"Revealed in Rejection" International Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending January 31, 2010

Purpose: To acknowledge that Jesus' message challenges our presuppositions and demands a response

Scripture Text: Matthew 13:54-58 (NRSV)

Matthew 13:54-58
(54) He came to his home town and began to teach the people in their synagogue, so that they were astounded and said, ‘Where did this man get this wisdom and these deeds of power? (55)Is not this the carpenter’s son? Is not his mother called Mary? And are not his brothers James and Joseph and Simon and Judas? (56)And are not all his sisters with us? Where then did this man get all this?’ (57)And they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, ‘Prophets are not without honour except in their own country and in their own house.’ (58)And he did not do many deeds of power there, because of their unbelief.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

One of my favorite pastors used to say, “The most difficult part about preaching is thinking you can say anything that will impress your wife.” It is difficult to make an impression with those that know you best. That is the situation Jesus is in when he returns to his hometown of Nazareth. After the Diaspora, synagogues were established in almost all Jewish communities, and they were the cultural center as well as a center for teaching and sharing in the history of the Jewish people.

Jesus had probably attended the synagogue many times as a boy and young man, but prior to this he had never been asked to read from the scripture as far as we can tell. I experience some of the same thing when I return to my own little country church and the little “snotty nosed kids” that I knew when I was a young man are now the leaders of the congregation.

It is hard for us to accept that people are anything different than what we remember. When my wife and I were first married we went to a small church, but this small church was the home church for one of the leading evangelist in America at the time. He was known in church circles all over the world but if he happened to be home on a Sunday and chose not to come to church, he was the biggest sinner in town, according to some members. Of course, he felt, if he came, the pastor would automatically ask him to preach that morning, and he could not win.

In order to get a better understanding of this event you need to read it in Luke 4:16-30, in that passage we find that Jesus read from Isaiah 61:1-2a, which says "The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and release to the prisoners; to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favour,” When he had finished reading the passage he sat down and simply said, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus had just told them he was the fulfillment of Isaiah’s prophecy and they should recognize that he had done all of the things mentioned in this passage. Of course this created quite a stir amongst the congregation and the leaders of the synagogue. They knew very well he was the brother of James, Joseph, Simon and Jude and his sisters, and the son of Mary, in fact wasn't he a carpenter's son. Where does Jesus get off trying to pass himself off as something other than what he was; “a carpenter's son.”

Probably for the same reason, our home town evangelist, never held evangelistic meetings in our church, Jesus “did not do many deeds of power” in the Nazareth community. It is difficult for us, because of our presuppositions, to receive the message that God is trying to communicate to us. Maybe that is why we hate to hear even constructive criticism from friends and family, we cannot separate the message from the messenger. We pay good money to hire a stranger to tell us what our friends and family already knows about us. Jesus could perform miracles and interpret scripture, but in Nazareth he will always be a carpenter's son. We should not make the same mistake! Jesus was God incarnate, and He came to redeem mankind and to proclaim “the year of the Lord's favour,” He came to us and He brought God's grace with him; the long-suffering Jesus became one of us. The fact that Jesus did not finish the passage from Isaiah that says “and the day of vengeance of our God” shows both his grace and His coming again, as judge.

If you read the entire story from Luke you will see it was not just Nazareth, but Jesus refers to the entire Jewish nation, when he speaks of the fact that there were many widows in Israel when Elijah went to Sidon to minister to a widow there, and there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, but none was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian. Jesus is preparing them for the fact that He has come to the entire world, not just to Nazareth and Israel. Just as Nazareth rejects Jesus, so does all of Israel. Do you get it?

Declared in Prayer: Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending January 24, 2010

Purpose: To embrace Christ's offer to know God and God's way through him.

Scripture Text: Matthew 11:25-30 (NRSV)

Matthew 11:25-30
(25) At that time Jesus said, ‘I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; (26) yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. (27)All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.

(28) ‘Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens and I will give you rest. (29)Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. (30)For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.’

