Nine Illustrations for 2011
Illustration
Object:
Isaiah 64:1-9
When Israel received the Law, they began practicing what is called a strict purity code. This divided up all people at any one time into two categories: clean and unclean. For example, Israelites with certain disfigurements or skin diseases, who had touched a dead body, or had just given birth, would be considered unclean. As long as someone was deemed unclean, they could not participate in the Temple, the center of Jewish life and primary connection to God, and had to remain alone outside the city. The unclean were isolated from nearly all relationships and had to keep outward signs of their condition by covering their face and their hair unkempt. Whenever they were near people, they had to declare themselves "Unclean! Unclean!" When Isaiah says, then, they have all become like one who is unclean, he refers to a hopeless state of shame and chasmal separation from God and people.
Brian H.
Isaiah 64:1-9
Sometimes as a child you get into situations that you don't like and all you want is your parents. Maybe you are fighting with someone at school or daycare and all you want is mom or dad to swoop in with great wrath and ire and smite your enemies. Or, at least reprimand them a little bit. You want someone with authority, someone you trust, to come in and take care of the situation. And okay, some of it is your own fault. You know that you'll probably end up in time out or in your room when you get home, or you know you will have to do extra chores as punishment... but you don't care. All you want is your parents: to protect you, to serve justice, and to clean up the mess.
Leah T.
Isaiah 64:1-9
Thomas Jefferson was a deist. Deism rejects supernatural revelation and the intimate involvement of God in Creation. Though deists have a concept of God, they believe that reason and natural laws govern the world. This is often why deism is referred to as the "first cause." God was the principal act, the first cause, in Creation, but then distanced himself. This is also why deism is often referred to as the "clockmaker god." Just as one winds up a clock and lets it run its course, they believe that God wound up Creation and similarly let it tick off on its own.
Jefferson took this belief to such an extreme that he edited his own gospel. He removed all references to the supernatural and miracles and kept in his gospel only the teachings of Jesus as they related to interpersonal relationships. Yet in the closing years of his life Jefferson came to believe in prayer and life after death. This is hardly the theological affirmations of a deist. It demonstrates that, in time, Jefferson's views became more orthodox.
Isaiah says, "You are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are the work of your hand." Throughout Jefferson's life, God never gave up on the molding process.
Ron L.
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
It's always tough waiting for the big reveal. Think about the tense moments on television as the audience awaits the winner of American Idol or Survivor. Or we wait to see who our favorite NFL team will pick in the college draft. Or we wait for that amazing new movie we've heard so much about. In those moments, we have no idea what's coming next.
In Advent, however, we know what the reveal is. We wait with baited breath for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is still a difficult wait, but we have his Spirit to sustain us until then (v. 8).
Craig K.
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
According to the apostle Paul, God has given "spiritual gifts" to the church. One of these gifts is to communicate knowledge and wisdom to others.
Jurgen Moltmann, one of the great German theologians of the late twentieth century, tells of the turning point in his life. Near the end of World War II he was pressed into military service by the Nazis. He was soon captured by British troops and spent the next four years in a prison camp. One day an American chaplain came by, giving out Bibles. Moltmann longed to read something, almost anything. He accepted the Bible and within the pages of this book Jesus' dying on the cross especially struck him in his loneliness and fear. He began to envision a new future for himself shaped by God's everlasting love.
This unknown American chaplain became instrumental through sharing his spiritual gift of knowledge and wisdom in motivating a young soldier who later developed a theology of hope that has blessed many people.
Richard H.
Mark 13:24-37
At first, it's fun to keep watch. It's like New Year's Eve as a child: there's a party, and there's lots of pizza, and your parents are having a great time and using the fancy glasses from the china cupboard. You get to play games and watch a big party on television and there are more pretzels and chips than you can possibly fit in your stomach -- although that doesn't stop you from trying. You eat dinner and blow party horns and wear pointy hats. And it gets to be later... and later... It's past your bedtime. And then it's long past your bedtime. And even though it's so exciting to stay awake this late, and you can't wait to throw confetti and watch the ball drop, like your parents and siblings keep talking about, you just... can't... quite... keep... your eyes... open....
Leah T.
