18 July 2010
Psalm 63, 98; Joshua 6:15-27; Acts 22:30-23:11; Mark 2:1-12

The first step to taking possession of the land is the conquest of Jericho. From the beginning it has to be the work of the Lord so the unique battle plan that requires only shouting from the warriors is successful. Everything must be destroyed, it has all been corrupted by the sin of the people. Joshua tells the people to keep away from the things devoted to destruction so as not to covet. He knew that we are tempted by those thing we cannot have and that coveting them is, itself, sinful. Certainly after all the years in the wilderness when nothing was bought or sold, no wealth accumulated, no new things brought into the lives of the people, it would have been very tempting to the people to have claimed some of the possessions of the conquest. The ban was complete with the exception of Rahab with whom Joshua kept faith as she had kept her end of the bargain.

Jesus’ fame is spreading in Capernaum to the extent that everyone who needs to be healed is coming to Him, overwhelming Him. A group of men bring their friend, a paralytic, and can’t get to Jesus for the crowds so they go onto the roof of the house and cut a hole to let him down before Jesus. I don’t believe Jesus pronounced absolution of the man’s sins simply to get a rise out of the religious folks there. I believe that the sickness was connected to sin and that the first and most important thing was for Jesus to proclaim that the sins had been forgiven. Clearly the harder thing to do is to enable a man to walk again, but Jesus does just that.

Paul’s trial by the Sanhedrin is reminiscent of Jesus’ own and yet the result is quite different. Paul is actively involved in his own defense, perfectly willing to speak truth to power in the form of Ananais. For whatever reason, Paul did not recognize this wicked man who was hated for his brutality and spoke in anger, unlike Jesus, but was quick to acknowledge his sin in speaking to a leader in anger. Paul sized up the situation and used his knowledge of the division between Pharisees and Sadducees to drive a wedge between the parties and divert their attention to this long-running and bitter feud over belief in the resurrection of the dead. The strategy worked and yet the leaders never lost sight of their purpose, dealing with Paul and have him imprisoned. In Jesus’ trial He made no defense and yet He told the disciples that the Spirit would give them words to say when they were before the tribunal. Here, as in the “trials” of John and Peter earlier in Acts we see Jesus’ promise realized.

O God, you are my God, I seek you,
my soul thirsts for you;
my flesh faints for you,
as in a dry and weary land where there is no water.
Because your steadfast love is better than life,
my lips will praise you.
So I will bless you as long as I live;
I will lift up my hands and call on your name.