Children of God through Jesus

10It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. 11For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, 12saying, “I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters, in the midst of the congregation I will praise you.” 13And again, “I will put my trust in him.” And again, “Here am I and the children whom God has given me.” 14Since, therefore, the children share flesh and blood, he himself likewise shared the same things, so that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by the fear of death. 16For it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham.17Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. 18Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested. (Hebrews 2:10-18, NRSV)

Jesus understands our struggles in life because He was one of us and faced adversities and trials. Jesus did not use the power He had to keep himself from suffering but let everything go and became one of us so that when we call out to Him He understands.

Jesus is not ashamed of us and calls us brothers and sisters and understands what is happening to us. He gets how we falter, even though he didn’t.

Jesus trusted in God to see Him through and showed us that we can trust in Jesus to get us through.

Jesus understands your life and situation. Trust in Him!

Jesus before Caiaphas

57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end.59Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’” 62The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 63But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”64Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, 68saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?” (Matthew 26:57-68, NRSV)

The chief priest needed something so they could go to the Romans and have Jesus executed. But they had nothing and could get nothing.

And when Jesus told them the truth they saw it as the way to have him executed.

Jesus told them the truth and they heard what they wanted. Not love but hate. Hate fueled through the changes that were coming. Hate fueled by a need to keep things the way they are.

How do we avoid change because it is scary and is something we are not ready for?

If we always stay the same are we allowing God to work in and through our lives?

The Transfiguration

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves. 2And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. 3Suddenly there appeared to them Moses and Elijah, talking with him. 4Then Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here; if you wish, I will make three dwellings here, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” 5While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!” 6When the disciples heard this, they fell to the ground and were overcome by fear. 7But Jesus came and touched them, saying, “Get up and do not be afraid.” 8And when they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus himself alone. (Matthew 17:1-8, NRSV)

Jesus was made to be whiter than white! And when it happened there were 2 others with him, and Peter, James, and John knew it was Moses and Elijah. I wonder how did they know?

Sometimes in pictures, Moses has the tablets for the commandments and Elijah has what looks like a book. But how does this identify them?

Did they have name tags on that said, “Hello my name is: Moses” or Elijah?

And why did Peter go all crazy and start talking about tents and how good it is that the three of them are there?

Can you imagine what you would have done if Jesus took you up the mountain and all of a sudden he started glowing and 2 other people just appeared?

I would start babbling too!

Get up and do not be afraid! Yeah right. We just saw you dazzling and 2 people who are dead. And we are just supposed to go on like nothing happened? But that is what happens in God’s kingdom, and we are to share what we have been given. So go and share the love Jesus gave to you.

Jesus is Baptized

13Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.” (Matthew 3:13-17, NRSV)

This is the version of this story that is open ended and doesn’t really give us a lot of details. We don’t know who was there if it was a crowd or just John and Jesus. We don’t know who heard the proclamation of God.

But the story still shows us that Jesus knew somethings needed to be done for good order and to give us an example of how to live.

We also see the love that is poured out through baptism to all of God’s children by God.

We all get grace and love through baptism. Live in the love we are given through the love given in baptism.

The Word Became Flesh

14And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth. 15(John testified to him and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks ahead of me because he was before me.’”)16From his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17The law indeed was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known. (John 1:14-18, NRSV)

Jesus was with God in the beginning and helped create everything that is. And because of that he is filled with Grace and Truth.

Not truth as most of us know but ultimate truth that doesn’t change.

You see we can say that God changes but I would say it isn’t God that changes but us. Our perception and understanding is what changes.

Know that Jesus is always the same.

The True Light Comes Into the World

6There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 9The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. 10He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. 11He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. 12But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, 13who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:6-13, NRSV)

John was Jesus’ cousin and a herald for Jesus. John told everyone about Jesus and what he was going to do.

John was not the light of the world and he did not claim to be because he knew Jesus was.

It is not our job to be the light or the savior. It is our job to tell the world like John did. Share what God has done for you and God’s love with the world.

In the Beginning was the Word

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was in the beginning with God. 3All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being 4in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. 5The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. (John 1:1-5, NRSV)

Have you ever been in a dark place and then a light came in?

The darkness is dispersed and light takes over.

That is how Jesus is in our lives. Even when our flesh comes in and sin takes over Jesus pushes it all away.

His life over comes all of our sin and makes us clean.

And remember he loves you and wants you to have the life God has prepared for you.

God Speaks to Us through a Son

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, 2but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.3He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, 4having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs. (Hebrews 1:1-4, NRSV)

Jesus is the son whom God has given us to speak to us and tell us how we should live.

He is higher than everything except the Father and is more excellent than everything.

Jesus came to show us how to live and what it means to be a follower of God’s life plan.

God has a way God wants us to live and Jesus showed us that.

Praise the Lord!

1Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty firmament!
2Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his surpassing greatness!
3Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
4Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
5Praise him with clanging cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
6Let everything that breathes praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
(Psalm 150, NRSV)

It is fitting I’m writing this devotional now as I am at camp and this psalm always reminds me of a fun song we would sing at camp.

Praise the lord with trumpet sounds. And we would mimic a trumpet. Clanging cymbols, a big bass drum, harp and lyre.

But this psalm just shows us that as we go through life we should have an attitude of praise and give praise in every circumstance.

Praise to our trustworthy God

1Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord, O my soul!
2I will praise the Lord as long as I live; I will sing praises to my God all my life long.
3Do not put your trust in princes, in mortals, in whom there is no help.
4When their breath departs, they return to the earth; on that very day their plans perish.
5Happy are those whose help is the God of Jacob, whose hope is in the Lord their God,
6who made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them; who keeps faith forever;
7who executes justice for the oppressed; who gives food to the hungry. The Lord sets the prisoners free;
8the Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.
9The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin.
10The Lord will reign forever, your God, O Zion, for all generations. Praise the Lord!
(Psalm 146, NRSV)

We all have reasons to be upset with God or life and to be in a bad mood.

We can easily justify being mad at the world for the circumstances we are in.

But then again there is someone somewhere who is dealing with worse issues than you are and is deeper in a hole than you are. There are many who are hurting and drowning in life. And we have reason to be happy or blessed.

Today is a day you have breath and God loves you. Remember this when life seems to get you down and pull you away from God. God is always there and loves you and that is a reason to give God praise.