Well-Known Christians - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Luke 24:13-35

13 Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.

17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?” They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”

19 “What things?” he asked.

“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”

25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.

28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.

30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”

33 They got up and returned at once to Jerusalem. There they found the Eleven and those with them, assembled together 34 and saying, “It is true! The Lord has risen and has appeared to Simon.” 35 Then the two told what had happened on the way, and how Jesus was recognized by them when he broke the bread.

There are some Well Known Christians

Mother Teresa - A Catholic nun and missionary who dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick in India.

Martin Luther - A German theologian who is credited with initiating the Protestant Reformation.

Billy Graham - An American evangelist who preached to millions of people around the world and is considered one of the most influential Christian leaders of the 20th century.

C.S. Lewis - A British author and theologian who wrote many books, including "The Chronicles of Narnia" and "Mere Christianity."

Pope Francis - The current leader of the Catholic Church and one of the most prominent religious figures in the world today.

Rick Warren - An American pastor and author who founded Saddleback Church and wrote the best-selling book "The Purpose Driven Life."

John Wesley - An 18th-century English preacher and theologian who founded the Methodist movement.

There are local names as well, in this area if we were to call names like Hobbs, Veasey, Warren, Winfield, and Pierson, that would mean something to the members of this church. Some people are famous some are not, but we join the scriptures looking at 2 people on a walk to Emmaus and they run into the most famous person in Christianity of all, but they don't recognize him. 

The Walk to Emmaus is only in the Gospel of Luke a walk by Cleopas and another unnamed disciple. 

Jesus meets some of his followers as they are on the way to a small village from Jerusalem. It’s not a short walk, so it wasn’t a short talk, as you’ll see in the text.  Jerusalem is anywhere from 7 miles to 20 miles away from Emmaus. The passage begins with two people who had been among the disciples who were looking for Jesus at the empty tomb. We don’t know why they are going to Emmaus, perhaps it was their hometown? The movement toward Emmaus is probably not as significant as the movement from Jerusalem.

A. The reunion with Jesus (24:13-16): These two believers are joined by the Savior.

1. Their discussion (23:13-14): They are talking about the Crucifixion.

2. Their darkness (24:15-16): Neither disciple recognizes the stranger who joins them. (Out of Context)

B. The request from Jesus (24:17): He asks why they are so sad.

C. The reply to Jesus (24:18-24)

1. They tell him their problem (24:18-21): The Crucifixion has dashed their hopes that perhaps Jesus of Nazareth is indeed the Messiah!

2. They tell him their puzzle (24:22-24): Some women found his tomb empty and were told by two angels that he has risen!

D. The rebuke by Jesus (24:25-27)

1. Their ignorance of the Scriptures (24:25): He says they have forgotten the prophecies concerning his death and resurrection.

Luke leaves us wondering but it’s possible that Jesus reminded them of passages like Deut. 18:18 that says 

“I will raise up for them a prophet, like you among your people, I will put my own words in the mouth of the prophet who shall speak to them everything that I command.”

Or he might have reminded them of Isaiah 53:13-14 that reads: See my servant shall be exalted and lifted up…. And many were astonished at him…

Or Isaiah 53 that reminds us that he poured out himself to death, was numbered among the transgressors yet bore the sin of many….

2. His interpretation of the Scriptures (24:26-27): He now reviews for them all the Old Testament passages which speak of him.

E. The recognition of Jesus (24:28-35)

1. The meal (24:28-31a)

a. The invitation (24:28-29): The two disciples invite Jesus to join them for a meal.

b. The revelation (24:30-31a): After he prays, Jesus distributes the bread. At that moment they recognize him!

We can find Jesus in places all the time and not recognize him. 

Jesus lives and abides with us and can be found in us… but not just us… the churches is not an exclusive club. No, Jesus meets us where we are…. Sometimes in the most unexpected ways… …sometimes in the most unexpected people… sometimes out context…

2. The miracle (24:31b): He suddenly disappears out of sight!

3. The meditation (24:32): They reflect, "Didn't our hearts feel strangely warm as he talked with us on the road and explained the Scriptures to us?"

