Good Friday

Look, my servant will succeed.
    He will be exalted and lifted very high.
Just as many were appalled by you,
    he too appeared disfigured, inhuman,
    his appearance unlike that of mortals.
But he will astonish many nations.
    Kings will be silenced because of him,
    because they will see what they haven’t seen before;
    what they haven’t heard before, they will ponder.

Who can believe what we have heard,
    and for whose sake has the Lord’s arm been revealed?
He grew up like a young plant before us,
    like a root from dry ground.
He possessed no splendid form for us to see,
    no desirable appearance.
He was despised and avoided by others;
    a man who suffered, who knew sickness well.
Like someone from whom people hid their faces,
    he was despised, and we didn’t think about him.

It was certainly our sickness that he carried,
    and our sufferings that he bore,
    but we thought him afflicted,
    struck down by God and tormented.
He was pierced because of our rebellions
    and crushed because of our crimes.
    He bore the punishment that made us whole;
    by his wounds we are healed.
Like sheep we had all wandered away,
    each going its own way,
    but the Lord let fall on him all our crimes.

He was oppressed and tormented,
    but didn’t open his mouth.
Like a lamb being brought to slaughter,
    like a ewe silent before her shearers,
    he didn’t open his mouth.

Due to an unjust ruling he was taken away,
    and his fate—who will think about it?
He was eliminated from the land of the living,
    struck dead because of my people’s rebellion.
His grave was among the wicked,
    his tomb with evildoers,
    though he had done no violence,
    and had spoken nothing false.

But the Lord wanted to crush him
    and to make him suffer.
If his life is offered as restitution,
    he will see his offspring; he will enjoy long life.
    The Lord’s plans will come to fruition through him.
After his deep anguish he will see light, and he will be satisfied.
Through his knowledge, the righteous one, my servant,
    will make many righteous,
    and will bear their guilt.
Therefore, I will give him a share with the great,
    and he will divide the spoil with the strong,
    in return for exposing his life to death
    and being numbered with rebels,
    though he carried the sin of many
    and pleaded on behalf of those who rebelled.
(Isaiah 52:13-53:12, CEB)

The servant song. A litany to the Christ.

He carried our sickness,
He bore our sufferings,
We thought him afflicted, struck down by God and tormented.
He was pierced because of our rebellions
He was crushed because of our crimes.
He bore the punishment that made us whole;
by his wounds we are healed.

By his wounds we are healed.

Christ loves you to endure pain and sorrow and suffering.

God loves you. To allow Christ to be wrongfully convicted and pay a price that he never deserved to pay.

Know this day and every day you are loved.

Loving People. Loving God.

Maundy Thursday

Before the Festival of Passover, Jesus knew that his time had come to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them fully. Jesus and his disciples were sharing the evening meal. The devil had already provoked Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew the Father had given everything into his hands and that he had come from God and was returning to God. So he got up from the table and took off his robes. Picking up a linen towel, he tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a washbasin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he was wearing. When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” Jesus replied, “You don’t understand what I’m doing now, but you will understand later.” “No!” Peter said. “You will never wash my feet!” Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t have a place with me.” Simon Peter said, “Lord, not only my feet but also my hands and my head!” Jesus responded, “Those who have bathed need only to have their feet washed, because they are completely clean. You disciples are clean, but not every one of you.” He knew who would betray him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you is clean.” After he washed the disciples’ feet, he put on his robes and returned to his place at the table. He said to them, “Do you know what I’ve done for you? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you speak correctly, because I am. If I, your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you too must wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example: Just as I have done, you also must do. I assure you, servants aren’t greater than their master, nor are those who are sent greater than the one who sent them. Since you know these things, you will be happy if you do them. When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Human One has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify the Human One in himself and will glorify him immediately. Little children, I’m with you for a little while longer. You will look for me—but, just as I told the Jewish leaders, I also tell you now—‘Where I’m going, you can’t come.’ “I give you a new commandment: Love each other. Just as I have loved you, so you also must love each other. This is how everyone will know that you are my disciples, when you love each other.” (John 13:1-17, 31b-35, CEB)

I always get asked why is this day called Monday Thursday. Or Maundy Thursday.

Maundy comes from maundatum which is Latin for command. Jesus gives us a new command this night. Not a new one, but a provisioning of what God has been doing up to this point. We need to love one another as God loves us. On this night in the gospel of John, there is no last supper, there is a meal where Jesus removes his outer robe and puts a towel around his waist, and washes the feet of the disciples (those gathered here with him). Jesus washes their feet, the role of a servant, yet he is the master, the teacher and he takes on the role of the servant to show love. He washed Judas’ feet. The one who was going to hand him over in a little bit.