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

Have you ever felt like you are getting nowhere? In the verses preceding our text (verse 20-24) Jesus is taking some time to reflect on his accomplishments and the response of the people He has ministered to. Jesus is in a rut and His ministry seems to be ineffective. It is a situation familiar to many churches today, an ineffective ministry. Jesus even goes so far as comparing his ministry to that of John the Baptist. John had been very effective at getting people to repent and change their ways, but Jesus, was disappointed His healing and miracles were not causing people to change their lives or repent. The people liked the show, but they were not interested in the message. Jesus goes so far as to say if Sodom had seen these miracles they would have been spared the destruction. In today's lingo we would say Jesus has hit a plateau, maybe he should have a focus group and reset His priorities. Instead of a focus group Jesus does what we should all do, He went to praying.

Jesus did not need to refocus, He only needed to converse with the Father and go over the things that were decided before He came to earth as a babe and a miracle worker. He realized that the smarter people think they are, the less likely they are to trust and believe in a God that can redeem and heal. The people Jesus was trying to minister to were too smart to learn. They knew the law and they knew what was expected as intellectual Jews. Jesus declares that the things of God have been hidden from the wise and intelligent. And instead of the academic community receiving the message it will be given to those that do not have the formal training, but rather to those that can accept these teachings and miracles as an infant, with no preconceived ideas of how God chooses to work. He goes on and says “nobody knows the Father, like the Son and nobody knows the Son, like the Father,” (my paraphrase) except those chosen by the Son to receive this revelation. So the question is; how do we become chosen?

I think Jesus answers that in the next verses, when He says, “Come to me, all you that are weary and carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.” One of the burdens the Jews were carrying was Moses' law had been expanded to 613 commandments and a host of precise rulings on those commandments. These 613 commandments had removed a lot of the spiritual enthusiasm. Maybe the same is true for our churches and our own lives, maybe as some have said, “we have become so heavenly minded, we are no earthly good.” Maybe our churches, with all of their enlightened learning, have lost the enthusiasm that comes from simply trusting and believing. Probably the quenching of enthusiasm has done more to destroy churches and denominations than anything else.

If you could go back to the very best years of The Methodist movement, you would find very few ordained trained pastors, but rather a host of enthusiastic lay pastors going everywhere spreading the gospel without the academics that is considered necessary today, yet it was the most fruitful time in the history of the church. Have we become too smart for our own good? I don't think it is a coincidence that the more education the less likely they “come to me.” Individuals that have obtained high degrees of learning, tend to depend on their own ability Jesus says, “Take my yoke... and learn from me.”

Sunday School Lesson: Demonstrated in Acts of Healing

International Sunday School Lesson For Week Ending January 17, 2010

Purpose: To discern in the healing presence of Christ the fulfillment of our human nature.

Scripture Text: Matthew 9:27-34; 11:2-6 (NRSV)

Matthew 9:27-34; 11:2-6
(27) As Jesus went on from there, two blind men followed him, crying loudly, ‘Have mercy on us, Son of David! (28)When he entered the house, the blind men came to him; and Jesus said to them, ‘Do you believe that I am able to do this?’ They said to him, ‘Yes, Lord.’ (29)Then he touched their eyes and said, ‘According to your faith let it be done to you.’ (30)And their eyes were opened. Then Jesus sternly ordered them, ‘See that no one knows of this.’ (31)But they went away and spread the news about him throughout that district.

(32) After they had gone away, a demoniac who was mute was brought to him. (33) When the demon had been cast out, the one who had been mute spoke; and the crowds were amazed and said, ‘Never has anything like this been seen in Israel.’ (34)But the Pharisees said, ‘By the ruler of the demons he casts out the demons.’

Matthew 11:2-6
(2) When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples (3)and said to him, ‘Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another? (4)Jesus answered them, ‘Go and tell John what you hear and see: (5)the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. (6)And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.’