4. The mission (24:33-35): The two disciples now return to Jerusalem and report all this to the apostles!

The Toughest Commandment - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Matthew 28:1-10

28 After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb.

2 There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it.3 His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow.4 The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

5 The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. 6 He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. 7 Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

8 So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. 9 Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. 10 Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

As I grow older, I stay in touch with the fact that I must face some tough decisions. Challenging because I understand that regardless of my emotional state, I must see the situation through. That means I have made big choices in my life, even though I was scared out of my mind doing them. Deciding to go to college in Texas, purchase a house, start a business, get married, and have children are all scary things on the surface, but I went forward with them, and my life is better for me taking that leap of faith. 

We all will have to face significant life decisions if we have not already. Friends and colleagues have moved across state lines to take new jobs. I know people who decided to go back to school, to get married, to get married a second time, people who were faced with major medical decisions, to have surgery, or to take a loved one off life support. Some have decided to go to therapy or go back to therapy.

Some people got the courage to speak up to their boss or apartment complex manager about unfair treatment; there are people I know who walked away from well-paying jobs to pursue a passion or calling, people who are learning to live without their spouse or parent because of an untimely death. Some people chose to run for public office or take a dangerous job in public safety, like a police officer or firefighter. No matter the circumstances, life is full of making tough decisions and making some decisions when we are scared.

We come across some people facing tough choices while they are scared in scripture today. We join the text on the morning of Christ's resurrection, looking at the two Marys. 

Obligatory PSA

-Mary Magdalene was not a prostitute

-The women preached the first Easter Sermon 

Neither Mark nor Luke, nor John mentions the earthquake; in their narratives, already the stone has been rolled away before anyone arrives at the tomb (cf. Mark 16:4; Luke 24:2; John 20:1)

The two Mary's went to the tomb after the Sabbath.

- Their routine has been interrupted by an event that changed the world

Do not be afraid is a common command in scripture, but it is easier said than done. 

Fear is replaced by a promise.

In Matthew, the women are not only the first witnesses of the empty tomb, but they also receive the first appearance of the risen Christ. 

When you step out, Jesus will meet you where you are. The two Marys followed a challenging commandment and got to see Jesus before they finished; they were willing to take the first few steps and saw a risen savior before they had even finished following the command. Miracles come with instructions, and the instructions are not for God; they are for us to understand and appreciate what is going on.

The stone is rolled away so that the people can look in. Seeing the empty tomb is a step that helps the disciples understand what has happened. Seeing a risen savior without an empty tomb leaves room for alternative explanations, such as they imagined it. The empty tomb gives a way for a concrete understanding.

We have trouble with "Fear Not" because we are afraid of so much. We fear the deaths of loved ones, serious illnesses, not having enough money for retirement, business failures, climate change, mass shootings, terrorism, and criminal activity. We see so many threats to our well-being that we can hardly believe it when we hear, "Fear not!"

But the words that the angel spoke to the women on Easter morning are also meant for us. "Do not be afraid," he said. "I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said" (Matthew 28:5-6). The very worst thing that could happen — the death of God's Son on the cross — has now been overcome by the resurrection. Darkness has been replaced by light, and death has been replaced by new life.

"Then go quickly and tell his disciples," said the angel. "'He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him'" (v. 7). The angel's promise is that Jesus is going ahead of us, always ahead of us. We do not need to fear the future because Jesus is in it. He calls us forward and promises to meet us in what lies ahead.

"Fear not!" because we have a risen Lord who has overcome anything that can hurt or destroy us. Because Jesus has been raised, we do not have to be afraid.

I serve a risen Savior; He's in the world today 

I know that He is living, whatever men may say 

I see His hand of mercy, I hear His voice of cheer 

And just the time I need Him He's always near

He lives! He lives! Christ Jesus lives today! 

He walks with me and talks with me 

Along life's narrow way 

He lives! He lives! Salvation to impart! 

You ask me how I know He lives? 

He lives within my heart

Betrayal - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Matthew 26:14-30

14 Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15 and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. 16 From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

One of the most painful experiences we may ever face is betrayal. We have been betrayed; it is a fact of life that if you have never been betrayed, count yourself blessed and keep saying good morning. 

There are some infamous traitors in history. Many of these are political spies, and in the United States, this list includes Benedict Arnold, Aldrich Ames, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, Robert Hanssen, and others.

