#tim mackie

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My man Tim Mackie skimming over the issues of antisemitism and racism while talking about white Jesus v Statistically More Accurare Jesus

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Jesus’ Last Passover

The Passover Celebration tells the story of how Yahweh rescued and redeemed the ancient Israelites out of slavery in Egypt. Fast forward 3000 years, the leaders in Jerusalem have been out to get Jesus, so, brilliantly he times his last days to coincide precisely with the Passover meal. Jesus has one final night with his disciples to explain why he has to die, and he does so by using the Passover meal.  

If you don’t understand Passover, you don't understand Jesus, and you don't understand why we take the bread and the cup every Sunday.  

“Then came the day of Unleavened Bread, on which the Passover lamb had to be sacrificed. So Jesus sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat it.” They said to him, “Where will you have us prepare it?” He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him into the house that he enters and tell the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, Where is the guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished; prepare it there.” And they went and found it just as he had told them, and they prepared the Passover.”

At this point there is a price on Jesus’ head, he doesn't have much time. Jesus is going to transform the meaning of this meal. In 24 hours he will hanging on a Roman execution rack. Jesus and his disciples celebrate the Passover meal 12-24 hours before the rest of the city, time is of the essence.

This is almost like a spy movie. Jerusalem is packed, crowded with pilgrims from all over the eastern world on the most important Jewish holiday of the year. Jesus is a public figure; he is a wanted man. He can't just go waltzing into the city, so instead he has secretly prepared this whole deal with anonymous people, complete with code names and everything. All of this is a protective measure because he needs one last night with his friends, to pause and pass on the meaning of why he has to die. Or as Gandalf would put it.

“It's the deep breath before the plunge”                                                                

“And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him. And he said to them, “I have earnestly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. For I tell you I will not eat it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.”

The Passover meal has changed and evolved in the centuries since Jesus and his followers gathered in that upper room 2000 years ago. Nowadays there are a whole bunch of added elements that Jesus wouldn’t have performed, this is the stripped down version. It consists of few parts separated by a drink of wine and a blessing.

1. “Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine." followed by a drink.

2. The dipping of the Karpas(green vegetable) into saltwater

The oldest known interpretation of this practice is connected to the story of Joseph. The dipping of the karpas is linked to the dipping of his multicolored coat into blood by his brothers. The bitter story of how the Israelites ended up in Egypt.

3. Then the youngest child at the table would ask a few questions to kick the meal off.

What makes this night different from all other nights?

Why do we eat only unleavened bread tonight?

Why do we eat bitter herbs tonight?

Why do we dip the vegetable tonight?

Why do we all recline at this table tonight?

4. The story of the Exodus would be retold and Psalm 113 would be recited.

Praise the Lord! Praise, O servants of the Lord,    praise the name of the Lord! Blessed be the name of the Lord    from this time forth and forevermore! From the rising of the sun to its setting,    the name of the Lord is to be praised! The Lord is high above all nations,    and his glory above the heavens!

Who is like the Lord our God,    who is seated on high, who looks far down    on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust    and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes,    with the princes of his people.

5. “Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who creates the fruit of the vine." followed by a drink of wine.

To have an authentic Passover meal you need:

Unleavened Bread

The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders. (Exodus 12)

“Blessed are You, LORD our God, King of the universe, Who brings forth bread from the earth.”

The Bitter Herb

The point of eating this was to make you cry. It was a way to participate in the slavery and suffering of their ancestors

So they ruthlessly made the people of Israel work as slaves and made their lives bitter with hard service, in mortar and brick, and in all kinds of work in the field. In all their work they ruthlessly made them work as slaves. (Exodus 1)

Unblemished Lamb

The night before the Exodus, God brought justice against Egypt's injustice. That night God sent a plague to go through Egypt, although God provided a means of escape. The Israelites were to have picked an unblemished lamb to slaughter. Its blood upon their doorpost was a means of being spared from God's wrath.

And Jesus  took a cup, and when he had given thanks he said, “Take this, and divide it among yourselves. For I tell you that from now on I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.”

At this point the disciples would have been confused. After all Passover is about the past, but Jesus gives this meal a new meaning connected to his suffering and death. It's not just about the past, it's about the future, about the coming of God's kingdom.    

And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.”

Jesus does not say “this is the bread that our ancestors ate”, instead he says, “This is my body.” No one had ever said things like this before, he takes an ancient symbol and transforms it in a surprising way. Bread was their staple food, it was sustenance and life. Bread is life, and Jesus is taking this symbol and claims that his death will somehow bring sustenance. Somehow his death is life.

And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

After they had eaten the Lamb, Jesus connects his blood to the blood of the lamb. In the same way that the spotless lamb protected the Israelites from God’s wrath.

