What's Your Motivation?

A mild debate broke out in the bible study regarding Judas Iscariot's motive for betraying Jesus. The popular opinion is that he was frustrated with Y'shua's lack of political ambitions. There are others but here is a short list:

• frustrated with a lack of political ambitions: Judas was looking for the Messiah to be the new king. This opinion comes from an interpretation of the Greek version of Judas' name and its similarity with sicariis, a name for the band of assassins that targeted Romans and those who sympathized with them. However, the high priests were appointees of the Romans, so why would a terrorist conspire with one of his targets? (Probably Iscariot comes from the Hebrew ish Kerioth--man of Kerioth, a border town near Edom, Herod the Great's homeland--a long way from Galilee.)
• desire for more money: there is a bit of evidence that perhaps Judas was embezzling from the disciples' funds. Did he take advantage of the religious leaders' dislike of Y'shua as an additional source of income?
• purely Satanic influence: it is what Luke mentions as the proximal cause of the betrayal. What temptation would Judas have surrendered to in order for Satan to gain control? Are other followers of Christ subject to Satan's influence? What is the chink in the armor that lets the Evil One in?
• self-preservation: detecting the unrest from the those in power, Judas may have seen the end coming. Y'shua himself predicted such. If He dies, then His followers might be rounded up, imprisoned and/or executed. In fact, this seems to be Simon Peter's motive for denying knowing Y'shua on the night of His trial. After His crucifixion, the disciples would gather behind locked doors, fearful of being arrested. (In fact, some were arrested and most later released.) This might be the strongest candidate for Judas' motive.

Likewise, a debate broke out over the Pharisees' and teachers' motives for plotting to kill Y'shua. Most thought it was because the Rabbi rebuked their adherence to 'oral' law and challenged their interpretations of the Torah. However, this was a common practice--to have question and debate over the meaning of scriptures. If they felt humiliated, this is an extreme reaction. What form of humiliation would drive you to conspire with a group to murder a man? 

Capital punishment was prescribed in certain situations within the Torah: murder, rape, kidnapping, adultery as well as blasphemy, witchcraft, false prophecy, continued rebelliousness, cursing parents. Most likely, the Pharisees and teachers found some evidence of blasphemy or false prophecy, or kept watch to see if Y'shua might commit those sins. There is some Rabbinic tradition, however, that suggests if the Sanhedrin sentences one person to death in a seven-year period, that that is too many times. Others had said once in 70 years was too many times to invoke capital punishment. In Christ's time, this group is bucking tradition if they are so upset or zealous for the law that they want to arrest Him and condemn Him. (Later, they do arrest Stephen and condemn him to stoning. Other disciples are just imprisoned for a brief time.)

We may never know. Chances are we'll project our own motive for similar behavior onto Judas and the Pharisees. If scripture is silent, it may not be important. Only the act was. Or maybe not since God does care about our hearts. In any case, it was all part of God's plan to save us all. He needed some players just like He needed Pharoah to resist many times in order for God to reveal His might to His people and the Egyptians, and the rest of the world at that time.

His will won't be thwarted. He'll find the right people with the wrong reasons in order to the right thing to show His glory.

Grace Isn't Cheap But It is Easy

Ever fall for the marketing trick of raising prices to elevate the perception that the product or service has more value because of its inflated price. Suppose you see two cups of coffee. One is thirty cents and the other is $1.50. Most of us would assume that the coffee used in the more expensive cup is better quality because it has the higher price.

Grace is like that. We think that if God's grace is so valuable, we have to pay more for it. But we don't. We can't pay for or earn His grace through bible reading, church attendance, fasting, tithing, forswearing swearing, giving up addictions, lots of good works, etc. He offers it freely, which sometimes makes us thinks it's cheap. It's not cheap. It requires whole-hearted, whole-headed, whole 'everything' submission, as it says in Deuteronomy 6:4-5, which Y'shua Meschach affirms as the greatest commandment: Love the Lord with all your heart, mind, your 'very' (literal translation meaning everything, 110%, your essence and more).