The betrayal of Julius Caesar by his friend Brutus still shocks history students. Other infamous names have emerged more recently, such as Alfred Redl, an Austrian military officer who, during World War I, sold sensitive information about the Austrian army to Czarist Russia. Or, Harold Cole, a British soldier who betrayed the French resistance and is considered one of the worst traitors of World War II.

Since betrayal is a central human theme, the so-called classic literature is full of it. Such as Iago from Othello, who was Othello's trusted advisor but hated him and made him think his wife was having an affair. In The Count of Monte Cristo, Fernand Mondego falsely accuses his best friend Edmond of treason before having him imprisoned for 14 years. He also steals Edmond's fiancée, Mercédès, and marries her. 

Peter Pettigrew, a.k.a. Wormtail, of the Harry Potter books, betrayed Harry Potter's parents to Lord Voldemort and then framed Professor Snape for their deaths. In The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe, Edmund, the youngest Pevensie brother, betrays his siblings and all of Narnia for a bag of Turkish Delight.  And in the Godfather movies, Fredo betrayed his brother, Michael Corleone, almost getting him killed.

There was betrayal before historical figures and fictional characters, and we see betrayal throughout the Bible.  Abraham betrays Sarah by telling people she is his sister because he is scared he would get killed. Jacob betrayed Esau for his birthright, then Jacob's Uncle Laban by tricking him into marrying his older daughter Leah before Rachel. Joseph's brothers betrayed him and sold him into slavery. David's son Absalom betrayed him in an attempt to take the throne. Delilah betrayed Samson, the list goes on.

In Matthew 26:14-27:66, we witness the ultimate betrayal of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, who was sold out for 30 pieces of silver by one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot. Judas was not the only person to betray Jesus; Peter and Pilate did too. Judas betrayed Jesus for what seemed to be greed, Peter betrayed Jesus for what appeared to be cowardice, and Pilate betrayed Jesus for what seemed to be political gain. Judas got 30 pieces of silver; Peter got away from a crowd that figured out Peter was with the man they were crucifying, and Pilate could have stopped the kangaroo court but did not get involved to keep his political ambitions intact. 

At the Passover meal, Jesus knew someone would betray him, and he said so; he told the disciples that one of them would surely betray him. All the disciples asked Lord, is it me? The only one who did not say Lord is it me was Judas; he said Rabbi instead of Lord in the text. Rabbi instead of Lord is a slight difference to some but a big one when you realize that Lord in the text means personal relationship, and Rabbi in the text means professional title. Judas was using outsider language in an insider meeting. When someone wants to distance themself from you, the language will give it away first. Later in the text, Peter is repeatedly asked if he knows Jesus, and he lies three times before the rooster crows. Pilate washes his hands of a situation he knows is not right. 

People will change how they talk to you and how they talk about you, and then they will stand by while other people do you wrong. Jesus willingly gave himself even though he knew what would happen and continued his mission. 

We must look backward to Christ's sacrifice on the cross. Jesus endured the ultimate betrayal, yet He did not respond with anger or retaliation. Instead, He willingly sacrificed Himself to pay the price for our sins. When we face betrayal, we can find comfort in knowing that Christ understands our pain and that His sacrifice has given us the hope of eternal life.

We must look forward to the fulfillment of the Kingdom of God. In Revelation 21:4, we are promised that in the new heaven and new earth, there will be no more pain, no more tears, and no more sorrow. While we may face betrayal in this life, we can take comfort in knowing that all things will be made right one day.

We must look inward and do self-reflection. It is easy to focus on the other person's wrongdoing and ignore our faults when betrayed. However, we must remember that we are all sinners needing God's grace. We must examine our hearts and ask God to reveal any areas where we must repent and seek forgiveness.

We must look upward toward heaven. In times of betrayal, we may feel alone and abandoned. However, we must remember that God is always with us and will never leave or forsake us. We can find comfort in knowing that our Heavenly Father loves us unconditionally and will guide us through even the darkest valleys.

