How the Eclipse is Like the Trinity

Okay, so you know how you know people who constantly try to over-spiritualize everything? And you are like,...'I'm pretty sure that's not what that verse means...ever.' Well, don't judge me too harshly before you hear me out, but I just had some thoughts, as have many of us, about this past Solar Eclipse that happened Monday. It's like my friend Stephanie posted, "Ah eclipse day. Do you hear that? That's the sound of millions of pastors' heads exploding with metaphors." 

Anyways. . .I thought I would share my explosions.

To begin. . .my dad reminded me of the fact that even though the Sun, Moon, and Earth are all completely different sizes, God has set them up at perfect distances, so that they appear to us to be all the same size. I've actually heard testimonies from scientists who, after years of freaking out about this fact and how IMPOSSIBLE it could be to be mere chance, give up the atheist fight and convert to Christianity over this phenomenon.

Have you ever sat and thought about this? It's truly amazing. How can we experience BOTH lunar and solar eclipses so perfectly? When the Moon intersects the distance between the Earth and Sun, we get to see a solar eclipse. When the Earth intersects the Moon and the Sun, we get to see a lunar eclipse. Perfectly. Both the Moon and the Earth appear equally to block out the light of the Sun and Moon, respectively. What is the point of that? Why do they all three appear to be the same size to us? I mean, okay. . .I could maybe chalk up two to chance. . .But all three??? I'm sorry, but there has to be some reason! None of the other observable planets share this anomaly. Just us.

Why?

Okay, so. . .here is where I'm going to go all crazy and spiritual. . .but let me disclaim that none of these thoughts are in place of Scripture, nor are they in any way fundamental to the doctrines of the faith. Nor am I suggesting that we start treating the Sun, Moon, and Earth as the persons of the Trinity or worship them in any way. These are just some interesting thoughts that popped into my head, and they were too cool to keep to myself.


The Sun: God the Father

The sun is kinda like God the Father. It sustains life. It warms us. It keeps us on our path. It guides us. It gives us hope every morning waking us with the dawn. Without it, deficiencies result.

It's light is the brightest light in the heavens to us. No man-made light can compare to natural day light. Even a tiny sliver of the Sun can light up an entire side of the Earth. Darkness must flea when in its presence. Secrets are revealed in its light.

It has requirements. The sun has a schedule. We live life the best when we keep this schedule, but we are free to disobey it as well. (However, disobedience comes at a cost.) The sun requires respect. We can't just do whatever we want in the sun and expect not to have permanent damage. Staring directly at the sun for as little as two minutes, for instance, can result in blindness. Certain care must be taken when dealing with the sun. Certain protocol must be observed. It isn't because the sun is evil or judgmental or "has it in" for us. It's because the sun is a force to be reckoned with.

The Father is terrifying like the sun, in the sense that He is like a controlled fire. At any point, He could wipe us all out and start over, but He holds back this fear-inducing power--power that could be easily mistaken for evil by the willingly ignorant--for our own good. His fire refines us and brings us forth as gold. His fire burns in our hearts. His fire melts our worries. His fire punishes the unjust.

The sun is the largest of the three bodies. Like, immensely big. Like 864,938 miles across, to be exact. (That's 109 earths lined up.)--Now, I realize that God the Father is infinite in size, so much so that the word "size" doesn't really makes sense in relation with Him. . .but the sun's immensity dwarfs us by comparison. The sun's size reminds us that there is Something out there far greater than we are.

In proximity, the sun is also the farthest away. God the Father is the most "removed" from us--not technically, but philosophically.  In other words, The Father is perfect, holy, infinite, etc.--pretty much everything we are not. In that sense, He is the farthest away from us.

However, if you want to get technical, God the Father is actually omnipresent. Even though the sun is 93,000,000 miles away from us, it is always present as well. It affects us every second of every day. Even when we think it's gone entirely and the night is pitch black, it still effects the tides, our bodies, and plant life, while its gravity holds the Solar System in place. It is also right around the corner ready to shed light on us the next day.


The Moon: Holy Spirit

The moon is kinda like the Holy Spirit. The moon shines the light of the sun upon us. The Holy Spirit reveals God's truth to us even in the dark. The Holy Spirit carries the light of the Father to sinful people.

Like the sun, the moon is always present. Always influencing us, but never forcing us.

Our relationship to the Holy Spirit tends to come in phases. One day we are on a spiritual high. A few weeks later, a low. If we look at these phases as our own efforts, we miss the whole point. Like the phases of the moon, this waxing and waning is necessary to sustain our spiritual lives. If life were all full-moon-spiritual-highs, we wouldn't appreciate them and we wouldn't understand them for what they are. It would throw off our entire spiritual eco-system. We would never learn. We would never grow.

The moon causes surges in the oceans the way the Holy Spirit is constantly moving us. Like the tides, He is constantly wearing away who we think we are and replacing it with who God says we are.

