Thursday 31 December 2015

Psalm: Psalm 150

Background

But, at the other end of the country from John's baptism site, in the North, the stranger reappears. Hewas a Northerner, but no one knew who he was, where he came from orwhat was special about him, until they met him. His name was Jesus,and he probably had olive skin, was mid-height with dark hair, awarm smile (except when callousness and inhumanity made him reallyangry) and a twinkle in his eyes. He started preaching in theNorthern towns:

Listen up,
God's coming,
get ready,
don't worry about religion
or the temple.
Meet God for yourself.

God is interested in you.
God is close,
God is opportunity,
you're looked down on by the sophisticated Southerners, thereligious elite.
They despise and exploit you, calling you,
peasants, roughnecks, 'ethnically mixed',
multicultural misfits, coarse Northerners.
God is including you now,
it's not about power and priesthood.
You don't feel welcome in the city,
but God welcomes you.

You could see that he really meant it in his eyes, his smile,his body language, his arms open wide, his heart full of love.

He began collecting the working class as his followers -fishermen, farmers and a freedom fighter (not a good idea). Hewalked up to the fishermen, as if he was going to buy some fish,and said, 'Drop your nets! Fish with me!' He said it gently anddidn't even wait for an answer. They dropped the lot. He walked upto the next group and said the same thing. They abandonedeverything, they didn't even say goodbye to their father.

To Ponder

• What does the gospel (good news of Jesus) sound like to you?Who is it for?

• What does it mean to you to 'follow' Jesus