Healing Rays of Righteousness

The Sound of Throwing Dice

“When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots.  And sitting down, they kept watch over him there.”  (Matthew 27:35-36, NIV).  The NLT reads, “After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.  Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there.”

Death by crucifixion was shocking in its horrible cruelty.  It was considered the worst form of execution, due to its excruciating pain and public shame.  Hanging naked and suspended by one’s arms would cause great difficulty in breathing, and eventually the victim would suffocate or die from the severe physical trauma.  It was a horrific and painful way to die.

This being so, can you imagine such a display of indifference and apathy by the soldiers assigned to keep guard over the crucifixion of Jesus and two thieves.  For them,  crucifixions were just another boring, bloody job that never impressed their minds and hearts as something to ponder. 

They had become apathetic to the sight of blood and indifferent to the cries of suffering.  And they had learned to distract themselves and escape the boredom of “keeping watch” by throwing dice in gambling games.  This would explain why the New Testament scholar, Vincent Taylor says that Jesus’ garments were divided by casting lots, “using the dice by which they whiled away the time.” 

How sobering to think that while Jesus was nailed to a cross, soldiers played games with dice while seated at his feet.  Here was the darkest and most decisive hour in human history and we find men preoccupied with self-interests.

And so, I think it appropriate to consider the sound of throwing dice as giving evidence of “indifference” and “apathy” and displays a woeful lack of interest, concern, emotion, or feeling.  Indifference and apathy not only describe what we see in the soldiers present at Jesus’ crucifixion, but also is evidenced in the shouts of mockery and scorn from many of the crowd gathered to witness His suffering and death. 

Each year during passion week, we hear this now familiar story of Christ’s cruel sufferings and death.  This is good, for there, in all its ugly horror and painful suffering, lies God’s gift and hope of resurrection from death to eternal life in God’s Kingdom, for us and for all humanity.  No matter how much is said and done in sermons, songs, and art forms, we still remain on the edge of a tremendous mystery, that is, the love of God in Christ for sinful humanity.  And it is good to be reminded of this awesome gift of love. 

Jesus’ suffering is really indescribable, but His love for us is even more so.  Added to the physical pain Jesus’ suffered was the full weight of human sin. This was a burden of love that has no parallel.  In childlike simplicity we can only but ponder and believe.  In the hymn, “There is a Green Hill Far Away,” we sing;  “We may not know, we cannot tell,  What pains he had to bear, But we believe it was for us,  He hung and suffered there.”

However, I fear we too easily cringe at the sight and sounds of Jesus’s crucifixion and allow other things and thoughts to distract and detach our thoughts and emotions from  the pain and horror of Jesus’ crucifixion.  And so, we hear the story in scripture and song, too casually and with limited emotional and spiritual understanding. 

And thus, instead of being drawn closer in relationship to Jesus and toward a better understanding of His death, we become increasingly deaf and dumb in our spiritual awareness and more indifferent about our relationship with Jesus. 

What do you believe about this man, Jesus?  Is He Lord and King to whom you give unreserved loyalty?  Is He your authority in matters of faith and conduct?  Is He the “Son of God” and “Savior” of the world?  Is He the caring, compassionate one who healed the sick, comforted the hurting, and befriended the outcasts?  Is He your Savior?  How much do you care about His horrific sufferings in your behalf?

When I Survey the Wondrous Cross

When I survey the wondrous cross on which the Prince of glory died,

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast, save in the death of Christ, my God!

All the vain things that charm me most, I sacrifice them through his blood.

See, from his head, his hands, his feet, sorrow and love flow mingled down!

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an off’ring far too small.

Love so amazing, so  divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.

(Isaac Watts, 1707)

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                “Healing Rays of Righteousness” – April 13, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The Sound of Hammer and Nail

Mark 15:24 – “Then they fastened Him to the cross.”

The cross was Rome’s ultimate deterrent, conveniently placed along busy highways as a warning to all would-be rioters – “Thus are the enemies of Caesar treated.” It was meant to strike fear into the hearts of all people – for this was the worst form of torture and death ever devised.  No wonder Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, … take this cup from me.”  (Mk. 14:36).

But for a Jew, crucifixion carried the additional spiritual torture of being thought abandoned by God: 

“… for it is written:  ‘Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree.’” (Gal. 3:13).   

Something of this is heard in Jesus’ cry, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”  (Mk. 15:34).

I find it helpful to think of the hammer and nail as symbolizing two significant aspects of “finality” and “unity” seen in Jesus’ crucifixion. 

The hammer struck as Pontius Pilate had his inscription nailed to the wood above Jesus’ head.  It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, king of the Jews.”  Some protested that it be changed to “He claimed to be king of the Jews.”  But the hammer had struck, and the verdict remained as Pilate said, “What I have written, I have written.”

