Reflecting the SON: May 2015

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Now That’s an Endorsement!

Mark 1:9-11 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. (10) And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: (11) And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

Here in Kentucky, we are amid the election of a Governor and the next presidential election is already ramping up. One of the things that every politician tries to secure are endorsements from other influential people. The theory behind endorsements are that if you already like this influential person, and they support this politician, then that politician must be someone that I should support as well.

In our text today, we see that Jesus received a very valuable endorsement. The context of the passage is the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. The generally is recognized as the beginning of Jesus’ formal ministry.

As Jesus was coming up out of the water, a miracle happens. The “Heavens Open”, the Holy Spirit descends and God speaks from Heaven! When God speaks...We ought to listen. In this note-worthy event, God says “this is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased”. There is no other person in the history of the world that has received an endorsement like this. Sure God hand pick some key prophets and leaders, but no one else had been called the Son of God by God himself. That make Jesus unique! That makes special! That makes Jesus believable! That makes Jesus worthy of our devotion. THAT makes Jesus worthy for which to change our lives!

Reflecting His SON,

Dennis Hogan

Minister, North Hardin Church of Christ

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

1804 Sam Stewart Dr.

Radcliff, KY 40160

Questions, comments or further explanation? Contact me at: dennis.hogan@icloud.com

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Monday, May 18, 2015

Proper Perspective

Mark 1:7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose.

One of the concerns that I have about modern day religion is the way that we as humans and servants of God seem to give the impression that we are somehow equal with God and Jesus. As an example, I heard, not long ago, a so-called “co-pastor” and wife of a very prominent televangelist and CEO of a large mega religious group in Texas say that: “Worship is not for God but for us”. She went on to say that the most important thing that God wants is for us to be happy and so worship first must make us happy. Maybe she needs to read John 4! And just maybe she needs to focus on statements of Jesus like “Deny Thyself” (Matt.16:24)

We have a REAL deficit of Humility in this world! We need to learn this valuable lesson from John the Baptist. Humility is having the proper perspective of ourselves compared to others and God. We should never see ourselves as better, more deserving, or more significant than others and we should never see ourselves any where near equal with God. Notice John’s humility. We see it in his perspective in comparison to Jesus. He says that Jesus is mightier than himself and that he was not worthy to unlatch his shoes. Another good example is the penitent prodigal son in Luke 15. After he came to himself, he decided to return home but he said he was not worthy to be called a son, but wanted only to be a servant of his father.

Too many people today think that their opinions and wishes are every bit as important as what God desires. But if we are going to be pleasing to God, we need to see ourselves as less than God and that we should be satisfied with simply being the servant of God...Not his equal!