Jesus was taking the most ancient and traditional  elements of Judaism and tied them to himself, to his story. Through his death and suffering he is Passover lamb. He kicked off a new Exodus, freeing his people from sin and death. Jesus takes this ancient story of his people, where

through the lamb,

Yahweh saves the Israelites

From slavery to Pharaoh.

He takes that basic plot line, but swaps out all the players. So now

through Jesus,

Yahweh saves the world

From slavery to the powers of sin and death.

[itsjustcommon]

Loving Your Enemy

“In English the word ‘love’ primarily refers to a feeling—an emotion that happens to you. Can you see that Jesus means something very different by ‘agape’? Something totally different. Do you have warm feelings toward Zacchaeus when he backhands you? Is Jesus asking you to generate warm feelings towards Zacchaeus when he backhands you? We’re talking about and attitude—a mindset, and then an action that flows from that mindset. God has chosen to perform actions of kindness and generosity toward people regardless of how they behave, regardless of if they like him or if he happens to like what they’re doing at the moment. God has chosen to agape. So in Jesus’ teaching, it's not like he’s asking you to generate warm fuzzies for your enemies, he’s asking you to choose to view them in a certain way—to choose to view them the way God sees this person. Within God’s economy, this person is beloved, they’re a human being, they’re made in God’s image. And they might be screwed up in ways that are different than me but they’re a human being made in God's image. And God has come among us in the person of Jesus to choose to do an act of love on their behalf. If I’m a disciple of Jesus, I don't have the right or the authority to treat someone as unloved, when Jesus has treated them as someone who is loved. That’s the logic of this here, so that you may become children of your Father who is in Heaven. This is an image-bearing human being, I actually don't have the right—in the kingdom— to deny someone kindness and generosity.

It’s not like you just lie in bed thinking “I just love that person.’’ No, it’s more like “I can't stand that person, but they’re made in God's image. Jesus gave his life, he lived and died for that person, so I choose to adopt an attitude of kindness and generosity” There are some actions that we do because we feel like doing them. It’s not hard for us to choose to acts of kindness and generosity for people who are like us, toward people who are in our circle of family, toward people who are in our religious tribe, or our social-niche tribe, but that’s not the issue. The problem is that we love people within our tribes and we hate people outside of our tribes. Who wants to argue with Jesus on that one?

Maybe it's the sabbath, and you’re having picnic with your family by the Sea of Galilee and a troop of Roman soldiers comes walking up and they’re carrying their heavy bags; they’ve been out on patrol around the lakes. Where these guys show up, there’s trouble. All of a sudden swords come out and you hear “You Israelite,” and the bags get thrown on the ground “pick up that bag and carry it up over that hill.” and they totally have the right and authority to do that. You’re a disciple of Jesus, what do you do?

We think that if we’re a disciple of Jesus, you just obey and then don't do anything. Just do what your told, submit, let people walk all over you. That’s how many people perceive Jesus’s teaching, but that’s not what Jesus said. He said, you don't shrink away, you find a place within you (because Jesus has opened up a place within you) to find compassion for this man. You say “Zacchaeus, you’ve had a bad day, clearly. Do you need to get anymore out? Here’s my other cheek.” You say to that Roman soldier “ You look so tired, could I have the privilege of carrying your bags to your doorstep? Could I do that for you?”

What is that? That is not being passive. That is not doing nothing. That is a very intentional, active response. What do you call that. It’s not revenge or retaliation. But it's also not being passive and doing nothing. What is it? What Jesus calls it is Agape.”

—Dr. Timothy Mackie on Matthew 5:38-48

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Tim Mackie ~ Love Is Not A Black Hole

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Prayer Leads to Maturity P1,2,3,4,5,6 | Tim Mackie [Psalm 1:1-5]

Prayer, as outlined in Psalm 1, is deliberate meditation that occurs thru-out the day; and will eventually result in loving desire for GOD, only to please HIM [obey] & nothing to grieve HIM [hating evil].

In a fallen world full of distractions & temptations, it's a constant struggle to prioritize GOD—we must ruthlessly eliminate hurry and distractions to quiet the mind—so it can fully focus & absorb what GOD has in store for our communion/oneness with HIM.

In so doing, we learn to value hearing from GOD —and grow to enjoy HIS presence above all else.

The invitations & calls for attention will feel like an impossible sacrifice, but weening away from things that are of no lasting value will also cause us to pray for GOD's wisdom & strength.

This is like someone who is receiving this source of life from outside themselves & it yields fruit.

……………………………………………………………………..…….. It actually matures into, the poetry interprets it as fruit: whatever you want, these actions are things that this person is regularly producing in their life because of this source that they are connected to & whose leaf doesn't wither. [3] ……………………………………………………………………..……..