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

In order for us to fully appreciate this passage we need a sense of timing as far as Jesus earthly ministry is concerned. Today's text takes place after the “Sermon, on the Mount” but before the sending forth of His disciples. John the Baptist has been imprisoned and almost Jesus’ entire ministry, at this time, has taken place in Galilee. All of this is probably in the first year of Jesus’ earthly ministry. In total it takes about 1-1/2 years for Jesus to complete the call for His disciples, the call of our writer Matthew is recorded in verse 9 of chapter 9. Immediately preceding our text Jesus raises Jarius’ daughter and heals the women with an issue of blood (probably continual hemorrhaging) and then we get to our text.

Jesus ability to perform miracles of healing and even raising of the dead has made him a very popular figure around the northern area of the Sea of Galilee. It seems almost everybody has heard of the miracles and of His teaching, because of His sermon on the mountainside. The healing that Jesus does in our text is interesting because they come to people without hope. Anyone with any sort of disability was an outcast, and could not worship in the temple, indeed they were all considered social outcast in first century Judea and Galilee. The plight of those afflicted was believed to be God's judgment on them. Jesus later dispels this belief when He heals a man blind from birth. (John 9:2) In that light, it is easy to appreciate the courage that these two had in calling out to Jesus, and in Jesus compassionate response. In crying out “Have mercy on us, Son of David,” the greeting “Son of David” would have been messianic. Those around them may have thought they were asking for “alms” as in David's son Solomon, but Jesus knew that wanted to be healed. Notice the importance of faith and believing as Jesus grants their request. Jesus asks a simple question, “Do you believe I am able?” And then says, “According to your faith let it be done.”

The next case gets a little more complicated, the man is demon possessed and also a mute, or more likely a deaf mute. After Jesus cast out the demon and heals the man, immediately the Pharisees pounce, because they realize Jesus' popularity could get out of hand. As in that day, today too, the most devastating obstacle to the progress of Christianity has been the ruthless corruption at the hands of its own promoters, almost to the point that Christianity is hardly recognizable. How we have strayed from Jesus' teachings on the mount. Unless we are willing to practice what Jesus taught, it is useless to call ourselves Christians.

In the last part of our lesson from chapter 11, we find John the Baptist in a situation where his belief and understanding of what the Messiah was going to accomplish and what he saw Jesus doing was at odds. John was looking for the liberator as promised in Zechariah 9:11, a divine warrior who would set the prisoners free. (As for you also, because of the blood of my covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit.)

As close as John was to Jesus and as in-tuned as he was to God, he still looked for something other than what was sent. Why was he still in prison? Didn't Jesus care? or maybe Jesus was not the Messiah, as John had thought. Its funny how, like John, we think it is all about us. Jesus on the other hand, gives John all the proof he needs to recognize that Jesus is the Messiah, but not so much that John does not have to exercise his own faith and realization that Jesus mission involved more than setting one prisoner free, even if he was a close relative and a man of God. Which should be a lesson for all of us, we might be called to suffer and sacrifice for the cause of Christ.

In a few chapters Matthew has shown Jesus command of nature, on the seas, healing, raising of the dead and casting out demons, and responding to John's inquiry. Today we do not hear a lot about healing, but I am sure most of you read of the Hermanstorfers of Colorado, who lost both the life of the mother and the baby for several minutes. The Doctors were sure of the death of both, but miraculously both came back to life in an unexplainable moment. By nature we are all skeptics, but we need to ask the question. Do you think Christ is able? Then, what is my roll in your kingdom? You might be chosen to be the one healed, or the one that suffers for the cause, always knowing that Christ is able. Our healing may come at the close of our life when we will be made like Him, perfect.

Strengthened in Temptation: Sunday School Lesson

International Sunday School Lesson
For Week Ending January 10, 2010

Purpose: To realize that in Christ we can defeat our temptation and cling to the will of God.

