Need

After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.'” So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They said, “The Lord needs it.” Then they brought it to Jesus; and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. As he was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, saying, “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven, and glory in the highest heaven!” Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.” (Luke 19:28-40 NRSV)

What do you need?

And we all know that need is different than want. I want a new tv and a new computer and an iPad 3 and the newest gaming system and all kinds of new gadgets…

I need a place to live and food. I need water. I need love.

But what does Jesus need?

Did you know that in all of the Bible Jesus only needs one thing? There is only ever one thing that Jesus says he needs, and that come in the entry text for today. The gospel of Luke’s rendition of the triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Jesus sends 2 disciples on ahead of Him to get a colt that has never been ridden. They are told that if they are asked what they are doing they are to say, “The Lord has need of it.” The only thing in all of scripture that Jesus needs is a donkey to make His entry into Jerusalem.

So what do you need?

Rest

The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, “Speak to the people of Israel and say to them, These are the appointed feasts of the Lord that you shall proclaim as holy convocations; they are my appointed feasts. “Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work. It is a Sabbath to the Lord in all your dwelling places. “These are the appointed feasts of the Lord, the holy convocations, which you shall proclaim at the time appointed for them. In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at twilight, is the Lord ‘s Passover. And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; for seven days you shall eat unleavened bread. On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work. But you shall present a food offering to the Lord for seven days. On the seventh day is a holy convocation; you shall not do any ordinary work.” (Leviticus 23:1-8 ESV)

How many of us know what sabbath is?

Do you rest from your work? How many of us are constantly connected through our iPads, iPhones, smart phones… Do we actually take time off from our jobs, or rest from our work? We are constantly connected that we do not really know what rest is. Even on vacation we are getting emails, and connected to the world around us. We do not have a day of rest. I mean really God the one who never sleeps took a day after creating the universe (and how long is a day in creation?) and from this we can see that sleep is not rest because God never sleeps yet He rested…

So how can you rest and actually be at rest…

I know this is hard for me. I am always connected much to the dismay of my wife. I have gotten a little better but I can do much better. Maybe we should all take a day and leave our phones and smart devices in the charger… Do some real life interfacing and actually rest from our labors…

So do you rest?

Peace removed

“This is like the days of Noah to me: as I swore that the waters of Noah should no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, and will not rebuke you. For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,” says the Lord, who has compassion on you. (Isaiah 54:9, 10 ESV)

The rainbow is the sign of the promise that God will never again destroy the world with water…

While everything on earth might depart, and be no more, His steadfast love for you will never fade away nor be removed from you. No matter what happens here, God’s love will always be with you.

So there will never be peace removed, as long as you trust and believe the promise He has given you.

In who do you trust?

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; my eye wastes away from grief, my soul and body also. For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away. I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me. I have passed out of mind like one who is dead; I have become like a broken vessel. For I hear the whispering of many— terror all around!— as they scheme together against me, as they plot to take my life. But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love. (Psalm 31:9-16 NRSV)

It is real easy to lose heart and feel like you are out there all on your own.

Have you ever been there?

Have you ever heard the phrase, “If you are feeling far from God, it isn’t God that moved…” There is a lot of truth in that phrase, but that does not always bring us comfort does it?

How did I move away from God and where is my trust?

Our money in the USA says “In God We Trust.” on it. I wonder if we all really believe this. I know we all do not believe this because there has been a movement lately to take it off and people screaming it has always been that way, because that is how it has been since they have been alive, but it has not always been there. I think it is a good reminder that we are stewards of what we have been given though.

But who do you trust in? Andrew Jackson, Abraham Lincoln, George Washington, or the other presidents pictured on the bills and coins in your pocket or purse? Or do you trust in God?

My life has been anything but roses the past few years. But one thing has not changed through all of it. I 100% agree with the psalmist here, “But I trust in you, O Lord; I say, ‘You are my God.’ My times are in your hand; deliver me from the hand of my enemies and persecutors. Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.” I trust in God and know that no matter what He will always be with me.

Who do you trust in?

Understand…

Then he took the twelve aside and said to them, “See, we are going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written about the Son of Man by the prophets will be accomplished. For he will be handed over to the Gentiles; and he will be mocked and insulted and spat upon. After they have flogged him, they will kill him, and on the third day he will rise again.” But they understood nothing about all these things; in fact, what he said was hidden from them, and they did not grasp what was said. (Luke 18:31-34 NRSV)

How many times have you read the Bible and wondered what in the world you just read?

How many times have we read something about the disciples not getting what Jesus has said to them? They didn’t get it, and neither do we sometimes…

Jesus spoke clearly to them and today God is speaking clearly to us, yet we are sometimes so hung up on our tradition and the way we have always done it or known it to be we can not hear what God is saying new…

So are you hearing God speak to you and not able to hear Him because you are stuck in your tradition? Listen to God and hear Him, and don’t worry if it doesn’t make sense right then, God would not lead you astray.

Shame?

Children, it is the last hour, and as you have heard that antichrist is coming, so now many antichrists have come. Therefore we know that it is the last hour. They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us. But they went out, that it might become plain that they all are not of us. But you have been anointed by the Holy One, and you all have knowledge. I write to you, not because you do not know the truth, but because you know it, and because no lie is of the truth. Who is the liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, he who denies the Father and the Son. No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also. Let what you heard from the beginning abide in you. If what you heard from the beginning abides in you, then you too will abide in the Son and in the Father. And this is the promise that he made to us — eternal life. I write these things to you about those who are trying to deceive you. But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him. And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming. (1 John 2:18-28 ESV)

What are you going to do when Jesus comes back?

