Life In Greencastle

Love Your Enemies from Kristen Miller on Vimeo .

"Because of [the controversial things Jesus was saying] many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. So Jesus asked the twelve, 'Do you also wish to go away?' Simon Peter answered him, 'Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God." - John 6:66-69 The passage above is a key moment in the ministry of Jesus. It is also a key moment in the life of Peter and the other twelve disciples. The context is that Jesus has already begun his public ministry. He has already called the twelve disciples. Furthermore, hordes of people have also fallen in line with Jesus as he travels about Galilee doing the work God the Father sent him to do. In many instances, Jesus has worked miracles. He has brought healing where there was sickness, sight to eyes that were blind, and hope to hearts that were crushed. It is natural, then, that so many are now falling in behind him...

In recent years, two scenes from the Gospels keep grabbing my attention: Jesus' baptism and Jesus' transfiguration. In both instances God the Father speaks to Jesus or about Jesus (it may be the only time we hear God the Father speaking directly about Jesus). In both cases, God proclaims (and claims) Jesus as God's very own, "Beloved" Son. God the Father further announces that he is "well pleased" with Jesus. On the second occasion - the Transfiguration - God goes on to command us (the disciples) to "Listen to him." Listen to Jesus. It seems like such a fundamental and important part of what it means to be a Christian. The very idea of us being Christians is that we are taking our cues and directions from Jesus - that he is both our Lord and our Teacher. And, yet, I have noticed within myself that I don't really do this that often. Yes, even pastors struggle with this. It is much easier to be swayed by the many other voices that we...