Dr H Reflections

First Responder ∙∙

I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. incline your ear to me and hear my prayer. – Psalms 17:6

Psalms 46:1-2

1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in time of need.

2 Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth should change and though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea.

Abraham Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs is a psychological and motivational construct that outlines five stages of human needs. These five stages encompass physiological, safety, love and belonging, esteem, and self-actualization needs. According to this theory, individuals are driven to meet these needs in a sequential order, starting with the fundamental physiological requirements.

The innate human need for safety is undeniable. It is part of our human DNA. People yearn for a safe and secure hiding place or refuge. This desire has been amplified during the 21st century due to the emergence of “social distancing” and “shelter in place” precautions.

David echoed this need for safety. However, David didn’t seek physical shelter. Instead, his refuge was found in his faith in his Father God, the King of the universe. David’s story, as narrated in the Scriptures, is one of continual threats and danger. He was a hunted man. He was persistently stalked by Saul, leading to years of evasion. He found himself continually on the run, fleeing from Saul. However, David’s prayers revealed his close and intimate relationship with the Father and his unwavering trust in Him. From an early age, David understood that genuine safety could only be found in the compassionate embrace of his Father God.

Psalms 17:8 Guard me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings.

Every child of the King has access to safety and security. Confidence and peace are only moments away when we pray and reflect on the Father’s care for us and His readiness to provide assistance. The intimate bond David shared with the Father and the assurance it provided him is available to every child of the King.

Hebrews 13:5 God has said, “I will never leave you. I will never abandon you.”

Our Father’s precious promises serve as a source of unwavering trust and confidence in Him every day. He is our “safe place.” He earnestly and patiently desires that the children of the King acknowledge and come to Him. The Father delights in all those who put their trust in Him. He views each one of His children as extraordinarily precious, deserving of His unique affection. They experience both protection and shelter in His loving and compassionate presence (Stanley).

REFLECT & PRAY

Safety is not the absence of danger but the presence of God.

Father thank You for being our “safe place.” Sometimes, it seems our world and the peril it brings into our lives are threatening, overwhelming, and closing in. Yet You provide supernatural peace, serenity, assistance, and the strength to get us through.

INSIGHT

Psalms 46:1-2

1 God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.

2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come, and the mountains crumble into the sea.

The Psalms frequently emerge from a backdrop of personal despair, fear, frustration, and a sense of hopelessness. Individuals like David consistently bring their day-to-day practical issues to the Father through prayer and worship, seeking His assistance and intervention at all times.

Psalms 46:1 was the inspiration for Martin Luther’s hymn, “A Mighty Fortress is our God.” The Father is always ready to help, even in our challenging and tumultuous times, He never fails to support us. He always has our back. As Helen Keller wisely said, “Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than outright exposure. The fearful are caught as often as the bold.”

When the children of the Father seek refuge in Him, they discover an inner resilience and the courage to confront whatever comes their way.

In our interconnected world of the 21st century, we are constantly bombarded with global upheavals, catastrophes, and disasters. This includes severe weather events, the emergence of famines, wars, epidemics, and pandemics.

In the absence of modern technology, the ancient world encountered similar disasters without any forewarning. The earth itself and the mountains are the most steadfast and invincible elements of their world (Kidner). Yet they could be shaken and tossed about as if they were mere pebbles due to violent earthquakes. People were always at risk of extreme weather conditions, droughts, locust infestations, military invasions, local floods, and fierce storms.

During such challenging times, we can be confident and unafraid. He is our strength. But what does that mean exactly? He is there for each child of the King. His presence keeps us resilient, potent, secure, and courageous.

He is our refuge, our fortress. What does that imply? “God is the one who protects us” or “God is the one who shelters us” (UBS). The Hebrew noun translated as refuge is machaseh. A refuge is a fortress, often built at high elevations for protection. It is derived from the Hebrew verb chacah, which means to be safe or to seek refuge. The Father is the one who takes care of us and protects us from danger (UBS).

“He is first like a strong fortress into which a man may flee and be absolutely safe; He is at the same time an unfailing source of strength, enabling one to cope” (Leupold).

But there is more. The Father is not merely our fortress and able to help; he is eager to do so. We have only to invite Him.

Psalms 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.

The phrase very present translates a maxim meaning “very accessible”; the verb means “be present, near.” He is “ever-present.” He is available and ready to be found and depended upon. He is not absent, distant, aloof, missing, or in hiding. And He is adequate for every situation. He is always on our side. And He is also by our side.

