Give Thanks!

What a wonderful gift we have all received! Chocolate! No no no, not chocolate. Now don’t get me wrong chocolate is ok, while I’m not a big fan of chocolate, my kids and wife are so it is a good thing. I do have to say that my weakness this time of year are the Reese white chocolate eggs.  I love the white chocolate eggs… And yes I got some yesterday, but that is not the wonderful gift I and all of us received.

Today though (before I get to the gift) the Psalmist tells us “O give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his steadfast love endures for ever!” Give thanks to the Lord for He is good and His love endures forever, and that my friends is a wonderful gift. The most wonderful gift any of us could ever receive! Chocolate and candy, bunnys, and everything else aside… Yesterday we received the Risen Savior, the Son of God whom the grave could not hold! This is a reason to give thanks to the Lord for the grace and mercy we have all received.

So live this day in the light of the resurrection, knowing you are forgiven, and freed to be His hands and feet to help everyone experience His grace and mercy that flowed out of the tomb with Him as the glory of God showed in the life over death through Jesus our Lord!

Seized by fear…

Mark tells us the woman came to the tomb this morning and were prepared to find the body and to finish the prep that was not done because of the Sabbath. But they did not find Him…

The tomb was empty except for the man in dazzling white to proclaim that Jesus was not here. As if they should be surprised. Didn’t Jesus tell them that He wouldn’t be there? Did He not make it clear that He was going to die and then He would rise from the grave? He told those following Him over and over again, but they missed it. The women get to the tomb, hear the wonderful news that everything He told us the last 3 years is true, but they do not run away and tell anyone. Instead they run away in fear…

How many of us have ever heard the best news of our life and we are seized with fear that we can not share it? I honestly can not remember getting the best news of my life and running away in fear and not tell anyone. I am ready to shout it from the roof tops, and make sure everybody knows, not just those I care about but everyone! But these women hear that Jesus is not dead, He is alive and has gone ahead of them to Jerusalem, and they go away like they don’t believe it.

But how many of us are ready to tell of Jesus, even to those who know we love Him and try to follow Him? Jesus is not something we shout about from the roof tops… He is not the topic of usual conversation for us, and many of us probably shy away from talking about church, worship, Jesus, God… anything that might cause others to not agree with us. We are seized with fear the moment Jesus comes up. We can understand how these women react, and why, because we do it all the time.

But the truth of the matter is, that is not where the story ends. We are continuing this story that began at Mark 1:1 The beginning of the Good News of Jesus Christ… And just as the passage that ends Mark, but not the story tells us, everything that Jesus told us, and every promise God has made to us, is true and He is good to His word!

Called by name…

Could you image what the disciples felt like on the Saturday after the day Jesus was killed?

They all ran away and hide. They all deserted Jesus. They said they wouldn’t do that they would stick by Him and never turn. But they ran and hid, as the scripture says when the leader is struck they flee…

I can’t image what they must have felt and were thinking at this moment.

But then there is Mary… she is lost and went to the tomb… she found His body gone. She is wondering where they took Him. She even encounters Jesus and doesn’t know that it is Him. How many times have we encountered Jesus and missed that it was Him because we were distraught or caught up in our lives…

She did not know what to think or what to do, she just wanted to find Him and take care of Him. She hears His voice ask who she is looking for, but her mind is so clouded, but then she hears it, her name!

Oh the sweet sound of your name spoken by someone you love and loves you. Can you image hearing the voice of a loved one you thought was dead? Someone who was missing? Oh the sweet sound of your name on the lips of the creator of the universe! Listen and hear Him call your name…

What’s so good…

Today is Good Friday. This is the day we remember Jesus was hung on the cross and crucified. He was made to suffer through the most horrifying death imaginable after being beaten almost to death…

And I ask again what’s so good about this day?

The Gospel reading for today is John 18:1 – 19:42. It starts Jesus being handed over and ends with Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus removing Jesus from the cross and laying Him in the tomb.

There is a wealth of Hope and Good here.