Finally, we must look outward to the whole church and the rest of the world. We may be tempted to withdraw and isolate ourselves when betrayed. However, we must remember that we are part of a larger community of believers and are called to love and serve others, even during our pain. As we extend grace and forgiveness to others, we reflect the love of Christ to a world that desperately needs it. Forgiveness is not a free pass; we still operate wisely; we just understand that we don't have a heaven or hell to put anyone in ourselves.

As we consider how to respond to betrayal, remember that we do not walk alone. We have a Savior who understands our pain, offers us hope, and calls us to love and serve others. May we respond to betrayal with grace, forgiveness, and steadfast faith in the One who was betrayed for us.

Jesus knew that he would be betrayed and pressed forward anyway. Our sins are forgiven, and we are all welcome at the table. 

New Eyes Pastor - Johnnie Simpson Jr.

John 9:24-25

24 A second time they summoned the man who had been blind. “Give glory to God by telling the truth,” they said. “We know this man is a sinner.” 25 He replied, “Whether he is a sinner or not, I don’t know. One thing I do know. I was blind but now I see!”

I am particular about my eyes; I did not grow up wearing glasses and struggled with them when I finally had to start wearing them. When I was 26, I had blood pressure issues, and the next time I went to the eye doctor, they told me I would have to start wearing eyeglasses. I adjusted to the glasses but still wanted to do something else; I wanted to wear contacts, my current doctor said I could sell you contacts, but with your prescription and eye issues, it would be hard to get contacts, so I deal with these glasses. I think about that even more as I grow older because one thing that tends to change is vision.

There is a medical condition known as presbyopia. If you're over 50, chances are pretty good you have it. Presbyopia means "old eyes." It's the fuzzy vision most of us get as we age, leading us to use eyeglasses for reading and, eventually, everything else. As surely as presbyopia is about old eyes, today's gospel lesson from the ninth chapter of John is about new eyes — specifically, the eyes of a certain blind man whom Jesus heals.

The man was born blind, and everyone assumed that he or his parents had sinned to cause the blindness. I firmly believe that most of our problems are our faults, but I know that sometimes the environment plays a role. Jesus never explains why the man was born blind, and I don't think it needs an explanation; sometimes bad things happen, and we must deal with it. Jesus sees a need and meets the need. 

Jesus healed him by rubbing mud and spit together and telling the man to wash in the pool of Siloam. Here is another example of a miracle in the Bible and people following instructions before the miracle.

One feature of most human communities — and not a very positive one — is that they don't adapt well to change. There's a well-established protocol or pecking order in that community, and Jesus has just turned it on its head. The people who knew the man couldn't believe this was the same person they knew. The man's parents and the community failed him. The man's parents failed him out of fear, and the community failed him out of complacency.  But suddenly, Jesus' miracle changed all that. And those at the top of the religious pecking order — the Pharisees — are not too happy about it.

Haters cannot handle your elevation. What God has for you is for you.

The Pharisees couldn't believe Jesus healed the man either, and they complained that Jesus healed a man on the Sabbath. The Pharisees were more concerned about the rules than the fact that a man who had been blind since birth could now see. They interviewed multiple people but had their minds made up. The irony is that the blind man receives his sight, but others lose theirs. The people did not lose their physical sight but their ability to understand the miracle in front of them and, even worse, the miracle worker. 

"The Pharisees do not want to hear or believe the man's story because it opposes the story they want to tell. They want Jesus to be the sinner, not the story's hero; they want another explanation that leaves them in control of all the religious goods and services. "

The Pharisees accused Jesus of working on the Sabbath, but none of the actions Jesus did broke the Sabbath law; Exodus 35 said that people should not do work on the Sabbath, and work back then meant lighting a fire. That is why some sabbath compliant appliances today work without you having to push a button on the Sabbath. Push a button = using electricity = work.

I have gained peace by understanding that I don't need to change the minds of people intent on misunderstanding me anyway. 

New eyes. That's what the man gets from his encounter with Jesus. New eyes in the physical sense and new eyes in the spiritual sense as well.

And what about us? What sort of new eyes do we need? We're not talking, of course, about bifocals or cataract surgery; we're talking about our outlook on life and the ways we see with the eyes of the soul.

When we look at the people around us, those we encounter every day, do we see them as if they've always been small-minded, petty, or otherwise flawed? Or do we see them as God sees them, human children with infinite potential?

