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On Fertile Ground

By on in Theology

From a cursory understanding of Middle-Eastern history, it is apparent that the empires that formed were superseded to bring about the arrival of Christ on Earth. Conditions were sovereignly orchestrated as each empire rose to power and fell to usher in the fulfillment of Messianic prophecies that culminated at the beginning of Christendom. Both Scripture and early historical records give us the specifics about what occurred during the apostolic age to include the epic backdrop that preceded it.

Throughout the recorded biblical and apocryphal world before the arrival of Christ, the sequence of macro-historical events included the capture of the Northern Kingdom by Assyria in 722 BC., the capture of Jerusalem and Judea by Babylon in 586 BC, the fall of the Babylon empire to Persia in 539 BC, the fall of the Persian empire to Alexander the Great beginning in 480 BC, then finally the fall of the Greek empire to the Roman empire at about 146 BC. This historical sequence of upheaval was recorded by the prophet Daniel (chapters 2 and 7) to fulfill prophecies about kingdoms that would come and go to shape the forthcoming conditions for the arrival of Yahweh as incarnated through Jesus our Messiah.

During the rise and fall of empires across time, the development of the biblical world was underway. The direct and inferred meta-narrative of the preparation of Christ’s arrival and the spread of the gospel involved the infrastructure and social systems set in place to facilitate the dissemination of Yahweh’s good news. The great commission of Christ was not given to His apostles absent the conditions able to help propagate the good news.

Specifically, infrastructure and social systems included language, written communication, trade, local and distributed governments, merchant sea routes, roads, social classes, economies/currencies, transportation, agriculture, fisheries, and so forth. When the time was right, and just before the world’s population began its geometric growth, Christ arrived on the world stage to complete His work with the gospel He charged His followers to spread. Under the power of the Holy Spirit, Jesus’s teachings, Scripture, growing Church tradition, and apostolic instructions, the fertile ground was tilled to sow the seeds of the gospel for the growth of the Kingdom of God, for His glory, and the redemption of His people throughout humanity.

Words Cherished & Spoken

By on in Theology

What would it look like if every command that Jesus spoke was isolated and identified in Scripture among their separate and individual verses? To get at Jesus’s words cherished and spoken in this way for a narrower and more specific view of what He requires. That is, mostly to understand with clarity what He has said and to desire Him in a better way. Yet also to set a center point in which biblical context is read and understood. That is what this table of verses below does.

“If you love me, you will keep my commandments. ” – Jesus

Here are the words as spoken during His time here with us. With correlated verse references for ease and convenience of lookup and comparison. The table gives you the ability to sort and filter for search and retrieval.

When we are able to recognize what He has said, we begin to see a pattern. A pattern of love and obedience that brings us closer to Him. Wherefrom the beginning of our eternity in the Kingdom of God, it will become proclaimed for His glory. He was and is worthy of all honor and blessings.

Once we read and understand what He has said in these New Testament passages, we can further recognize meaningful implications and how they relate to what it is we are doing to fill them. As an effort to demonstrate that we are interested in serving Christ while honoring His word. To satisfy what He wants of us. With specificity, we are then, in turn, able to identify and track what it is we have done to demonstrate our love for Him. Again, with joy, to honor what He wants of us.

Road of Redemption

By on in Theology

Along Israel’s coastal plain, adjacent to the Mediterranean Sea, there is an ancient geological route formation from Egypt to Mesopotamia. A route through the Fertile Crescent and into Iraq between the Euphrates and Tigris rivers far to the North East of Israel. Placed along this route is a road recognized and entitled the “Via Maris.” The etymology of the Via Maris name comes from Latin as the “way of the sea.” This interpretation appears in both the Old and New Testament rendering of the prophecy concerning the LORD’s arrival and ministry (Isaiah 9:1, Matthew 4:15).

A Roman Road – Nicolas Poussin – 1648

But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles.

The people who walk in darkness
Will see a great light;
Those who live in a dark land,
The light will shine on them.

Isaiah 9:1-2

As the LORD has centered the nation of Israel upon the earth, one could surmise that He has shaped the land through natural processes over time. To position the arrival of His ministry from Galilee, where people become subject to His redemptive plan. From where “the light which will shine upon them” appears between the Mediterranean Sea and beyond the Jordan River. Through the entire length of the Israeli coast along the Via Maris, the King’s Highway, and the Ridge Route. Written in scripture, the LORD’s message and glory go forward as the light that shines in the shadow of death (Isaiah 9:2 NKJV).

What Israel gains in terms of wealth and power through the Via Maris route and topography, the LORD’s purposes prevail. While we recognize the Via Maris as having economic and defense advantages, Israel can collect tariffs, conduct trade, and accept tribute from its citizens and visitors. Routes are controlled to direct traffic and regulate supply for military campaigns in its defense along the Via Maris.

So, it would appear under the new covenant, the strategic placement of the Via Maris is outward going and not only a source for wealth and power Israel’s prosperity and security. It is for the LORD’s purposes in support of His redemptive mission.

The Via Maris is a strategic route of geocentric convergence among nations. For His chosen people within Israel, along the Way of the Sea and outward. Beyond the Jordan by the Via Maris to the gentiles. The coming and going of people centered around the gospel and the LORD’s mission, beginning in His ministry with His Apostles.

Take Up Your Cross

By on in Theology

“If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.  For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” – Matt 16:24-25

Here is what it means to follow Jesus. It is to join Him in what He came to do as it is to gather with Him (Lk 11:23). That is, to gather followers for the glory of his Father. Furthermore, following the LORD Yeshua also means that those who are His share in his suffering. He knew that His pain would also spill over onto those who follow Him (Jn 15:20).

As John Piper puts it, His followers will also experience ruptures in their relationships with people, possessions, and vocation. There will be a loss of friends and family, setting aside treasure, objects, and belongings. And, at times, an abandonment of career pursuits and what others view as worldly aspirations. It is the overall decrease of self-interest in exchange for His interests and what He came to do.