The hammer symbolizes “FINALITY.”  It clinches transaction as the auctioneer’s hammer strikes and the item is sold.  It clinches judgment as the judge reads the sentence to the defendant, strikes with gavel and dismisses the court.  It clinches decision as the gun trigger releases its hammer, and the shot is irretrievably fired.

There is “finality” in the cross of Christ.  The cross clinches Jesus’ decision, judgment, and transaction regarding our salvation.  There were crucifixions before and after, but none of them was like this one.  So dissimilar and unmatched was this crucifixion event that every generation since has looked to it as the final and all-perfect sacrifice for humanity’s sin.  There can be no repetition of Calvary!

In every way the cross is God’s great consummating act of love for sinful humanity.  It is his conclusive, decisive act of agape love,  which is unrepeatable and unchangeable.  Jesus declared, “It is finished.”  The hammer struck and the completed act of God’s sacrificial love was confirmed. 

The nail symbolizes “UNITY.”  It joins together what is separate.  Before his body was fastened to the wood, Jesus heard the sound of the hammer striking nail as the crossbeam was joined to the upright post.  The symbol is now complete, for the cross is two-dimensional, both perpendicular and horizontal in both its earthly (material) and heavenly (spiritual) structure.

When Jesus hung there on that wooden framework, with body and arms stretched out, he symbolized a way of worship and living that is both upward and outward.  His own life was a demonstration of this.  When asked which is the first and greatest commandment he replied,  “Love the lord you God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.”  (Mt. 22:37).

We can be sure that before any day was spent in “going about doing good” Jesus first went into a quiet place to pray and commune with the Father.  Jesus’ life was constantly vertical in prayer and praise to the Father.

And yet, at the same time and equal in desire, His life was horizontal towards all humanity.  His arms lovingly embraced the sick and the outcast.  He spent His life in the ministry of helping others, and said

the second greatest commandment is this;  “Love your neighbor as yourself.  All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”  (Mt. 22:39).

One further word.  The three traditions of Hebrew, Latin, and Greek had their substitute remedies for man’s sins.  The Jews found a solution in the annual substitutionary sacrifice made by the high priest in the Temple – by which the people’s sins were expiated or “atoned for.”  This, together with a good knowledge of the Torah would be sufficient.

The Roman (Latin) answer was in law and order.  The emperor’s decrees and the Senate’s legislation made sure that citizens of the empire “toe the line.”  The Greeks turned to art and enlightenment.  In the beauty of nature and art man found aesthetic fulfillment, and in the wisdom of the philosopher man found intellectual satisfaction.

These three convictions have their parallels in our present society.  They may be helpful in some respects, but they remain no more than substitute solutions to man’s serious and deadly dilemma.  We are all sinners in need of redeeming salvation, and we cannot save ourselves.  In the hymn, “Rock of Ages,” we rightly sing, “All for sin could not atone.  Thou must save and thou alone.”

May the sound of hammer and nail help us remember the finality and unifying actions of Jesus’ cross for our good.  To remember that Jesus completed a full and final sacrifice of Himself for our sin, and that He constantly lives in relationship upward to Father God, and outward to us, interceding for us with gracious love, should forever incite grateful praise from deep within.  Thank you, Jesus!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – April 6, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The Sound of Clattering Coins

Judas, chosen and trained by Jesus to share in the work of His Kingdom mission; a member of the Twelve who had left home and occupation to travel with Jesus; a trusted member and Treasurer of the Twelve; a  committed disciple and an active missionary of Jesus’ gospel, sent out by Jesus to preach, teach and heal.

Judas, an intimate friend of Jesus, who had eaten meals with Jesus, traveled with Jesus, listened to Jesus, talked with Jesus, and slept with Jesus.  How could this same Judas, become a traitor and sell his friend, Jesus, to the enemy and to death.  Why would he do such an act?

A whole series of explanations have been given.  Some say he was predestined to be a traitor, for the purpose of securing Jesus’ sacrificial death.  God arranged all of it.  I emphatically disagree with this thinking!

I question how anyone familiar with the Scriptures could invent such a scheme in which men are simply puppets and events happen as God manipulates the strings.  There are no puppets in the Bible, only individuals acting in freedom and personal responsibility.

Judas was a man of flesh and blood with “human” motives for what he did.  What God made out of his evil deed when it was done is another matter.  God is sovereign!  Had Judas not acted as he did, the religious and political authorities would have found another way to put an end to Jesus’ mission.

Some say that Judas was totally depraved, and still others that he was an incarnation of Satan.  This would make Judas a puppet of Satan, no longer driven by “human” motives, and thus removed from our human world of thoughts and feelings.

For the story to have any authentic meaning and impact in our lives, Judas must remain responsible for what he did.  He must remain as one of us humans or his story loses all meaning for us.  We must remember that Judas never began as a traitor, he became one. 