In proximity to the Sun, the Moon is very near us. Like the moon, the Holy Spirit is our "go between." He covers us. As the Moon orbits the Earth, the Holy Spirit surrounds us in holiness. He makes us blameless before the Father. He hears the prayers of fallen people and speaks them before a Holy God.

Traditionally, the moon has been a representation of the feminine. This is not to say that the Holy Spirit is feminine--as God is neither male nor female and is referred to as "Him" because we are too finite to understand how else to personally relate to Him--but as Eve was created as a "comforter" for Adam, the Holy Spirit is our Comforter. Likewise, the moon provides a very comforting light. A respite. A time for stillness. For reflection. For peace. For rest.


The Earth: Jesus

The earth is kinda like Jesus. Like Jesus, the earth represents humanity. It is the home for humanity. This is where we live and exist. Jesus came here as one of us, but not only that: We were made by Him and through Him. He is the only perfect human to have walked this earth, and He is our human example, brother, Messiah, and Lord.

Like Jesus, the earth has faced the direct effect of sin that it did not commit. The earth has received punishment for our choices. (I'm not referring to global warming as much as I am referring to the devastating effects of the Fall from Eden and the Flood.) Christ took all our sin upon Himself, just as the Earth broke apart because of sin.

By Him, all things consist and have being. Without this planet, none of us would be here. He brings us life abundantly just as the earth is abundant with life.

While on earth, Jesus repeatedly told us that His "kingdom is at hand." Hold out your hand, Earthling. There it is. Jesus is here.

One day, there will be a New Heaven and a New Earth. This second "incarnation" of sorts will be due to Christ's Second Coming. Jesus will reign supreme from then to eternity future, and every knee will bow and tongue confess.

Jesus is called the "first-fruits" of creation. Meaning, as I said before, that all things were made by and through Him. He is the example by which all creation is modeled. Have you ever noticed that the earth was the first thing created? Genesis 1:1 says, "In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth." This was even before day one of creation! Before dark and light. Before the firmament. Before the other heavenly bodies!

The human body was created from the dust of the earth. The human body is also close to 70% water. So is the earth's surface. Jesus is fully man and fully God. The earth is clothed in both life-sustaining land and water. . .but at it's core it is as hot as the surface of the Sun. (I just learned that last fact while writing this, and it blew my mind.)


The Eclipse: The Trinity

So, if you've stuck with me this long, let me now bring this all full circle (pun intended), and get back to my original point: Why do all three heavenly bodies appear to us to be the same size--even though each is a completely different size and plays an entirely different role? What is the point of that? To me, I think one answer is that all persons of the Trinity are equal, connected, but completely different. I am not suggesting that the Trinity is exactly like the Sun, Moon, and Earth or that this analogy is perfect, but I am wondering if maybe. . .just maybe. . .these thoughts might shed just a little more light on the words of the Psalmist who said, "The heavens declare the glory of God!"

Mark 1:19 - Go Fish or "Go Fund Me"?

The Verse

Mark 1:19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets.


My Paraphrase

Going just a little further, Jesus saw James and John working on their nets.


My Thoughts

Again, we see Jesus quietly observing men before calling them. Again, this is a moment before the moment. In this verse, we catch James and John--two of the most influential and beloved disciples--in this "pre-" state. In this verse, they were just James and John, sons of Zebedee. In the next verse, they would become "Sons of Thunder" (Mark 3:17). I never bothered to think about these "moments before moments" before I started studying this book verse by verse. It's amazing what jumps out when you slow your study down! What a precious moment in time to have the Creator of all things physically observing His creation, and yet. . .being in mortal form, having the willing suspense of "What will happen next?" and "These two men will become my best friends, and they don't even know it yet." Have you ever had that moment when you see a person across the room for the first time and think, "I am pretty sure he/she and I would get along. . ."? It's a strange human anomaly. Some people call it serendipity. I call it Providence. Anyways. . .that's what is happening here.

But what REALLY stands out to me in this verse is this point: The men are working. How many people (Christians notwithstanding) do you know that are just sitting around waiting for jobs and purposes to drop into their laps? In fact, with the advent of social media apps like "Go Fund Me" a trend has formed not just to ask for supplemental mission support or temporary help in a moment of destitution, but rather to ask for entire support in lieu of working at all! What is it that tells us that we don't need to be proactive about our own futures, but yet entitles us to foist that responsibility onto other people? I think a lot of times we say, "My future is in God's hands," so much so that we act like we are completely powerless. This isn't true. The Bible plainly tells us that we have been given His power (II Timothy 1:7) and that a man who doesn't want to work, shouldn't eat (II Thessalonians 3:10). 