The Fruit of Righteousness

Philippians 1:11 | ¹¹ filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through JESUS CHRIST, to the glory & praise of GOD.

Goal of the fruit of righteousness is “praise and glory to GOD”

[5] The point is not learning.

The point is to re-read this text slowly & aloud to yourself & then to engage in the 2nd step that is called meditation, which the point isn't to get far

………………………………………………………….……………. the point is to focus in on some key words key ideas/themes in this particular passage ………………………………………………………….…………….

The intimate moments filled with insight & wonderment will build up our understanding & faith in the supremacy of JESUS' love and immense sacrifice HE made for us.

[madewithonerib]

Meditation and Solitude P1,2 | Tim Mackie [Romans 8:26-27]

Now what is this meditating? There's the meditate all clear? It's just very clear what it means in English right? Meditate, that's not a clear word in English at all — because it's a word that has been picked up to describe the kinds of practices or spiritual practices in many different kinds of religious traditions.

So what does it mean in the biblical tradition? What does it mean in the Jewish? What does it mean in the Christian tradition?

And of course I have to teach you the Hebrew word because that's what I do, so this is a really good one:

It's the word hagah, which is used a handful of times in the Biblical Hebrew — and actually the majority of times that you learn about or you see this word used

• it's not referring to people • it's referring to animals who are doing this

So in Isaiah, a lion hagahs & it's particularly a lion who has just shredded a lamb to pieces, & is like sitting there over the meat, the fur, & stuff & like beginning to eat it..

1.] Doves Hagah the Most

And that lion is is said to be hagahing over its prey, there's a number actually the most of the passages in the Bible that use this word are describing doves

And what doves do? [1:21]

In other words, this is a word that means to mumble or to whisper or to speak silently or Softly & so a lion hagaz [Isaiah 31:4, growls] over a little slaughtered lamb, doves hagah [Isaiah 38:14; Isaiah 59:11 groan] when they're up on the power lines, making noises to themselves; and

Romans 8:26-27 | Future Glory [2 Corinthians 5:1-10] In the same way, the SPIRIT helps us in our weakness. For we do not know how we ought to pray, but the SPIRIT HIMSELF intercedes for us with groans too deep for words; ²⁷ & HE WHO searches our hearts knows the mind of the SPIRIT, because the SPIRIT intercedes for saints according to the will of GOD.

humans [Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1:2, soliloquize/muse on a subject/thing]. Humans hagah when they have the Scriptures in front of them in these quiet moments —that they have patterned to regularly happen thru -out the day & night of their lives.

1.1] So what does that mean?

Does this mean just like read your Bible & pray?

This is something in between reading your Bible & then like praying & making your request known to GOD —it is this form of relational interaction with GOD & Scriptures as the medium.

……………………………………………………………………………………… The Scriptures as I read them aloud to myself slowly & carefully/prayerfully & they become this way that I have an interaction with JESUS that's what Psalm 1 is referring to & this is the in a way of engaging the Scriptures! ………………………………………………………………………………………

That's actually mentioned quite a number of times in the Scriptures themselves—and it seems to me this is surely one of the things, I think even one of the main things that JESUS was doing in these moments we are called to pray & to read the Bible & to hagah.

And that this is part of the regular practice so that it's not just like you sit by yourself . . . How many of you have tried to pray and you just get utterly lost in your own thoughts, you know & you're just like whoa!

What just happened to me?!

Like somehow, like this train of association disrupted the entire meditation on GOD, so this to me has been one of the greatest gifts is learning and adopting this practice—because you are actually focusing on some -thing that's not your own thoughts.

……………………………………………………………………………………… You're focusing on the Scriptures, but you're engaged with them—not to learn something; so that's why the Book of Psalms, I think has formed the prayer book for this practice for so many millennia. ………………………………………………………………………………………

Now it's because once you pray through it a number of times, it becomes familiar to you, then it becomes the way for you to use these prayers of the Psalms.

But to become your own prayers in some ways, but this is about this experiential engagement with the Scriptures—so I would say go to the Book of Psalms, or go to a passage that you already are familiar with

• because the point is not learning • point is to to read this text slowly & aloud to yourself & then to engage with it, think about what it means to all of life. Why did GOD say it?

[friarmusings]

In the beginning...

In the beginning…

Yesterday I invited you to take 8 minutes or so of your day and watch the Bible Project’s video on the literary design of Genesis 1, the creation story. One of the voices on that video belongs to Tim Mackie. On the Bible Project website, he is introduced as follows: “Tim Mackie is a writer and creative director for BibleProject. He has a PhD in Semitic Languages and Biblical Studies. He wrote his…

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Sermon notes about the Passover and how Jesus transformed ancient symbols into what we know as the Lord’s Supper or Eucharist.