As to what motivated Judas, I disagree with those who say it was his love for MONEY?  Yes, whatever motivated Judas’ act of betrayal, the deal would involve money.  Judas viewed money as the means by which he could get what he most desired.  He would have agreed with Gottfried Reinhardt saying, “Money is good for bribing yourself through the inconveniences of life.”  

It was this corrupted view of money that enabled Judas to make the fatal mistake of betraying his friend, Jesus.  No, he never “sold” Jesus, for he never had him to sell.  But he did try to “buy” Jesus.  For 30 shekels Judas tried to force Jesus into doing what he wished would happen toward  fulfilling his own political aspirations. 

Judas showed that “love of money” was not his motivation when he threw down the 30 shekels on the hard, stone floor of the temple.  The sound of coins thrown in anger and rattling across a stone floor needs little description.  Their clatter echoes Judas’ despair and desolation.  He lost everything!  The hopes he had for Jesus and himself are now shattered.  His efforts had all gone terribly wrong.

Thus, we can conclude that the primary motivation for Judas’ in betraying his friend, Jesus, was POLICTICAL, very much akin to our contemporary reality of divisive politics.  And we should learn from Judas’s story that such motivations can destroy us. 

Judas believed that Jesus, as Messiah, would bring a new governance reality in which he could fulfill his own personal political dreams.  It was exciting to be a disciple of this Galilean.  His words were revolutionary.  His works proved He possessed unusual powers, which all seemed necessary for the messiah Judas had in mind. 

But Jesus kept stalling and always seems to discourage the crowds loyalties.  All the disciples are bewildered, and Judas’ patience runs out.  Now was the time to force the issue.  Surely Jesus would exercise His power and authority if the right situation were created.

Myron Augsburger suggests this in (The Communicators Commentary) – It can be surmised that Judas had never intended to betray Jesus to death, but to betray Him into the hands of His enemies as a strategy to force Him to demonstrate His power as the messianic King.”

Like we sometimes do, Judas attempts to manipulate Jesus, to get Jesus to be and do what he, Judas, thought would enhance both his and Jesus’ status and power in the world.  This was Judas’ real sin.  And it has been a common sin through the centuries of Christendom.

The name, Jesus, has sponsored a thousand causes, namely,  imperialism, anarchism, fascism, capitalism, and others.  His cross has been emblazoned on battle flags, and Christians never doubted the side Jesus was on during their slaughterous crusades.

But Jesus will never be a rubber-stamp for any person or institution.  He will not give exclusive support to any church, denomination, or religious organization.  Offer what you will, you can neither “buy” Jesus nor “employ” him.  Jesus will never be manipulated or coerced.  He is subject to no one!

It is never too late to examine our attitudes and actions regarding Jesus’ Lordship.  Do you hear any sound of clattering coins?  If so, acknowledge, repent, and restore your walk with Jesus as Lord.

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 30, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The Sound of a Crowing Rooster

In the courtyard of the high priest’s house, Peter sat huddled by a charcoal fire with his cloak tightly wrapped around him.  A servant girl suddenly recognized him as the flickering flames revealed his face.  “You also were with Jesus of Galilee.”  Peter’s heart leaped in fear, and he blurted out, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

Simon Peter is in a desperate situation.  He is implicated with a condemned prisoner, Jesus of Nazareth, and he is responsible for cutting off an arresting officer’s ear.  He is in big trouble if recognized.  So, to extricate himself, to get free, integrity went overboard.  You can read the story in Matthew 26:69-75. 

Just as he was again getting comfortable hiding in the crowd, another girl accused him, but he was more prepared to respond this time.  “I swear that I don’t know this man.”  And a short time later came the third accusation.  “Of course, you are one of them; after all, the way you speak gives you away.”

Peter was in it too deeply now.  So, in a last despairing attempt to free himself from any association with Jesus he made his most thoughtless defense.  “May God punish me if I am not telling the truth.  I don’t know the man.”  And at that very moment a rooster crowed.

According to Luke, “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.”

It was only the evening before, in the upper room, sitting around the Passover Table, that Peter heard Jesus say, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me.”  And Peter had replied, “even if all fall away on account of you, I never will. … Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.”

Peter was confident of his own loyalty to Jesus.  Surely no one was more committed to Jesus than he was.  Yes, Peter’s intention and promise were sincere, but like all noble intentions, they remain mere words until they are put to the test.

And the test came with sudden, shattering consequences.  Peter, the man who affirmed unbreakable loyalty to his Master, quickly submitted to the basic human instinct to protect self, to survive, by swearing a lie, “I don’t know the man.”  And, at that moment he heard the rooster crowing.

The crowing sound of a rooster seemed like the accusing finger of Jesus was pointing directly at him as “The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.”  

The crowing rooster shattered his attempted escape and faced him with the awful truth about himself.  It was the worst sound Peter had ever heard, and sick with guilty grief, he rushed outside and burst into tears. Guilt and shame burst through his charade of toughness, and with awakened mind and broken heart, he weeps tears of remorse and repentance. 