Naaman, an Aramean general with leprosy invading Israel, was so desperate he went with nearly a thousand pounds of precious metals and several sets of fine clothes to visit the King of Israel and find Elisha the prophet. Instead of coming out of his house, Elisha sent someone out to tell Naaman to bathe seven times in the Jordan River. At this Naaman became enraged because Elisha refused to see him and also because Elisha wasn't going to do anything (like wave a hand over his skin) and because he could have bathed in 'better' rivers near Damascus if that's all it took. His servants calmed Naaman by suggesting that if the prophet had told him to do something difficult, like forge statues from the precious metals, or climb Mt. Ararat or Sinai, he would have done it without any question. Why not do the simple thing as the prophet suggested? It might take a little humility.

Likewise, to gain the Christ's righteousness, it only takes a simple belief and submission to be changed into His character. But, oh, what an adventure! There will be storms but the peace is amazing! It's free but the value is immeasurable!

Peter's New Job

There's a famous episode in the life of the disciple Simon Peter. It takes place after the resurrection of Jesus. Jesus has appeared to the disciples as a group two times, and first to the women at the tomb...another gospel also records an appearance to two people on the road to Emmaus. There may be another appearance too where Jesus tells the disciples to head to Galilee and He'll meet them there.

In the scene recorded in John 21, 7 disciples--5 of them named--follow Peter and go fishing all night when they're in Galilee. Perhaps they had exited Jerusalem out of fear; it's recorded they kept the doors locked. Perhaps they exited because they didn't know what to do next; for three years, they walked in the steps of Jesus, going where He went and their days defined by what the Rabbi did. Perhaps they were exhausted living on the spiritual edge everyday and just wanted to get back into their comfort zone--a neighborhood and profession they knew well. Perhaps they were 'running away' from 'being sent as the Father sent' Jesus.

Jesus appears on the shore after the disciples have been fishing all night and caught nothing. Though unrecognized by the disciples afloat, He suggests they've been throwing the net on the wrong side and should throw their net over the 'right side' of the boat. They catch a bunch. John recognizes Jesus. Peter gets dressed and jumps in the water to hurry to Jesus' side.

Jesus has prepared breakfast--cooked fish and bread--even before the freshly-caught fish are hauled ashore. After the meal, Jesus has a conversation with Peter...only He calls him "Simon, son of Jonah". (In Greek, so I've learned, John and Jonah look the same.) I think that "son of Jonah" is a nickname Jesus gives Simon, like the nickname "Peter" or "sons of Boanerges" for James and John. (Jesus doesn't call Andrew 'son of Jonah' so it may be unlikely that it's a family name.) Like 'sons of Boanerges' (sons of thunder), 'son of Jonah' most likely denotes that Simon Peter has characteristics similar to Jonah: running away, reluctant to love an enemy, disgusted that non-Jews could be saved, not repentant until 'hitting bottom' (3 days in the belly of a fish), not quite understanding the extent of God's love for all kinds of people.

Three times Jesus asks Simon, son of Jonah, if he loves Jesus--twice using a word that mostly means unconditional, sacrificial love. Three times Peter responds with a different word that describes friendship, affection, brotherly love. When Peter acknowledges this love, Jesus commands him to 'feed my lambs', 'shepherd my sheep', and 'feed my sheep'. The last question Jesus uses the same word for love that Peter used. Peter is grieved.

Most commentators say these triple queries was the way for Jesus to restore Peter after he denied knowing Jesus three times before the crucifixion. However, A. B. Bruce asks why Jesus waited until the third time (at least) that Jesus was with the disciples to restore Peter into good graces. Likewise, if Peter was feeling ashamed about the denials, he would more likely refrain from joining Jesus; instead, Peter enthusiastically and solely rushed to Jesus' side. He wasn't reluctant to be with Him. If I had been Peter, I would be the last one out of the boat and probably make excuses to remain apart.

I wonder if Jesus-Peter dialog, which ends with another "Follow Me", was more of an indication of Peter's reluctance to move into the next phase of apostleship.

