FWD: Morning Manna May 14-BP: Lk. 8:26-40; RBTTY: Jn. 4:1-30; II Kings 19-21

 
Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net

 

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-----Original Message-----
From: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Sent: Tue, 13 May 2008 06:03:41 -0500
To: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Subject: Morning Manna May 14-BP: Lk. 8:26-40; RBTTY: Jn. 4:1-30; II Kings 19-21
 

May 14                                                                                      “Christian Broadcasting”

 

“Now the man out of whom the devils were departed besought Him that he might be with Him; but, Jesus sent him away, saying, ‘Return to your own house and show what great things God has done unto you.’  And he went his way and published throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done unto him.”

                                                                                                                      Luke 8:38-39

     We’re all one—whether we realize it or not.

     Sometimes the King James English leaves us a bit confused when we read it—for its usage of words, which were common back in 1611, mean something completely different these days.

 

     Take, for instance, Jesus’ words in Mt. 19:14:

     “Suffer the little children and forbid them not to come unto me—for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven.”  We know the word “suffer” used here doesn’t mean some type of anguish; instead, it comes from the Greek word “aphimei” and basically means “to send forth, permit, allow, let, etc.”

 

     Thus, we shouldn’t be surprised the KJV word “published” used in today’s Manna, from the Greek word “kerusso,” literally means “to herald as a public crier, a preacher, proclaim, testify to, etc.”  And, in reality, he was simply doing what Jesus had instructed him to do in “showing (Grk. ‘diegeomai”—‘to relate fully, tell, declare, give an account of, etc.’) what great things God had done unto him.”

 

     But, what if we didn’t have the advantage of the Greek text?

     What if we only had King James’ word to work with? 

     Why, we can imagine that Legion. . .with his many scars. . .and quite “interesting” past. . .went back home and opened a Christian newspaper!  Or, perhaps he opened a Christian radio station!  Glory!!

 

     No, he didn’t do such things—not just because they didn’t exist in those days—but because we don’t have to resort to such sophisticated (and expensive) methods to get our message out.

 

     Legion was a “walking billboard.”  He didn’t need a calling card.  He didn’t have to remind people of his former life; if anything, they tried to remind HIM of it.  But, slowly and surely. . .day-by-day. . .this former “terror of the tombs” began convincing the townspeople that he’d truly changed.

     And, we should notice his message was both quite simple and revealing:  “And he went his way and published what great things Jesus had done for him.”  You’ll notice that his theology is interwoven in his testimony—for Jesus had said “Show what great things GOD has done unto you” and Legion told “what great things JESUS had done for him.”  Hallelujah!!  Oh, dear Pilgrim, it’s fashionable these days to openly talk about God; but, it’s definitely off-limits (in the world’s estimation) to talk about Jesus.  But, do not fear:  Go forth today and share openly/boldly what Jesus has done for you—and make sure your walk backs up your talk.

 

 

Thanks,

 

 

Mr. Lynn M. Smith

Department Business Administrator

Department of Economics

University of Houston

204C McElhinney Hall

Houston, TX 77204-5019

(713) 743-3802 (office)

(713) 743-3798 (fax)

LSmith20@central.uh.edu (email)

http://www.class.uh.edu/econ/ (department website)

  

 

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