A 2,700 year old seal that has the name “Bethlehem” was found recently by Israeli archaeologists and announced today.

The tiny clay seal’s existence and age provide vivid evidence that Bethlehem was not just the name of a fabled biblical town, but also a bustling place of trade linked to the nearby city of Jerusalem, archaeologists said.

Source: ABC News

The proverbial late night college dorm room question, “Could Jesus have sinned?” (the question of Jesus’ impeccability), is one that I recently came across in a section of theology written by the preeminent Orthodox theologian Bishop Kallistos Ware of Oxford, who by the way gave lectures at North Park last year. In an essay entitled “Salvation and Theosis in Orthodox Theology” Bishop Ware writes

How far was Christ subject to temptation? The testimony of Scripture is explicit: ‘in every respect as we are, only without sinning’ (Heb. 4:15). A human will and human freedom imply liability to human temptation. We are to affirm of the incarnate Christ, not that he was incapable of sinning, but that he was capable of not sinning; not non posse peccare, but posse non peccare. His sinlessness was moral, not ontological; as regards his humanity, he was sinless by virtue of his will, not of his nature. Sin was a real possibility for him as man.

I find Ware’s remarks, particularly his preference for the idea of “capable of not sinning” over “incapable of sinning”, a useful statement on the matter that well reflects the New Testament witness to Christ’s humanity.

I must admit I’ve never celebrated Ascension Day; that is until this week. How unfortunate is that?! The ascension of Jesus is the ultimate culmination of his work on the cross on behalf of the world. He died to be resurrected, he was resurrected to be exalted at the Father’s right hand. We celebrate Easter, but Easter culminates with the Ascension.

Ascension is celebrated by the Church on the Thursday between the sixth and seventh Sunday’s after Easter. It is ten days before the Day of Pentecost (next Sunday). Often churches celebrate Ascension also on this seventh Sunday.

The message of the Ascension is that twofold. First, the ascension of Jesus means he is Lord over all (Eph. 1:21-23). Second, the ascension means that Jesus’ priestly work on our behalf continues eternally (Heb 9:24).

Let’s remember today that the man, Jesus of Nazareth, confirmed to be the Son of God by his being resurrected, has been exalted to God’s right hand. It is this person, the resurrected and exalted Son of God, whom we worship, whom we follow, and whom we seek to pattern our life after. It is this Jesus who we believe will return in glory at the end of the age to restore all things (Acts 1:11); and it is for him that in the meantime we bear witness through our testimony to the message of his kingship and his continuous and gracious work on behalf of humanity.

Prayers
Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that as we believe your only-begotten Son our Lord Jesus Messiah to have ascended into heaven, so we may also in heart and mind there ascend, and with him continually dwell; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to the place where our Savior Messiah has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting Amen.

John Howard Yoder penned these words in 1972. But they are as true now as they were then. My experience in working with college students is that young people inclined toward social justice and human rights find Jesus powerfully attractive.

It may be a meaningless coincidence that some young men wear their hair and their feet like the Good Shepherd of the Standard Press Sunday school posters; but there is certainly no randomness to their claim that Jesus was, like themselves, a social critic and an agitator, a drop-out from the social climb, and the spokesman of a counterculture (The Politics of Jesus, pg. 1)

I know Mother’s Day falls on different days in different countries. In the UK for example, I believe Mother’s Day was on March 18th. But in the US and Australia today, May 13th, is Mother’s Day. So I want to wish my mom Karen, my wife Karla and mother-in-law Mary a very happy Mother’s Day. I love you. I am thankful to God for you.

We wish all the mother’s who read our blog a very blessed day. Mother’s are among the most significant influences in the world.

Can you discern your motives? In ministry with college students I often hear this idea repeated in one form or another: “Before I do this thing or go in this direction, I want to be sure I’m doing it with the right motives”; “Is it only something I want to do, or is God really calling me to do it?”

I have thought about this over the years both in pastoral conversations and in my own discipleship. More than once I can remember spending a significant amount of time wrestling in prayer over a decision just trying to figure out whether my motives were right and pure. Some time ago I came to think that its silly to spend much time wrestling down my motives for decisions to see if they come from God or my are the product of own desires. What’s more, I see this more as a lack of courage to step out in faith.

While it is virtuous to live an introspective life, to seek to know the real reasons we act, I think we need to think differently about the role motives play in our actions as well as our assessment of their rightness or wrongness.

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There’s an exciting new IMAX 3D movie coming out in 2013 on Israel and Jerusalem. Here’s a sample.

HT: Ben Witherington.

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Messiah to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Messiah your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture Readings: Psalm 31:1-5; 15-6; Acts 7:55-60; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-4