The Story Chapter 25 / The Greatest Question of All Time

A BBC magazine answered the “101 greatest questions of all time.”[1]  What did they include?  Well, questions like “What is OK short for?”  Answer? “OK comes from ‘oll korrect’, a deliberately misspelled writing of ‘all correct.’ It was popularized in Boston newspapers around the 1840s when it was fashionable to go around spelling things incorrectly for humorous effect.”

The #1 “greatest question” was “Where is the safest place to stand outside in a thunderstorm?”  And, in case you must know the answer, it is “A car or other enclosed metal structure is the safest place to be in a thunderstorm.”

Jesus asked a question that should have been first on the list.  He and the disciples were in Caesarea Philippi.  Call it the shopping mall of religion.  It was located in a region known as Paneon, or the home of the Greek god Pan.  Once it had been a center of Baal worship.  A temple was located there dedicated to the godhead of Caesar.  And other temples of Syrian gods dotted the landscape.

Plenty of gods to choose from in Caesarea Philippi.  So Jesus asks his disciples this question: "Who do you say I am?" (Mark 8:29).   Oh, at first he asked them what others were saying about him.  The answers came back in rapid fire:  “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, one of the prophets.” 

But Jesus was more concerned with their answer to his question, so he asked, “Who do you say I am?”  They all looked at this homeless carpenter and thought about that question.  We don’t know how long they thought before Peter replied, “You are the Christ.”

Who do you say he is?  Have you given it much thought?  Some say he was crazy, claiming to be God but just a man.  Some say he was just another liar, that he knew exactly what he was saying but was deviously misleading those around him. 

But there are those who have said, along with Peter, that Jesus is the Christ.  He is “God in the flesh.”  He is the King.  He is the Savior.  You may know where to stand in a thunderstorm.  And you may think your life is OK.  But this week, if you have not answered this question from Jesus, then go to your own Caesarea Philippi, and let him ask you, “Who do you say that I am?” 

Your answer will be the greatest one you will ever give.

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[1] “Greatest 101 questions of all time: 1-20” found at  www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/howaboutthat/

4696372/Greatest-101-questions-of-all-time-1-20.html

The Story Chapter 24 / Breaking Free from the Kingdom of Me

Only 14.3 acres in total land mass, it is a small kingdom unto itself.  Located in three separate areas in the United States—part in Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Northern California—you can leave the United States and enter the Republic of Molossia.  It is considered to be a micro-nation . . .  a “nation within” our nation.

Molossia has its own flag, its own signs, and its own boundary markers.  It even has its own tourist attractions.  Kevin Baugh is the president, or Sovereign, over his own little kingdom.  His space program consists of model rockets.  The basic unit of currency in Molossia is the valora. The valora is linked in value to Pillsbury Cookie Dough.  Three valora has equal value to one tube of cookie dough.

There is a railroad—model sized.  The national sport is broom ball.  And although his nation is landlocked, he claims a navy that is merely an inflatable boat. You can visit anytime you like.  But—although it sounds fun—don’t think you can move there.  He says there is not enough room.  Kevin affectionately calls his nation “The Kingdom of Me.”

Don’t laugh too quickly.  We may not have gone to the same extremes as Kevin Baugh, but we mostly live our lives as if we are rulers of our own kingdoms.  What a surprise it is when we discover that we are living in a kingdom but it is not ours.

That’s the message of Jesus.  He came saying, “The time has come.  The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news” (Mark 1:15).  Literally he says the kingdom is “at hand.”  It is that close.  All around us.  Within reach.

His kingdom is not as a nation with armies and weapons but as a farmer who comes with seed and the seed falls on soil (Mark 4:3-9).  Finding his kingdom is like finding a treasure in a field (Matt. 13:44).  And his kingdom is worry-free (Matt. 6:25-34).  Best of all, this kingdom has a king who is in control (Mark 4:35-39).  Jesus said “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. . .” (28:18). Kings say things like that.  Unlike Molassia, if you want to enter and live in this kingdom, there is room for everyone.  That’s not the problem.  There is plenty of room in this kingdom for everyone. 

