Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

I’m Jemima L Yeggs, a.k.a. Stinker.  Pink Lady Apple Yeggs, my landlady and my auntie, wants to read about how younger people, especially couples respond to what the Bible says.  And she wants to know how God is at work at Lily the Pink.

Mary, Arabella, and I were in our “green room.”

Dr. Ellie walked in.  “Can I get in on the fun?  What do you do in here before class anyway?”

Arabella was fixing my hair, “I help Aunt Jemima with her hair.  It used to be B.B., but B.B. seems to have other things to do.  You know, she is spoiling Ethan.  I don’t know if I have ever seen her put him down.”

B.B. (short for Mary being a Bossy Boss) protested, “I feed him in here so I don’t show too much in the class.  Then, he goes to sleep.  That lasts until we get to church.  And he is in the nursery for the next couple of hours.  Belle, you just don’t pay close attention.”

Arabella replied, “I guess you are right.  In Aunt Jemima’s class, I am busy keeping my eyes on Michael.”

Dr. Ellie said, “As long as it’s just your eyes, Fireball.  Oh, and Stinker, Stormie is in the corner.  She took a toy away from Ellie Rain and started a little scuffle.  Don’t worry.  Easy is with her and she has apologized.”

I replied, “I think it was last week that one of us asked if the utopian children’s play area would last.  Even in a church style setting, the children will act like children.  Maybe pastors could learn from that and ease up on their children a bit.  Maybe we would have less preacher kid rebellions.”

B.B. snickered, “I doubt if that will happen.  That’s why we leave Ethan in the nursery.  We don’t want to take the chance.  You know, the pastor asks us to bow our heads in prayer and Ethan suddenly screams bloody murder.”

Arabella gasped, “Ethan can say ‘bloody murder?’  That’s impressive for a baby that’s five months old.”

B.B. said, “Fireball!  Ethan can cry really loud when he wants to, and he’s only four months old.”

Arabella huffed, “Thank you for keeping me straight, Aunt Mary.”

Dr. Ellie laughed, “I love it how all the children at Lily the Pink call the older kids their aunts and uncles.  In our neighborhood, you would be lucky if what they called you was repeatable at church.”

I sighed, “This week, we are in Luke, only verses that are quotes from the Old Testament.  I am at a loss as to what to do next, once we get past Revelation.”

Dr. Ellie laughed, “Stinker, I know you.  God is going to give you an idea, even if it is a hairbrained idea.”

I sighed, “At times, Home Wrecker, it seems that you think all my ideas are hairbrained.”

B.B. laughed, “Yeah, but then she tells the turtle crew to go along with it.  It might just be fun and educational at the same time.”

I shrugged, “And so far, we have survived.”

I looked at my three friends.  “I’m ready for class.  Let’s go before we need another referee in the play area.”

Arabella, giggling, held the door and bowed.

Rev. Joseph led us in prayer.

Emmett and the choir sang Jesus is My Healer.

I said, “Nice song, guys.  Did you pick that one because Luke was a physician?”

Emmett smiled, “Aunt Jemima, we thought of doing Away in a Manger, but it is September.”

Samuel asked, “Where are we searching for Jesus today, Aunt Jemima?”

I smiled, “We are looking at the Gospel of Luke.  Arabella, do you need Mr. Dictionary?”

Arabella nodded, “Aunt Jemima, I think I just need the who, what, when stuff.  And if Mr. Dictionary could tell us who could say the line, ‘Luke, I am your father.’”

Easy smiled, “I can assure you that the father of the author of the books of Luke and Acts was not Darth Vader.”

Arabella replied, “It was worth the try.“

Easy said, “Okay, ‘Our dear friend Luke, the doctor, and Demas send greetings.’ (Colossians 4:14).  This is the only reference to Luke being a doctor.  And how does this sound?  ‘And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.’ (Philemon 1:24).  Here and in 2 Timothy, Paul is talking about having the authors of two of the four gospels with him at the same time.  But these three verses are the only times we see Luke mentioned.  When did Luke join Paul as a mission team member? ‘From Troas we put out to sea and sailed straight for Samothrace, and the next day we went on to Neapolis.’ (Acts 16:11).  Until this point, Luke writes that Paul did this and that.  But then when they sail for Macedonia, we see the pronoun ‘we.’  So, Luke joined him prior to that point, maybe in Troas.  And it gets confusing from that point on.  Sometimes, you aren’t sure whether Luke stayed with Paul or stayed with the others when the group split up.  Sometimes, it is Paul doing things or we traveling somewhere.  But then, Paul was the one doing those things, while the group travelled.  Arabella, when you feel bored, maybe on a rainy day, read from Acts 16:11 to the end of the book of Acts to figure out whether Luke was with Paul or not.“

Arabella said, “Thank you, Mr. Dictionary.  I might like to do that.”