When we look at people different from us — people from another ethnic heritage, religion, or community —do we assume certain things about them based on old prejudices? Or do we approach each encounter open to whatever God's ready to show us?

Jesus healed the blind man before he became a believer.

Recognizing a man named Jesus 

Realizing he must be a prophet 

Calling him Lord

They told the man to give glory to God, and he did. 

The man said he didn't know about all that, all he knew was that he once was blind, and now he can see. Lord, I don't know how you did it, but I know you did it, and I'm glad about it.

Faith 150 - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Romans 4:1-5, 13-17

4 What then shall we say that Abraham, our forefather according to the flesh, discovered in this matter? 2 If, in fact, Abraham was justified by works, he had something to boast about—but not before God.3 What does Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness.”

4 Now to the one who works, wages are not credited as a gift but as an obligation. 5 However, to the one who does not work but trusts God who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.

13 It was not through the law that Abraham and his offspring received the promise that he would be heir of the world, but through the righteousness that comes by faith. 14 For if those who depend on the law are heirs, faith means nothing and the promise is worthless,15 because the law brings wrath. And where there is no law there is no transgression.

16 Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring—not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all. 17 As it is written: “I have made you a father of many nations.” He is our father in the sight of God, in whom he believed—the God who gives life to the dead and calls into being things that were not.

I am usually an unassuming person; I don't like to wear flashy clothes or drive a flashy car, and I want functional, unassuming, reliable vehicles. I know I am not alone in that because the best-selling vehicle in the United States for the past 45 years is not a sedan, a van, or an SUV. It's a pickup truck: The Ford F-150. About one million new trucks hit the road each year.

The truck has excellent fuel efficiency and incredible hauling capacity. The website says it is "a symbol of American tenacity, grit, and honest living," combining ruggedness with innovation. That seems like a formula for success, but Ford is not stopping there with their F-150 truck. The Ford F-150 is going electric, and Ford is making an electric version of their most famous selling vehicle. 

Given the sales history of this truck, you might wonder why Ford would want to mess with success. You know the old saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it." Ford executives knew they would need to win over some serious skeptics with the electric version. "We wanted to make sure that we built a truck that would be accepted by truck owners today," said Linda Zhang to Fast Company magazine. She's the chief engineer for the new electric truck.

"If it ain't broke, don't fix it." That's what many folks were saying about good works back in the first century. Within the Jewish faith, there was a long tradition of people being "justified by works" (Romans 4:2) following the rules and almost getting to the point where they worshiped the rules more than worshiped God. 

But then the apostle Paul came along and saw something that needed to be fixed.

Paul made an important discovery when he studied the story of Abraham in the book of Genesis. He realized that it was simply not true that Abraham was justified by his works. "What does the Scripture say?" "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness" (v. 3).

Yes, Abraham was made righteous by believing God, not by following the law. He was justified by his faith, not by his good works.

Justification by faith was a radical innovation like a pickup truck going electric. No one saw it coming, but then it revolutionized the industry. If we follow Paul, we must choose a new kind of vehicle: A Faith-150.

Paul is telling the people in the Roman church about faith, and the best example of faith is Abraham. Abraham did not earn God's favor but rather trusted in God. Abraham was around before all the rules were put in place. Abraham was circumcised before they had laws on being circumcised; Abraham tithed before the Bible said to bring tithes into the storehouse. Abraham believed God before the law and was made righteous by faith. 

Now, we know that in our communities, family is everything. It is who we turn to in times of trouble and celebrate with in times of joy. And so it is in the family of faith. But who belongs to this family? Is it those who do good works or those who follow the law?

Paul tells us that it is not by works or by following the law that we are justified in the eyes of God. No, it is through faith. And who better to illustrate this than our ancestor, Abraham?

Abraham believed God before he could see what would happen. He believed in the promise of God, even when it seemed impossible. And it was this faith that made him righteous in the eyes of God.

After we jump into a Faith-150 and trust Christ to be our Savior, we make every effort to support God's work in the world. As Luther himself said, "Good works do not make a [person] good, but a good [person] does good works." Good works will naturally flow out of a person saved through their faith in Jesus, and having faith in Jesus does not allow anyone to sit back and refrain from doing good.