Even though the crowing sound of a rooster pierced Peter with conviction, the crowing is more about the promise of a new day, a crowing announcement that darkness is passing, and light is coming.  And  indeed, Peter’s readiness to acknowledge his sinful denial with tears of remorse, was the beginning of his powerful ministry of proclaiming Jesus as Lord.  It all began that morning with the sound of a crowing rooster and tears of repentance.

Are you hearing a rooster crowing?  Many are the ways we may be guilty of denying the Lordship of Jesus in our life.  Denials do not need to be written on paper or verbally declared from public platform.  In fact, most denials are never spoken at all.  They are lived. 

This story of Peter’s denial reminds us not to be over-confident about our own goodness.  It is easy to be faithful in words only.  The real test will come when our  commitment to Christ costs us something. 

Peter was a sincere believer and passionately committed to Jesus.  His painful experience poses an equally painful question for us who claim to be Christian.  When did we put or find ourselves in a hot, uncomfortable situation and take a risk for Jesus?

Like Peter, when we acknowledge and repent of our denials, Jesus freely forgives and takes our weakness and transforms us with His Spirit and strength, thus enabling our ministry acts of faithfulness to His Lordship and Kingdom work.

As the grey light of morning broke through into the courtyard, it spoke to Peter of the end of the old and the beginning of the new Peter.  Three days later, Peter dashes to the empty tomb and sees the light of a new day.  He hears the words of forgiveness and acceptance from Jesus.  “Give this message to his disciples and Peter.  He is going ahead of you into Galilee.  There you will see him, just as he told you.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 23, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The Sound of Weeping

Just after Barabbas walked out of Pilate’s courtyard as a free man, the sickening thud of leather snapping against flesh rang out.  Jesus the accused, with hands tied and bent over a column, was having His back laid open, one sharp stroke at a time.

His whole body trembled with the blows digging deeper and deeper into muscle and nerve.  The echo of the religious voices inciting the crowd was still reverberating from the walls, “Crucify him, Crucify him!”  This punishment of scourging served as a prelude to the worse pain of crucifixion.

The Roman soldiers gathered around Jesus and vented their hatred of Jews on this “fool” pretending to be their king.  These men tore off Jesus’ bloodied garments, put a purple robe on him, pressed a crown of thorns down on His head, and knelt in jesting homage.  They had seen their friends killed by Jewish zealots and now took their pain and frustration out on Jesus vigorously, hitting, slapping, and spitting in His face.

Despite the warnings of His disciples.  Despite the soul-wrenching premonition in Gethsemane, Jesus would not turn away from the demonic violence that zeroed in to destroy Him.  He would not utter one word of compromise to the man who thought he had “authority to release” Him.  This was His life to give away as He chose, and no one could take it from Him. 

With the weight of the heavy, rough, wooden crossbeam on His shoulder, He stumbled out to the street and up the hill toward Golgotha.  With body torn and bleeding He strained every pain-filled muscle to take one more step. 

Weakened by pain and loss of blood, His knees buckled, and He fell to the ground defeated and dying.  A pitiful sight.  Dying?  Yes.  Defeated?  No – a thousand times “No.”  He would go all the way to Golgotha, all the way, to finish His mission, to pay the sacrificial price of redemption for all humanity.

(Luke 23:27-28) – “A large number of people followed him, including women who mourned and wailed for him.  Jesus turned and said to them, ‘Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.’” 

Why would Jesus say this?  I believe the reason He rejected their weeping was because Jesus did not want to be seen as a victim.  Truly, He was a pitiful sight.  But He was on an amazing love rescue mission and wanted no one shedding tears of pity and sympathy for him as a victim of violence.

It was His choice to die in our stead and He does not want anyone to look at Him hanging from a cross as a pitiful victim and weep tears of sympathy for Him.  The women, in their sobbing, failed to see that He was on His way to victory over death and Satan.  Thus, Jesus’ word to the women is a word of rebuke. 

He earlier told His disciples, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life – only to take it up again.  No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.” (John 10:17-18).  He also said, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” (John 15:13).

(From PRAYERS, a book by Michael Quoist)

I manage very well, Lord, to pity your sufferings and the sufferings of the world.

But to weep for my sins, that’s another matter.

I’d rather bemoan those of others,  it’s easier …..

I’ve found plenty of guilt … in many others, Lord, many others.

All in all, in just about the whole world, except me.

For whom do you weep?  – Yourself?

Jesus told the women, “Weep for yourselves.”  Our tears of regret and repentance will show a willingness to acknowledge and bear responsibility for the evil being done.

(Joel 2:12-13a) – “Even now, declares the Lord, return to me with all your heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning.  Rend your heart and not your garments.”

