Can any of you tell me what day yesterday was?
Right – it was Valentine’s Day. If a person is your Valentine that means they’re the one you love the best!
Now, can anyone tell me how Valentine’s Day started?
There are more tales of the "origins" of Valentine's Day than arrows in Cupid's quiver. 400 years before Jesus was born, the Romans had a day called Lupercalia. Without going too much into it, I'll sum it up as a sexual lottery. You got to pull names out of a box – totally at random and that person who’s name you pulled was going to be your sexual partner for the next year and after a year, you got to pull another name…. and so it went on. Apparently the early Christians didn't think the practice was all bad. Pope Gelasius, liked the box idea, and so he initiated a custom of drawing saints names out of a box. You were supposed to emulate whoever’s name you drew or the year. Pity the poor person drawing Simeon Stylites. He spent his life sitting on top of a pillar, never leaving it for any reason.
So who was this Valentine guy, anyway?
Probably he was a martyr buried on February 14. Approximately 250 years after Jesus was born in Bethlehem there was a priest by the name of Valentine and he lived in Rome Rome
Here’s the thing, all the young roman men thought the new law was really cruel. And Father Valentine thought it was totally ridiculous! See, one of his favorite jobs as a priest was to perform wedding ceremonies. So, even after Claudius passed his law, Valentine kept on performing marriage ceremonies – but he did it in secret. He would whisper the words of the ceremony, while listening for any approaching soldiers.
One night, in the middle of a wedding, Valentine heard the dreaded footsteps…. The couple he was marrying escaped, but he was caught, thrown in jail, and sentenced to death. Then, the strangest thing happened. Bunches of young people came to visit him in jail. They threw flowers and notes up to his window. Because they wanted him to know that they, too, believed in love.
One of these young people was the daughter of the prison guard. Her father allowed her to visit him in his cell. They used to sit and talk for hours. She believed he was doing the right thing by ignoring the Emperor. On the day he was scheduled to die, Father Valentine left her a note thanking her for her friendship and loyalty. He signed it, "Love from your Valentine." That note supposedly started the custom of exchanging love notes on Valentine's Day. It was written on the day he died, February 14, 269 A.D. Now, every year on this day, people think about love and friendship. because they believe that what ever obstacles get put in the way real love can't be beaten!
Now, whether that’s true or not Valentine's Day has been a big deal since at least the Middle Ages. In his Pariliament of Foules, Geoffrey Chaucer adds another legend:
"For this was sent on Seynt Valentyne's day
When every foul cometh ther to choose his mate."
About that same time, the first modern valentines were produced. The first card was sent by Charles, duke of Orleans Tower of London British Museum
Eventually, people forgot that Valentine was actually the name of a person. By 1450, a valentine was the name of one's sweetheart. In 1533, it was a folded piece of paper. In 1610 "valentines" were gifts given to sweethearts. In the 1800s once again it meant messages exchanged by couples.
Either way, whatever is true, or not quite so true, Valentines day has become associated with love. And one of the ways we show our love is with a kiss…And that got me thinking this morning… A kiss is an expression of affection, an evidence of love. So I thought I’d do a study and see what the Bible had to say about kisses. And I got some surprising results..
There are several types of bible kisses. And the context in which the word is used reveals some powerful truths
#1 The Figurative Kiss of God’s Attributes
Ps 85:10 "Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other."
Now today, it’s nearly impossible to combine mercy and truth. While Truth is absolute holiness without error or hypocrisy.
Mercy is all about overlooking error and hypocrisy. The same goes for righteousness and peace. Righteousness is very frustrating to a sinner. See, you can’t ever get peace on the inside without true righteousness. And sinful man’s just not equipped to handle these two incompatible concepts.
But Psalm 85 says that these two opposing truths are "met together," and that they’ve "kissed each other." When did that meeting take place? It could only happen when they meet in Christ! See, Jesus is the conduit who connected God’s righteousness with His love. God has never had a problem, as we humans understand problems. But if He could have had a problem from the standpoint of human understanding, it would be How can God be both righteous and merciful at the same time?