When you can sit at the table and wash the feet of the one who hands you over, you know how to love as God loved. It is a lesson for all of us to learn.

Loving People. Loving God.

Holy Wednesday

After he said these things, Jesus was deeply disturbed and testified, “I assure you, one of you will betray me.” His disciples looked at each other, confused about which of them he was talking about. One of the disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was at Jesus’ side. Simon Peter nodded at him to get him to ask Jesus who he was talking about. Leaning back toward Jesus, this disciple asked, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It’s the one to whom I will give this piece of bread once I have dipped into the bowl.”Then he dipped the piece of bread and gave it to Judas, Simon Iscariot’s son. After Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” No one sitting at the table understood why Jesus said this to him. Some thought that, since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus told him, “Go, buy what we need for the feast,” or that he should give something to the poor. So when Judas took the bread, he left immediately. And it was night. When Judas was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Human One has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify the Human One in himself and will glorify him immediately. (John 13:21-32, CEB)

Every time I read this text I think of the clip below from Robin Williams.

We always want to know the details of things, that is human nature. However there are some things we do not need to know, or when we find out we wish we didn’t know.

Judas handed Jesus over. He did what he was asked to do. Is Judas condemned for this?

Loving People. Loving God.

Holy Tuesday

Some Greeks were among those who had come up to worship at the festival. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and made a request: “Sir, we want to see Jesus.” Philip told Andrew, and Andrew and Philip told Jesus. Jesus replied, “The time has come for the Human One to be glorified. I assure you that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their lives will lose them, and those who hate their lives in this world will keep them forever. Whoever serves me must follow me. Wherever I am, there my servant will also be. My Father will honor whoever serves me. “Now I am deeply troubled. What should I say? ‘Father, save me from this time’? No, for this is the reason I have come to this time. Father, glorify your name!” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard and said, “It’s thunder.” Others said, “An angel spoke to him.” Jesus replied, “This voice wasn’t for my benefit but for yours. Now is the time for judgment of this world. Now this world’s ruler will be thrown out. When I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to me.” (He said this to show how he was going to die.) The crowd responded, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the Human One must be lifted up? Who is this Human One?” Jesus replied, “The light is with you for only a little while. Walk while you have the light so that darkness doesn’t overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness don’t know where they are going. As long as you have the light, believe in the light so that you might become people whose lives are determined by the light.” After Jesus said these things, he went away and hid from them. (John 12:20-36, CEB)

Jesus, there are some people over here that want to see you.

The time has come for the Human One to be glorified. I assure you that unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it can only be a single seed. But if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their lives will lose them, and those who hate their lives in this world will keep them forever. Whoever serves me must follow me. Wherever I am, there my servant will also be. My Father will honor whoever serves me.

Ok, Jesus but what about the people who want to talk to you?

I love how the disciples go and tell Jesus that some people want to talk to him and he starts talking about how he will die soon, not that the disciples get that. I wonder sometimes if we really get what we read, and we “know” the story!

And according to this story did he ever speak with the Greeks?

He told the crowd he had to die so there could be much fruit, and that God honors those who serve him, and he is the light but will only be around for a little while longer, and then he went and hid…

Jesus is the light of the world but sometimes I wonder if we would see the light as flickering because we don’t understand him. Know though even when we don’t understand, the light is always on.

Jesus, the original Motel 6, he leaves the light on for us.

Loving People. Loving God.

Holy Monday

Six days before Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, home of Lazarus, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Lazarus and his sisters hosted a dinner for him. Martha served and Lazarus was among those who joined him at the table. Then Mary took an extraordinary amount, almost three-quarters of a pound, of very expensive perfume made of pure nard. She anointed Jesus’ feet with it, then wiped his feet dry with her hair. The house was filled with the aroma of the perfume. Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), complained, “This perfume was worth a year’s wages! Why wasn’t it sold and the money given to the poor?” (He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief. He carried the money bag and would take what was in it.) Then Jesus said, “Leave her alone. This perfume was to be used in preparation for my burial, and this is how she has used it. You will always have the poor among you, but you won’t always have me.” Many Jews learned that he was there. They came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. The chief priests decided that they would kill Lazarus too. It was because of Lazarus that many of the Jews had deserted them and come to believe in Jesus. (John 12:1-11, CEB)

We will always have the poor among us, does that mean we do not do anything about people being poor?