God calls people who are diligent. Think about it. If you are just waiting around for an opportunity to drop into your life and not actively working, why would God bother to call you? An earthly boss doesn't give a promotion unless a worker has done good work. Why would God be any different? God doesn't promote lazinss. Ever. Think of the parable of the talents (Matthew 25:14-30). The only ones who are rewarded in that story are the ones who worked hard to make good investments. It's not God's job to fix all our problems. That would actually be spiritual rape, if you think about it. God doesn't force Himself onto people--even during times of pain and hardship. It is up to us to hear God's voice above the cacophony of life.  It's God's job to make us stronger, and that can only happen if we are willingly and actively seeking His plan in those hard times. 

True, in this particular story, James and John aren't exactly suffering. They are just doing their daily routine jobs, that is, only if the word "preparing" means "getting ready." However, most translations translate the word as "mending" or "repairing."  If that is the case, then we do in fact, see a problem here. Maybe they were suffering a little, after all. Apparently, these once-working nets had ripped. If that is the case, then we do see them struggling in life. If that is the case, this adds to the point that they were extremely hard workers. Not everything was perfect in a fisherman's life. Sometimes, one even had to forgo time spent fishing with preparation and mending. If they hadn't spent this time working on the nets and getting them to their optimal state, the entire time spent fishing would have been wasted.  These were not men who went to work unprepared.

Jesus observes them as they work to make their own lives better, and knows that the life He was about to call them toward would only make their lives seemingly harder: More responsibility, more time, more heartache, etc.. However, He could see by their prudence and industry that God would receive glory through these diligent men. These men who would take the time to work on damaged nets, would eventually take the time to work on people with damaged souls. It would be a hard life, but it would be a life of legacy and ultimately a life of fulfilling God's plan.

But it wouldn't have happened if they hadn't already been working.  

 I think this means that we--instead of sitting around waiting for God to call us--need to be diligent and hard-working, performing tasks already set before us--as lackluster and mundane as they may appear.  Throughout the gospels, the disciples continue to fish, so we can't automatically think that God will call us to be lazy or tell us to quit our regular jobs for some "higher calling." The jobs we are already in are either preparing us for our "higher callings" or are already our "higher callings"! Actually, this point is observable throughout the entire Bible. Ruth was gathering food when she was noticed. Samuel was living and working in the temple when he was called. David was tending sheep. Even Paul, who was a persecutor and murderer of Christians, was working when he was called! I think there is an important lesson to learn here! Diligence is important to God! 

Whatever job you are currently working, you are in the exact right place. And. . .if you aren't working. . .GET A JOB!

Mark 1:18 - Drop Your Nets

The Verse

Mark 1:18 At once they left their nets and followed him.


My Paraphrase

Immediately, they dropped their nets to the ground and followed Him.


My Thoughts

They don't even hesitate. They drop their nets right where they are and they go with Christ. According to a parallel passage, in John 1:40-42 Andrew had actually brought Simon to Jesus prior to this event, so they both already knew who He was and that He was endorsed by John the Baptist. Jesus had even changed Simon's name to "Peter" during that prior meeting. (Side note: I wonder what Peter thought about this Man and His constant, holy wordplay: "Peter/petros" and "fishers of men"! Did he find it as weird as I think he did?)

However, at this particular moment, I am personally struck by their immediate reaction to drop the nets. What fueled that instantaneous obedience? I think it's easy for us to get all "Holy Renaissance Painting" about it and imagine that these men were just really righteous and informed and that they knew exactly what Jesus was wanting and what kind of lives they would live as a result. But I honestly don't think that was the case. They were just men like you and me. True, they'd been followers of John the Baptist (or at least Andrew had been for sure) and his teachings on the Messiah to come, but did they really know what "Messiah" meant? No. They didn't. Not in the sense that He was God incarnate and that He would die to save souls. No one really understood that until after the Resurrection. All these men had to go on was John's endorsement and Jesus' winning personality!

Listen, I know plenty of charismatic people, and I'm not dropping everything I have for them. So why did Jesus' command compel them to drop everything?

Did they leave their nets out of coincidence because they'd just been talking about this Jesus a second before He showed up? Did they truly follow out of this blind obedience that we've come to imagine? Did they follow out of hopeful zealotry--did they think Jesus would over-throw the Romans? Why were they so immediate with their obedience? Did they even know it was obedience? It almost seems like a supernatural magnetism, rather than a conscious choice, that compels them to follow this Vagabond. Were they simply drawn by curiosity? It would seem so from the text at face value--a guy tells them he will make them fish for people. 
"What in Galilee does that mean?" 
"I have no idea. Let's find out!" 

Whatever their personal reasons for following, to drop everything put them at risk of losing their jobs--or at least losing the day's catch. Apparently, they thought following Him was worth that risk. One day, on the other side of heaven, I intend to have a little chat with Peter.


