Seeds For Thinking

Link: http://seedsforthinking.oldgleaner.com/

Scripture: Gamaliel said, “If their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God, you will not be able to stop these men; you will only find yourselves fighting against God. Acts 5:38b-39, NIV.

If you have been involved with a male child within the past several years, you have possibly come into contact with a rather ingenious toy that means “change” with a capital “T” - “Transformer®”. And change it does! What looks to be one object becomes quite different in appearance and function in the hands of the one who “transforms’ it.
Now that I have established “transformer” as my operative word for the day, let’s proceed to the main topic, the Sanhedrin. It was the highest Jewish tribunal during the Greek and Roman periods in Israel/Palestine, rather like our supreme court. Many versions of the Bible do not use the actual name Sanhedrin but follow the form of Matthew 16:21, which mentions the “elders, chief priests and teachers of the law.” This body, composed of seventy members drawn from the leaders mentioned above, plus the high priest, who was president of the Sanhedrin, was the final court of appeal for all questions connected with Mosaic law, including blasphemy.
The Sanhedrin quite naturally has a negative connotation for most Christians, for it was this body that convicted Jesus of blasphemy, and condemned Him to death. Convened by the High Priest Caiaphas, the night-time session of the Sanhedrin did not follow established protocol (See Mt. 26:57-66.)
However, it was this group of Jewish elders, chief priests and teachers of the law who in actuality, brought God’s work to completion! No, I am not suggesting that you come to revere these men, but to so transform your thinking that you appreciate how God can “transform” the actions of men to accomplish His purposes. (See Mt. 26:56)
First of all, consider that God sent Jesus to reconcile all His people to Himself. Under Mosaic law, reconciliation required sacrifice, a blood sacrifice. As Hebrews 10:1-18 explains, Jesus became that once-for-all-time sacrifice, the propitiation for our sins. Tell me, how would YOU have made this happen? If it were not for the crucifixion, we might still be under the Old Testament sacrificial system. Something to indeed think about.
Nicodemus, a member of the Sanhedrin (John 3:1) was the one to whom Jesus spoke the words of John 3:16, “For God so loved the world . . .”, the same Nicodemus who helped Joseph of Arimathea bury Jesus (John 19:39)
A man named Gamaliel, a Rabbi honored by all the people, counciled the other members of the Sanhedrin to let the Apostles go. (Acts 5:38) One of Gamaliel’s students just happens to have authored more books of the New Testament than any other person, one Saul of Tarsus, a.k.a. Paul, the Pharisee God transformed to become the missionary to the Gentiles.
Let the Greatest TRANSFORMER of all go to work on your life. You will be amazed at what He can do!
April 6, 2003

Scripture: Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee.” Mark 14:36, KJV
Why do we speak of the Old Testament and the New Testament? Because there is a different covenant at work; a different understanding between God and His people.
Probably nothing exemplifies this so well as the use of the word Father. In the Old Testament, father refers to earthly relationships. My concordance lists several pages of passages of scripture that use the word father, but not to refer to The Lord God. It is the New Testament (Covenant) where the use of Father with a capital is found. Yes, earthly relationships are still included, but Jesus has added something new. God is Jesus’ true Father, and He addresses him as such.
In Mark 14:36, Jesus prayed, “Abba, Father,” using the word in both Aramaic (which was the common language) and in Greek.
Probably the most well know use of the term Father is in what we have come to call the Lord’s Prayer. Actually, Jesus didn’t say, “Pray this,” but “Pray like this.” Our prayers should include the elements He suggests: pray that God, Our Father, will have His place among men, and be honored as the Father of us all. We should pray that we submit to His rule over our daily lives, and that His way (Kingdom) be the realm in which we live out our lives. We are to Give, and Forgive, and accept forgiveness. Note that this pattern implies that we should make our prayers God-centered, not self centered! “Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done. (Jesus, himself, prayed, “Not my will be done, but Thy will.”)
But note again how the model prayer begins: “Our Father.” This is significant of the full meaning of the “New Covenant.” We have God not just as a creator and Lord, but also as a father - child relationship. Why? Because if we fully accept Jesus as the Christ, we are “adopted” as a joint heir with Him. Paul writes to the Galatians (4:1-8) that we, (Christians) are heirs that have been redeemed through Christ. We now have the right to appeal to God as, “Abba, Father.”
Do we pester our father, “Daddy, gimme, gimme, gimme?” I hope not!
Jesus said that we should become as little children in our approach to the Kingdom of God. Just as we should approach our earthly fathers with respect, honor and in obedience; even more should we approach our Heavenly Father with thanksgiving and praise for the many things He has done for us in His wisdom. And be ready to listen!
June 17, 2001