Author Archives: Galen Mason

              All four gospel writers tell us about the ministry of John the Baptist. He had two main points of focus: first, a baptism of repentance for the confession of sins, and secondly, the promise that the One to come (the Messiah) would baptize with the Holy Spirit. (Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, and John 1:33; notice that two of the writers say “the Holy Spirit and fire”!)

              As the opening action of His earthly ministry, Jesus came to John to be baptized. John protested, “I have need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” (Mt. 3:14) However, Jesus told John it was necessary. “After being baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove and lighting on Him, and behold a voice out of the heavens said, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.’” (Mt. 3:16-17)

              We might expect that Jesus and John were both excited and overwhelmed and the people around might also be amazed. However, the very next verse unexpectedly says, “Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil” (Mt. 4:1)! What?! Would we not expect the Holy Spirit to give instant power and miracles, or powerful preaching as the immediate result? But instead, it almost sounds like the Holy Spirit and the devil are working together! Impossible! I agree. The phrasing of Scripture here is interesting, though. The devil isn’t smart enough to know that God can and does override his evil intentions to bring about good! Let’s follow the events here!

              Luke is the writer that gives us an interesting insight. Immediately after his account of the temptations of Jesus, he states, “And Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit …” (Lk. 4:14). The pattern is this: filled with the Spirit, tempted and tested by the enemy, then experiencing the power of the Spirit. Worked for Jesus and will work for you and me, too! Expect it. First, the Holy Spirit convinces us that we are sinners and brings on us feelings of guilt, sorrow, and shame. The result will hopefully be true repentance and the confession of our sins as we ask the Lord to forgive us. His promise is not only to forgive us but to then cleanse us from all that is unrighteous, 1 John 1:9! Then, as the Holy Spirit begins His work in us, we will go through times of testing and temptation. (And by the way, this is not a one-time event; it will happen again and again. Just saying.) The result will be a greater power in our lives, power to conquer temptation, to live godly lives, and to share with others how God is at work in us. Yay!

Are you repentant, forgiven, and ready for God’s power to work in you?

As I was preparing to study the Sermon on the Mount, I was comparing the manner in which the four gospels each begin. I looked at Matthew’s gospel and was caught by the titles of Jesus; Matthew begins by telling us who He is! “… Jesus the Messiah (Christ), the son of David, the son of Abraham …” (Mt. 1:1), “… you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (1:21), and fulfilling a prophecy “… ‘THEY SHALL CALL HIS NAME IMMANUEL,’ which translated means ‘GOD WITH US,’” (1:23), and “… King of the Jews” (2:2).

Mark’s gospel is fast on the takeoff. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mk. 1:1). Don’t miss that statement, Jesus is the “Son of God.” Mark skips the whole Christmas story with Gabriel’s visit to Zacharias and even to Mary! Jumps past the birth of John and of Jesus! (If you want Christmas, you’ll have to read Luke 1 and 2 and Matthew 1 and 2.) After that first verse, telling us just who Jesus is, Mark relates the ministry of John the Baptist and tells us that Jesus was also baptized by John. After only thirteen verses, Mark begins relating the ministry of Jesus, calling His message, “… the gospel of God” (Mk. 1:14).

Luke gives the logical approach, “… it seemed fitting for me … having investigated everything carefully … to write it out for you in consecutive order … so that you may know the exact truth about the things you have been taught” (Lk. 1:1-4). He then begins with the angel Gabriel’s visit to the elderly priest Zacharias and spends two full chapters to cover the birth of Jesus and a short story of how Mary and Joseph lost Jesus at the Temple when He was twelve. Only then did Luke jump into the ministry of John the Baptist and all that followed, offering a similar account along the lines of both Matthew and Mark.

John’s gospel, however, begins with an entirely different approach, and a different title for Jesus; “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” (Jn. 1:1). Then, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us …” (Jn. 1:14). That’s his version of the Christmas story. No details of angels, stars, shepherds, or stables. Simply, “… the Word became flesh …” It isn’t until the 17^th verse that John even mentions the name Jesus; “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”

Matthew seems to be writing particularly for a Jewish audience while Luke writes for the non-Jews, the Gentiles, which is appropriate since Luke himself is not a Jew. Scholars seem to think that Mark was using the Apostle Simon Peter as his primary source, and his gospel moves fast. It’s mostly action and jumps from one incident to another in quick succession. John, on the other hand, wrote his gospel many years after the others were written and his primary purpose is stated in John 20:31, “… these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ (the Messiah), the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.”