(James 4:8-10) – “Come near to God and he will come near to you.  Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.  Grieve, mourn, and wail.  Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom.  Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.”

For whom do you weep?  – Others?

(Philippians 3:18-19) – For, as I have often told you before and now tell you again even with tears, many live as enemies of the cross of Christ.  Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame.  Their mind is set on earthly things.”

(Jeremiah 9:1) – “Oh, that my head were a spring of water and my eyes a fountain of tears!  I would weep day and night for the slain of my people.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 16, 2022

www.geigler13.worpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The Sound of Shouting Crowds

In Luke 9:51 we read, “As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem.”  In Luke’s version of the story, it takes a long time to get to Jerusalem.  There is much teaching along the way, with repeated reminders that the Son of Man must suffer and die, which the disciples never seemed able to comprehend.

When Jesus and his disciples neared the city, Jesus sat on a donkey’s colt and the gathering crowd escorted Him in making a triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  With much excitement and messianic expectations, the whole crowd spread their garments on the road and joyfully shout, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord.  Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (19:38).The excited crowd is in a celebrative mood, worshipping and shouting their allegiance to Jesus.

Jesus goes directly to the temple courts and storms through it, overturning the merchants’ tables and accusing them of making the temple a den of thieves.  The chief priests and scribes react with anger, plotting together on how to get rid of this man, Jesus. 

During the next few days, events happened quickly, creating a swirl of confusion for the disciples and Peter vowing, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”(22:33). 

A few hours later the ugly night begins with the disciples falling asleep in Gethsemane while Jesus sweats out his final prayers.  Awakened by Jesus, they see Judas coming into the garden leading a mob, and soon Jesus is being taken to the high priest’s house where he is mocked and beaten throughout the night.

Then in the early hours of morning, there is a trial before Pilate, then to Herod, and finally back to Pilate, who wants to release him but can’t find the courage to do so because of the fickle crowd loudly shouting, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” … and “they kept shouting, Crucify him! Crucify him!”  Finally, the murderer, Barabbas, is released and Jesus is given over to the executioners and condemned to death by crucifixion.

Yes, we all know the story.  We have heard it many times.  But the question that confronts us is this;  Knowing what will happen to Jesus in Jerusalem are we willing to journey with Jesus on a path that leads finally to death on a cross, He for sin and we to sin? 

During Lent we hear Jesus inviting us to go with Him up to Jerusalem, into the city, to hear first, the welcoming crowd joyfully shouting, “Hosanna to the King” … and later the devilish crowd angrily shouting, “Crucify, crucify him.”

He invites us to painfully stumble with him up the torturous path to Golgotha and there to die, He for sin and we to sin. He grievously suffers being nailed to a cross, then hanging above the jeering crowd, we hear His loving prayer, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”  And then He died.

Are we willing to die to our old self in order to experience the resurrection into newness of life?  Or will the noisy, threatening shouts of the crowd cause us to lose heart and our resolution “to go with you (Jesus) to prison and death“ evaporate into fear and denial like Peter.

Today our quick answer may be, “Yes, of course, we want to go with Jesus.”  In fact, we are almost eager to go along.  For we know that His death on the cross will lead to our life.  We know that “dark Friday” is not dark at all, and that we will shortly be able to celebrate the triumph of resurrection.  Of course, we will go with Jesus to Jerusalem and the cross.

However, Jesus tells us to carefully consider the cost of going with Him. The Scriptures make it very clear that the decision will sacrificially cost us.  Our old self must die. 

Paul explains this in his letter to the Romans;  “For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his.  For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin – because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.” (6:5-7).

Either we wholeheartedly go with Jesus and let our old, selfish way of life be crucified with him, or we cannot expect to experience the triumphs of Easter morning’s resurrection into new life.  Either we go with Jesus to death on the cross, or we become a part of the fickle, noisy crowd.  Which will it be? 

• The Old Rugged Cross
• 1.  On a hill far away stood an old rugged cross, / The emblem of suff’ring and shame;
•                 And I love that old cross, where the dearest and best / For a world of lost sinners was slain.
• (Chorus) – So I’ll cherish the old rugged cross, / Till my trophies at last I lay down.
•                                 I will cling to the old rugged cross, / And exchange it someday for a crown.
• 2.  O the old rugged cross, so depised by the world, / Has a wondrous attraction for me;
•                 For the dear Lamb of God left His glory above / To bear it to Calvary.
• 3.  In the old rugged cross, stained with blood so divine, / A wondrous beauty I see;
•                 For ‘twas on that old cross Jesus suffered and died / To pardon and sanctify me.
• 4.  To the old rugged cross I will ever be true; / Its shame and reproach gladly bear.
•                 Then He’ll call me some-day to my home far away, / Where His glory forever I’ll share.
•                                 (George Bennard, 1913)

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 9, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The Tempting Voices in Wilderness Silence

It is good to start our Lenten journey with the story of Jesus being tempted  in the wilderness.  This story reawakens us to the fact that Satan frequently wraps his temptations with scripture.  He is very adept in  deceitfully using scripture to attract and lead us away from God’s truth and mission for our life.