Let’s start with the end – Nicodemus comes and help remove Jesus’ body and prepare Him for burial.  Nicodemus you might remember was the Pharisee that came to Jesus under the cover of darkness and asked Him questions. You may or may not know that Nicodemus also stood up for Jesus in chapter 7 of John when the Jewish high council was talking about killing Jesus. Then Nicodemus is here in public helping this criminal.  That is a faith filled journey that Christ calls all of us to go on. Nicodemus questions, learns and follows. He is changed by his encounter with Jesus and allows that to permeate his life. He is changed by God and becomes a follower, even though he thought he already was following God…

The other good thing or hope in this passage is the beginning. Jesus is encountered by Judas, the detachment of soldiers, the police and the chief priests. Jesus knows what is about to happens and He asks for whom are they looking. Of course they say Jesus of Nazareth, and He replies, “I am He.” Or at least that is what my translation says…  However I find the next line interesting, “they stepped back and fell to the ground.” After Jesus said I am He they fell on their faces, why? Well part of this group were temple guards and probably devote Jews. And Jesus did not say I am He, He said “I AM”.  He said the name of God given to Moses from the burning bush. Those assembled knew what He was saying and had to fall down at the name of God. They knew who He was when He said that, and they worshiped.

Today we remember our Savior’s crucifixion, and the hope that it brings us, in the soldiers that recognize God, and in a man who followed God, who through an encounter with Jesus was changed to understand what it really means to follow God

Whose feet…

This is Maundy Thursday, the day we celebrate Jesus commemorating the Last Supper, giving us communion, the Holy Eucharist. This was the Passover Feast that Jesus ate with His disciples, except in the gospel reading for today…

John 13:1-17,31-35 starts with “Now before the festival of the Passover,” So the Passover is yet to happen, actually this is the day before in John. Jesus is the sacrificial lamb in John, and therefore He can not be celebrating Passover, as He is the sacrifice. But here in John we get another passage that is associated with this day, the washing of the feet…

And the interesting part to this I have pondered for a while, and heard Max Lucado speak about yesterday on the radio. John tells us that Jesus got up from the table, took off His outer robe, and tied a towel around His waist then proceeded to do what the servants should do, wash the feet of His disciples.  He washed all of their feet, including Judas. John does not say, “Jesus washed their feet until He got to Judas, then He said, I won’t wash your feet, because you are going to hand me over.” Jesus washed His feet. Makes me wonder if Judas had stuck around would he have gotten the grace that Peter did? Peter denied Jesus three times, but Jesus restored Peter on the beach the morning of His resurrection. Peter Rollins speaks of this in his book The Fidelity of Betrayal.  

Notice above I did not say betrayed when speaking of Jesus speaking to Judas. I agree on some level with Peter Rollins and Andrew Loyd Weber portrayal of Judas. Maybe Judas was in on the plan, and the original language of the Gospels tell us that Judas betrayed Jesus, but that word betrayed can also mean handed over. To me it is a question of who has the power. A betrayal happens when the person betrayed has no knowledge of the betrayal, and no power to change it. And my understanding of God is that He has the ultimate power and knows everything. Therefore Jesus could not have been betrayed, but was doing what needed to be done. Judas had no power over Jesus except that Jesus gave him. Judas handed Jesus over, because Jesus had the power to control the events that were to unfold. Another place this word for betray/hand over comes up in tomorrow’s passage, when Jesus breathes His last and “gives up” His spirit. Jesus hands over His spirit when He dies on the cross…

So Jesus washes Judas’ feet along with the other eleven – then Jesus sends Judas to do what he must, and He send us to go and love the world…

Cross Eyed

What do you see? That is a question that can shape everything that happens in your life today.

You see perspective and outlook can shape your view on what is happening. Think about your life and where you have been and where it seems you are going. Now this week think about Jesus. (We should think about Jesus every week, but this week is Holy Week.) Think about what he had gone through with the ridicule and think about where He is going… He is the final days and hours from the cross. He knew where He had come from, the throne room of the Creator of the universe. And he knew where He was headed, to His death and not a quick death, a slow agonizing death after going through a beating that would have killed an ordinary man. Perspective is everything. Jesus gave up of Himself to bridge the gap between us and God. So what is your perspective?

