The Joshua Victor Theory

  Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. Last week we left off with Jesus feeding the 5,000. Now at last Jesus gets to pray alone, filling that deep spiritual hunger to reconnect with God. Keeping our eyes on Jesus, we do well to pray with Jesus and reconnect with God in prayer, for the health and nourishment of our soul. Prayer is 24/7 reconnection to the God Who loves us and knows all our inmost thoughts and struggles, Who graciously invites us to pray, “Our Father…” When Jesus finishes praying the disciples are several miles offshore, fighting a heavy wind on the Sea of Galilee. In Job and Psalms, we read that God “ alone stretches out the heavens and trampled the waves of the sea” (Job 9:8) and “The crash of your thunder was in the whirlwind; your lightnings lighted up the world; the earth trembled and shook. Your way was through the sea, your path through the great waters; yet your footprints were unseen” (Psalm...

Out of the flood of images that pour out of the Passion reading, seize on the person of Peter for a moment. At the Last Supper, Jesus says “You will all fall away, for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.” Jesus is quoting from the prophet Zechariah, explaining how all His disciples would abandon Him in His hour of greatest need. But also, that Jesus would rise up from death, and rendezvous with them in Galilee (this of course they forgot until after the resurrection). But Peter is eager to proclaim his undying loyalty to Jesus: “Even though they all fall away, I will not.” Probably many of us at one time or another have imagined ourselves doing something heroic in the midst of danger. Or showing our loyalty to the extreme, or standing up bravely when others failed. But how will we be tested? And would we stand the test? Jesus soberly answered Peter’s boast: “Truly, I tell you, th...

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, Amen. Mark chapter 8, our Gospel reading, is a pivotal chapter. It is the center of Mark’s Gospel, and Jesus challenges His disciples to see His vision and purpose for His own ministry, as well as their discipleship or following after Him. First they need to be clear on who Jesus Himself is—which Peter correctly answers: “ You are the Christ .” God’s chosen or anointed One. The Savior long promised and foretold by the prophets. “Christ” is the Bible’s title for that Savior and Chosen One. But when Jesus turns to explain the “job description” of the Christ—He tells the disciples plainly that suffering, rejection, death, and resurrection were inescapably tied up with His purpose. Jesus puts a “ must ” in there—He “must suffer ” these things. Suddenly whatever glorious image Peter had in mind of the Christ rescuing God’s people Israel, is jarred by what seems to be a completely incompatib...

Grace, mercy, and peace to you from God our Father, and from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. Welcome again to our grade school families and students! Today is the Transfiguration of Our Lord, the miracle you heard about in the Gospel reading. On that day, Jesus’ appearance was briefly transformed before three disciples. His face and clothing shone with a dazzling white brilliance like the sun. A simple and clear reality dawned on them—Jesus was far more than just an ordinary man. And they didn’t come to this conclusion on their own, but God Himself said it: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him.” God identified Jesus as His Son! It was unquestionably an incredible experience, on that mountain-top! Almost as incredible, is that Peter, James, and John, the eyewitnesses, had to keep it bottled up, even from the other disciples, until Jesus rose from the dead. They must have been dying to tell the others what they had seen! But who would believe the...

Sermon Outline:  Faith in action—Acts readings, how they worshipped, lived, prayed, fellowshipped, witnessed of Christ. Just celebrated Ascension Day, first business for the disciples is to choose a 12 th apostle to replace Judas. “With one accord they were devoting themselves to prayer”—unity of mind and spirit: Phil 2:1-2 “ So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind .” Peter addresses the company of believers (~120), tells the events around Judas, the betrayer. Driven by despair to suicide. Though very unpleasant, it points us to a very important truth about sin and repentance. Judas had been filled with overwhelming guilt and grief, when He realized Jesus would be condemned to death. Tried to make it right, but could not. Sou...

It was early on a Sunday morning, if you can imagine it—a familiar routine unfolded. An average Joe, or let’s say a Peter, rolled out of bed, rubbed his eyes, and headed for the kitchen, still yawning from a Saturday night slumber. As his hands and feet mechanically go through their morning rituals—brew the coffee, toast the bread, open the front door and pick up the morning paper—he’s oblivious to what events are astir. Drowsy with sleep, he pages through the headlines in the morning paper: “ Stock market falls for third consecutive day … Congressional deadline looms as gridlock seizes the Capitol… ” pages rustle, business, politics, same old, same old, local news, sports, religion: “ The tomb was empty: Reports that Jesus is alive!” But the pages keep turning as the half-interested, half-bored man concludes that none of the articles are of interest, and drops the folded paper at the side of his couch. The TV flips on to the morning news, and more routine headlines follow… “Police ...