markschulz.org

Spring Break!

For the first time ever Betty, Christian, and I are going to go somewhere warm for Spring break! Best of all  - it is supposed to snow here in Chicago tonight. As long as our flight is not delayed...

Please make sure all the snow is melted before we get home, OK?

"Why didn't Jesus... ?"

Lately I've found myself asking "Why didn't Jesus... ?" a lot. We've been studying the Gospel of John this lenten season, and I find myself looking at what Jesus said and did and wondering why he did things that way. All too often he does not react they way I would. (I know - duh!)

Here's an example. Tonight we will be looking at the story in John 8 when Jesus is confronted by the religious officials with a woman caught in adultery. They sought to trap him - and certainly Jesus figured that out. Why didn't he just call them on it? I would have said something like, "You guys are trying to trap me - to get me to either contradict the teaching of Moses or my own teachings, and in the mean time get myself in trouble with Rome. Well - I'm not going to play your game. You caught her - you figure it out." Then he could have walked away with a smirk on his face. I would've done that. 

But if I had been Jesus, that approach might have saved my own butt - but what about the woman? Jesus' way was better - she got to hear about grace! And what about those religious leaders. Martin Luther points out the sad reality in this story is they walked away too soon - or they (as sinners) would ALSO have heard Jesus say, "Neither do I condemn you!" At least, in Jesus way, they had a chance. They saw their sin. 

Jesus is pretty cool, isn't he? And pretty smart too!

Studying John

This Lenten season our church is studying the Gospel of John together. It's been fun hearing how people are reading the book, listening to the audio version of the Gospel, and inviting friends to join us. 

One of the amazing "changes" in recent years in reaching those outside the church has been people's openness to the Bible. I can't imagine believers eager to invite neighbors to read and study a book of the Bible ten years ago - they would have known not to bother, as their friends most likely would not be interested. But now - while people tend to still be skeptical of the church, reading and studying the Bible intrigues them. What a great opportunity to share God's powerful Word with them!

Better than snow!

Maybe Spring IS coming...