As with all of Scripture, these four accounts were written by humans, but the writing process was overseen by God Himself! He intends for all of us to be able to know who Jesus is, why He came, why He died! He wants us to know and believe that Jesus died for us on a Roman cross, was buried and then raised from the dead on the third day! All of this was done to provide you and me with the opportunity to be saved from our sins, become new creations in Christ Jesus, and look forward to an eternity with God when all things will be made new and good again! Let’s be getting ready!

(I will get to the Sermon on the Mount but have a little ground to cover first. Smile.)

I’ve wondered how much they knew of what awaited them when they began following Jesus. At first there were only four of them, these men whom Jesus called, two sets of brothers, all commercial fishermen. Seems maybe a strange choice for men who would change the world! They were Simon Peter and his brother Andrew, then James and John the sons of Zebedee. Jesus called them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Mt. 4:19). Of Peter and Andrew, it is said, “Immediately they left their nets and followed Him” (Mt. 4:20), and of James and John, “Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him” (Mt. 4:22).

Immediately! Did they really know who He was? What He was really asking? Or what He was calling them to do, to be, to become? Did they even know who He was?

The writer of these words I’ve quoted, Matthew, was a former tax collector for the Roman Empire and hated by his fellow citizens. He was also a follower of Jesus but came on the scene sometime later. He wrote this account at least twenty years later, and at that point he knew exactly who Jesus was!

Let’s look at the very first sentence of his “gospel.” By the way, “gospel” is a word that means “good news” and came to refer specifically to the story and the message of Jesus. Matthew 1:1 begins, “The record of the genealogy of Jesus the Messiah …” Messiah was the title referring to the person whom God had promised many times throughout the history of the Jewish people, a person who would “save” them, “deliver” them from all that was evil.  The people of that day assumed that when the Messiah came, He would quickly deliver their nation from the oppressing rule of Rome! He didn’t. He wasn’t a political or a military savior. They didn’t know.

At the time of their calling, did they know that Jesus was the Messiah? Probably not, but they must have hoped that He would be the One, the Anointed of the Lord, the promised One, the expected One! I might mention here that the term “Messiah” was of Hebrew origin, but in New Testament days the Greek term used translates as “Christ.” That’s likely the term most of us are familiar with, Jesus the Christ, or simply Jesus Christ.

A second amazing fact that Matthew gives us early in his gospel account is that the conception and birth of Jesus was miraculous; He was conceived and born to a virgin! Let’s follow Matthew’s account a little further here. Matthew 1:16 winds up the genealogy of Jesus which began in verse two. Starting with Abraham and finishing with Joseph, “Jacob was the father of Joseph the husband of Mary, by whom Jesus was born, who is called the Messiah.” Hmm, seems an odd way to say that Jesus was the son of Joseph – because He wasn’t! Keep reading.

“Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: when His mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child by the Holy Spirit” (Mt. 1:18). Then, further down, “And Joseph awoke from his sleep and did as the angel of the Lord commanded him, and took Mary as his wife, but kept her a virgin until she gave birth to a Son; and he called His name Jesus” (Mt. 1:24-25). The longer version of the “Christmas story” is given in the gospel of Luke, chapters one and two. Altogether there are four “gospels” in the New Testament, books written to tell the story of Jesus. Two of them were written by original disciples (followers) of Jesus. The first gospel account was written by Matthew, and the fourth one was written by John, the John we’ve already mentioned above. It is Luke’s gospel that gives the account of the angel Gabriel telling Mary that she would be the mother of the Messiah. Mary’s first question was reasonable, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Lk. 1:34). The angel’s response? “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God” (Lk. 1:35). Amazing!

Looking ahead in this story, somewhere between three and four years after calling His first disciples to follow Him, Jesus completed His earthly mission, leaving the work to His followers! However, He promised to never leave them alone and sent the Holy Spirit to live through them and carry on the work! By that time they knew Jesus as the Messiah, the Christ, the Son of God, the Son of Man, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords! They knew Jesus as God!

