Edition 174C Printed 3/22/2017
APRIL 2017
“Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home
of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.” (John 12:1 NRSV)
If we’re looking for a chronology of the gospel, presenting the dramatic action of Jesus with the
disciples, we can look to John. He does, perhaps, the best
job of the four gospel writers filling in the day-to-day
activity of the story.
Here are some examples:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with
God, and the Word was God.” (John 1:1 NRSV)
“This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent
priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are
you?”” (John 1:19 NRSV)
“…the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to
untie the thong of his sandal.”” (John 1:27 NRSV)
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“The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and
declared, “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” (John 1:20 NRSV)
“The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, and as he watched Jesus walk by, he
exclaimed, “Look, here is the Lamb of God!”” (John 1:35-36 NRSV)
“He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with
him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.” (John 1:39b NRSV)
“The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. He found Philip and said to him, “Follow me.”” (John 1:43
NRSV)
“On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there.” (John 2:1
NRSV)
“After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they
remained there a few days. (John 2:12 NRSV)
John’s presentation of the action of the story moves from the vast generality of the beginning of
Creation to the specific, if not sporadic, important details of the gospel, all the way to the end,
recounting…
“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw
that the stone had been removed from the tomb.” John 20:1 NRSV)
“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the
disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace
be with you.”” (John 20:19 NRSV)
“A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them.” (John 20:26a NRSV)
The reason John’s gospel helps to connect Jesus’ ministry action a bit more tightly to a timeline is to
keep the story tied to reality. Seeing chronological cues like those just quoted, and the many others
we’ve not mentioned, reminds us that this story is a biography.
Having recently acknowledged that history was written differently centuries ago than it is today, we
must also acknowledge that the philosophy of history has been seriously scrutinized during the last half
century. You may find it interesting to research the matter more thoroughly, but suffice it to say,
underlying the critical study of history is an awareness that “history” is now being questioned. “Who
wrote the story?” “What was their agenda when they presented the “facts”?”
Each of the gospels has “an agenda.” Mark’s gospel is believed to be a record of Peter’s recollections.
Matthew’s presentation, it’s supposed, draws upon the same presentation, filling it more fully with “the
sayings” of Jesus, packaged for and presented to a Jewish audience. Luke’s gospel, it is also believed,
draws upon the materials of Mark’s gospel, filling them in with some “forensic details” for presentation
to Greek readers. And John’s gospel, perhaps the last written, presents the ministry of Jesus considering
its deeper, spiritual implications.
John does this with a specific chronology in mind. As we’ve noted, there are several cues. They’re the
generalities and the specifics of life. They provide bookends for us as we think about our own lives,
immediately, now, and remotely, both past and future.
Each of us lives life a moment at a time. We don’t do it very well, but it’s the only way it works. You
know the saying, “Tomorrow never comes. It’s always today.” There are a lot of ways to look at it, but
that’s the way Jesus told us to live. He said, “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring
worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today.” (Matt. 6:34 NRSV)
What is it about human nature that makes us long for the past and causes anxiety about the future? The
Christian life is intended to be one big “NOW.”
But John’s gospel gives us a break in that it acknowledges the “long time ago” that causes the story to
resonate in our imagination, and then gives us something tangible to tie it together “today.”
Baptist history and tradition give little attention to either the Jewish or the Christian calendars, except at
Christmas and Easter. And, as “American” Baptists, we are prone to let the National calendar supplant
our religious experience, replacing it with the collective national experience we have shared for two
hundred and forty-one years. I love American History. Remember, I mentioned to you recently, I
graduated from High School in the Bicentennial Year of our Nation.
Since then, however, I became a Christian. I’m looking for a connection with my faith each day, as I walk
the dog, do the dishes, mow the lawn, clean the gutters, celebrate our kids’ birthdays and the 4th of July.
I need John’s chronological reference points to anchor my faith. That’s why I pay attention to a simple
verse like this, “Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had
raised from the dead.” (John 12:1 NRSV)
We are fast approaching the time to join
the rest of Christendom, observing the
final historical events of the gospel of
Jesus Christ. This year Easter Sunday is
celebrated on April 16th. On April 14th,
we’ll gather at 6:00 p.m., commemorating Christ’s death while we share the
Lord’s Supper together.
The chronology of John’s Gospel ties us
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to the present. Jesus says to us, as he said to Peter, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is
that to you?
Follow me!”” (John 21:22 NRSV) In other words, pay attention! God has a plan for your life. You can
know, walk with and depend upon Jesus Christ who “is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
(Heb. 13:8 NRSV) My prayer for you, and for me, is that we follow him more closely and learn to depend
upon him more fully.
Blessings in the name of Jesus, Pastor John
My dad aka Paul, the Apostle
My dad, Ralph Gilbert Wooding, was a wonderful letter writer. He
would actually write letters early in the morning, after he was up,
had had his coffee and had washed the previous night’s dishes.
by Ellen Kersey
Earl and I had been married for just a little over a month. Earl was
still in the VA hospital in San Fernando (they had let him out for
two weeks in December, so we could get married, but they hadn’t
yet released him); I was living in the girls’ dorm at Cal Baptist; we
saw each other every other weekend.
Jan. 17, 1956
Ralph to his sweet daughter among the saints at Riverside —
I am troubled over the lack of an epistle from the newly wedded Ellen.
Our prayers are directed toward you and your husband. Your mother, also, is a little perturbed at the
lack of news. Our love for you is great, and we would dearly appreciate a little note. We have had no
news and wonder how you are doing.
