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December 13, 2024 – 11 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. They watched him to see whether he would cure him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come forward.” Then he said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. He looked around at them with anger; he was grieved at their hardness of heart and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out and immediately conspired with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.” Mark 3:1-6

Cranky Reverend has a thing for hats. But this is just a little ridiculous. CR believes this gives a new meaning to the term “Hat Tree”. It almost looks like someone barfed up hats stolen from Ebenezer Scrooge. It doesn’t matter how many berries you paste on these hats; they still look like a mistake from a magic act.

When we hear that the man with the withered hand stretched it out and it was new, it reminds me of these hats – like you took one hat and stretched it out into six hats – again, ridiculous. As such, CR finds it interesting that the Pharisees are waiting in the synagogue to “see” if Jesus will heal the man with the withered hand on the Sabbath. It is amazing to me that the “people of the law” were so mired in it, that when the miraculous happened right in front of them, when an unexplainable event happens in their presence, all they can do is worry about whether this healing breaks the commandment of honoring the Sabbath. Again, ridiculous.

Personally, if Cranky Reverend watched a faith healer restore a withered hand, CR would shake his head, make sure CR’s glasses are clear, and then CR would be completely astounded, and amazed, and would give glory to G-d. When the miraculous happens right in front of our eyes, do we let the details of our daily lives keep us from seeing how great this G-d of ours really is? The miraculous acts of G-d should not scare us – they should offer opportunities to offer prayer, praise and thanksgiving.

Pastor Dave

December 12, 2024 – 12 Days Until My Head Explodes, Or Devotions to Prepare Us For Christ’s Coming

“Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where for forty days he was tempted by the devil. He ate nothing at all during those days, and when they were over, he was famished. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become a loaf of bread.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘One does not live by bread alone.’”

Then the devil led him up and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world. And the devil said to him, “To you I will give their glory and all this authority; for it has been given over to me, and I give it to anyone I please. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.’” Then the devil took him to Jerusalem, and placed him on the pinnacle of the temple, saying to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written, ‘He will command his angels concerning you, to protect you, and ‘On their hands they will bear you up, so that you will not dash your foot against a stone.’” Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘Do not put the Lord your God to the test.’” When the devil had finished every test, he departed from him until an opportune time.” Luke 4:1-13

Cranky Reverend looked at this ornament and realized this is what CR looks like in the morning. Actually, CR learned something about Bavarian Alpine Folklore. What CR learned is the history of the Krampus. The Krampus is a horned, “half-goat, half-demon”, figure who, during the Christmas season, punishes children who have misbehaved.  Hold this image in contrast with Saint Nicholas, who rewards the well-behaved children with gifts. The origin of the figure is unclear; some folklorists and anthropologists have considered him to be a pre-Christian figure. Other similar characters would be the “Belsnickel” of German lore, and the “Pere Fouettard” of French lore.

This Cranky Reverend knows that the whole purpose of an “Anti-St. Nicholas” figure is to scare children into behaving all year long. Now really, good people of Olympus – if Satan does not keep the average Christian from being good, why do we think this guy will have any effect. Of course, as CR teaches his “pre-marriage couples”, there is nothing more empowering as a parent than to scare your children into thinking a “half-goat half-devil man will steal them away at Christmas if they have been rotten”. OH calm down. CR is just kidding….but it is sooooooo tempting, but not very Christian.

For forty days, Jesus was tempted by the devil. Temptation is a universal human experience. For Jesus to be tempted gives evidence to his humanity, gives evidence that Jesus was tested just as we are tested every day. What truly gives us hope and should strengthen our will to sustain temptation is the amazing fact that Jesus was able to avoid sinning in the face of such temptation. Time generally wears a person down, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. The longer Jesus remained in the wilderness with the temptation, the more that his own will would have been tested. What gives us hope is that we worship the one who, in being human just like us, has given us a model for withstanding temptation, even in the most difficult of trials and tribulations.

So, if you need to carry around a Krampus to keep you from sinning, have at it. We cannot be sinless like Jesus, but we can receive strength and hope knowing that Jesus was fully human, like us, and knew what it meant to be tempted, like us. And Jesus will be the one to take all of that sin upon himself and win for us eternal life.

Pastor Dave