons for silence

eejoseph,

What skills or lessons have you learned recently?

Shutting down my voice and pen have been a strategy for doing no harm. Today, I can say there are great reasons for silence.

  • While there is always a crime in progress, I don’t want to step up and out when it is happening in plain sight and people are paid high salaries to prevent crime
  • When I am in school, I let nothing unseat me
  • Everything is neither breaking news nor public

Life has buttons for pause, stop, rewind, and fast forward.

From the least to the greatest

eejoseph

Happening in plain sight. Breaking news! Hot off the presses! Not really. The sins of the Israeli government are none of those things. It is rare for outsiders to see the brutality of Israeli hatred for Palestinians and Gentiles in general. There is no documentation available of how the government of Israel steals, with deadly violence, land from Palestinians. The western press and governments now have no choice but to call on Israel to behave like the rest of us. Follow Abraham’s lead. Hamas’ brutal attack may have awakened some of us in the west to the Palestinian Problem, but the spineless preachers of Christianity are perhaps the most gripping picture of cowardice and depravity. Not one of the so-called watchmen on the walls have said a word about the criminal ex-president or the beleaguered Israeli Prime Minister. The reason is that the two nations have lost their compass, despite the high-faluting slogans about God and country, law and order, peace and security.

Y’all can stop the Torah pushing

Instead of preaching the gospel, namely the death and resurrection of Yeshua of Nazareth, American and Canadian preachers have settled for pushing miracles and prosperity instead of teaching people that their hearts need to change towards love for the neighbor and the appropriate respect for their ancestors and for their children.

They will not teach again, each man his neighbor and each man his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they will all know Me, from the least of them to the greatest of them, declares the Lord, for I will forgive their iniquity, and their sin I will remember no more. (Jeremiah 31:34, NASB)

This great prophecy is not happening because Americans and Israelis have no sins of which to repent. Labelling the halls of power “Dens of thieves” is not an anti-American jab, nor an Antisemitic uppercut. Facts, man! Just facts. I am sufficiently experienced to recognize criminal enterprises. America United? Never again. Israel, holy land? Definitely and bordello government.