“Much promised help from the world is worthless when trouble comes, but that is when God shines and performs so faithfully” (Butler). He is the ultimate “First Responder.” He runs toward danger.

There might be days when we feel as though our world is crumbling, and everything we rely on seems to be cast into the sea. However, if we place our trust in God, there is no reason to fear because we have a sanctuary that remains unshaken. (Stanley)

Furthermore, Hebrew, unlike other languages, doesn’t use bold, italics, or underlines for emphasis. Instead, Hebrew employs “word order” to highlight importance. Often, the most significant word in a sentence is positioned at the beginning. Psalms 46 starts with the word Elohim, “God.” This is designed to shift our focus towards the Father. He is of utmost importance. Our needs, circumstances, and difficulties are a distant second.

When times are tough, we reach out to the Father. However, our reliance on Him should not be occasional but constant. Our dependency on Him should become our norm.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 12-06-22

Glorify your Son ∙

Glorify your Son ∙

I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. – John 17:4

John 17:1-5

1 Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you.

2 For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him.

3 And this is eternal life – to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth.

5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

John 17:20-23

20 I am praying for these disciples and all who will ever believe in me through their message.

22 I have given them the glory you gave me, so they may be one as we are one.

24 Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

Howard Carter, a British archaeologist, embarked on a quest to uncover the tombs of ancient Egyptian rulers. When he arrived in Egypt in 1891, most of these historical burial sites had already been discovered, and many had been looted throughout the centuries. But Carter, with his exceptional excavation skills, was ready for the challenge. In the early 1900s, his hard work paid off when he unearthed the tombs of Queen Hatshepsut and King Thutmose IV.

In 1907, Lord Carnarvon, an avid collector of antiquities, engaged Carter to oversee excavations in the Valley of the Kings. Carter’s primary goal was to find the tomb of the relatively unknown King Tutankhamun. On November 4, 1922, Carter stumbled upon a stairway that led to the tomb’s portal. He promptly informed Lord Carnarvon, who hurriedly traveled to Egypt. On November 23, 1922, they penetrated a mud-brick door, revealing a passage to Tutankhamun’s tomb.

There were signs that grave robbers had entered the tomb at some point, causing their hearts to sink with the dreadful expectation of another pillaged tomb.

However, on November 26, 1922, their spirits lifted as they breached another door leading to the outer chamber of Tutankhamun’s tomb. Illuminated only by the flickering flame of a candle, Howard Carter peered into the chamber. Behind him, Lord Carnarvon asked, “Can you see anything?” Carter answered, “Yes, wonderful things.”

This moment marked the first time in over 3,300 years that anyone had entered King Tutankhamun’s tomb. The sealed burial chambers held the king’s gold coffin, mummy, and a staggering collection of thousands of magnificent, priceless artifacts. The discovery of King Tut’s tomb remains one of the most significant archaeological discoveries of all time.

Can anything be more glorious? Yes indeed. The most glorious event of all human history concerns the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. How can suffering and death be glorious?

John 17:4-5

4 I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do.

5 Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began.

What is the glory for which Lord Jesus Christ prays? For many, it’s an enigmatic treasure yet to be uncovered. To unearth this profound wisdom requires a diligent pursuit and excavation of its concealed marvels, which merely scratches the surface.

The quest begins with a better understanding of the etymology of the Greek word translated as glory.

The Greek word for glory is doxa, which is the source of the English word doxology. It is derived from the Greek verb dokeo. The verb means to think, suppose, form an opinion, acknowledge, or recognize. Dokeo is the Greek verb used when people formulate human opinions or perspectives. Human opinions or perspectives are mutable. They change and shift. They often flip-flop and may be based on inaccuracies or misinterpretation of data (Zodhiates).

Human opinion is the antithesis of the Father’s “opinion.” They are diametrically opposed. The Father’s words and thoughts are not mere opinions. Instead, they are facts; they are absolute truth. His truth contrasts with human truth by 180°. The Father’s truth never varies; it is changeless and absolute. It cannot be synthesized or compromised. “God’s opinion marks the true value of things as they appear to the eternal mind, and God’s favorable opinion is true glory” (Zodhiates). His opinion discloses with certainty how things really are and are to be understood.

Human opinion has a significant downside. It frequently obstructs one’s capacity to discover and comprehend the Father’s truth.

John 5:44 How can you believe when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? (ESV)

John 5:44 No wonder you can’t believe! For you gladly honor each other, but you don’t care about the honor that comes from the one who alone is God (NLT).

