How can the Lord say that He despises sacrifices and
offerings, festivals and feasts, when He is the One who prescribed them? Through other prophets as well, like Amos,
the Lord condemns Israel for the multitude of their sacrifices. They are apparently very religious, keeping
all the Law scrupulously, but their hearts were far from Him. They did all the right things to make a nice
show but they ignored the living out of the Law that was far more important
than regulations concerning sacrifice. The
Lord doesn't need or want sacrifice, He needs and wants a people who will keep
the Law and, by doing so, reveal Him to the world. When His people act like the world but do all
the religious things commanded of them they fail to reveal Him at all. Life is more important than religious
activity.
Rabbis taught under the authority of another rabbi. They would cite the one who taught them which
referenced the rabbi who taught that rabbi and so on but Jesus never cited
another rabbi. In Anglicanism we have
some notion of apostolic succession that is similar to that idea although it is
strictly symbolic in many cases as it often does not mean that the teaching is actually
apostolic, simply that somehow or another the succession of men who laid hands
on men to ordain them stretches back to an apostle. Jesus, in response to their question, asks
about John's power and authority for baptism, was it from heaven or from
man. If it is from heaven then they have
responsibility for obeying the word he preached as that of a prophet of God and
remember none had been recognized for 400 years, since Malachi. If they say it is from man, the people will
surely turn on them completely, so they refuse to answer. Jesus also refuses them an answer, they have
enough evidence to make that determination for themselves. That Jesus taught with authority has always
been the testimony of those who heard Him.
Paul says that he knows that the Thessalonians are chosen by
God because the Gospel "came to you not only in word, but also in power
and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction." The power of the Gospel is evident in the
transformed lives of the people of the church in Thessalonica. The authority for the teaching is proven by
their turning from idols to worship the One, true God and that has become a
witness to other believers in the region.
The transformation of this people has become an encouragement and a
proof of the power of the Gospel and for this Paul rejoices greatly. Advent can be celebrated as a mini-Lent, a
time when we heed the call of John to prepare our lives by repentance for the
coming of Jesus. Let us consider what
would need to change if Jesus' coming were at Christmas and ensure that we
would be unashamed at that day.
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