And this annual 40-day season of spiritual reflection and soul-searching regarding our relationship with God is an invitation to meditate on the life of Jesus in order to examine and discover where we may have strayed away from relationship with Jesus.  To ignore the purpose of Lent could mean we are yielding to the enticing voice of Satan, luring us into a wilderness of complacency, apathy, and even the death of our spirit? 

Jesus had just experienced a high moment in his life, being baptized by John, having the Spirit of God descend on him, and being affirmed by God’s own voice from out of heaven saying, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  Then “full of the Holy Spirit” Jesus is led into the wilderness of devilish temptations.  

Here in this barren wilderness area, Jesus was alone with God, pondering and praying about his messianic ministry in this world of humankind.  Jesus is so focused on choosing the direction for his life that he does not eat any food for 40 days.  It is a great understatement when both Matthew and Luke write, “he was hungry.”

The lonely silence of the wilderness is broken when there comes a voice, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become bread.”  Jesus vividly remembers the River Jordan, the sky opening and the voice saying, “This is my Son, whom I love.” 

Now it is a different voice saying, “If you are the Son of God” and with it the temptation.  Why not?  Who will it hurt?  If I am God’s Son, then why shouldn’t I have what I want?

We also struggle with the temptation of making decisions on the basis of what requires the least effort and pain, rather than striving for the eternal gifts God offers.  This is especially so when we realize how hard it is to forgive the guilty, listen to the lonely, and share what we have with the needy poor.  We can so easily slip into the habit of not choosing the hard way of sacrificial loving and giving toward others. 

We may even falsely convince ourselves to believe that an easy life is a sign of God’s approval. But the biblical prophets and teachers, including Jesus, would tell us that we have missed God’s best purposes and gifts to us, if we are living comfortable lives.

Jesus understands this temptation of choosing the easy way and responds, “Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”  In other words, obedience to God is more important than my own comfort.

Satan tries again from the highest point of the temple, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down.  For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you, … to guard you carefully.”

The first-century Jews believed that when the Messiah came, he would reveal himself from the temple roof.  The devil is tempting Jesus to be the Messiah the people expect and want.  He can be a great religious teacher and skip the hard parts of suffering and dying.  The temptation is real. 

We also are tempted to look spiritual, to do the right deed for the wrong reason, to be a religious hero, a martyr.  We can look religious without truly seeking a relationship with God and obeying his will.  Satan convinces us that pretending to be living as God’s children is the easier way to meet people’s religious expectations.

And again, from a very high mountain, the tempting voice of Satan comes to Jesus as an offer of palaces and kingdoms.  “All this I will give you, if you bow down and worship me.”  The temptation is offered as a “reasonable desire” for material success and political power, which soon becomes selfish greed. 

This may be our most contemporary and strongest temptation, for Satan has sufficiently wrapped it with scriptures to convince us to yield.  We believe the bumper sticker, “He who has the most toys wins,”  and choose to hang on to our greed, even though it begins to crowd out things that matter more and have eternal implications.

Jesus answers Satan, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.”  Then Satan retreats, but only temporarily.  Throughout His journey to Jerusalem, Jesus faced the same temptation of compromising His commitment to God, that we still face today.  Satan is as real and devious today as he was when encountering Jesus in the dusty, barren wilderness. 

During this Lenten season may we be awakened to the Tempter’s voice in our own struggles with evil compromises. Christian living is not about experiencing great mountaintop feelings and passions.  It is about our commitment to trust and obey the Father and being encouraged and sustained by His Holy Spirit.

May we journey through these 40 days giving serious attention to our need for repentance and confessing our tendency to follow the easier paths of compromise.  And may we ask God for Spirit-filled hearts that desire more than anything else, to love and obey Him in all things, at all times.   Amen!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – March 2, 2022

www.geigler13@wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

LENT – Our 40-Day Journey with Jesus

Next Wednesday is “Ash Wednesday” which begins the annual 40 days of “Lent” during which we journey with Jesus as He walks toward His death and resurrection on “Easter Sunday.” 

This journey with Jesus is a time for us to listen and reflect more carefully to His teachings and to witness His sufferings and death in our behalf.  It is also a time for acknowledging our mistakes, repenting of our waywardness, and renewing our commitments of love and loyalty to God.

The days of “Lent” are marked on our calendars for the purpose of an intentional and sincere self-examination of our relationship with Jesus, who claims to be the Messiah, “God with us.”

Am I living and growing more in love with God?  Have my attitudes and behaviors become more like Jesus?  Have I always done my best toward being a Jesus-person in my world?   

