Denver Community Church

June 26, 2011: Losing Life to Save It – Michael Hidalgo

There is a mystery throughout the Bible that Richard Rohr refers to as The Paschal Mystery. That being that it is death that brings life. It is losing your life so that you can save it. Jesus sums it up by saying, “Unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” Dying to live. So simple but so contrary to the way we see life.

June 19, 2011: Try Again – Michael Hidalgo

It appears that Jesus was having a bit of an off day. He is trying to provide healing for this guy, but doesn’t nail it on the first try. The guy can see a little, but not fully. Maybe Jesus needed a little bit more of that “Holy Ghost Power” up in here. Or maybe this story is an example of how healing truly occurs – in stages. 

Jesus’ disciples seem to miss the reality of who he is all the time. And his disciples today do the same thing (yes, I am referring to you and me). Perhaps this is the way we are wired. Today we have come to believe that accepting Jesus is more of a finish line than a starting line. We do not really believe any growth is necessary because we believe that we have all the answers at the beginning. But this is never true. Conversion is an ongoing process – one in which we begin to learn how little we actually do know, and learn that this is okay.

The question Jesus asks his disciples is a question that still needs to be asked today. Often we can mentally ascent to an answer, but when the reality of who he is and what he is about is shown for what it is – we may just want to rebuke him like Peter does. There are many kinds of Jesuses in this world. Judgmental. Militant. Weak. Welcoming. Impotent. And the list could go on – and on. So we must ask, “Who do you say that I am?” In the end there are some Jesuses that must be rejected and others that must be accepted. 

In this we must always be willing to accept who he says he is. We get ourselves into trouble when our experience, expectations, cultural norms, and religious traditions trump what Jesus is actually saying. There were a lot of expectations placed on Jesus in his day, and when these expectations come face to face with Jesus in the mind of Peter Jesus says, “Get behind me.” In other words – follow me and do what I do. 

June 12, 2011: Plug Your Ears and Spit – Michael Hidalgo

The Romans believed in a god named Asclepius. He was a god of healing. If you were sick you would go to the Asclepion (one of his temples) and priests there, for a fee, would invoke the powers of the god to come to your aid. One of the ways these powers came to bear on humans and heal them was through the bodily fluids of the god. 

This is interesting in light of the fact that Mark is writing to a Roman audience and tells the story of Jesus healing a man who was unable to hear or speak. Jesus performs this miracle, mind you, in the territory of the Romans – where their gods held power and sway. 

June 5, 2011: Crumbs From Your Table – Michael Hidalgo

It would be unthinkable that Jesus would potentially defile himself by associating with a woman like this. However, we cannot forget that Jesus just taught against the concept of clean and unclean, and now Mark is telling a story of Jesus that shows he meant it. A woman comes to Jesus asking him to heal her daughter. But this woman is a Gentile. The intended readers of Mark’s gospel would have been quite interested in this exchange, as they were a largely Gentile audience. 

Jesus’ response to the woman is curious to say the least. He does not immediately tell her he will heal. On the contrary Jesus appears to insult her, and shows little interest in her needs. Yet this woman’s brilliant reply, and deep faith cause Jesus to provide healing for her. All she needed after all was a crumb or two for healing. 

May 29, 2011: Clean From the Inside – Michael Hidalgo

Why is it that religion can often get in the way of faith? The religious are so concerned that the disciples are eating with “common” hands, meaning their hands are unwashed and therefore unclean. Why would Jesus then, who is somewhat responsible for this, allow them to do this? Those who question Jesus are curious, if not, outright angered.

Jesus delivers a stinging rebuke in quoting the prophet Isaiah claiming that outwardly they have it all together, but inwardly they are falling apart. This is because they have substituted rituals, rules, regulations, and external observance for the true heart of religion. Their religion got in the way of their faith.   

May 22, 2011: You Do It – Dave Neuhausel

It is interesting to note that Jesus does little when compared with all the work of the disciples. Sure he multiplies the bread and the fish, but it is the disciples who pass it out and serve the people. Perhaps this is the picture that we are supposed to see. That so often we want God to do this or that – and he will. But he may begin by asking, “What do you have?” Because God is in the business of using what we have to serve the world.

May 15, 2011: Brokering Power – Michael Hidalgo

John seemed less concerned with Herod’s “impure” relationship and more concerned with the special relationship he was in that served to further his power. His marriage was one that secured his power further, and extended his reach wider. John calls him out on that and ends up in prison. His imprisonment reflects the fear of many who are in power. Power that has been taken – not power that has been given. 

In the end, John is beheaded. Because when we challenge the powers it will never go well for us. History tells us that those who challenge the powerful almost always end up dead.

May 8, 2011: Take Nothing – Michael Hidalgo

When Jesus tells his disciples to take nothing with them except a walking stick his instruction seems to move beyond just his disciples and begins to tell us something too. Besides their clothing and staff what did they have? Mark tells us they had authority over the Kingdom of Darkness. So often we feel inadequate with what we have. But we cannot forget that we have been sent out by Jesus too … we have something that proves to us that we need nothing.

May 1, 2011: Immune to the Gospel – Michael Hidalgo

Jesus is at home and the people there do not wish to listen to him. Really? Jesus? That kid who grew up with our kids? What does he have to tell us? It is amazing what can happen to the person, the thing that is always around. We begin to forget, ignore, or take it for granted. Have we thought about the way we have responded to religion in America? It is all over the place, yet it has only made us more indifferent. 

April 24, 2011: The Continuing Resurrection – Michael Hidalgo

On the morning after Sabbath, early, in the dark, two women went to the tomb. It was empty. Jesus was alive, risen, having defeated sin and death. While this event happened in one moment it was the beginning of something new. Jesus was the first to raise from the dead. While the resurrection began with Jesus – it did not stop with him.

Since the time of Jesus the resurrection has continued; it is ongoing. While death has come to all humanity through Jesus life has come, and we can have that life now. We can experience the resurrection in our lives, and when we do it becomes an event that happens over and over again. It happens in us – death becoming life – and it happens through us.