He found a way by faith and through Jesus. When Christ was sacrificed on the cross of Calvary , righteousness and peace kissed each other. Both sides of God’s being were satisfied and salvation was fully wrought!
#2 The Faithful Kiss of Salvation
Luke 7:37-38 "And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner... brought an alabaster box of ointment, And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment."
Simon the Pharisee had a problem with this "sinful" woman. In his mind, he thought this scene invalidated the whole ministry of Christ. He said, "...if he were a prophet, he would have known..." Jesus went on to give Simon a parable on forgiveness. See, salvation makes a difference in one’s life. A believer looks for ways to honor God with our lives. And each of our attempts to honor Him are like kisses
Jesus said, "Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. And he said unto her, Thy sins are forgiven."
Forgiveness didn’t come because of what she did, but because of the love that she had in her heart. As kids get older they don’t enjoy showing affection to their parents. Its a normal part of growing up. But we never grow up enough to quit showing affection to Jesus for saving us! So, have you kissed your Savior lately?
#3 The Kiss of the Brethren
"Salute one another with a holy kiss." (Romans 16:16)
In various places, Paul tells the brethren to greet each other with a kiss. The "holy kiss" was like a warm handshake or, more likely, a hug. The greeting with a kiss was a brush of the lips against the cheek, or even two cheeks meeting in a semi-embrace. The greeting with a holy kiss was a sign of true affection, It was one believer conferring a spiritual blessing to the other. And Paul encourages us Christians to continue in real, heartfelt love to one another. 12 separate times in scripture we’re commanded to "love one another." The holy kiss was the result of real, God-inspired love for a fellow believer. And while cultures may have changed down through the years, the command of scripture that Christians love one another has not
#4 The Farewell Kiss
(Acts 20:36-38) "And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship."
The Ephesians loved the Paul immensely. They knew that his trip to Rome
In the Christian life we’re sometimes called on to say good-bye forever. sometimes we have to cut the connection with our loved ones. When death calls a spouse home and leaves a weeping husband or wife behind, we see the kiss of separation as they say good-bye to their partner.
#5 . The Kiss of Idolatry
(Hose 13:2 "And now they sin more and more, and have made them molten images of their silver, and idols according to their own understanding, all of it the work of the craftsmen: they say of them, Let the men that sacrifice kiss the calves."
Baal worship was at its height in Israel Israel
Hosea showed the foolishness and ignorance of idol worship. Christians today wouldn’t bow their knee to Baal or stoop to kiss an ancient idol. Or would we?
Idolatry lives on today in the hearts of men as much as it ever has done. Our idols today are sports gods, money gods, entertainment gods, or the crucifixes some Christians wear around our necks (ever seen someone kissing the crucifix around their neck?)
We need to stop "kissing the calves" of modern idolatry.
#6. The Friendly Kiss of Hypocrisy
(Luke 22:47-48)"And while he was yet speaking, behold a multitude, and he that was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them, and drew near to Jesus to kiss him. But Jesus said to him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?"
This is without doubt one of the most worst passages in the entire Bible. The word here translated "kiss", is the word for profuse and continual kissing. Judas’ kiss was not only to identify Jesus, but a blatant attempt to fool Christ into thinking that he was innocent.
Jesus let him know the irony of the situation, that He had been betrayed by a kiss, a sign of fidelity, love and affection.
The bible says in Prov. 27:6, "Faithful are the wounds of a friend; but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful."
There is a danger that our affections for one another can make it easy for an enemy to deceive us. Judas played the part of a disciple and was well respected by the group. But he was a devil from the beginning. The betraying kiss only revealed what was in his heart all along.
#7 . The Kiss of Compassion
(Luke 15:20) "And he arose, and came to his father. But when he was yet a great way off, his father saw him, and had compassion, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him."