Think of the Ford Lightning truck. Yes, its electric engine makes it a truly innovative vehicle that can power a house during blackouts. But even though it is based on a world-changing idea, the Ford Lightning still has to carry tools, building supplies, mulch, and manure. It wouldn't be a pickup truck if it didn't tow heavy cargo up hills.

Same for a Christian whose "faith is credited as righteousness" (4:5). Yes, our faith in Jesus makes us right with God, but we are still challenged to show each other compassion, justice, and mercy. The heavy lifting of the Christian life involves feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, welcoming strangers, and visiting people in prison. If we didn't do these good works, we wouldn't be recognizable as followers of Christ.

We can put our faith in the promises of God, and we can trust that even when things seem impossible, God is still at work. We can have faith that God's promises are true and that we are a part of God's family of faith.

So let us not be deceived into thinking that our good works or adherence to the law make us right with God. Let us instead put our faith in the promise of God, just as our ancestor Abraham did. And let us rejoice in the knowledge that we are a part of the family of faith, not because of anything we have done, but because of our faith in God.

Everyone should, of course, feel free to choose the pickup truck brand that is best for them. But when following Jesus, you cannot beat a Faith-150.

You Can't Eat Just One - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-7

15 The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. 16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.” 3 Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the Lord God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” 2 The woman said to the serpent, “We may eat fruit from the trees in the garden, 3 but God did say, ‘You must not eat fruit from the tree that is in the middle of the garden, and you must not touch it, or you will die.’” 4 “You will not certainly die,” the serpent said to the woman. 5 “For God knows that when you eat from it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” 6 When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. 7 Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

I go by donut stores often, and I have to exercise discipline when I get breakfast because when I order a kolache, the owners will ask if I want two. If I order two kolaches, they will try to put donut holes in the bag without me asking, or if I order a donut, they will try to throw an additional donut for free. I am trying to be disciplined, so I ask myself, is this a blessing or a test? This situation reminds me of the tagline from the old potato chip commercial, "you can't eat just one."

There is a story about Sam, who decided he was going on a diet. He announced his plan to all his friends and co-workers to make sure he would succeed. Sam was like Oscar Wilde, who remarked, "I can resist anything — except temptation!" Sam's co-workers were pretty good about giving him moral support until the morning he walked into the office carrying a box of freshly baked donuts. "What's with the donuts, Sam?" one of them asked. "I thought you were on a diet." "I am," said Sam. "But I want you to know I wouldn't have gotten these donuts if it weren't for God." That remark begged for an explanation. Sam quickly supplied one. "You see, I was driving into work and knew I'd have to go right past the bakery. I just couldn't get those donuts out of my mind, so I decided to pray to God for help. 'God,' I said, 'if you want me to have a box of hot, delicious donuts, give me a parking place right in front of the bakery.' Sure enough, I found one on my eighth trip around the block."

Sam’s story of temptation and rationalization is not the first story of its kind, we find a similar story in Genesis. This book is part of the Pentateuch or the first five books. Genesis 1:1-2:3 is the first creation story in the book, and 2:4-24 is the second story. Scholars believe the second was written first. I don't know why the older version comes later in the text, but it happens. One scholar says "Genesis thereby invites the reader to see a fuller truth by holding different but complementary viewpoints together at the same time."  

Verses 15-17 God puts Adam in the Garden of Eden and tells them to till the land and keep it. God gives Adam a purpose; then God gives Adam permission and prohibition. God tells Adam you can eat from every tree in the Garden except this one tree; if you eat from this tree, you will die. God gives Adam a wife in verse 22. So, Adam had a job before Adam got a spouse. A serpent comes along in chapter 3 and tricks Eve and Adam into eating from the one tree they were not supposed to eat from; they are shamed by their actions and try to cover themselves with fig leaves to hide the shame and the sin. Fig leaves are not the most comfortable to put on your skin; they are prickly and rough, and I cannot imagine using them to cover your special parts. Adam and Eve broke a direct commandment of God. 

"When this commandment was broken, sin and death entered the world, warping humanity's original desires for God so that humans exalted the creature over the Creator, which is the present source of all human misery. Although tempted by the serpent, the point of origin for evil in the world was the human will itself, in particular the free decision to transgress God's will." 