Former President Jimmy Carter tells this story about himself.   As a young man, he graduated from the Naval Academy and served as an officer on a nuclear-powered submarine.  However, before he was able to assume that position, he had to have a personal interview with Admiral Hyman Rickover, the man considered to be the father of the nuclear navy.

Carter was understandable nervous, knowing how much was at stake and that only the best, most disciplined officers were chosen to serve in this prestigious force.  As he stood before Admiral Rickover, it was soon obvious to Carter that the wise admiral knew more about every subject discussed than he did. 

Finally, Admiral Rickover came to the last question on his list –  “Where did you finish in your class, young man?”  Pleased with his accomplishments and thrilled to finally be presented a question he could easily and proudly answer, Carter informed the Admiral that he had finished 59th out of a student body numbering 820.  Then he waited for a commendation from the old sailor – but it never came.

Jimmy Carter recounts the incident this way.  The question that broke the uncomfortable silence between the two men was, “Did you always do your best?” 

Carter says that he thought a moment and then cleared his throat and hesitantly replied, “No sir, I did not.”  At that point, Admiral Rickover turned he chair around, signaling the interview was over, and asked, “Why not?”

That is a good question to ask ourselves during these 40 days of self-examination regarding our spiritual health.  Did I always do my best as a disciple-learner and follower of Jesus?          

A prayer hymn that I love to sing, because it expresses the deep desire of my heart and I hope of your heart as well, is “Lord, I Am Fondly, Earnestly Longing.” It was written by Elisha A. Hoffman and published in 1902.  I suggest you also choose it as your prayer for this journey with Jesus during these 40 days of “Lent.”

“Lord, I am fondly, earnestly longing / into thy holy likeness to grow, / thirsting for more and deeper communion, / yearning thy love more fully to know.”

            (Chorus) –  “Open the wells of grace and salvation, / pour the rich streams deep into my heart. / Cleanse and refine my thought and affection, / seal me and make me pure as thou art.”

“Dead to the world would I be, O Savior, / dead unto sin, alive unto thee. / Crucify all the earthly within me, / emptied of sin and self may I be.”

“I would be thine and serve thee forever, / filled with thy Spirit, lost in thy love. / Come to my heart, Lord,  come with anointing, showers of grace send down from above.

I think most of us deeply desire to do and be better persons.  And God offers that to each of us.  “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest and repent. Here I am!  I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.” (Revelation 3:19-20).

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 23, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

The Messiah Is Among You

Although the story is old, happening during the 18^th century, it illustrates a biblical truth the Christian church needs to hear during our current evil divisiveness in every gathering and with every issue.  The deadly viruses of stubborn selfishness and demonic lies are fueling this relational turbulence.  

The Truth is this. 

“Shout and be glad, Daughter Zion.  For I am coming, and I will live among you, declares the Lord.”  (Zechariah 2:10-11).  And “The coming of the kingdom of God is not something that can  be observed, nor will people say, ‘Here it is’ or ‘There it is,’ because the kingdom of God is in your midst.” (Luke 17:20-21).

The Story is this.

A beautiful and famous monastery in central Europe had fallen on tough times.  In earlier days, its many buildings were filled with young priests and monks, and its big church resounded with the singing of the chant, but now the buildings and church were mostly deserted and silent.  Only a handful of monks shuffled through the buildings praying their prayers and praising their God with heavy hearts.

On the edge of the monastery grounds there were beautiful woods in which an old Jewish rabbi had built a little hut.  The rabbi would often come there to fast and pray.  No one ever spoke with him, but whenever he appeared, the word would be passed from monk to monk, “The Rabbi walks in the woods.”

One day the Abbot, who was the head of the monastery, decided to visit the Rabbi and open up his heart to him regarding the bad conditions at the monastery and seek his advice.

The Rabbi welcomed him into his little hut.  In the middle of the room was a wooden table with the Bible laying open upon it.  The two men sat down at the table and said nothing to each other.  They just sat there looking at the Bible.

Finally, the Rabbi lifted his eyes and said, “You have come to ask a teaching of me.  I will give you a teaching, but you can only repeat it once.  After that no one must ever say it aloud again.”  The Rabbi looked straight at the Abbott and said, “The Messiah, the Christ, is among you.” 

For a while there was silence, then the Rabbi said, “Now you must go.”  The Abbott left without saying another word or looking back, but his mind and spirit were filled with questioning wonder as he pondered the Rabbi’s teaching.

The Abbott returned to the monastery, and the next morning he called all his monks together.  He told them he had received a teaching from the rabbi “who walks in the woods.”  But the teaching is to be spoken only once and never again.  He looked at each of his fellow monks and said, “The rabbi told me that the Messiah, the Christ is among you.”