REFLECT & PRAY

The Father gives eternal life to every child of the King, sharing His glory with them through the Lord Jesus Christ.

Father Your glory is unfathomable in our earthly existence. Assist us in concentrating on the glory that genuinely matters – Your glory. And let us disregard the fleeting, ephemeral, terrestrial glory of created beings.

INSIGHT

Attempting to comprehend the term glory is like trying to get your arms around the English word trunk. A trunk can denote a myriad of different things: a part of a tree, an elephant’s appendage, a car’s storage compartment, a piece of luggage, and so on. Similarly, glory possesses numerous interpretations. Some ways glory is employed in the New Testament can be pretty baffling. Their mysteries are only unraveled through reflection and the illuminating work of the Holy Spirit.

Glory is the recognition of and honor due an individual. Glory is also the absolute essence of the Father. He is worthy of honor and worship. Glory is something that can be observed. The Father allows His glory to be seen (Exodus 33:18-23). It manifests as bright, shining light, brilliance, or splendor. As such, it catches the eye, attracts attention, or elicits recognition and acknowledgment.

John 13:31 The time has come for the Son of Man to be glorified, and God will be glorified because of him.

The Lord Jesus Christ asserts that His crucifixion and resurrection will result in His glorification. How can this be? These events prove that the Lord Jesus Christ is the prophesied Messiah, the Redeemer of the world, the Son of God, and indeed God in the flesh. The Father perceives the death of the Lord Jesus Christ not as a downfall but as a monumental triumph. The plan of redemption required the sacrifice of His life. The Lord Jesus Christ sacrificed Himself and died for the sins of the human race. Christ’s resurrection validated that the Father accepted His sacrifice as a complete payment (Romans 1:4).

Those unfamiliar with the Father’s plan find the death of the Lord Jesus Christ a gruesome waste of a good man’s life. However, His sacrifice is eternally celebrated in heaven.

The Father and the Son can share glory with the children of the King. However, we can merely acknowledge the glory of the Father and the Son. When the Father bestows His glory upon us, He permits us to partake in His glory. But when we glorify the Father, we don’t contribute anything to Him; instead, we recognize, honor, praise, or worship Him for Who and what He is.

When we glorify the Father, we recognize Who He is in His unchanging essence.

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Rocket Man and 2.0 ∙∙

Rocket Man and 2.0 ∙∙

You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive because you ask with wrong motives so that you may spend it on your pleasures. – James 4:2-3

2 Kings 2:9-15

9 When they came to the other side, Elijah said to Elisha, “Tell me what I can do for you before I am taken away.” And Elisha replied, “Please let me inherit a double share of your spirit and become your successor.”

10 “You have asked a difficult thing,” Elijah replied. “If you see me when I am taken from you, then you will get your request. But if not, then you won’t.”

11 As they were walking along and talking, suddenly, a chariot of fire appeared, drawn by horses of fire. It drove between the two men, separating them, and a whirlwind carried Elijah into heaven.

12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father! My father! I see the chariots and charioteers of Israel!” And as they disappeared from sight, Elisha tore his clothes in distress.

13 Elisha picked up Elijah’s cloak, which had fallen when he was taken up. Then, Elisha returned to the bank of the Jordan River.

14 He struck the water with Elijah’s cloak and cried out, “Where is the LORD, the God of Elijah?” Then the river divided, and Elisha went across.

15 When the group of prophets from Jericho saw from a distance what happened, they exclaimed, “Elijah’s spirit rests upon Elisha!”

There is a dreaded encounter that many of us have experienced. We’re in a grocery checkout line when we see the all-too-familiar scene: a frazzled mother trying to manage her unruly, stubborn, spoiled, strong-willed two-year-old. The mom is feverishly at work, attempting to perform damage control. She’s desperately trying to keep things under control, but the child is running amok – grabbing at items, making demands, and throwing tantrums when they don’t get their way.

Sad to say, as children of the King, we too often act like spoiled spiritual children as well.

We ask and do not receive because we ask with the wrong intentions, driven by our own desires. Our selfishness and craving for self-satisfaction blind us, pushing us to want more and more. We want stuff! Only concerned with immediate gratification and short-term benefits. We are myopic, but our Father is not. He hears our prayers, but He also understands the motives behind them.