The serpent never does lie to Eve. Did you ever consider that? Every word out of his mouth is the truth. But the serpent fails to tell the whole truth. He slices off a carefully selected segment of truth, one calculated to impugn God's motives and to puff his listeners up with self-destructive pride. I don't blame only Eve for eating the fruit; the text says that Adam was there when the serpent spoke to Eve. 

Eve was not around when God gave the command to Adam; she came later. God told Adam not to eat the fruit; Eve says that God says don't eat the fruit and don't touch the tree. So, we have gossip and misquotes contributing to the confusion. The serpent also tells Eve she will not die; Adam and Eve die, just not right then. The enemy will capitalize on confusion. If you don't know the word, they can use it against you. The enemy can capitalize off complacency; nothing terrible happens immediately, so we can keep doing what we have been doing.  The very same thing is true of our inner voices of temptation. We aren't tempted by the blatantly wrong things of this world; evil masquerading as good causes the most difficulty. Philip Dormer Stanhope, Fourth Earl of Chesterfield, wrote back in the 1700s: "Vice, in its true light, is so deformed, that it shocks us at first sight; and would hardly ever seduce us, if it did not at first wear the mask of some virtue."

In our minds, that process by which we turn vice into virtue is called "rationalization." It's the same process Eve goes through when she thinks about disobeying the Lord to eat the forbidden fruit. When Eve convinces herself that the tree is useful, beautiful, and a source of wisdom, she can do what would otherwise be unthinkable. Think about all those rationalizations and how easy they are to deploy in the service of sin:

"I'm not committing adultery; I'm just finding the love I need."

"I'm not living a greedy lifestyle of over-consumption; I'm just pursuing the American dream."

"I'm not hurting anybody when I cheat my customers; I'm just following the laws of the marketplace."

"I'm not abusing my child; I'm just enforcing discipline."

Rationalizations can be deadly.

But here's some good news. There's a way out. It's called grace. When we recognize temptation for what it is and acknowledge we can't beat it on our own, God enters and gives us what we need to prevail. It's all a matter of whom we trust. Trust ourselves alone, and we go down in flames. Trust God — the author of grace — and we find, more often than not, the strength we need to resist temptation and live a godly life.

This story of mission and distraction begins our journey through Lent. For the church, it is a time of repentance, of recognizing how we have let ourselves be distracted from the mission God intends for us. God's mission has not changed, and in the aftermath of our stumbling, God still calls us back to the right path. God calls us back every day and every Lent. 

Sin separates us from God, and humans can't bridge the gap between themselves and God through their own efforts. Just as Adam and Eve's fig leaves could not truly cover their sin, humanity's attempts to atone for their own sin are ultimately insufficient. However, Jesus is the ultimate solution to humanity's sin problem. Jesus took on the punishment for humanity's sin through his sacrificial death on the cross, and his resurrection offers the hope of eternal life and reconciliation with God. By accepting Jesus as Lord and Savior, Christians can be forgiven of their sins and have access to eternal life. Adam and Eve's use of fig leaves can foreshadow Jesus' ultimate sacrifice to save humanity from sin. Just as fig leaves could not truly cover Adam and Eve's shame, human efforts to overcome sin are ultimately futile without the intervention of a savior.

Unclimbed Mountains - Pastor Johnnie Simpson Jr.

Matthew 17:1-9

17 After six days Jesus took with him Peter, James and John the brother of James, and led them up a high mountain by themselves.2 There he was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as the light. 3 Just then there appeared before them Moses and Elijah, talking with Jesus. 4 Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.”5 While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” 6 When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. 7 But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” 8 When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus.9 As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus instructed them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen, until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Robert Frost wrote a poem called The Mountain, about two people conversing at the bottom of a mountain. One person wants to climb the mountain, and the other person keeps telling him why he should not climb the mountain, don't climb on this side, don't go that way, etc., a laundry list of reasons to hold off. The sad part of the poem is the person telling the man in the poem not to climb the mountain has never climbed the mountain himself. A significant line in the poem says, "It doesn't seem so much to climb a mountain you've worked around the foot of all your life." All that man knew about the mountain was secondhand information. 