The monks were startled and puzzled by this saying.  “What can this mean?”  they asked themselves.  “Is Brother John the Messiah?  Or, Father Matthew, or Brother Thomas?  Am I the Messiah?  What can this mean?”  The monks continually pondered the rabbi’s teaching that the Messiah, the Christ, was among them as they lived, worshiped, and worked together. 

But as time went by a remarkably interesting thing began to happen among them.  They began to treat one another with an incredibly special reverence.  There was a gentle, caring quality about them now, which was hard to describe but easy to notice and feel.

It was not long until the big church again resounded with the singing of the chant.  People came from everywhere to be nourished by the prayer life of the monks.  Visitors were deeply moved by what they saw and heard.  A significant and visible change came over the monks when they believed the Messiah, the Christ, to be present among them.

My Plea is this.

Yes, the rabbi in the woods was and is correct. The Messiah is among us. He is in each and every one of us.  “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever – the Spirit of  truth.  …I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.  … On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.”  (John 14:16,18,20).

And when we begin to fully understand this truth and its meaning for our relationship with others, it will significantly reshape our lifestyle and relationship with others.  This truth when lived out in our churches and communities, will cause the presence of God and His Kingdom to gloriously unfold in our midst. 

Then we will joyfully proclaim with the psalmist,  “How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!  … For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.”  (Psalm 133:1,3b).

Jesus Prays this.

“I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one – I in them and you in me – so that they may be brought to complete unity.  Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.”  (John 17:22-23).   May it be so with you and me!

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 16, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley

Are We Building Bridges or Barriers

The title reminds me of the story from a previous generation, that tells of a young man who stopped at a farmhouse asking for work.  The farmer asked of his occupation, which was carpentry.  At first the farmer said he had no work.  Then, pointing across the road to the neighboring farm, he said, “That is where my brother lives and we have become bitter enemies.  He even took a bulldozer and cut a stream from the reservoir through the pasture between us.  I’ll hire you to take that lumber by the barn and build an eight-foot-high solid fence between us, so that I don’t need to be looking at him.”

The farmer went into town for a few days, and the young man went to work.  When the farmer returned home, instead of a fence, he saw a beautiful bridge across the stream, complete with handrails.  At first, he was angry, but then he saw his brother walking down the hill to the bridge with outstretched arms.  As he came nearer, his younger brother called out, “You are a special brother, and to think that you would build a bridge so that we can more easily get together!”

A short time later, as the carpenter began to walk away and toward the roadway, the farmer asked, “Hey, where are you going?”  The man answered, “I’m going on my way to build other bridges!”

Bridges are inviting as they open a pathway to the other side.  This is true in both nature and in relationships.  Bridges invite us to cross over toward strengthening relationships with others.  Whereas, barriers obstruct, wall shut, and close down any possible building or restoration of relationships with others.  Bridges lead to new vistas, adventures, and unlimited possibilities.  Whereas, barriers confine and protect a comfortable environment of non-disturbing, non-threatening sameness, and offering extremely limited possibilities. 

For these reasons, I cry out to my church, community, and nation, and to all who call themselves Christian; let us go into our personal worlds, committed to building bridges of loving forgiveness and healing, and restoring relationships with all people, even those we see as enemies.  Let us build bridges of respectful listening as we walk together toward seeking common ground and guidance in making a better world for all of us.

Some of the most profound teaching in the whole Bible is found in the 3^rd and 4^th  chapters of John’s first letter.  In verses 8 and 16, John tells us that “God is love.”  Those three little words get to the theological and practical understanding of God’s character of self-giving, caring love. 

In verse 9 and 10, John says we know this to be God’s character because “He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.  This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins.”  

In other words, by sending Jesus “as an atoning sacrifice” God built a beautiful and sturdy bridge for us to cross over the deadly chasm of sin and into a relationship with Himself.

In verse 11, John makes it noticeably clear that God’s amazing love toward us makes a logical, common-sense demand upon us. “Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”  And verse 21, “And he has given us this command:  Anyone who loves God must also love their brother and sister.”  There is no wiggle room here!

If we have experienced God’s atoning love through Christ, and if we continue to experience God’s love through the indwelling presence of the God’s Spirit, then naturally we will be human fountains of God’s love flowing through us and bathing a hurting and bleeding world.

I hear John saying in verse 20, that it is impossible to be a recipient of divine love and, at the same time, be motivated by hatred for others.  Love and hatred are like oil and water, for they do not mix.  If God’s love fills our life, there can be no room for hatred or bitterness.  “Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar.  For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen.”

I encourage you to hear and heed this age-less admonition from Mother Teresa;  “Spread love everywhere you go; first of all, in your own home.  Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor.  … Let no one ever come to you without leaving better and happier.  Be the living expression of God’s kindness; kindness in your face, kindness in your eyes, kindness in your smile, kindness in your warm greeting.”

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“Healing Rays of Righteousness” – February 9, 2022

www.geigler13.wordpress.com

Ray M. Geigley