We could label the first type of prayer as Prayer 1.0, which is primarily concerned with satisfying self-centered desires. The Greek term translating to passions or pleasures is hedone, which implies pleasure, gratification, and delight. In the New Testament, it refers to physical pleasure and is metaphorically used for desire, appetite, and lust. The English term hedonist has its roots in this word.

In contrast, Prayer 2.0 is quite different. Taking a different approach. It is God-centered. It seeks to honor the Father and advance His kingdom purposes. The Apostle John assumes we intend to please the Father rather than ourselves.

1 John 5:14-15

14 And this is our confidence before him: whenever we ask anything according to his will, he hears us.

15 And if we know that he hears us regarding whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests we have asked from him.

REFLECT & PRAY

Too often, we are spoiled spiritual two-year-olds. We need to come to grips with this and grow up.

Father when I search my heart, I find a great deal of self-interest. Indeed, I am self-centric. Encourage me to become God-centric and to seek Your kingdom above all else.

INSIGHT

When seeking to do the will of God, do not be afraid to ask for great things! The Father can do far more abundantly beyond all we ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).

Take the example of Elisha. He had been a PIT, Prophet In Training. Elijah had been Elisha’s spiritual mentor and father (2 Kings 2:12).

Elisha’s request for a double portion of Elijah’s spirit might seem strange or even egoistic to us. However, in their cultural context, Elisha requested what the eldest son would usually expect from a father in Israel: a double portion of the inheritance.

Elisha was the Father’s choice as Elijah’s successor. Elisha had his sights set on being a devoted and successful servant of the Father. He aspired to be a powerful and effective prophet of the living God. Despite the great challenges and arduous path ahead, Elisha craved to be fully prepared for the mission God had entrusted him with.

The double portion that Elisha asked for was a plea for an extra measure of the Father’s blessings and favor on his life. This gift was beyond Elijah’s authority to grant. Elijah could not promise this double portion because it was the Father’s prerogative alone to bestow the blessing of His Spirit.

A double portion of the spirit of Elijah was precisely what the Father intended to give to Elisha. Elisha’s God-centric desire was heard and granted. He continued the work that Elijah had begun.

Luke 11:13 So if you sinful people know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him.”

Elijah is taken to heaven in a fiery chariot, becoming the first rocket man. Elisha’s crucial request was granted, and he became Elijah’s successor, or Elijah 2.0, if you will.

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 10-05-1

Crucial choices – from grit to grace ∙

Crucial choices – from grit to grace ∙

There is a path before each person that seems right, but it ends in death. – Proverbs 16:25

Matthew 7:13-14

13 You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

Even under favorable weather conditions, traveling on some roads can be extremely dangerous. Imagine driving through a mountainous terrain filled with twists and turns, inclines and declines. The consequences can be dire if you don’t know they are coming and adjust driving accordingly. Missing a turn in the mountains can result in driving off a cliff.

Caution signs are erected along these roads to safeguard drivers and their loved ones. These signs alert drivers of upcoming turns and other potentially hazardous road conditions.

Similarly, the Father is fully aware of the hazards we face traveling along life’s highways. He has posted many warning signs in His Word to help us avoid danger and devastation.

Could it be that people have misconceptions about which choices are beneficial or detrimental? Many parents influence their children to believe that hard work will bring success. Take, for instance, the popular saying from the Emmy-winning TV show Friday Night Lights, “Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can’t lose.” Recent studies have identified “grit,” a measure of one’s work ethic, as a crucial determinant of success in life. Grit is all about your work ethic. Grit motivates individuals to labor diligently and persist regardless of the obstacles.

In the world, grit can lead to extraordinary achievements in life. In the kingdom of God, can grit bring us into the presence of the King?

The Lord Jesus Christ provides an answer to this. He presents two options for people to choose from. One path leads to life, while the other leads to destruction. The route to eternal life is described as “narrow.” It is the road less traveled. This choice is not popular, and few choose it.

Luke 13:24 Strive to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.

The path most people opt for is broad and effortless. The Lord Jesus Christ asserts that the popular consensus leads to destruction.

What is being overlooked by the majority? What are they missing? There is an immense difference between the nature of God and the nature of the human race. It is often not fully grasped or considered. The Father is holy, righteous, and good. His is perfect. Fallen humanity is not. Even the best of us fall short of the absolute holiness of the living God.

It is a sobering truth that no amount of hard work or determination can bridge this gap. We cannot, through our own efforts, overcome this disparity. We cannot make up the difference. We cannot save ourselves from our sins.

Knowing this, The Father sent the Lord Jesus Christ to come into the world for the express purpose of saving us from our sins.