Wilma (Luke 1:17) “And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous—to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.””

Wilma said,”The people of Judah were expecting Elijah to return.  After all, Elijah was a great prophet.  And it says in Malachi: ‘“See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.”’ (Malachi 4:5-6).  I have been praying over these verses.  Elijah coming before Jesus came is one Day of the Lord, but Jesus coming again is another one.  John the Baptist was like Elijah, but could the two witnesses be Enoch and Elijah.  They are the only two to be taken into Heaven without dying and the two witnesses are killed.  ‘And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth.” They are “the two olive trees” and the two lampstands, and “they stand before the Lord of the earth.” If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want. Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them.’ (Revelation 11:3-7).  I don’t know.  Maybe I am just being goofy.”

I said, “Excellent!  Wilma, that was wonderful.  You could add to your argument with… ‘Just as people are destined to die once, and after that to face judgment, so Christ was sacrificed once to take away the sins of many; and he will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for him.’ (Hebrews 9:17-18).  I have heard some people make that supposition.  The verses from Hebrews say that we are all to die once, but I do not think anyone knows for sure who the witnesses are.  Oh, wow!  I love it when class members use my humble offering to have moments like this.  Thank you, Wilma.”

Fred (Luke 2: 23) “(as it is written in the Law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord”),”

Fred said, “I just want everyone to know that Wilma is my lady.  I cannot claim that I helped her with her idea, but I am glad she puts up with me.  But this verse refers to Exodus and Numbers.  ‘Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether human or animal.’ (Exodus 13:2).  And then later… ‘you are to give over to the Lord the first offspring of every womb. All the firstborn males of your livestock belong to the Lord. … When Pharaoh stubbornly refused to let us go, the Lord killed the firstborn of both people and animals in Egypt. This is why I sacrifice to the Lord the first male offspring of every womb and redeem each of my firstborn sons.’’ (Exodus 13:12, 15).  Then in Numbers 3… ‘for all the firstborn are mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set apart for myself every firstborn in Israel, whether human or animal. They are to be mine. I am the Lord.”’ (Numbers 3:13).  And then in Numbers 8: ‘Every firstborn male in Israel, whether human or animal, is mine. When I struck down all the firstborn in Egypt, I set them apart for myself.’ (Numbers 8:17).  This is the spot when Joseph and Mary took Jesus to the temple about forty days after Jesus was born.  Simeon and Anna met them at the temple and praised God for having seen Jesus.  But on the eighth day, Jesus was circumcised.  But then, since Jesus was a firstborn, He had to be dedicated to God.  The firstborn belonged to God.  Then, Mary and Joseph had to go to the temple and give a sacrifice to redeem Jesus back.  I think this has already been mentioned in the class.  So, I am not doing like Wilma did in presenting something new.”

Wilma patted his arm.  “That’s okay, Sweetie.  You showed you pay attention in class.”

Fred groaned, “Like that helps a lot.”

Wilma winked, “I can give you something better.”  And she kissed him.  Kissing usually gets contagious, and this was no exception with everyone who had partners kissing each other.

I smiled, “Can we get back to the book of Luke?”

Arabella said, “One more.”

I groaned, “Please, Fireball.  Do not encourage your classmates in that fashion.”

Mitzi (Luke 2:24) “and to offer a sacrifice in keeping with what is said in the Law of the Lord: ‘a pair of doves or two young pigeons.’”

Mitzi said, “Okay, I was afraid Fred would answer mine, but he didn’t. ‘On the eighth day the boy is to be circumcised. Then the woman must wait thirty-three days to be purified from her bleeding. She must not touch anything sacred or go to the sanctuary until the days of her purification are over’ (Leviticus 12:3-4).  So, here is where you find what Fred said about the circumcision of Jesus.  And like he said, it was about 40 days after the birth of Jesus, specifically 41 days, Mary had to go to the temple to be cleansed.  Women were considered unclean until they went through this animal sacrifice.  And they offered a sin offering.  The two doves indicates they were poor.  ‘Anyone who cannot afford a lamb is to bring two doves or two young pigeons to the Lord as a penalty for their sin—one for a sin offering and the other for a burnt offering.’ (Leviticus 5:7).”

Baldy (Luke 4:4) ‘Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man shall not live on bread alone.’”’

Baldy smiled, “And this is where it is written.  ‘“He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.” (Deuteronomy 8:3).  I hope to be like Jesus someday and answer the Devil when he comes to call with Scripture.  It’s almost like Jesus was begging us to look up that verse.  Jesus left off the part about living on every word that God speaks.  And He speaks through the Bible to all of us.”

Kevin (Luke 7:22) ‘So he replied to the messengers, “Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard: The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is proclaimed to the poor.”