This is one of the most wonderful passages in the Bible. The love shown by the prodigal’s father is mirror image of the love of our Heavenly Father for all of us. Too many people see God as a harsh and demanding deity. But that would make him like a prison warden or a dictator. But here we see God as a loving Father.
The boy expected rebuke from his father. He expected at least an "I told you so." But what he got from his father was a kiss, compassion, and joy that he’d come back home
See, Love is more than just fun and fuzzy feelings. Love is a crucially important element in our lives. And love isn’t just talk either. Love is a verb –an action word
1 John 3:18 18 My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
We should show our love by what we do. St. Valentine backed up his belief with action. He continued to perform marriage ceremonies even though he knew he could die for doing it. And he is not the only one. God showed His love for us before we were even born.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life
He sent His only son to be tortured to death so that each and every one of us could live in heaven with Him forever.
He did this for you and me, and He did it before we were even born.
Romans 5:8 But Christ died for us while we were still sinners. In this way God shows his great love for us.
On last aspect of love and relationship I want to talk about: Betrothal
Back In Jesus day, when people got into a relationship they would get betrothed. Today we talk about being engaged… and that doesn’t always mean a lot. Years ago, if a man got engage to a woman – and then broke it off he risked getting sued for breach of promise. In this case, the promise to marry.. Today its so much more casual than that.
Back in Jesus day, people got betrothed…it was a legally binding contract. Then once the contract was in place, the groom to be went away for about a year. He went back home to his dads house and he used that time to prepare a place for them to live. He did that by building an extension or a new wing onto his father house. Then after a year, he came back in a triumphant procession to collect this bride. They had a big celebration during which the marriage was consummated. And then the husband took his new bride off to live in their new home. The home that he had prepared for them
Watch this now. Remember, we’re think about Jesus and Valentines day..
John 14:1-3 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
The Groom has gone to prepare a place for his bride… That means he’s coming back. And then they’re be the party of all parties…
We’re living in are very troublesome times. For some of you, right now may be a great time. But others of you are going through very uncertain and difficult times. Jesus disciples also met just such a time in their lives. They’d come from all walks of life before they met Jesus. Maybe for some of them, life was good, and for others life not so. But for 3.5 years that had been with Jesus and life had been good.
I’m not saying that everything was perfect for the disciples, but by-and-large life was going well for them. They had no reason to expect that in the near future all of their expectations and hopes would fall apart. They’d no idea of the crisis they were about to be put through, that Jesus would be arrested, beaten, tried, and crucified.
But, Jesus did know what was about to take place, and he wanted to prepare them for what was ahead. So, he explained to them what was about to happen. And this conversation that Jesus had with them prepared them to accept the changes and the uncertainty that was about to come. Now, none of us likes change. None of us likes uncertainty. We’re always going to have a certain level of worry when we know that hard times are ahead of us. But, we can, learn how to get through those times without worrying.
Jesus knows the future which lies in front of all of us. And the first thing he says to us “You trust in God, now trust in me.” And this is really the foundation for finding the peace we need to get through tough times. All the other things he said to the disciples that day were hinged upon this one secret.
TRUST IN HIM.
The He goes on to explain why we can trust him:
Philippians 4:6,7 Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. If you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”
Paul’s telling us not to worry about anything, but to pray instead. Now here’s the point: It doesn’t say that if you don’t worry but pray, God will instantly change all of your circumstances so there’s nothing left to worry about. That’s not trust.
Paul’s telling us not to worry about anything, but to pray instead. Now here’s the point: It doesn’t say that if you don’t worry but pray, God will instantly change all of your circumstances so there’s nothing left to worry about. That’s not trust.
Sometimes God does miraculously change our circumstances. But if that’s how it was every time, then when Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane
But that isn’t what happened at all. There was no change in Jesus’ circumstances because of that prayer, and yet that prayer wasn’t wasted or a failure. Instead, it was in that prayer that Jesus found the strength to do what was necessary –
to go to the cross. It was his Trust in God that led him to pray, “your will be done.” And it was this trust that gave him peace.