Would it be possible to hear from you and give us a report on the “State of the Family”? Hope you are
well and that Earl, too, is progressing toward his exit from the institution of hospitalization in the city of
Saint Ferdinand.
Sarah, my goodly helpmate and your closest relative (on your mother’s side), is sticking to a foodless
existence. She isn’t happy and complains a little of this or that physical ailment, but, all in all, I think she
is really better off physically than she was. (My mom had been diagnosed with diabetes just before my
wedding.)
She visits the doctor (God willing) next Friday and can’t wait to see where the indicator stops in the
device he uses to measure the gravitational attraction of the planet earth for her particular physical
mass. She is hoping that the aforementioned planet’s attraction for her body has lessened considerably.
Your mother greets you with a spiritual osculation (were it possible, both she and myself would enjoy a
physical ditto) and extends through the pencil page here, her love.
Your mother, father and brother — after prayer, hesitation, much wavering and indecision — did unite
in fellowship with the local group of “called out ones” at Cayucus — last Lord’s Day. Keep us in your
prayers.
It is late, and I must get to the world outside and make a number of interrogatory approaches to an
uncertain number of unforeseeable individuals with the intent of discovering if any one or more of them
would be interested in having in their homes one of my company’s unsurpassed products. (My dad was
selling Hertel Blue Ribbon Family Bibles door-to-door at this time.) All this with the hope of keeping the
well-known carnivorous canine quadruped — most particularly the canis lupus, canis occidentals or
canis latrans — from the passageway to my domicile.
God bless you. Greet the son-in-law with a kiss from the three of us and keep one to yourself.
Greet the friends by name.
In Christ — Jan. 17, 1956
Dad
Would you share something about or from a parent or family member? Send any possible entries to
Ellen at [email protected].
TEA FOR MORE THAN TWO
--by Elaine Lipton
Around 25 ladies sipped tea around beautifully-decorated tables while enjoying fellowship and a variety
of tea sandwiches, scones and other scrumptious food at the Spring Tea on March 11.
The program included special music by Vicky Haws, a rousing “Women of the Bible” bingo game, and
guest speaker Hannah McCain of Salem,
mother of an 8- year old and 4-year old.
Hannah, like the “Hannah” of the Bible,
shared her struggles and seeking God’s
direction during her journey of becoming a
parent. Her amazing testimony is a reminder
of the need to be obedient to God and to
seek Him in the details of the situations we
find ourselves in, no matter how great the
obstacles are.
The event ended with party gifts for everyone. Thank-you’s go to Wendy Feth and planning committee,
ladies who hosted tables and provided food, those on the program, and servers Louie Byrd and Matt Feth.
The next event for women is the Women’s Summit in Vancouver, April 21 and 22. If you plan to stay in
Vancouver overnight, hotel reservations should be made very soon. Elaine Lipton is serving as Capital’s
point person; contact her if you have questions. Her daytime number is 503-589-7893.
Do You Find Reading Job a Job?
--by Diane Fowler
Job is a treasure trove of familiar phrases... Naked I came from my mother’s womb, naked I shall return.
The Lord gives, the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord. (Job 1:21) Man born of woman is
few of days and full of trouble. (Job 14:1) I know that my Redeemer lives and on the earth again will
stand. (Job 19:25) But Job has more to offer than quotes.
The Book of Job deals with a question asked throughout human history. In fact, one you’ve probably
asked: “Why do bad things happen to good people?” or when dealing with our own situations, “God,
why me?”
To our ears some of what Job’s friends say sounds reasonable since they are using human experience to
explain who God is and what He is like. For example, it makes sense to us for a person who does a job
well to be paid more than one who performs poorly. Job’s friends extend this human logic to God,
viewing wealth and health as a sign of God’s favor. By extension then the opposite must be true: Job’s
condition was a sign of God’s anger.
But this thought process is fatally flawed. For instance, I had loving parents so it was easy for me to
relate to God as a loving Father, but if your parents were unloving, does that change who God is?
Defining God by my experience alone is always inadequate. God ultimately reprimanded Job’s friends
for doing that very thing.
Meanwhile, Job, feeling angry and sorry for himself questioned God’s motives and actions. I can relate,
can’t you?
One thing we learn about God from the Book of Job is that God can “take it”. He doesn’t stop loving us
when we are angry at Him or have a pity party.
Back to Job’s question: Why me? Here are three truths that jump out at us from the Book of Job.
1. God is in control—always—regardless of my circumstances, regardless of how I feel. Matthew Henry
said, “He [Satan] has no power to lead men to sin but what they give him themselves; nor any power to
afflict men but what is given from above. Job’s troubles began in Satan’s malice, which God restrained;
Job’s restoration began in God’s mercy, which Satan could not oppose.” Our personal circumstances can
never change who God is or His good, merciful plan for us.
2. God knows what you’re going through. Job complained that God felt distant and unhearing, but our
feelings are fickle and unreliable—they lie to us. When he was ready to listen, God reminded Job of His
eternal nature, His omnipresence and omnipotence (“Where were you when I created the world?” Job
38:4). God being God cannot ‘not’ know our circumstances and we can trust Him completely. “A God
wise enough and powerful enough to create me, is wise enough and powerful enough to take care of
me.” (Phillip Yancey)
3. Peace with God can only be obtained on God’s terms. Job finally realized that his circumstances
served a purpose even if he never understood what it was. “When He is at work in the north I do not see
Him, when He turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of Him. But He knows the way I take; when He has
tested me, I will come forth as gold.” (Job 23:10)
We can trust God, too, regardless of our circumstances, and even when we don’t understand what He is
doing.