Sermon: "A House of Prayer for All Nations" by Bernard Taylor

Pastoral Welcome: Timothy Gillespie

Children’s Feature

Scripture Reading: Mark 11:15–17, TNIV - Randy and Lynette Bates

PASTOR'S PAGE One does not read far in the four Gospels before encountering on Jesus’ lips a quotation of or reference to some verse or passage from the Hebrew Bible/Old Testament. During his life and ministry, Jesus clearly had a sense of history; at the same time he had a sense of purpose and mission. It follows, then, that it is in our best interest to understand the point of his quotations. This morning, our starting point is Jesus’ cleansing of the temple at the end of his ministry where he cites Isaiah 56:7. Such referencing (or, proof texting) was common in the Judaism of the day, and it served as a gateway into the larger context of the passage cited. Isaiah chapter 56 begins the third section in this great prophetic writing. The first 39 chapters concern Isaiah’s own time, roughly 100 years before the exile to Babylon that included Daniel and his companions. The second section, chapters 40-55, announce the good news of the imminent return from that exile; and the third section, chapters 56-66, describes events a generation after the return from exile, when there is distress that the glorious promises that brought such hope appear not to have materialized. As we will see, the section begins with a bold promise that signals a new day of inclusiveness. Those who returned from captivity well remembered the heavy hand of Ezra and Nehemiah who separated out all foreign born who were not of Israelite stock. In that context, and in direct contradistinction, the assurance is given in Isaiah 56 that from now on the temple will be a house of worship for all peoples of all nations who are willing to serve Yahweh, the true God. At the same time, the passage specifically countermands the exclusivity found in the mandate in Deuteronomy 23:1–8. When inclusivity meets exclusivity, the latter trumps the former, and we play it safe; but Jesus has a breathtaking agenda. It is clearly not new, since it was part of the original plan, as seen in Isaiah 56, but it is reintroduced, and we ignore it at our peril. This morning we will explore the implications of this bold initiative in the twenty-first century. --

Bernard Taylor,
Scholar in Residence

MEDITATION We are living in perilous times, and it does not become us to accept everything claimed to be truth without examining it thoroughly; neither can we afford to reject anything that bears the fruits of the Spirit of God; but we should be teachable, meek and lowly of heart. -- Counsels to Writers and Editors, 35

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