Have you ever been asked the question, “is your house ready for a visit from God?” Would you want Him to see your home as it is? Would you want to hide magazines or movies or pit stuff I your closets or dresser drawers and not let Him look in them? Does any of this help because He knows everything and goes with you every where you go….

When Jesus comes back will you hide in the back corner and not want to see Him ashamed that you didn’t get it right? Or will you walk up to Him confident that you got it right?

I hope I will run to Him, ashamed of what I have done, but confident that it is not about how I did it, but because I am His child.

encouraging?

Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. (Hebrews 10:19-25 ESV)

Let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works…

Are you encouraging?

Are the words you use helpful or hurtful? A lot can be learned from a pre-K classroom, where a lot of the time is learning how to live in community with people who are not your family. We learn how to get along and play nice with each other. We take time during the day to reflect on our actions. Are they helpful or hurtful? Is what I have done good for the good of the classroom, or is it hurtful?

When we are constantly pointing out others fault and telling them if they do not turn they will burn, is that helpful or hurtful? Is that kind of statement going to help someone seek after God. “You know if you do not stop doing that sinful thing you are doing then God will never want you to be with Him, so you can either stop that or else burn.” That statement to me really says that the cross of Jesus was not enough to cover the sins of everyone, and some peoples’ sins are more than the cross can handle…

Now we know that is not true and “we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus.” Jesus’ blood covers everyone and everything and is good enough to wipe them all away. otherwise none of us can stand by faith in that.

So with everything you do ask if it is helpful or hurtful…

Are you encouraging others to seek after Him, or helping them see Him as someone who could never love them?

Disciple?

Six days before the Passover, Jesus therefore came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. So they gave a dinner for him there. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those reclining with him at table. Mary therefore took a pound of expensive ointment made from pure nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus and wiped his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (he who was about to betray him), said, Why was this ointment not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor? He said this, not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief, and having charge of the moneybag he used to help himself to what was put into it. Jesus said, Leave her alone, so that she may keep it for the day of my burial. For the poor you always have with you, but you do not always have me. (John 12:1-8 ESV)

What was Mary thinking here? I mean really, using this perfume that costs more than a years wages for a normal person to clean the feet of Jesus and then she wipes it with her hair! That is very intimate. And very lavish.

We can speculate why she did this. Maybe she was over come with joy and wonder at Jesus just bringing her brother back to life and she wanted to give Him something to repay Him. Maybe she saw what Jesus could do and wanted Him to do something more for her. But the point is not Mary. You see John doesn’t tell us what Mary is thinking or what she hopes to get out of it.

Maybe it’s Judas, who in my opinion gets a really bad wrap in John, but I don’t think it is Judas either. Who is Jesus talking to when He says you will always have the poor? Yes I know He is speaking to Judas, but in John things aren’t always what they first appear to be. He is taking to Judas, but He is also taking to you.

When you first discovered the amount the perfume cost did you not judge Mary’s decision? Would you also have judged Jesus’ decision to wash His disciples feet in the next chapter? What difference does the cost of the perfume make? Mary did something for someone she cared for in the name of God and to show forth God’s love. Why are we not more like Mary? Freely willing to give up our most precious things for the other? The comment about the poor always being with us is not to down play the poor, but to help us see we can not save things or money to save the poor. We need to not worry about tomorrow and lavishly use what we have today.

Are you ready to break open your life and pour it on the feet of your savior by serving the other, by being there for the last, the lost, the least, the little?

Die…

Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what he did, believed in him, but some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. So the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered the Council and said, What are we to do? For this man performs many signs. If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and our nation. But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, You know nothing at all. Nor do you understand that it is better for you that one man should die for the people, not that the whole nation should perish. He did not say this of his own accord, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for the nation only, but also to gather into one the children of God who are scattered abroad. So from that day on they made plans to put him to death. Jesus therefore no longer walked openly among the Jews, but went from there to the region near the wilderness, to a town called Ephraim, and there he stayed with the disciples. Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. They were looking for Jesus and saying to one another as they stood in the temple, What do you think? That he will not come to the feast at all? Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that if anyone knew where he was, he should let them know, so that they might arrest him. (John 11:45-57 ESV)

It is better for one man to die for the nation. Did Caiaphas really know what he was saying?

And how can we die? You see the death that Jesus died was actually before the cross. Now don’t get me wrong His death on the cross was a death and one that made us right with God, but His death that led Him to die for the many happened long before the cross or Caiaphas said one should die for the nation.

Jesus was obedient to what needed to be done regardless of His own wants or desires. He followed the plan set out and did not follow His own needs or desires. Jesus died to Himself, and did what God asked.

Are you ready to die to self to follow God where He leads you?

traveling buddy

When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” The LORD has done great things for us; we are glad. Restore our fortunes, O LORD, like streams in the Negeb! Those who sow in tears shall reap with shouts of joy! He who goes out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, bringing his sheaves with him. (Psalm 126 ESV)

Have you ever been in a deep dark valley and then got to see the light and rejoiced and gave thanks for what you have received? For the restoration that you have? It is easy to be happy and to know the joys of the Lord when everything is the way we want it to be. We can easily shout the praises of God when everything is going the way we want it to.

We sometimes forget God when things are going our way. When we have everything we think we want or need then we can rest on our own devices and not worry about being with God. We look to God when things are bad, when our lives are in the dumps. But whose perspective is the view that things are so bad?

God is with us and always walks where we go. He leads the way and prepares our path. He goes over us to shelter us and beside us to give us companionship. Our whole life should be a celebration of who He is in our lives. Because even the darkest valley has light when we remember who our traveling buddy is.