But you need to know that there is only room enough on the throne of this kingdom for one King.

The Story Chapter 23 / Your Identity is the Most Beautiful Thing There Is

Imagine living your life with a false identity.  That’s what happened to Francisco Madariaga Quintela.[1] Just over 30 years ago his mother Sylvia was kidnapped by Argentine security forces.  Her husband Abel last saw his pregnant wife being pushed into a Ford Falcon by army officers dressed as civilians as she walked to catch a train on January 17, 1977.

Sylvia was placed in one of the most notorious torture centers near Buenos Aires—Campo del Mayo.  Surviving prisoners later revealed that the baby was taken away after birth and Sylvia disappeared in a short time.  The baby was taken by a military intelligence officer and adopted as Alejandro Ramiro Gallo.  The adoptive father was eventually put in prison for murder.  When he was older, Alejandro’s adoptive mother told him the truth about himself. 

In the meantime his real father Abel had joined a group called The Grandmothers of the Plaza del Mayo—a group formed to help return children who had disappeared during the late ‘70’s to their parents.  One day Alejandro went to the group.  After DNA testing a match was found and a meeting with his father—Abel—was arranged. 

Alejandro, after learning his real name was Francisco Madariaga Quintela, said, “For the first time, I know who I was. Who I am. . . . Never again will I use this name. . . . To have your identity is the most beautiful thing there is.”

Maybe you need to know your identity today.  A strong sense of identity can take you through the toughest tests.  It did for Jesus.  Just after his baptism where his lineage was stamped with these words, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased,” Jesus endured tests in the wilderness.  Satan attacked his identity three times with the phrase, “If you are the Son of God . . .” Jesus knew who he was and he changed the world so that you can know who you are and have your world changed by your faith in him. 

During a news conference where Abel Madariaga told his story, we are told “his chest heaved” as he presented his own son to the world.  Like a proud papa, God has presented his one and only Son to the world.  He wants you to believe in him so that he can, with “chest heaving full of joy,” present you as his child too.  When Satan attacks you can stand firm.  And when you need it most, you will feel his hug in a spectacular way and know that you are home.

“To have your identity is the most beautiful thing there is.”

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[1] Argentine stolen at birth, now 32, learns identity by MICHAEL WARREN, Associated Press Writer Michael Warren, Associated Press Writer – Tue Feb 23, 7:34 pm ET at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/lt_argentina_dirty_war_children

The Story Chapter 22 / When Jesus Comes Knocking

The knock came at the door of the inn.  It was late.  We can imagine the innkeeper had been burning both ends of the candle.  The census crowd had packed Bethlehem and he had finally locked the doors for the night.

Until the knock. 

He shuffled his feet through the dark and made his way to the door.  Opening it with the slightest of cracks he peered out to see a young couple.  Looking more closely he saw a young woman who was about to give birth to a child.  Rooms were full.  It was late.  And they didn’t look very special. 

He had to decide whether he would find room for them or not.

And you will too.  John’s rendition of the birth of Christ comes in a few short words: “The Word  [logos] became flesh and made his dwelling among us” (John 1:14).  Greek hearers understood the word “logos” as the representation of God. The essence of God was found in his Word. 

Hebrew readers perked up to John’s message too.  John writes: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.”  He book ends the first sentence of his book with the phrase “in the beginning.”  They knew it as the words that began the first book of the Old Testament… Genesis. 

John writes about beginnings.  John writes about God’s very representation dwelling among us.  And he writes to tell us that we have the same decision to make as the innkeeper.  Will we find a place for Jesus in our lives or will we send him away? 

Some send him away because he looks too plain.  Nothing special about him.  Don’t make that mistake.  He comes to common places like your home and common places like your heart.

Some send him away because life is crowded.  Many demands and many deadlines.  And you’re not sure if you have room for him.  But he only comes to give you what he has already done.  He desires to give you forgiveness.

And some send him away because they think it’s too late.  They’ve already done too much that can’t be forgiven.  They’ve already gone too far away. 

But it’s never too late.  Not with the one who comes and makes his dwelling among us.  You need only to open the door.