• Stop fishing, Peter, and become a shepherd of My flock; I told you I'd teach you to become fishers of men, but now you need to feed and protect the sheep
• You might feel inadequate or incapable but push ahead
• You might not like the people to whom I'm sending you, like to the Gentiles, including a Roman centurion (or two)
• You might not like the result that those heathens will be saved

Jesus asked him three times, like the three days Jonah spent in the water. Jesus might have been saying, "Stop being like Jonah. Do what I did...but it's going to be new because I won't be around to guide you step-by-step, day-by-day. You'll need to get out of comfort zone, overcome your fear, love the people who you might think are unlovable and detestable. Even if you can't love unconditionally and sacrificially, I'll use whatever love you can muster."

Real Love

Recently, I heard a sermon in which the pastor said real love is dying for someone you'd rather kill. You sacrifice for them, giving up your desires, demands and dreams so that a detestable person has what they need. Instead of serving them, you wish they'd go away.

I'm still learning. I know that's what Christ said. Love your enemies (Luke 6.27-36). Do good to them, pray for them, bless them. Give more than they ask of you.

Carl Medearis writes that he once asked a sheik in Basra, Iraq if he knew where Jesus was. Carl and his friends had followed Jesus to Basra and wondered if the sheik had seen Him. The sheik replied, "Interesting question. No, we have not seen Jesus, but maybe the question should be, 'If He were here, what would He be doing?'" Thirty minutes later they had wrestled an answer that Jesus would be giving attention to the poor and the children and that perhaps ALL of them should be also.

Later in the conversation, after a little relationship had developed between them, Carl asked, "Do you know that if you were my enemy, that'd be a good thing for you?"

"How's that?"

"Well, Jesus says clearly to do three things with your enemies: love them, bless them and pray for them. He said that anyone can love their friend or brother, but loving an enemy seems to be a higher and more noble thing. So...you're not my enemy, but if you were, that'd be good since I'd basically be obliged by the One I follow to love, bless and pray for you."

"Well, then, you're enemy I'll be," and then with a big grin, the sheikh hugged Carl.

So here's a short list of the people I have to love, bless and pray for:

• people who think they know who God loves, likes and honors and they're in that group and you're not, and/or they're pretty vocal about who's not "in"
• people who think God only blesses the USA when it seems to me that if you asked the world what countries embody Christian values I doubt the USA would be higher on the list than Canada, Norway, Denmark and other countries that seem to take good care of their people
• people who are so self-centered, self-focused, selfish that their effect on others leaves lasting emotional, physical and spiritual damage, and they don't care
• people who think that God needs to answer their prayers about football or other sports results, parking spots, particular items being on sale, etc.
• people who assume that if you're Christian, then you MUST be Republican, or fiscally conservative, or member of certain fraternal organizations, or against all of THEM whoever them happen to be

Restoration of Job

God appeared to Job out of a whirlwind.

"Ah, Job, you have spoken true about me, but still you don't know enough...I'm not angry with you. I'm angry with your three friends. So, stand up straight, Job, a man made in My image. Let's have a conversation.

"You are correct, as you said earlier, that you can't tell the tides to move, or the wind to blow. You can't build mountains or cause rain. You're not as strong as a horse, or as fierce as a tiger. But that's not why I love you. You know about Behemoth and Leviathan, creatures so feral, monstrous, powerful and dangerous that only I, their Creator, can control them. But I don't love them. I love you.

"Stand up straight, Job, man made in My image, and let's talk. You are worthy and so I meet with you. You equated your prosperity as a sign that I consider you loved, lovable, honorable. You thought I only loved you because you were innocent. When you lost your prosperity, you felt shame, not guilt because you hadn't done anything wrong; you thought you were worthless when all was taken away. I still love you, Job. The Accuser thought you would give up on Me when I allowed your family to die, your wealth to disappear. You didn't give up on Me, but you gave up on yourself. You wait for a Redeemer to restore you worth. I will pull you out of the mud of shame, redeem and restore you.

"I don't love the innocent, the ones who sacrifice for their sins, because they're innocent and forgiven. I love the ones who understand who I am and what I want--justice, mercy, caring and open and accepting fellowship with their families, friends, neighbors, coworkers and strangers...Ones who love and care for the hungry, homeless, helpless and hopeless. Those I love.

"Now, go, pray for your stupid friends as they make sacrifices to restore their innocence."