I always thought Jesus’ argument hear sets up issues for us when it comes to social justice. But does it really?

Jesus doesn’t say here we are free from helping the poor, but that there will always be poor. To me, it is not a reason not to help but a statement that you will always have to help. In this moment, Mary is doing something for me, and that is good, and yet there will still always be work to do.

Know that our sharing of the love God has given us will never end. We will always be called to go into the world and love like God loves us.

Loving People. Loving God.

Palm Sunday

When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave two disciples a task. He said to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter, you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, say that their master needs them.” He sent them off right away. Now this happened to fulfill what the prophet said, Say to Daughter Zion, “Look, your king is coming to you, humble and riding on a donkey, and on a colt the donkey’s offspring.” The disciples went and did just as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on them. Then he sat on them. Now a large crowd spread their clothes on the road. Others cut palm branches off the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds in front of him and behind him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!Hosanna in the highest!” And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. “Who is this?” they asked. The crowds answered, “It’s the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.” (Matthew 21:1-11, CEB)

I will always look for the text for Palm Sunday over Passion Sunday. There is a lot to be said about us gathering as a community especially this week, for Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Holy Saturday, and Easter. When we move the Passion reading from Friday to Sunday we signal that Maundy Thursday and Good Friday gatherings maybe aren’t as important to the story, but without the death, there is no resurrection. Also Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are important days for us to gather together on. But I digress…

What do you need? Do you know that in all of the New Testament, it is only found in the Palm Sunday texts that Jesus ever says he needs something? And that need is to fulfill a prophecy. The only thing we have recorded that Jesus needs is a donkey, and here the colt of that donkey.

When you think about what you need, I am sure you are like me and all the things you want come to mind. We all know that a want is not a need. But what do we need?

I think something we all need is love. To know we are loved. That we are loved as we are.

God loves you as you are. Know that and claim that no matter what anyone else has told you.

As we enter this holy week, know you are loved, and go and love unconditionally.

Loving People. Loving God.

Here it is…

Jesus and his disciples were on the road, going up to Jerusalem, with Jesus in the lead. The disciples were amazed while the others following behind were afraid. Taking the Twelve aside again, he told them what was about to happen to him. “Look!” he said. “We’re going up to Jerusalem. The Human One will be handed over to the chief priests and the legal experts. They will condemn him to death and hand him over to the Gentiles. They will ridicule him, spit on him, torture him, and kill him. After three days, he will rise up.” (Mark 10:32-34, CEB)

If a friend were to say this to me on this day, I would be like, yeah right, April Fools!

But it wasn’t an April Fools. Jesus was telling the disciples that they were going to a place where they would all come back from different. That Jesus was going to be condemned, tortured, and killed. But that wasn’t the end, He would rise again.

They didn’t get it, and honestly how could they? Imagine you were one of them, you had just walked around with Jesus for 3 years and seen all kinds of miracles and wonders and now he tells us he is going to die and in three days he will be alive again. Seems a little far-fetched to me. But here it is plainly.

We still don’t get it.

But we see the love given. And hopefully see the love of God for each of us.

God loves you!

Loving People. Loving God.

Which is better?

Because for me, living serves Christ and dying is even better. If I continue to live in this world, I get results from my work. But I don’t know what I prefer. I’m torn between the two because I want to leave this life and be with Christ, which is far better. However, it’s more important for me to stay in this world for your sake. I’m sure of this: I will stay alive and remain with all of you to help your progress and the joy of your faith, and to increase your pride in Christ Jesus through my presence when I visit you again. Most important, live together in a manner worthy of Christ’s gospel. Do this, whether I come and see you or I’m absent and hear about you. Do this so that you stand firm, united in one spirit and mind as you struggle together to remain faithful to the gospel. That way, you won’t be afraid of anything your enemies do. Your faithfulness and courage are a sign of their coming destruction and your salvation, which is from God. God has generously granted you the privilege, not only of believing in Christ but also of suffering for Christ’s sake. You are having the same struggle that you saw me face and now hear that I’m still facing. (Philippians 1:21-30, CEB)

I remember studying this text in seminary and discussing the mental health aspects of this text.

Paul says living serves Christ because Paul gets to share the story of Jesus and what Jesus did for him and all of the world, but dying is even better because then Paul gets to be with Jesus.

