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.

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

Dr. Ellie was playing with the three children: Stormie, Joan, and Ethan.  Ethan’s schedule was way off.  He had just awakened, and B.B. was planning on feeding him during the church school hour and hopefully, Ethan would sleep during the worship service.

B.B. (short for Mary being a Bossy Boss) was fixing my hair, “Belle, let’s put Aunt Jemima’s hair into braids and then tie the braids into a bun.”

I protested, “You are going to tie my hair into knots that I have no idea how to untie?  That is cruel with a capital ‘K.’”

Arabella replied, “Yeah, a capital ‘K’ when cruel starts with a ‘C.’”

Dr. Ellie asked, “How do you know, Fireball.  You’re just a sophomore in high school.  Stinker is in graduate school, and teaching in-coming freshmen.  Maybe she has invented a new way of spelling cruel.”

B.B. snickered, “Or she has invented a new way of being cruel.  I heard a couple of freshmen talking and it sounded like Stinker’s first exam was so brutal that she was trying to winnow the wheat from the chaff.  Did I say that right?”

I replied, “It’s in a parable in Matthew, but John the Baptist mentions it too.  ‘John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.’ (Luke 3:16-18).  And if they thought that test was hard, they did not study.  The test was the basic stuff of weather observation.  I’m not going to show pictures of clouds and ask if that cloud looked like a bunny or a kitty.  Come on!  Besides, no one flunked the test.  I have already graded all the papers.”

B.B. snickered, “Yeah, I told the two that said that to look for another major at the university.  I hear that underwater basket weaving has openings.”

Dr. Ellie said, “You didn’t!”

B.B. nodded, “I did, but I think they decided to study for the next test.”

Arabella gasped, “Yeah, and if we don’t get our class started, we’ll never be prepared for the test.”

B.B. said, “Fireball!  What test are you talking about?”

Arabella huffed, “Exactly, Dr. Ellie, like Jesus said, we won’t expect it.  It will come like a thief in the night.”

Dr. Ellie laughed, “Our Biblical scholar has spoken.”

Arabella, giggling, held the door and bowed.

Rev. Joseph led us in prayer.

Emmett and the choir sang Water into Wine.

I said, “Nice song, guys.  You could have sung about Lazarus, too.”

Emmett smiled, “Aunt Jemima, there is a lot of unique stories and teachings in John from which to choose.”

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

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

Arabella nodded, “Aunt Jemima, I will avoid the potty humor.  I think I just need the who, what, when stuff.”

Easy smiled, but it was dumb me who asked, “Potty humor about one of the gospels?”

Arabella replied, “Why wasn’t John with the other disciples when Jesus turned the water into wine?  John was sadly in the john.“

Easy said, “Okay, Arabella, you know that is biblically wrong.  Why would John be the only one to tell that story?”

Arabella smiled, “I used that example because I knew Mr. Dictionary could expose the joke for what it was.”

Easy shook his head, “John was a fisherman.  ‘When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners.’ (Luke 5:8-10).  After the Ascension and Peter’s sermon at Pentecost, we see Peter and John continuing their partnership, without Andrew and James.  ‘One day Peter and John were going up to the temple at the time of prayer—at three in the afternoon.’ (Acts 3:1).  So, it was Peter and John that were arrested first.  Then it was a number of the disciples.  But then, it was Peter and John who went to Samaria in Acts 8.  A lot of people say that John’s gospel has the most divinity in it.  It does have a lot of teaching in it, but it is also the gospel that has seven ‘I AM’ statements.  ‘Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’ (John 6:35).  ‘When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”’ (John 8:12).  ‘I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture.’ (John 10:9).  And then five verses later  ‘“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me—’ (John 10:14).  ‘Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die;’ (John 11:25).  ‘Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.’ (John 14:6).  ‘“I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener.’ (John 16:1).  But let’s look at another I am statement.  ‘“Jesus said, “I am with you for only a short time, and then I am going to the one who sent me. You will look for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.”’ (John 7:33-34).“

Arabella said, “But, Mr. Dictionary.  Can’t we go to where Jesus is?”

Easy said, “Not in our current bodies.  These bodies have a sin nature, and we would die in these bodies going before God.  But we will one day live with Jesus in Paradise forever.”

Clay asked, “Does John mention his own name in the book of John?”

Easy shook his head, “The word ‘John” is mentioned about twenty times in the book of John but it mostly refers to John the Baptist.  And he refers to Simon as Simon son of John a few times.  Some think that the four fishermen were cousins.  So maybe Zebedee, father of James and John, was the brother of John, father of Andrew and Simon.  But that is just speculation.  Mostly, John refers to himself as the disciple that Jesus loved. ‘When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,”’ (John 19:26).  And I chose that one because it was John who was entrusted with taking care of Jesus’ mother, Mary.  Is that enough definition, Belle?”

Arabella scrunched her head between her shoulders, “It’s more than I thought that I would get.”