The Father has posted warning signs in His love to keep us safe. Is it prudent to disregard these warnings, trust in ourselves, and optimistically hope for the best? On a hazardous mountain road, there are many risks. How do we protect ourselves from danger and destruction? We watch out for warning signs and heed their message. Is there a more sensible decision?

In life, we safeguard ourselves by adhering to the Father’s wisdom and the warnings and guidance He has given us. He alone provides the Way, the Truth, and the Life to come to the Father. Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ means discarding any idea of gaining the Father’s approval through our own actions. We acknowledge that the chasm is too great to overcome by ourselves.

REFLECT & PRAY

Acts 4:12 There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.

Father thank You for providing warnings and directions. Thank you for providing the Way to come into Your kingdom. It is narrow and hard. Yet, anyone can find it and choose to enter Your eternal kingdom.

INSIGHT

Matthew 7:13-14

13 You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who choose that way.

14 But the gateway to life is very narrow and the road is difficult, and only a few ever find it.

The Greek word translated as narrow is stenos. When referring to physical space, stenos has the sense of narrow or thin. Metaphorically, when it relates to the entrance and path to eternal life, it means narrow, strict, exacting, and, or restricted. It is a hard choice. Therefore, few choose it. The Lord Jesus encourages people to overcome the difficulty and choose the narrow gate.

The Greek word for broad is euruchoros. Euruchoros connotes spacious and roomy, regarding a road broad and wide.

In Matthew 7:14, the word translated as hard or difficult is thlibo. Thlibo means to experience trouble or difficulty. It means to oppress with evil, afflict, or distress. The English word tribulation comes from this term.

You cannot just mindlessly follow the crowd if you want eternal life. “You really have to want to get in through this gate. If you just drift, allowing the current to take you where it will, you’ll miss it. But this gate leads to life, and the other sort all lead to destruction . . .. Choices matter; actions and motives matter. Learning to follow Jesus and to know God as a father matter. Eternal issues are at stake” (N. T. Wright).

Children of the King throughout the ages have always been a remnant, a small minority of the human population. “The reason is not difficult to discover: The way of life is narrow, lonely, and costly” (Wiersbe).

“There are only two religions in the world. There is the religion of human achievement, the religion of works, the religion of the flesh, the religion that says you can be good enough, holy enough, religious enough, spiritual enough. And there is the one other option, the religion of divine accomplishment, the religion of faith, grace, mercy and not of the flesh but of the Spirit and they do not mix” (John MacArthur).

The Lord Jesus Christ came to planet Earth to become the Savior of the world. He alone made it possible for people to enter into the kingdom of heaven. He was emphatic and clearly stated that there was no other way.

John 14:6 I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.

“Is it not arrogance or narrow-mindedness to claim that there is only one way of salvation or that the way we follow is the right way? I think not. After all, do we fault a pilot for being narrow-minded when he follows the instrument panel [while] landing in a rainstorm? No, we want him to remain narrowly focused!” (Billy Graham)

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Why fear forks?

Why fear forks?

He came to his own people, and they rejected him. – John 1:11

Romans 10:1-3

1 Dear brothers and sisters, the longing of my heart and my prayer to God is for the people of Israel to be saved.

2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.

3 For they don’t understand God’s way of making people right with himself. Refusing to accept God’s way, they cling to their own way of getting right with God by trying to keep the law.

From the dawn of civilization, mankind has grappled with fire, grindstones, sharp tools, and pots to transform raw food into edible meals. Knives, perhaps our most crucial culinary tool, predate the discovery of fire. On the other hand, forks faced centuries of mockery and ostracism before gaining widespread acceptance.

In the 11th century, using a fork was considered sacrilegious. They were considered a symbol of greed and gluttony. The prevailing belief was that God had given us hands to eat with, and using any other instrument directly defied His will. Forks were deemed immoral, unsanitary, and a tool of the devil. The word “fork” is derived from the Latin furca. Furca is the Latin word for “pitchfork.” Fill in the blanks.

The first dining forks were used by royalty in the Middle East and the Byzantine Empire. Forks made their way west in 1004 AD when a Byzantine emperor’s niece married the son of the Doge of Venice. She brought a small box of two-pronged golden forks to Italy, which she utilized at her wedding banquet. The Venetians, accustomed to eating with their hands, were aghast. When she died from the plague two years later, Saint Peter Damian declared it was divine retribution.

Despite initial shock and religious condemnation, forks gained popularity across Europe and are now an indispensable part of dining.