I wonder, are you following Jesus? If He hasn’t already, He will call you. Will you follow Him?

              “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” That is the first verse of the Bible; that is where everything began. The last verse of that first chapter says, “God saw all that He had made, and behold, it was very good,” Genesis 1:1, 31. It’s just like God to make everything He made “very good”!

              At the end of it all, the last two chapters of the Bible show a similar world. “Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth passed away …” Revelation 21:1. Then, Revelation 22:1, “Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb.” God’s original plan has not changed!

              Unlike the first creation (since at that point there was only one man and one woman) the new earth contains a city.

Rev 21:2-7 And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, made ready as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne, saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is among men, and He will dwell among them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself will be among them, and He will wipe away every tear from their eyes; and there will no longer be any death; there will no longer be any mourning, or crying, or pain; the first things have passed away.” And He who sits on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” And He said, “Write, for these words are faithful and true.” Then He said to me, “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give to the one who thirsts from the spring of the water of life without cost. He who overcomes will inherit these things, and I will be his God and he will be My son.

It’s time to start smiling!

              And like the first creation, there is no need of a Temple!

Rev 21:22-23 I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God the Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of the sun or of the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God has illumined it, and its lamp is the Lamb.

              Then, in the last chapter, including the verse mentioned above, Rev 22:1-7 Then he showed me a river of the water of life, clear as crystal, coming from the throne of God and of the Lamb, in the middle of its street. On either side of the river was the tree of life, bearing twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit every month; and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. There will no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and His bond-servants will serve Him; they will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads. And there will no longer be any night; and they will not have need of the light of a lamp nor the light of the sun, because the Lord God will illumine them; and they will reign forever and ever. And he said to me, “These words are faithful and true”; and the Lord, the God of the spirits of the prophets, sent His angel to show to His bond-servants the things which must soon take place. “And behold, I am coming quickly. Blessed is he who heeds the words of the prophecy of this book.”

              The Bible closes with the wonderful promise repeated. Rev 22:20-21 He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

              (Scriptures are quoted from the NASB, 1995)

              What if most of the people you interact with regularly were kind, patient, good, and gentle? What if they obviously showed self-control and demonstrated real faithfulness and loyalty to one another? What if their lives appeared to be characterized by love, joy, and peace? All those terms just used are from a list in the Bible and are called the “fruit of the Spirit” (Galatians 5:22-23). When we recognize, acknowledge, and receive God, His Holy Spirit begins working these characteristics into our lives, producing the “fruit” of His presence, results that reflect Him!

              But just look around you at the people you meet and notice the events that are happening. Most of what we hear and see is characterized by the very opposite of those things just mentioned. The daily newscasts on television and the news apps on our phones constantly tell of a very different kind of society.

              Thinking of the way things are today, consider a few descriptive terms from another Bible list: wickedness, evil, greed, hate, envy, murder (school shootings and every Chicago weekend?), quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, gossip, backstabbers, insolent, proud, boastful, disobedient, senseless, faithless, heartless, ruthless (business and politics as usual?). Are these words an accurate description of the society we live in? In the context that they were written, these terms also describe the results that occur when God removes His protection from a society and allows the people to do whatever they want or whatever they can get away with. “And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do those things which are not proper” (Romans 1:28).

              The cause is simply that; they do “not see fit to acknowledge God …” The phrase “God gave them over …” is used three times in a few verses. There is a downward slide that is described and ends with a society in moral chaos. As an introduction to this section, the author used this phrase, “For the wrath of God is revealed …” When enough people reject God and He allows them to have their own way, they will then experience the consequences of their own actions. The results are called the “wrath of God.” And very clearly, this is where we are in America today.

              Jesus wept over Jerusalem. Do we weep over America?

I am not an auto mechanic. I can’t trust myself to make the necessary repairs when there is such a need. And I’m not sure who I can trust when it comes to those who call themselves mechanics. Fortunately, I have a mechanic whom I do trust, Tom! When I take my vehicle to another mechanic and they call me with their diagnosis and estimated costs, I usually call Tom and run it by him. I can trust Tom, but not so sure I can trust other “mechanics.”