Scripture Text: Matthew 4:1-11 (NRSV)

Matthew 4:1-11
(1)Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (2)He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was famished. (3)The tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ (4)But he answered, ‘It is written, “One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” ’

(5) Then the devil took him to the holy city and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, (6)saying to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down; for it is written, “He will command his angels concerning you”, and “On their hands they will bear you up,
so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.” ’

(7)Jesus said to him, ‘Again it is written, “Do not put the Lord your God to the test.” ’
(8) Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor; (9)and he said to him, ‘All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.’ (10)Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! For it is written,
“Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.” ’ (11)Then the devil left him, and suddenly angels came and waited on him.

My Thoughts by Burgess Walter

My approach to this story might be different than most you may have heard. Certainly Jesus is both the means and example for those wishing to overcome temptation. But let's look at this passage from Jesus' point of view and understanding.

Evidence tells us that Jesus was aware of His mission, and understood that He was the Messiah. But, what if at that moment after His baptism, Jesus begins to recall His Pre-incarnation Knowledge. He along with the Father had planned this all out in heaven prior to the Incarnation, but at what point would Jesus' mind allow Him to remember His prior existence or it would be revealed to Him by the Holy Spirit. Jesus was “led up by the Spirit”, and from the first time that Jesus saw His mission till Golgotha, Jesus reaction was not unlike both Moses and Elijah who joined Him on the Mount of Transfiguration. Both Moses and Elijah had unusual deaths, if in fact they ever experienced death, as we know it. Both had fasted for forty days; Jesus would also join them in fasting for forty days.

Jesus in Pre-Incarnation knew who Satan, the tempter, the devil, was, but whether this was an appearance in person or in the mind and thoughts of Jesus we are not clear. After forty days of fasting, Jesus was attacked at His weakest point at that time, hunger. We know that Jesus could produce bread, because He did that to feed the five thousand, but this was not about Jesus doing something for mankind, but rather a selfish act of simply feeding himself. Jesus' temptation was similar to one's we face, being selfish and putting our comfort and self satisfaction before others and before our mission or calling. Only Jesus and the tempter knew that caving in to this desire or thought would disqualify Jesus for His mission.

The two then traveled in spirit to Jerusalem and the temple, where now the devil is quoting the scripture. Did the forty days of fasting and prayer have an effect on Jesus view of Himself and His mission? Was there a way He could avoid the cross? Interesting that one of Jesus best friends, James, the brother of John the beloved, would later be thrown from this very pinnacle of the temple and suffer a humiliating death, and no one came and saved him. Jesus knew His mission was to save the world, but how? Could He do it with miracles and marvelous powers or would He have to do it at the cross as He and the Father had planned?

At the next scene, the devil takes Jesus, whether in mind or in person, to a high mountain outside of Jericho, and displayed the world before Him and promised it all to Jesus, if He would just worship the devil. Imagine for a moment the power and respect Jesus could have had if He had chosen to use His powers for showing off and convincing men to follow Him because of these miraculous powers which he possessed or even compelling men to follow Him.
It may have been that all of the temptations Jesus faced were about avoiding the cross, usurping the plan put together by the Heavenly team of Father, Son and Holy Spirit. But in facing these temptations, He also overcame what many of us face in selfishness, vanity, greed, materialism, secular power and thrill seeking.

Three men in scripture fasted for forty days, Moses, Elijah and Jesus. They represent the Law, the Prophets, and the Messiah. The location of Jesus’ temptation took place where He could see Mt. Sinai, where Moses fasted, and Elijah was on his way to the same mountain when he fasted for forty days, No wonder God was so pleased when they reunited on the Mount of Transfiguration, and declared victory over Satan. Companions in suffering would soon become companions in glory.

Do you think Jesus was impressed with what the devil showed Him, when He had seen it from a different view?


The devil wanted Jesus to compel obedience; Jesus wants to change our hearts. Our choice is to yield to our desires, or allow our desires to be changed. Where is your heart? What are your priorities for the New Year?