The Spirit moves within us to help us grow in times off rest/discernment. Just as yeast is used to transform dough before it is ready to bake, rest is necessary for growth before action.

Pastor Magdiel continues our Spirit-Led Series in Mark 7:24-30

At Babel in Genesis, God confused the language of the people and scattered them. Traditionally, this passage has often been mistakenly interpreted to imply that culture and languages is a curse put on people for their sin. But we must rather see it as the hidden blessing. After all, God’s command to humanity from creation was to “be fruitful and multiply” and to scatter and fill the land. Essentially–spread out! The temptation for humanity is to consolidate power however. Consolidate it into on person, one people, one ethnos. In Acts 2 we see not a reversal of Babel in Pentecost, but rather an affirming of languages and differences. But it is the power from above, that unites and empowers the community of differents.In the Spirit-Led church, social constructs of power are levelled and the body listens and affirms the diversity of voices and gifts in its midst.

In the liminal space, we are transformed. Moses is caught between two racial-cultural identities. This becomes a scary place for him and ultimately the place of exile. But it is in the liminal space in which God calls him to be the one to lead the people into the Exodus, it being a larger example of liminality between captivity and the promised homeland. mWe are called to be faithful in the liminal spaces, though we are afraid and uncertain. When we are practiced in the liminal we are able to see other bodies i. these spaces: the marginalized, the migrant, the refugee, the transitory

Elijah is on the run for his life. He’s an exile, a fugitive, a political and religious refugee. He is at wit’s end and lays down. God’s messenger tells him to get up and eat twice. He rests and restores his physical body for the journey ahead. Rest is an act of worship. We need it. Mind, Body, and Soul are all connected in our need for rest.

Jesus wept alongside Mary and Martha because he felt for their sorrow. Lament is an act of worship.

Jacob is fearful about meeting Esau again, the first time after having stolen Esau’s blessing. Surely Esau is out for blood. Instead, Esau runs to embrace him. This is an amazing picture of reconciliation, ending with Jacob’s statement: “seeing your face is like seeing the face of God.” This echoes the episode in the earlier chapter where Jacob wrestles with God and names the spot Peniel: “I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared” Living Face to Face means living as reconcilers. Through grace and forgiveness we see God and we become the means by which others can see God. As reconcilers we are the embodiment of God.

This is the 3rd time Jesus appears in resurrected bodily form to his disciples. The disciples return to the very real task of fishing for their livelihoods. Echoing earlier passages in the Gospels (calling of the 12; feeding of the 5000; Peter's denials) this passage details the disciples nets being filled with fish, Peter jumping into the water, Jesus sharing a meal and ‘feeding’ his sheep, and Peter being restored and redeemed for his prior denials. Jesus’ command is to turn and feed his sheep. Jesus' ministry involved engaging people’s spiritual, emotional, social, and physical needs, and he passes the baton to this band, the precursor to the church.

We begin our series around the ‘embodied’ faith. What does it mean theologically and missiologically that the resurrected Jesus retained his scars from the crucifixion? Christians can oftentimes be disconnected from the physical world because we cling to a disembodied vision of spirituality. Jesus sends his disciples into the world both having had them touch his physical body and having breathed the HS ‘on them.” Another key piece in this passage is the word translated “believe” from the Greek root pisteuo, which means “trust.” How does it change the way we read this passage if we substitute “believe” with “trust.” Faith is trust in Jesus more than mere cognition of him. May we be sent out as embodied witnesses of the Gospel and not disconnected passer-bys.

The miracle of Easter and the resurrection of Jesus Christ is the renewal of wonder and awe and Life everlasting to all of humanity. On the first day of the week, early in the morning the women visit the tomb to honor the dead.

But they are interrupted by the amazing. He is not here! Why do you look for the living among the dead?

What are we holding on to? Why do we cling to things that hold us mired in death. Arise arises into the renewed life!