Or, when I struggle with an iPhone, iPad, or computer, I don’t trust myself; my technical skills leave a little to be desired (OK, a lot to be desired). So, I call my kids, put up with a little embarrassment and get my problems solved. I trust my kids to help with these problems.

But what about the big things of life? Things like “cultural” issues? (Which to me usually boil down to “moral” issues, not “cultural” issues, anyway.) Who do I trust to decide what is right or what is wrong?

Before I answer that question, let me state that automobiles are designed and built and are made to operate according to certain principles that were put into place long before anyone dreamed of making an automobile. The truth of physics and math was designed into the reality of the natural realm from day one. God created the natural laws of science and knew all about the internal combustion engine when He said that first, “Let there be.” Same thing is true about technology, electricity, aeronautics, or a hundred other fields that help us make life work in our modern world! I’ve often wondered if God ever laughed about how many times He allowed lightening to flash in the sky before somebody finally got it! Electricity! (And if I don’t know how to properly wire my house, I’d better not try. Know what I mean?)

Well, the same God that created the universe along with science, math, and the potential for electricity – well, He’s the same God that created the human being! He designed the way our bodies and personalities should work, and He laid down a number of guidelines about how life ought to work. God, then, is the “mechanic” we ought to consult about what sort of things work in human life, in human society! He is the expert. (That’s a little bit of an understatement, wouldn’t you say?)

Yes, I know, you can’t call Him on the phone for an in-person interview. You won’t be receiving any emails from God. But He did give us an avenue by which we can consult Him about personal or cultural issues (most of which are moral issues; I think I mentioned that). He gave us the Bible, the Holy Spirit, and prayer. And before you groan in frustration at my naivety, let me mention that people have been reading and studying this book longer and more often than you might be aware of, and finding help for a multitude of questions. And, no, you won’t find it to be arranged in an easy to use order. But if you are sincere in your search for God’s plan and God’s opinions, you will find it.

For example, God said through Moses, “But from there you will seek the Lord your God, and you will find Him if you search for Him with all your heart and all your soul” (Deut 4:29 NASB). And “You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart” (Jer 29:13 NASB). This principle is repeated a few times in Scripture. And it was written for average folks; understanding the Bible is not to be done only by educated theologians. By the way, the “spiritual” and “moral” principles are also built into the fabric of reality since day one and are just as solid and trustworthy as those of physics and math. You can trust God.

I hope you heard that; “You can trust God.”

I’d like a sense that life is working right. Wouldn’t you? And that my old lawn mower was working properly again. I’d like to make some good decisions, experience a fresh sense of joy, and maybe have better understanding of the people around me. And the times in which we’re living! I’d like a relationship with God that keeps my heart clean.  But that lawn mower, I don’t know what happened to the owner’s manual that came with it. The mower used to run fairly well, but not anymore; it’s hard to start, the engine puts out a lot of smoke and on occasion it even blows oil out all over the mower deck. If I would have kept that owner’s manual and paid more attention to it, maybe my mower would have lasted longer!  

It seems as if the year 2020 is a lot like my mower. I think we’ve lost the owner’s manual for humanity. If my life is going to work better and if our society is going to get level again, we need to go back to the owner’s manual! I may never find my copy of the Briggs & Stratton manual, but the owner’s manual for humanity, for me and society, is easy to find. I’m talking about the Bible. Now to put it into practice will probably cost more than I think, but to have a life that’s running better would be worth it, don’t you think? What we really need is not more money, but more knowledge! And looking around me, we all need some help from above as well as more knowledge! We need to know how to live in a way that works. Am I asking too much? I’ve been sort of tongue-in-cheek about this, but what we need is found in the owner’s manual for life, the Bible!

“The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; The testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; The commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb. Moreover, by them Your servant is warned; In keeping them there is great reward” (Ps 19:7-11 NASB). 

The designer prints the owner’s manual. The mower manual comes from Briggs & Stratton and the manual for life is from the One who created us! The owner’s manual for human life is the Bible.  If you’re like me and want life to work better, then join me in the decision to be a Bible reader, searching for truth and for God’s plan! Treat the mower right and it works right. Follow God’s specifications for life as found in the Bible and you can expect a better life, and at the end of this life an eternal reward!