I added, “I heard a pastor once say that Jesus had hundreds of followers.  There were more than one hundred in the upper room that Pentecost Sunday.  But then there were the seventy-two that Jesus sent out.  Then there were the Twelve.  But then, only James, John, and Peter went with Jesus onto the Mount of Transfiguration and the same three at the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus had acquaintances, friends, close friends, and then the one He would trust his mother’s care to, His closest friend.  But I have also heard pastors talk about John’s humility.  Jesus loved everyone.  So that was nothing special.  And then, the book of John was not the book of what John saw, but a book about Jesus, told by a disciple who Jesus loved.  Take your pick as to which to believe, or even all of that together.”

Josie (John 2:17) “His disciples remembered that it is written: ‘Zeal for your house will consume me.’”

Josie said,”It’s tough following Easy after that beginning.  This is close to what David said in Psalm 69: ‘“for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.”’ (Psalm 69:9).  This is when Jesus cleared the temple.  But Aunt Jemima, why is John’s story at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and the other three gospels had it at the end?”

I said, “Excellent question.  I think Jesus never missed the Passover for the three years.  At least the first and last years were marked by this cleansing.  So, it did not just happen once.  And the gospel writers used context to tell their story.  John relates to John the Baptist who was still active at the time.  There is a new sheriff in town.  The synoptic gospels use the last cleansing of the temple to push the religious leaders into action.  So there is a theological impact of early versus late.  There is a historical impact.  But let’s never forget that Jesus probably cleared the money lenders out more than once.  Another argument is that the gospel writers might not have been tied to everything being chronological.  But I don’t like that argument in this case.  First thing versus last thing before being crucified is significantly different.  Thus, there must have been multiple cleansings of the temple.  You know those greedy people were back the next day in both cases.”

Jethro (John 10:34) “Jesus answered them, “Is it not written in your Law, ‘I have said you are ‘gods’?”

Jethro said, “I was thinking you forgot about Josie and me.  But this is when Jesus was making claims that the religious leaders objected to.  ‘“I said, ‘You are ‘gods’; you are all sons of the Most High.’’ (Psalm 82:6).  This is from a psalm of Asaph.  Jesus is playing with these guys.  Human leaders are not God, but sometimes they are put into position where they make life and death decisions, thus they can be considered god, with a little ‘g’.  So, don’t get bent out of shape when Jesus called Himself God.  Because Jesus proved it.”

I smiled, “Yeah, I kinda forgot about you.  Never forgetting, but then, I want people who are going out of town to have a chance.  Then some people have been gone for a few weeks.  So, those that are here all the time are people that I need to make sure don’t get lost.  I apologize.”  They smiled.

Jochebed (John 12:15, Louis Segond) “Ne crains point, fille de Sion; Voici, ton roi vient, Assis sur le petit d’une ânesse.”

Jochebed (John 12:15) ““Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey’s colt.””

Jochebed said, “Please, Jemima, I get the donkey verse! ‘Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’ (Zechariah 9:9).  I apologize to you, Jemima.  You do a great job.  But this ties the Triumphal entry of Jesus with the prophets.”

I replied, “We may have had that similar story three of the past four weeks, but not in French.”

Clay (John 13:18) ‘“I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill this passage of Scripture: ‘He who shared my bread has turned against me.’’

Clay smiled, “And this comes from Psalm 41.  ‘Even my close friend, someone I trusted, one who shared my bread, has turned against me.” (Psalm 41:9).  Jesus is talking about Judas Iscariot.  David was probably talking about someone that betrayed him, but it fit with what Jesus said at the Last Supper.”

I smiled, “Very good, Clay.”

Clay nodded, “Mamma Jochebed helped Sarah and me.”

Georges (John 19:36) ‘These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,””

Georges said, “Jesus had no broken bones, but His body was broken in so many ways.  Due to the beatings and flogging, He was spent when He reached the cross.  But then the Scripture says that He gave up His life and breathed His last.  But the point about no broken bones comes from these places. ‘“It must be eaten inside the house; take none of the meat outside the house. Do not break any of the bones.’ (Exodus 12:46). So, the Passover lamb must not have any broken bones. ‘They must not leave any of it till morning or break any of its bones. When they celebrate the Passover, they must follow all the regulations.’ (Numbers 9:12).  And ‘he protects all his bones, not one of them will be broken.’ (Psalm 34:20).  So, none of Jesus’s bones were broken either.”

Sarah, with her tablet (John 19:37) “and, as another scripture says, ‘They will look on the one they have pierced.’”

Sarah, using her tablet, said, “This is what Zechariah said. ‘“And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son.’ (Zechariah 12:10).  Zechariah said that one from the line of David will be pierced and they will look on Him.  Jesus fulfilled these prophecies.”

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.’”

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

Brooke said, “Stormie, church time!”

Stormie said, “Aunt Brooke, I go to church and my friends go too!”  Joan yelled, “Yay!”

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.

My brother played college football for two years and then developed knee problems.  But while there, he knew an upper classman who never graduated, but he went on to a long career in the NFL.  He was a community athletics major, and he needed to take underwater basket weaving since community centers did not only do sports administration.  He never could get the hang of getting the basket material soft enough to weave it into a basket, and thus never graduated.  Odd, how he did so much better with the “harder” subjects.

Here is Water into Wine from Leanna Crawford and Seph Schlueter.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.