Trust and faith are really similar words, but really they are miles apart. Faith is what moves a mountain or calms a raging storm. But that’s not trust What I find more spectacular than Jesus calming the storm, was his trust in God that allowed him to be fast asleep in perfect peace while the storm raged all around him.
Faith is knowing that God CAN change things. Trust is knowing that God WILL do what’s best. It’s trust that keeps you floating until the miracle comes.
SO HOW DO WE know we can trust JESUS?
#1 He’s in control.
What happens, happens for a reason. When the soldiers came to arrest Jesus, it would have been easy to forget that God was in control. It looked very much like the Romans or the Jewish leaders were in control. But Jesus explained to them that it was all a part of God’s plan. Satan may have thought it was his idea to crucify Jesus, but he was really just playing right into God’s hands. Jesus explained that he had to leave them, but it was for good reason.
It was only if he left that he could prepare heaven for them. In fact, it was only by his death and resurrection that they could even get to heaven in the first place.
Many times in our lives, the situations may seem hopeless. We even ask “Where’s God in all this?” We may wonder how anything good could possibly come of our situation. But Romans 8:28,
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Maybe we use this verse so much in Christianity that it becomes a cliché, but the fact is that it’s a very real truth from God’s word. No matter what the enemy throws your way, God will turn it into good.
You can trust God, because he assures you that there is a reason for it. He didn’t send the trials your way. But he didn’t stop them, and that’s because he plans to do something great through them. We may not always see right now what good is going to come of it, but that’s where trust comes in. God says it will turn into good. You may see it someday, or you may never recognize it. But good will come.
#2 . Jesus reassured his disciples was his promise that it wouldn’t last forever.
He said, “I’m going away, but I’ll be back to get you.”
The fact is that God promises that whatever trials you have to go through, they won’t last forever. We have a saying, “All good things come to an end.” But the Christian perspective should be, “All bad things must come to an end.”
Jesus knew that his disciples couldn’t survive the turmoil forever, but he was able to promise them that while there may be storm clouds ahead, there will be sunshine on the other side.
Psalm 30:5b, “Weeping may endure for the night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Today, you may feel tonight like your circumstances will never change. You may feel like you’re in a never-ending-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death. You may feel as though it’s the end of the world. But Jesus promises you that your trials won’t last forever. You may not see the light at the end of the tunnel yet. You may not see any hope. But you can trust God’s word when he says that he will show you a way out. Even on the earth, he’ll provide a way out for you. But our ultimate release is going to come when he comes to get us like he promised. He’ll take us out of the grip of this world and its troubles forever. And at that time, every unfair trial and every circumstance you were put through will be made right.
Today, you may feel tonight like your circumstances will never change. You may feel like you’re in a never-ending-valley-of-the-shadow-of-death. You may feel as though it’s the end of the world. But Jesus promises you that your trials won’t last forever. You may not see the light at the end of the tunnel yet. You may not see any hope. But you can trust God’s word when he says that he will show you a way out. Even on the earth, he’ll provide a way out for you. But our ultimate release is going to come when he comes to get us like he promised. He’ll take us out of the grip of this world and its troubles forever. And at that time, every unfair trial and every circumstance you were put through will be made right.
Job was put through a terrible trial. First, having been rich, he lost all of his possessions. He lost his cattle, his house, and his children. Then Satan cursed him with a terrible sickness. Even his wife advised him to curse God and die. But in that moment, we see the most intense trust of God’s deliverance.
Job 19:25, For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth
Job knew that no matter what he was going through now, he could endure it, because it wouldn’t last forever.
#3 . We can trust Him because we have all that we need.
So many times when we’re in a stormy time, it seems that something is missing. That there is something we need to get out. But Jesus said, “You have everything you need, as long as you know me.”
