I want to start today with something Jill brought up in the comments of Day One. She was talking about Jesus being part of the family, with brothers, sisters and parents, not all who believed he was the Savior. Day Two talks about this quite a bit in the beginning and I think this is where the idea of Him living in a family began to really hit home with me.
Can you imagine having the SON OF GOD as your brother? In Mark 3: 31-35 when his brothers come looking for him and Jesus looks up and doesn't even know who the people are talking about? Can you imagine not being recognized by your child (if you were Mary) or by your brother? Talk about family dynamic!
Had this been me, I would have reacted with much anger, much hurt and much jealousy. When you love someone so very much and they seem to not even notice you, it's painful. And the family of Jesus, aside from Mary and Joseph, had not been told by God that He was who He was. To the siblings, he must have just seemed a holier than thou brother...I can't even imagine trying to live up to that standard.
My absolute favorite part of the Day Two lesson, is on page 21 where she begins to talk about James becoming a follower of Christ. In my mind, it is so hard to wrap it around going from loathing and disdaining a sibling, to the understanding that He is the Christ. And then Beth says, "The power of the resurrection trumps the power of the past if we are willing to let it."
This statement hits me. The resurrection of Christ eliminates the power of my past. Resentments, anger, hurts, sins. ELIMINATES. They are no more. How often do I need to be reminded of this. How often is this the only thing that I can cling to for the day. There is so much hope in that statement and it is modeled through James believing in his brother.
What do you think would have made James feel awkward about joining the apostolic group after his previous disbelief?
For me, just knowing that everyone else knew how openly he did not believe in Jesus, all of his life.
If you are comfortable, share a time when you faced feeling awkward, battling with doing what God was calling you to do.
There was a time, after a particular camping trip (I know you guys have heard this a million times, so I won't go into details) where I wanted so badly to hide away from those who had hurt me. Instead, I opened up my home to every person involved in that incident and held a bible study with and for them. I did not want to, but I felt like I needed to. Looking back it was that bible study that Jill started coming to, which built our friendship and brought both of you girls into my life during a time when I really needed Godly friends. Had I not battled the awkward and refused to hold that bible study, I'm sure that things would be so much different and perhaps I would not be where I am today in my relationship with Christ. (So thank you both, for being those friends who loved me through that very difficult time :) )
Your turn. Share here or in the comments what Day Two brought to you.
Jill:
ReplyDeleteIn regards to the personal question: That one seems obvious to me. Poor James, no one likes to be wrong, especially wrong over such an important issue. So he had to put his tail between his legs, admit he was wrong and go with the group who knew he was the Christ, and here James was Jesus own brother. That must have taken all the strength he could muster admitting he was wrong and Then become a follower. I actually kind of like that. I love how God works. Think about that for a minute. James (Jesus own brother) at 1st he along with his other brothers "thinks he lost his mind". Then becomes a follower. That actually makes me feel better. James grew up with Jesus, slept next to him, saw him in the flesh, was able to touch him, smell him, etc and he didnt believe. And here we all are 2000 years later with out that opportunity and if I struggle and think I feel God abandoned me at times, I can now remember James, and how he didnt believe either, But then Jesus came to him AND ALL THE OTHERS THAT NEEDED HIM, and that actually makes me feel better. I am liking the picture I am starting to see of James, maybe because I can relate to him.
As for describing a time when feeling awkward batting with doing what God was calling me to do. I dont have as amazing story as Emily does. The only thing I can think of is this: I went to Catholic schools from K-12th grade. Once in High School Religion class (which was always Catholic catechism class) I had to write a paper about Christianity (oh and I had a Nun for a teacher). I wrote a paper on Full Bible Christians (as I called them) and challenged what Catholics teach and showed how certain Catholic things were not in the bible. I was incredibly shy back then and had a difficult time speaking to people. Well this Nun berated me in front of the entire class ( I was holding back the tears). But after class ended some kids came to me and told me they never knew about the information that I had presented in my paper. So that was nice. But as a side note, Emily I just want to let you know that Bible Study you gave, Changed my life. I hope you know that. Not only did you and I become so close but my walk with God changed, it was something I needed so badly, and I thank you for that my dear friend.
I also love that section on page 21 talking about the power of the resurrection. I felt like all the air was taken out of me when I let the meaning of that sink in. How truly amazing. I also liked the last sentence in that paragraph: "How will we ever press onward through the hot winds of hell if we cant even get past awkward" That was also profound for me.
I have a question. On page 22 right before the last paragraph she is asking us a question and I am not sure what she is wanting here. "What range of elements might have been involved in there account to James and the brothers 'about this'. Think Broadly and list possibilities here" Any insight on this? I am kind of lost on this one.
The past couple of days at work all I can think of is getting home so I can do my bible study.
Lisa:
ReplyDeleteHey Girls! You'd never know it, but I am actually a day ahead on my study, but today just turned into one of those days... Everything is fine, but we spent close to 2 hours at the pediatrician's office, most of the time waiting for Isabella to go potty. We thought she had another UTI (she just finished meds last week for a UTI), but it doesn't look like that's what it is. They've already MRI'd her kidneys, and they're fine, and she seems to be alright, but, needless to say, that ate up a chunk of the day. So, I apologize. My goal is to type up my answers during nap time. I will try again tomorrow.
Here we go:
Awkward James:
I would think that he had to feel somewhat unqualified, as well as embarrassed. He had denied his brother while he was alive, and here he was, with hundreds of people who believed Jesus, followed him, and often times denied their own families because they knew he was the Son of God. But, he may not have known that many of these men denied Christ, including Peter. So, although that may not have helped James, it probably helped the apostles and disciples welcome James into a position of leadership.
My awkward moment:
In college all of my friends - and I mean ALL - were engaged. Our senior year we probably spent as much, if not more time, planning weddings than on school. This was really difficult for me because my plan went as follows:
1. Go to college
2. Graduate
3. Get married (the summer or fall after graduation)
4. Get a job teaching
5. Have a baby at 25
6. Be done with baby making before 30
God's plan, although absolutely AMAZING was totally different from mine - except for number one.
In desperation, I did as any frantic young woman would do. I allowed a relationship to come to fruition. Dave and I had been friends since our freshmen year, and had a somewhat on-again, off-again thing. We never did anything more than kissing, but we always had a lot of fun together, and he was an easy target because he wanted to be more than friends and I knew that.
The awkward part is coming...
I knew what I was doing was wrong. I knew that he was not who God had planned for me, but I wanted so badly to get married, and I knew he would marry me. So, I figured that one can't be convicted if one doesn't pray about it. And so I didn't pray about it.
But, it turns out, one can be convicted without prayer. I became miserable. And everything he did annoyed me.
I finally prayed about it, and no shocker here, God told me, almost plain as day, "BREAK UP WITH HIM!"
And so I did. And the relief was immediate. And I was free! I now look back and feel so bad for what I put him through. I was truly in love with me, and thought we would live in wedded bliss. But, I know I did the right thing.
To answer your question, Jill, I wasn't exactly sure either. I wrote about the angel and how Peter thought it was a dream. I thought that different accounts may have relayed fear, excitement, optimism, and pure exhilaration. But I'm not sure that's what Beth was looking for.
Emily: I struggled with that question as well and didn't actually come up with any answers. I just have to say that I love coming and reading what you both have to say. I love how much the study hits us in different places and also that in some places we feel the same way about it! Jill I love your comments about how even the one who was closest to Jesus didn't see him as the Savior. You're right in that it totally gives us hope all of these years later. I love that reminder. Lisa, Hope Isabella is doing okay tonight!
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