“How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly.”

Jesus answered them, “I told you, and you do not believe.  The works that I do in my Father’s name, these bear witness of me.  But you do not believe because you are not of my sheep.  My sheep hear my voice and I know them and they follow me….” (John 10:24-27).

If Jesus Christ is not the God-man, then we’re out of business and the universe is in the dark.

Nothing is more basic to the Christian faith and everyone’s hope than His deity.

Theological liberals like to say Jesus never claimed to be God, that this claim was put in HIs mouth by Christians who came later.

What fun they have with the story of Jesus.

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“I have heard of Thee by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees Thee; Therefore, I humble myself and repent in sackcloth and ashes” (Job 42:5-6).

Some things are so overwhelming and all-consuming that when they occur, they suck all the air out of the room and leave everyone stunned into silence.

Job received his comeuppance from the living God of whom he had spoken so freely as though he knew more about Him than he did.

As he ranted on and on, defending himself before friends acting as God’s prosecuting attorneys, at times Job became belligerent in declaring his innocence of any wrong which would have brought down divine judgement in the form of the various trials he was enduring.

Then God showed up and took over. In chapter 38, God begins asking questions like, “Joe, you seem to know everything; where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” Finally, in the opening of chapter 40, Job interrupts to say, “I lay my hand on my mouth!  Once I have spoken and I will not answer; even twice and I will add no more.”

But God was not through. “Now, Job, gird up your loins like a man and instruct me!”  (40:7) Oh my.

On and on the Lord went, blowing through like a storm (40:6), down through chapter 41.

Finally, He was through.

Whew, Job thought.  This was no fun.

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I just finished another of the novels of Robert Harris dealing with ancient Rome.  Harris is the best, surely one of the most effective historical novelists on the scene. Everything he writes is so readable.

“Conspirata” is a sequel to Harris’ novel “Imperium,” which chronicles the rise of Cicero.  He sticks to the facts and to the actual speeches of Cicero as much as possible, which is what make this so valuable.  You feel you know these people afterwards.

“Conspirata”  tells of Cicero’s consulship in which he ruled over the Roman Empire for a brief period, his work as a senator, and his brilliance as a lawyer and orator.  It’s impossible to recommend this novel too highly; I loved it.

I was struck by the conditions in Rome at this time (the story begins in 63 B.C.). This was the most civilized and progressive society known to western man at the time.  We still speak of “the glory that was Rome.”  It was glorious, to a point and depending on the strata of society you occupied.

Into this world, Jesus Christ was born. Into this culture the gospel came.  To these people, God sent a Savior.

Read what follows and ask yourself, “Did these people need a Savior?”

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“For as many as may be the promises of God,  in Him they are yes….” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

In my last pastorate, on three occasions my congregation hosted foreign mothers and their babies who had come to New Orleans for life-saving surgery for the child. Once or twice, they also took in the interpreters.

This was a considerable undertaking.  For as long as three months, families in our church had these two adults and one infant as house-guests, with others in the congregation shuttling them to and from our Children’s Hospital each day and helping with expenses.

It was a huge event, but one my people did well. I was proud of them, and am to this day.

But I will not soon forget the first time we did this.

I took a phone call from a representative of an international ministry based here in the states and headed by a famous minister.  My name was one of several he had received from our local seminary as a pastor who might be interested in helping to host this mother, child, and interpreter. He said, “I’ve called six or eight pastors in the New Orleans area. So far, most won’t even return my calls. One or two showed interest but nothing more.”

I said, “You can quit calling. You’ve found the church. We can do this.”

We swapped information and I promised to share this with my people, who I knew would jump at the chance to help.

A few days later, after hearing nothing more from the man, I learned he was still calling pastors in the area.  So I phoned him.

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