The fear or rejection of new things, such as the fork or practices like acupuncture, is often rooted in a psychological condition known as neophobia, the fear of anything new. Here are a few factors that contribute to this:

Fear of the Unknown: New things bring uncertainty, and people fear potential adverse outcomes.

Comfort in Familiarity: Changes, even minor ones, can disrupt this comfort.

Perceived Threat to Tradition or Culture: New things threaten established traditions or cultural norms.

Skepticism Towards Innovation: Are new methods effective? Acupuncture faced resistance due to its roots in traditional Chinese medicine, not Western medicine.

Social and Religious Beliefs: Western Europe considered the fork scandalous, even blasphemous. It was viewed as an unnecessary luxury and an insult to God’s provision.

21st-century research has demonstrated a natural intolerance of uncertainty when adverse outcomes are possible, irrespective of the probability that they might never happen (Carleton, Norton, & Asmundson).

Throughout history, innovation has often incited fear, anxiety, and resistance. Consider inventions like the airplane (“If God intended us to fly, He would have given us wings.”), scissors, the telephone, the radio, electricity, harnessing the atom, Xerox machines, credit cards, personal computers, the Internet, smartphones, etc.

At the start of 2023, AI (artificial intelligence) became widely available and was embraced by early adopters. Others viewed it as an existential threat to humanity (akin to Skynet from the Terminator movies).

Fear of the unknown is often a tragic misunderstanding, resulting in misdirected zealous antipathy.

REFLECT & PRAY

“He died on a cross of wood, BUT He made the hill upon which it stood.”

Father give me the grace to be open and mentally adroit to innovations while I cling to what is good and abhor what is evil.

INSIGHT

One of the greatest tragic misunderstandings of all time involved the dismissal and renunciation of something new, different, unexpected, and perceived as a threat to the well-being of people and the societal, cultural, and religious norms and status quo.

John 1:11 He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him.

John 1:11 He came to what was his own, but his own people did not receive him.

John 1:11 He came to his own people, and they rejected him.

These familiar words are simple, yet they are full of layered nuances in Greek that are brought out in many typical English translations. Greek adjectives have unique forms that indicate they are masculine, feminine, or neuter, as well as masculine or plural.

The first Greek word translated as own is ta idia. Ta idia is neuter and plural. It may be appropriately translated as his own things, his own country, or perhaps his own creation or world. The sense goes beyond the obvious and pedestrian to the sublime and prodigious. The apostle John says that the Lord Jesus Christ came into His creation. The world that He made.

John 1:3 God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him.

The second Greek word translated as own is hoi idioi. Hoi idioi ismasculineand plural. It may be appropriately translated as his own people, his own people, or perhaps his own home (John 16:32, John 19:27). What pathos! He came home, and yet His own people did not welcome him (Hendriksen). He was snubbed, shunned, and ostracized by those who should’ve recognized and accepted Him.

His own people did not receive Him. There is a tragic irony here: When the Logos came into the world, He came to His own, ta idia, literally his own things, but his own people, hoi idioi, who should have known and received him, but did not. “It is best taken as a reference to the Jewish people” (UBS).

Goodspeed translates it, “He came to His home, and His own family did not welcome Him.” He came to His own people, the Jewish people, and they did not accept Him. How sad! The long-awaited Messiah was not recognized and acknowledged. It was a deliberate, conscious choice to reject and not welcome Him.

The Greek word translated as receive is parelabon. Parelabon has the sense of receiving something given or offered willingly. John does not say that his own did not know him, but that they did not receive him. Parelabon does not refer to mere recognition but of acceptance and welcome (NET, Notes).

“But the people were so shackled by religious tradition that they could not understand spiritual truth. Jesus came to His own world that He had created, but His own people, Israel, could not understand Him and would not receive Him.”

“They saw His works and heard His words. They observed His perfect life. He gave them every opportunity to grasp the truth, believe, and be saved. Jesus is the way, but they would not walk with Him (John 6:66-71). He is the truth, but they would not believe Him (John 12:37ff). He is the life, and they crucified Him! (Wiersbe).

We often exhibit great zeal and conviction in our suspicions and doubts regarding new things. However, it’s unfortunate that we can also be sincerely wrong. Misguided enthusiasm can lead us significantly off course. Our enthusiasm should be founded on knowledge and understanding, not fear and doubt.

Romans 10:2 I know what enthusiasm they have for God, but it is misdirected zeal.

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