So many times when we’re in a stormy time, it seems that something is missing. That there is something we need to get out. But Jesus said, “You have everything you need, as long as you know me.”
And I would like to briefly mention that he’s not talking about knowing About him. He’s not talking about book knowledge. He’s talking about an intimate personal knowledge. He’s talking about the way you know your husband or wife, or your kids or brothers and sisters. This is a knowledge that comes with time and companionship.He’s talking about being your valentine
See, it’s this personal and intimate relationship with Christ that’ll get you through the hard times.
If Christianity is just ritual for you, something you do out of a sense of requirement, then you’re going to give up in the hard times. But if Christianity is for you a very real friendship with the Living Savior of the World, if Jesus is your valentine then that relationship will get you through.
#4 We’re not left alone. He will send us another Counselor.
This final assurance is, I think, the greatest and most powerful. Jesus was about to leave his disciples. They had known the presence of Christ for 3 ½ years and now there would be no more presence. And that thought would make anybody anxious.
This final assurance is, I think, the greatest and most powerful. Jesus was about to leave his disciples. They had known the presence of Christ for 3 ½ years and now there would be no more presence. And that thought would make anybody anxious.
But Jesus promised that would not abandon them as orphans. He hadn’t spent those 3 ½ years ministering to them just to throw them to the wolves and hope they could survive. Instead, he promises that he will send another “paraclete.”
Jesus promised that even though he himself had to go, he would send Another. He would send the Holy Spirit. And the Holy Spirit wouldn’t be limited to time and space like Jesus was.
Imagine if Jesus was still here, we would have to wait to book him about 300 years down the road when his calendar was free. Until then, we could accomplish nothing.
But now, we have the very Presence of God, everywhere at once,in the Person of the Holy Spirit. And this was made possible by Jesus leaving the earth.
One of the last things that Jesus said to his disciples before he earth was the Great Commission. And right at the end, Jesus said,
Matthew 28:20b, “And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Now shortly after Jesus said this he ascended into heaven. And there may have been some questions in the minds of the disciples: Didn’t he say he would never leave us? And now he’s leaving us.
Now shortly after Jesus said this he ascended into heaven. And there may have been some questions in the minds of the disciples: Didn’t he say he would never leave us? And now he’s leaving us.
But the fact is that it was right after he left that the Holy Spirit came. And the Holy Spirit is also called the Presence of Christ here on the earth.
There may be times when the going gets rough that your’ tempted to think that God has abandoned you. Just because sometimes we don’t see him, or feel him right there with us. But as Scripture says:
Hebrews 13:5 NKJV, “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."
This verse says you can be content with whatever you have, being content whatever your circumstances are because God has promised you that not only will he never abandon you. he’ll walk right alongside you.
This verse says you can be content with whatever you have, being content whatever your circumstances are because God has promised you that not only will he never abandon you. he’ll walk right alongside you.
King David went through some terrible times being chased by Saul. And I’m sure there were times when he felt so all-alone. But we remember his response to that from the 23rd Psalm.
Psalm 23:4a, “Even when I walk through the dark valley of death, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me.”
And it is the Presence of God with you that will help you to get through your tough times. Knowing that no matter what you go through, you won’t be alone. Because God will walk through right beside you, and see you safely through to the other side.
And it is the Presence of God with you that will help you to get through your tough times. Knowing that no matter what you go through, you won’t be alone. Because God will walk through right beside you, and see you safely through to the other side.
It is precisely because God loves us that we can trust Him to get us through our hard times: trust that he is in control; trust that it won’t last forever; trust that we have what we need to get through; and trust that he will never leave us, that Jesus could say,
John 14:27, “27Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
On valentines day, and all the other days, we like to believe that our special people, those people we love have got out backs, they’re there for us, they believe in us and all the other good stuff
But do you truly believe that about Jesus?
You can – if you make Him your valentine
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