All the Earth is Waiting

The Songs of Christmas

Advent

Mark: The Peter Interviews

Have you ever had the opportunity to hear from someone who was an eyewitness to an important historical event? My grandmother, who was born in 1903, left her family a journal she kept during the 1918 Influenza Pandemic. During high school, a friend’s father told me what it was like during the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. Then, years later, parents of a student Kathy had during her time teaching English in Japan, shared with us their experience when the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima in 1945. Finally, a friend told me what it was like on September 11th, 2001, when, seated at his desk across the street from the World Trade Center, he heard an explosion, and looking out the window, saw smoke pouring out of one of the towers. 
 
While It’s great to read about an important historical event, it’s even better to talk to someone who was there. In the New Testament, there are four biographies of Jesus. Each tells the story of Jesus’ life from a different perspective. The shortest and earliest of these, and the one I often recommend to those who’ve never read the Bible before, is Mark. Full of action, with few editorial comments, it reads like a good newspaper. 
 
What I find fascinating is that, according to tradition, Mark, the author of this biography, got much of his information directly from Peter, one of Jesus’ disciples. Peter had a front-row seat during Jesus’ time here are earth. It’s thought that Mark interviewed Peter extensively to capture the most important events of Jesus’ life, into a short, compact biography. 
 
In the next couple of months, we’re going to look at the final section, chapters 14-16, of this biography. Here we have an account of the last few days of Jesus’ life, a story shared directly with Mark by Peter. So join us online or in-person.

Blessed Mary, Mother of God

Confused about Mary? You’re not alone. Some have placed her on a pedestal, others have treated her with neglect, while the rest aren’t quite sure what to do with her. That makes her one of the most misunderstood characters in the Bible. 
 
It’s understandable. After a starring role in the Christmas story, Mary makes just a few cameo appearances along the way. In response, some have rushed in and filled the gap with a confusing mixture of exaggerations and legend. While others, worried they’ll give her too much attention, have let her fade into the background. 
 
Sure, some have taken things with Mary too far. But equally true is that others have not gone far enough. From now through the end of January, we’ll be looking at the life of Mary; not just the Christmas part we’re so familiar with, but her entire story. Along the way we’ll separate legend from fact and uncover the story of this remarkable woman and the extraordinary role she played in the life and ministry of Jesus. 
 
Mary was a great example of faith and faithfulness. She carried Jesus to birth, then raised him. She heard him teach, watched him heal, and never doubted he could do the miraculous. She was fiercely loyal to Jesus all the way to the end. She never deserted him, even when Judas betrayed him, Peter denied him, and the rest fled and went into hiding. So she was there when he took his last breath, and again on Sunday morning when he rose from the dead. 
 
But her most important legacy was her simple faith. Was Mary devout? Probably. Was she pure in heart? Sure. But that wasn’t the point.  
 
You see, God didn’t chose her because she aced the Messiah Mommy ACT. Mary was convinced this great honor had come to her by the sheer grace of God. That is why, after the angel left, she sang not about how great she was, but how great was her God. 
 
The same is true with us. God is still showing up, telling people everywhere, us included, “you are highly favored,” and inviting us to respond in faith.
            
John Sommerville - Senior Pastor