And They All Fall Down

I need to get better at this.

I had decided I needed to blog more, I have 800 million ideas rolling around in my head constantly and 799,999,999 never get out.  So bear with me.

I am preparing the message for our college ministry, The Well tonight at Van Dyke.  And in the process there is one scripture that always stands out.  I have yet to do research and dig in on this, but wanted to pose a few questions today.

In John 18, it is the scene where Jesus is arrested and then taken on the excruciating journey to the cross.  As Judas, soldiers and officials of the chief priests arrive Jesus goes out to meet them.

He asks, "Who is it you want?"

They reply, "Jesus of Nazareth."

Now, what happens next is what gets me.  Jesus then replies "I am He" and they drew back and fell to the ground.

Why?

What just happened?

When Jesus made the statement "I am He," its like there was a power surge.  Can't you just see it.  Its kind of like when they re-made Star Wars and the Death Star exploded.  There was a ring that emanated off it as a special effect.

Exploding Jesus.  Totally makes sense to me.

Anyway, apart from dicing this into a million pieces, there was a statement to be made.  A declaration of power.  Something supernatural.

So...what about us? (hard transition)

If John 14:15-15:8 are true and God sends his Holy Spirit to indwell us and we are "One" with Him.  Then..why don't people fall down when we enter a room?

Now, I understand the leap we would have to make to have this be literal and we are not God.  (Besides, people falling down whenever we walk near them would be rather inconvenient) But the implications are there.  We have that same power source within us.  God's power through the Holy Spirit.  The very one that raised Jesus from the dead, created the universe and broke the power of death.  It fully there for those that have surrendered to Him.

Yet we walk around as though we are defeated.  Worse yet, we walk around not believing that the power source is able or willing to be or do what scripture says.

And our lives show it.

Ouch.  

That is what you should be saying if you just read that.  I did.

Living this way is a disgrace and affront to God.  He intended for us to be world changers.  Instead we have bought into the slide that is this world and our comfortable lives.

I wonder when I get to heaven and wait for the words "Well done, good and faithful servant" if I will hear a pause and a "Well...."

Something to chew on.

The Bloody Truth

It seems like people shy away from blood.


I guess I don't blame them.  Lot's of blood usually means death.  In today's world, it can also mean disease. It's supposed to stay INSIDE the body, right?  (That's usually a good thing).


But what if shed blood is a good thing?  What if there is something powerful in it?


Confused?


OK, let's dig in.


The last two posts I have made a case for the covenant bond of sex in a marriage context.  Most importantly that sex "seals the deal".  The physical attribute to this being blood shed during the first time of intercourse.  This is the crux of what I want to dig into, as this has tremendous meaning.  Something that you have to hear and understand.  It will also change what and how you teach your kids about this often flippant act of "passion".


In my last post we looked at the whole ritual of a Jewish marriage (from a general viewpoint).  One thing that is missing frrom almost every account is, what I consider, the MOST important detail.  


In the ritual, the bride and groom would then be escorted to their bridal chamber (or addition that was built) for around 7 days to physically consummate their marriage.  Two witnesses were standing guard outside until the time period was over and a great celebration and feast ensued.


Two witnesses were standng guard outside.  Did you catch that in the story?  Did you wonder why?  Were they keeping pesky kids away from trying to sneek a peek?  Were they there just as a symbol for an ancient ritual?  Why were they there?  I will tell you.


It roots out of a story in the bible (rarely paid attention to):


Marriage Violations
 13 If a man takes a wife and, after sleeping with her, dislikes her 14 and slanders her and gives her a bad name, saying, “I married this woman, but when I approached her, I did not find proof of her virginity,” 15 then the young woman’s father and mother shall bring to the town elders at the gate proof that she was a virgin. 16 Her father will say to the elders, “I gave my daughter in marriage to this man, but he dislikes her. 17 Now he has slandered her and said, ‘I did not find your daughter to be a virgin.’ But here is the proof of my daughter’s virginity.” Then her parents shall display the cloth before the elders of the town, 18 and the elders shall take the man and punish him. 19 They shall fine him a hundred shekels[b] of silver and give them to the young woman’s father, because this man has given an Israelite virgin a bad name. She shall continue to be his wife; he must not divorce her as long as he lives.

(This comes out of the NIV version of the bible, red lettering is my addition)


In this story, it talks about if a man wants out of the marriage because he claims she isn't a virgin, proof must be given.  A cloth must be brought as evidence of her virginity.  What is on that cloth?  Blood?  What from?  


Well, sex ed 101.  When a young woman is a virgin (and at that time there were no things as tampons), her hymen (a fleshy piece of tissue) is still intact. During intercourse for the first time, it is generally torn and bleeds.    This proof is what they were looking for in this scripture.


The witnesses?  They stood and waited for the joyful consumation of marriage to take place, the covenant bond to happen sealed with blood.  Once the couple appears, the witnesses examine the bed, find the evidence and take it to her mother showing the proof and allowing the wonderful festivities to begin.


Even beyond the evidence of the blood, the significance of the blood cannot be undervalued.   All through scripture blood covenants are held and talked about.


Kay Arthur says this in her book Our Covenant God:
 "..together we explore the Word of God and explore the crimson thread of covenant woven throughout the fabric of God's truth from Genesis to Revelation." pg.15


"..everything God does is based on Covenant." pg. 15


O. Palmer Robertson gives us this insight in The Christ of Covenants:
"When God enters a covenental relationship with men, He sovereignly enters a life-and-death bond.  A convenant is a bond in blood, or a bond of life and death, sovereignly administered." pg. 4


So why are our relationships so different?  Till "we get tired of each other" sounds pretty silly right about now.  


Think about this.  Think HARD. (Dramatic pause)




OK, This is what we now know:


A) God's call to covenant with us is a blood bond of life and death.


B) We are "In Him"(John 15) and to follow His example (more of the bible then I have space).


C) Our relationships, most certainly marriage, should Follow.  This.  Pattern.


Right?


Man, we need to get this.  We need to teach our children this. If we do, we have a generation that will change the face of this culture and world.


Guaranteed.