We can chastise the man, but I would venture to say that is how many of us live our lives, especially when it comes to the knowledge of God. Does what we know of God depend on the hearsay of others, or does it find its grounding in what we've experienced firsthand? If someone were to stop any one of us and ask what it's like to have a "mountaintop experience," would we be able to share anything meaningful?

In this text, we see an extraordinary event on top of a mountain, where Jesus takes Peter, James, and John to witness Jesus' transfiguration, literally a metamorphosis, a start of a new era in the mission of Jesus. In previous chapters, Jesus would perform a miracle or teach in the synagogue, and people would ask, "who is this guy?" In Matthew chapter 17, we learn who he is when Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up the mountain. Watch the text here because Jesus does not take all 12 disciples up the mountain. Jesus did not take all 12 disciples everywhere, sometimes Jesus took all 12, sometimes more than 12, sometimes just Peter, James, and John, and sometimes Jesus was by himself. Everyone is not entitled to every part of your life. 

Conversation

As Jesus was transfigured before Peter, James, and John's eyes, they saw Him talking with Moses and Elijah. This conversation was not an ordinary one, my brothers and sisters. It was a conversation about Jesus' departure, which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem. Can you imagine being in the presence of Jesus, Moses, and Elijah and hearing them discuss such a profound topic? What a humbling and awe-inspiring experience that must have been for the disciples! I like what Peter says next after seeing Moses and Elijah talking to Jesus. Peter wants to put something at this spot to remember what happened here; Peter wants to worship. Peter, who will cuss a little, Peter who might be willing to fight faster than the average person, is still ok to worship in the presence of God. If there is a chance for Peter, there is a chance for me. 

We, too, must be willing to engage in conversations with God and those He sends to speak to us. We must be willing to listen and obey, just as Peter, James, and John did when they heard the voice of God from the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to him" (Matthew 17:5). When we listen to God, He will guide us and give us the wisdom we need to accomplish the tasks He has set before us.

Confirmation

Second, we must talk about the confirmation from God, Moses, and Elijah being there. God sent Moses and Elijah to confirm Jesus' authority and divine nature. Moses represented the law, while Elijah represented the prophets, and both pointed to Jesus as fulfilling their prophecies. It was a confirmation that Jesus was not just a teacher or a prophet, but He was God's Son.

As we walk through life, we, too, need confirmation from God. We must know that we are on the right path, doing what God has called us to do. We can find confirmation in the Word of God and through the guidance of the Holy Spirit. When we seek God with all our hearts, He will confirm His will for our lives.

Command

Third, we must talk about the commands from Jesus. As Jesus and the disciples descended the mountain, Jesus commanded them not to tell anyone about what they had witnessed until He had risen from the dead. This command was given to protect Jesus' ministry and to ensure that the people would come to know Him on their own without being swayed by the miraculous events they had witnessed.

We, too, have commands from Jesus. We are called to go into the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. (Matthew 28:19) We are called to love one another, to serve one another, and to follow Jesus' example of humility and obedience. When we obey these commands, we will see God's kingdom come to earth as it is in heaven.

My brothers and sisters, the transfiguration of Jesus marked the beginning of a new era. It was a moment that demonstrated Jesus' divine nature and confirmed His authority. But it was also a moment that required the disciples to be willing to do the work when they walked back down the mountain. They couldn't stay on the mountain forever; they had to come down and continue spreading the Gospel.

Likewise, when we have a mountaintop experience with God, we can't sit around doing nothing. After the worship, we need to start the work. When we come down the mountain, we can pray, read our Bibles, fast, invite people to church, and invite people back to church. We can climb our mountains; we don't need fancy equipment to do it either; we can take it one step at a time. All we need do is walk, slowly and steadily, up the side of the mountain looming over us all our lives. We don't need an athlete's lung-bursting strength and endurance to do it. All we need is persistence and the willingness to set aside the time necessary to make the ascent. Take as much time as you need; the mountain will still be there.

The choice is up to each one of us. "It may not seem so much to climb a mountain you've worked around the foot of all your life," as the poet says. But one thing's for sure: If you never begin to climb, you'll never know the glories of the summit.