Mark 13:24-37
When parents leave their children home alone for the evening for the first time, this can be a substantial test of their obedience. Movies and television shows for decades have shown what happens when teenagers experience the freedom of their parents' absence and forget that their parents could always come back sooner than expected. It always seems to happen that Mom and Dad call home and say, "Something happened. We'll be back in half an hour," and a comical scene follows in which all of the kids scramble to get the house cleaned up and back in order. A servant waiting for his master was in a similar position. He could take it easy and play being master himself but he would be expected to manage the house in the master's absence and be ready to greet him at the door the moment of his arrival.
Brian H.
Mark 13:24-37
What is the connection between Mark's depiction of the last day and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? An old comparison from World War II might shed some light on this question. D-Day, the beginning of the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, was the decisive event in the war. This particular feat did not end the war but it did signify the end was in sight. V-Day came in 1945.
Likewise, the coming of Jesus in his life, death, and resurrection did not bring total victory over the forces of evil but it did foretell evil's ultimate defeat. The cross and resurrection were decisive turning points that unleashed the power of love that continues to have transforming effect upon individuals and communities. Its ultimate victory is still in the future, at the last day.
In the meantime, people of faith are called upon to "keep awake" and be on the lookout for God's intervention at any time.
Richard H.
Mark 13:24-37
In the past, common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards -- but it was only applicable to the "Ace of Spades." To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't "playing with a full deck."
Jesus taught that no one knows the day or time that he shall return on the clouds of heaven to judge the world and establish his kingdom. He then emphasized this didactic teaching with a parable. Jesus told the story of a wealthy man who went on a journey, leaving his servant in charge. As the servant would not know when the employer would return, the servant would always have to be watchful. The servant would always have to be alert and dare not be found asleep.
Not playing with a full deck has taken on a new meaning since the expression was originated. It now means someone who is not in the game. It is someone who is not aware of the rules. It is someone who is not perceptive of his or her surroundings. When it comes to serving Jesus, let us always be sure that we are alert. Let us always be sure we are playing with a full deck.
Ron L.
When Israel received the Law, they began practicing what is called a strict purity code. This divided up all people at any one time into two categories: clean and unclean. For example, Israelites with certain disfigurements or skin diseases, who had touched a dead body, or had just given birth, would be considered unclean. As long as someone was deemed unclean, they could not participate in the Temple, the center of Jewish life and primary connection to God, and had to remain alone outside the city. The unclean were isolated from nearly all relationships and had to keep outward signs of their condition by covering their face and their hair unkempt. Whenever they were near people, they had to declare themselves "Unclean! Unclean!" When Isaiah says, then, they have all become like one who is unclean, he refers to a hopeless state of shame and chasmal separation from God and people.
Brian H.
Isaiah 64:1-9
Sometimes as a child you get into situations that you don't like and all you want is your parents. Maybe you are fighting with someone at school or daycare and all you want is mom or dad to swoop in with great wrath and ire and smite your enemies. Or, at least reprimand them a little bit. You want someone with authority, someone you trust, to come in and take care of the situation. And okay, some of it is your own fault. You know that you'll probably end up in time out or in your room when you get home, or you know you will have to do extra chores as punishment... but you don't care. All you want is your parents: to protect you, to serve justice, and to clean up the mess.
Leah T.
Isaiah 64:1-9
Thomas Jefferson was a deist. Deism rejects supernatural revelation and the intimate involvement of God in Creation. Though deists have a concept of God, they believe that reason and natural laws govern the world. This is often why deism is referred to as the "first cause." God was the principal act, the first cause, in Creation, but then distanced himself. This is also why deism is often referred to as the "clockmaker god." Just as one winds up a clock and lets it run its course, they believe that God wound up Creation and similarly let it tick off on its own.
Jefferson took this belief to such an extreme that he edited his own gospel. He removed all references to the supernatural and miracles and kept in his gospel only the teachings of Jesus as they related to interpersonal relationships. Yet in the closing years of his life Jefferson came to believe in prayer and life after death. This is hardly the theological affirmations of a deist. It demonstrates that, in time, Jefferson's views became more orthodox.
Isaiah says, "You are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are the work of your hand." Throughout Jefferson's life, God never gave up on the molding process.