However, in the here and now, here's what I find really interesting and the point I was setting up in my last post about verse 17. Being a fisherman isn't intrinsically wrong or sinful. Your actions and career and hobbies are not intrinsically wrong or sinful either. But look at this beautiful metaphor that we have been given in this verse: The nets. Can you get a more perfect illustration for life's entangling pursuits than fishermen's nets?


While fishing isn't sinful, here is the problem with the lives they were leading prior to Jesus' calling: They were letting the nets define "fishing" instead of letting God define it. Prior to verse 18, their identity had been bound up in the nets. In verse 18 and after, their identity was now found in Christ. When they gave the nets power over their lives, they remained fishermen. However, this wasn't God's plan for them. When they gave Jesus power over their lives, they were fishers of men who became something far greater than themselves. That was God's plan for their lives!

This paradigm shift was spiritually illustrated by their physical spurning of the nets.

So what nets do you need to drop--spiritual and physical? Listen, these men remained fishermen until their dying days. The subject of the fishing changed, but the ability didn't. So, tying in Jesus' command over their abilities from the last verse and Simon and Andrew's literal dropping of the nets in this verse, my question is this: What are your abilities and what are your nets? What entanglements of the world are you letting determine your skills and identity? There is a big difference between nets and skills, so think about the difference in your own life. When you figure this out with God's guidance, simply leave the nets behind and allow God to define your identity. Instead of trying to effort your Christianity, just become willing to think differently about who you are, and let God redeem what He's already put within you!


If a handful of redeemed fishermen could change the world, imagine what God can do with you!

Mark 1:17 - God Can Redeem Your Abilities

The Verse

Mark 1:17 "Come, follow me," Jesus said, "and I will send you out to fish for people."


My Paraphrase

"Come as you are and follow me. I will send you to fish for people," Jesus said.


My Thoughts

Notice here that Jesus doesn't beat around the bush. He doesn't ask or suggest. He commands. He doesn't even word it like, "If you follow Me, then you will receive such and such. . ." No. Instead He gives nothing but a totally authoritative command. As a result, Simon and Andrew have only one of two choices to make: To follow or not to follow. He knows His audience--that they are men of action--and He commands them accordingly. 

However, at the same time, he makes a joke. I wonder what Simon and Andrew thought about the joke. "Fish for people?" Think about how weird that statement would be if you'd never heard it before. What is this Man even talking about?

I wonder how good and stable a job fishing was back then. It was probably pretty steady and probably competitive as we learn that so many of Jesus' followers had this job as well. We even see in the next verses that it was a time-honored job passed down through generations. It was probably a completely normal and expected working-class job of the area and time--much like industrial work today. It wasn't a high-end job, but it was a respectable and secure job. People always need to eat, so fishermen would always be necessary.

Yet, here comes a Guy--who we've already established cares very little for luxury or job security--yelling for people to repent, telling everyone that He is the fulfillment of prophecy, healing, and doing all kinds of crazy things. Yet we see Him here stopping for a moment to watch these humble , run-of-the-mill fishermen. Men just going about their daily work routine. Nothing very special. Minding their own business. Just working. Then He bends down and says, "Come follow Me. . .Take on the life of the unknown. Leave your comfort and job stability behind." 

Yet, He doesn't leave it there. Besides commanding them to follow, He also makes the connection between their skill sets and His requirements. He doesn't come to them and say, "You are humble fishermen. Leave it all and become wise, bookish theologians." No. Instead He says, "Okay, so you can catch fish. Let's use those same skills, but let's use them for a higher purpose." I think sometimes, we as Christians, think we have to change who we are when we get saved. It's true that repentance has to do with change. But the word "repentance" only has to do with the mind. "Think differently" is the literal translation. The disciples didn't have to stop being fishermen, but they did have to think differently about what fishing meant. Just because you had certain skills pre-salvation, doesn't mean that all those skills are bad. It's not necessary to quit being who you are just because you are now in Christ. God made you who you are. You simply need to think differently about who you are. When you do this, you continue being yourself, while God redeems the parts of you that are self-destructive. This means that if you were a psychedelic drug-addicted rocker, leave the drugs behind and rock out to God's glory like Brian Welch! If you were an atheist scholar, accept the God who is right in front of you, and become a Christian academic like C.S. Lewis! If you were a high-class prostitute, stop selling your body and become a "Hooker for Jesus" like Annie Lobert! 

Perhaps you, pre-salvation, weren't as "dirty" as these examples I've just mentioned. After all, these fishermen weren't horrible, rotten sinners just because they were fishermen. There is nothing morally wrong with fishing. . .or plumbing or being a lawyer or an office worker. But even the best fisherman, who fishes unredeemed, is headed for the same end as the "worst of sinners," you know?

So if they weren't dirty, rotten sinners, what was the real problem? Where was the need to change? The answer is in the next verse. . .(Hint: It has to do with nets.)