Kevin said, “This relates to Luke 4: ‘“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free,’ (Luke 4:18). Jesus did not answer the religious leaders directly, because He knew they would not understand His answers.  But He did not answer the followers of John the Baptist directly, because He knew that John would understand.  The answer is found in Isaiah, in a couple of places… ‘Then will the eyes of the blind be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. Then will the lame leap like a deer, and the mute tongue shout for joy. Water will gush forth in the wilderness and streams in the desert.’ (Isaiah 35:5-6).  And ‘The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners,’ (Isaiah 61:1).  Isaiah prophesied that these types of miracles would take place.  And even John the Baptist needed reassurance, but also a bolstering of faith.”

Joseline (Luke 10:28) “’You have answered correctly, Jesus replied. ‘Do this and you will live.’”

Jos said, “This is what Ezekiel said. ‘I gave them my decrees and made known to them my laws, by which the person who obeys them will live.’ (Ezekiel 20:1).  The expert in the law has just answered Jesus with the Greatest Commandment.  And Jesus commends him for being right.  But then, the expert in the law goes one more question, and Jesus answers with the parable of the Good Samaritan.”

Blaise (Luke 13:19) “It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.””

Blaise said, “I think someone had this last week or the week before.  In Ezekiel, it says: ‘On the mountain heights of Israel I will plant it; it will produce branches and bear fruit and become a splendid cedar. Birds of every kind will nest in it; they will find shelter in the shade of its branches.’ (Ezekiel 17:23). It’s a different kind of tree, but it says something similar, about the birds nesting in it.  And in Psalm 104, we have.  “The birds of the sky nest by the waters; they sing among the branches.’  (Psalm 104:12).  Again, the idea of birds nesting.”

Marguerite (Luke 13:27) ‘“But he will reply, ‘I don’t know you or where you come from. Away from me, all you evildoers!’’

Margie smiled, “This is Jesus talking about entering Heaven through the narrow door, and He is saying that some of those people who were good people in man’s eyes would get to the gates and God would send them away.  David says, ’ “Away from me, all you who do evil, for the Lord has heard my weeping.’ (Psalm 6:8).”

Sophia (Luke 23:30) “Then “‘they will say to the mountains, “Fall on us!” and to the hills, “Cover us!”’”

Sophia said, “Jesus is addressing the women.  He said to not weep for Himself, but weep for themselves. ‘“People will flee to caves in the rocks and to holes in the ground from the fearful presence of the Lord and the splendor of his majesty, when he rises to shake the earth.’ (Isaiah 2:19).  And then Hosea says, “The high places of wickedness will be destroyed— it is the sin of Israel. Thorns and thistles will grow up and cover their altars. Then they will say to the mountains, ‘Cover us!’ and to the hills, ‘Fall on us!’ (Hosea 10:8). But I was getting confused, so I found a cross-reference to Revelation, ’ “They called to the mountains and the rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!’ (Revelation 6:16).  So, Jesus was warning the women, but in extension everyone.  When God shows His power, all on earth will tremble.  But hiding in a cave might not be the idea with earthquakes, you could get crushed by falling rock.  But what this is saying is that we might be so scared in the presence of God, dying in that fashion might seem better.  But then, when we have our new bodies and we do not have a sin nature, won’t it be like Adam and Eve in the Garden?  Walking with Jesus, like He was a brother?”

I smiled, “Thank you for the extra digging.  I think you got the point.  And what was about to happen while Jesus was on the cross included earthquakes.  And then the dead would be seen walking around.  That would be scary enough.”

Grannie Fannie (3 John 1:3) “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.”

Then Grannie Fannie added, “And then all God’s children said, ‘Amen.’  I always wanted to add that.”

Lauren ran up to Grannie Fannie and hugged her.  “Are you ready to drive us?”

Brooke said, “Stormie, church time!”

Stormie said, “I have to do something first.”  Stormie went over to Ellie Rain and said, “Ellie Rain, I love you.”  Ellie Rain said, “I love you, too.”  And they hugged each other.

Grannie Fannie put a hand on my shoulder, “You’re doing a great job in this class and at home too, Jemima.”

Joan said, “Goop hug!”  And all the other children in the play area joined Stormie and Ellie Rain in one huge group hug.  And they were all laughing.

Credits

When I am using quoted verses in the New Testament, I got those verses (different translations) from Seeing Jesus – Bible Encounter Study Guide by Marilyn Hickey.  The concept of doing this in a Sunday school setting is based on her book.  When the youngster gives the other verse, Aunt Jemima had sent the comparison verse from the Hickey book, but occasionally, a verse is added (easily found in the cross references).  The rest is from internet searches, a variety of commentaries and study Bibles, and personal knowledge.

The comment about “Luke, I am your father” is a line spoken by Darth Vader as Luke Skywalker is trying to escape.  The line is at the end, or nearly the end, of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back.  Sorry, Arabella could not resist.

Here is Jesus is My Healer from Jessie Harris – Gateway Worship.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.