Ron L.
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
It's always tough waiting for the big reveal. Think about the tense moments on television as the audience awaits the winner of American Idol or Survivor. Or we wait to see who our favorite NFL team will pick in the college draft. Or we wait for that amazing new movie we've heard so much about. In those moments, we have no idea what's coming next.
In Advent, however, we know what the reveal is. We wait with baited breath for the coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. It is still a difficult wait, but we have his Spirit to sustain us until then (v. 8).
Craig K.
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
According to the apostle Paul, God has given "spiritual gifts" to the church. One of these gifts is to communicate knowledge and wisdom to others.
Jurgen Moltmann, one of the great German theologians of the late twentieth century, tells of the turning point in his life. Near the end of World War II he was pressed into military service by the Nazis. He was soon captured by British troops and spent the next four years in a prison camp. One day an American chaplain came by, giving out Bibles. Moltmann longed to read something, almost anything. He accepted the Bible and within the pages of this book Jesus' dying on the cross especially struck him in his loneliness and fear. He began to envision a new future for himself shaped by God's everlasting love.
This unknown American chaplain became instrumental through sharing his spiritual gift of knowledge and wisdom in motivating a young soldier who later developed a theology of hope that has blessed many people.
Richard H.
Mark 13:24-37
At first, it's fun to keep watch. It's like New Year's Eve as a child: there's a party, and there's lots of pizza, and your parents are having a great time and using the fancy glasses from the china cupboard. You get to play games and watch a big party on television and there are more pretzels and chips than you can possibly fit in your stomach -- although that doesn't stop you from trying. You eat dinner and blow party horns and wear pointy hats. And it gets to be later... and later... It's past your bedtime. And then it's long past your bedtime. And even though it's so exciting to stay awake this late, and you can't wait to throw confetti and watch the ball drop, like your parents and siblings keep talking about, you just... can't... quite... keep... your eyes... open....
Leah T.
Mark 13:24-37
When parents leave their children home alone for the evening for the first time, this can be a substantial test of their obedience. Movies and television shows for decades have shown what happens when teenagers experience the freedom of their parents' absence and forget that their parents could always come back sooner than expected. It always seems to happen that Mom and Dad call home and say, "Something happened. We'll be back in half an hour," and a comical scene follows in which all of the kids scramble to get the house cleaned up and back in order. A servant waiting for his master was in a similar position. He could take it easy and play being master himself but he would be expected to manage the house in the master's absence and be ready to greet him at the door the moment of his arrival.
Brian H.
Mark 13:24-37
What is the connection between Mark's depiction of the last day and the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus? An old comparison from World War II might shed some light on this question. D-Day, the beginning of the invasion of Normandy on June 6, 1944, was the decisive event in the war. This particular feat did not end the war but it did signify the end was in sight. V-Day came in 1945.
Likewise, the coming of Jesus in his life, death, and resurrection did not bring total victory over the forces of evil but it did foretell evil's ultimate defeat. The cross and resurrection were decisive turning points that unleashed the power of love that continues to have transforming effect upon individuals and communities. Its ultimate victory is still in the future, at the last day.
In the meantime, people of faith are called upon to "keep awake" and be on the lookout for God's intervention at any time.
Richard H.
Mark 13:24-37
In the past, common entertainment included playing cards. However, there was a tax levied when purchasing playing cards -- but it was only applicable to the "Ace of Spades." To avoid paying the tax, people would purchase 51 cards instead. Since most games require 52 cards, these people were thought to be stupid or dumb because they weren't "playing with a full deck."
Jesus taught that no one knows the day or time that he shall return on the clouds of heaven to judge the world and establish his kingdom. He then emphasized this didactic teaching with a parable. Jesus told the story of a wealthy man who went on a journey, leaving his servant in charge. As the servant would not know when the employer would return, the servant would always have to be watchful. The servant would always have to be alert and dare not be found asleep.
Not playing with a full deck has taken on a new meaning since the expression was originated. It now means someone who is not in the game. It is someone who is not aware of the rules. It is someone who is not perceptive of his or her surroundings. When it comes to serving Jesus, let us always be sure that we are alert. Let us always be sure we are playing with a full deck.
Ron L.