So is Paul contemplating suicide? Paul says, ” I’m torn between the two because I want to leave this life and be with Christ, which is far better.” It is better to not be in this world because being with Christ is so much better. There is no talk about Paul being sick or anything about him about to die. So is he writing to the Philippians about his contemplation of taking his own life? Remember that this epistle was written probably 10 – 20 years before the gospels. So Paul would have heard stories about Judas but may not have known details from the gospels that we do, and Judas’ suicide might not have been as much of a struggle for followers of the way then. They would have had disdain for Judas for other reasons.

I think it interesting to look at this reading this way. Paul is wanting to be with Jesus which puts a different spin on suicide than most of us have. Mental health is a topic we need to talk about and not make it taboo.

Know that Paul didn’t do that, he chose to live and to continue to spread the message of God’s love.

If you are ever thinking about committing suicide, please reach out to talk to someone and if there isn’t anyone, reach out to me. We are never alone in our walks, or the dark places we find ourselves.

I love you and am thankful that we connect, if only through this website.

God loves you and you are a beloved child of the creator of the universe.

Please always remember that.

Loving People. Loving God.

more rich

From Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ Jesus. To all those in Philippi who are God’s people in Christ Jesus, along with your supervisors and servants. May the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ be with you. I thank my God every time I mention you in my prayers. I’m thankful for all of you every time I pray, and it’s always a prayer full of joy. I’m glad because of the way you have been my partners in the ministry of the gospel from the time you first believed it until now. I’m sure about this: the one who started a good work in you will stay with you to complete the job by the day of Christ Jesus. I have good reason to think this way about all of you because I keep you in my heart. You are all my partners in God’s grace, both during my time in prison and in the defense and support of the gospel. God is my witness that I feel affection for all of you with the compassion of Christ Jesus. This is my prayer: that your love might become even more and more rich with knowledge and all kinds of insight. I pray this so that you will be able to decide what really matters and so you will be sincere and blameless on the day of Christ. I pray that you will then be filled with the fruit of righteousness, which comes from Jesus Christ, in order to give glory and praise to God. (Philippians 1:1-11, CEB)

This is my prayer: that your love might become even more and more rich with knowledge and all kinds of insight.

Knowledge and insight sometimes seem to be what those in power in religion don’t want us to have. Those in power want us to follow blindly, and not question. Sometimes it seems to me that those in power are worried that we simple folks will figure out we hear God clearer when we don’t follow the old ways, or see things the way we always have.

We need to be so focused on loving as God loves that we love in a way that opens our minds to what and where God is leading.

Sometimes the way we have always done it is so people maintain power and that power belongs to someone else.

And in the end, God is really the only one with true power, so follow where God is leading.

Loving People. Loving God.

Living not dead

That same day Sadducees, who deny that there is a resurrection, came to Jesus. They asked, “Teacher, Moses said, If a man who doesn’t have children dies, his brother must marry his wife and produce children for his brother. Now there were seven brothers among us. The first one married, then died. Because he had no children he left his widow to his brother. The same thing happened with the second brother and the third, and in fact with all seven brothers. Finally, the woman died. At the resurrection, which of the seven brothers will be her husband? They were all married to her.” Jesus responded, “You are wrong because you don’t know either the scriptures or God’s power. At the resurrection people won’t marry nor will they be given in marriage. Instead, they will be like angels from God. As for the resurrection of the dead, haven’t you read what God told you, I’m the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He isn’t the God of the dead but of the living.” Now when the crowd heard this, they were astonished at his teaching. (Matthew 22:23-33, CEB)

We all want to know what is going to happen when the kingdom comes to fruition. We want to know how life will be in heaven, or the resurrection. We have ideas and thoughts and when it actually comes, I bet all of them will be wrong.

The way I love to describe heaven and the coming kingdom is through a story about a dog. I don’t know where this story comes from and it is not mine. I have heard it but can not find it on the web…

The story goes there were two people talking about what heaven will be like and the first one commented how they are scared for what might happen. And the second person said, “well it is kind of like a dog sitting next to a door they have never been through. They have no idea what is in that room, but they hear the voice of their owner coming from there. So what do you think will happen when that door opens?”

The first person looked puzzled, and the second person said, “The dog will leap through the door because the dog knows their owner is in there. Nothing else matters.”

Still more puzzlement from the first person. The second person said, “I have no idea what heaven or the kingdom of God will really be like, it is like a room I have never been in, but as I wait at the door, I hear God’s voice coming from the room, so when that door opens, I’m jumping through because God is there and that is all I need to know.”

What will heaven be like, we will all find out. Right now just know that God is there and we will all get to love there for all of eternity.

Loving People. Loving God.