Hebrews 12:1-3 ESV

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

The author of Hebrews tells us to look to Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith. We need to fix our eyes on Him. And become Cross Eyed. In your life your perspective is everything and what you focus on can greatly effect your day. Make sure the cross is center in your vision. If you can’t see Jesus, you need to adjust your gaze.

Going to Jerusalem…

A Jewish businessman in Chicago decided to send his son to Israel to absorb some of the culture of the homeland. When the son returned, the father asked him to tell him about his trip.

The son said, “Pop,I had a great time in Israel. By the way, I converted to Christianity.”

“Oy, vey,”said the father. “Vot haf I dun?”

He decided to go ask his friend Jacob what to do.

Jake said, “Funny you should ask. I too sent my son to Israel, and he also came back a Christian. Perhaps we should go see the rabbi and ask him what we should do.” So they went to see the rabbi.

The rabbi said,”Funny you should ask. I too sent my son to Israel. He also came back a Christian. What is happening to our young people? Perhaps we should go talk to God and ask him what to do.”

The three of them prayed and explained what had happened to their sons and asked God what to do.

Suddenly a voice came loud and clear from Heaven.

The Voice said,”Funny you should ask. I, too, sent my Son to Israel. . . . .

Quiver of God!

Have you ever felt like you weren’t doing that thing that you should be doing?

Thought about changing your  career?

But is career in my thought is not vocation. Vocation is calling from the Latin for voice, and that is why we say that those in the “ministry” have a vocation. And in my thoughts and my understanding we all have a calling a vocation, and that is what our ministry is. That is our part of the mission of God…

You can do something and make money and that is a career, but what you do with your life in and through how you live and show forth God’s love is your vocation. Now they can be one and the same, but they may not be…

But what ever your calling, God gave that to you! He speaks of this through the prophet Isaiah in chapter 49.  Isaiah speaks of a creator that has planned on your existence long before you were ever born. Isaiah speaks of how God hides you in the shadow of His hand and protects you from everything that could harm you. Isaiah calls you a polished arrow, created for a specific purpose and hidden away in God’s quiver until the needed time. That is such beautiful imagery, and speaks to the depth of God’s love for each and everyone of us! God has a plan for you, and He is saving you in His quiver to shoot you into the mission field at the right time so that you might do that which He needs you to do to fulfill the plan that was set into motion long before you were a glimmer in your mother’s eye. God has everything in His hand and uses His creation to show forth His love.

Live as one God called before you were born, who was named in your mother’s womb, because you are! a golden arrow in the quiver of God!

Fountain of life…

Have you ever heard of the fountain of youth? Wondered if you could ever find it? And what would you do if you found a magical fountain that would make you young and live for ever?

Well maybe the fountain of youth is not as far fetched as we think it is. It is however different than we think it is. It is not a magic elixir that makes you 25 for the rest of your life. It is not a way to stop aging or to make you be the perfect person.  You see you actually already are the perfect person you can be, the way God created you.

And we all have access to the fountain of life, the one whose wings we can take shelter under, the one who is the light for us and pushes the darkness away. He is the one that will give us the fountain of life that will cause is to live forever the way we were created – perfect in His way.

So hide under His wings and live in the light that He shines on us. God gives us all the shelter, feast, a home and is always faithful in everything. He is our light in this dark world, and He is our fountain of life.

What do you need?

I’m sure we have all heard this question before. And I’m sure we have all heard that there is a difference between what we want and what we need. Sometimes there is an overlap, but sometimes what we want and what we need can be polar opposites.

And if you are one who follows the lectionary might be wondering why I’m talking about need and want. The main Gospel reading for today is the Passion narrative from Mark. Well today is Palm Sunday, the day that Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  I think we have watered down our faith to be about what is best for society. We have turned today, the day of the triumphal entry into a day we have to share the Passion because people aren’t going to come on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday. They will only hear the triumphal entry story and the story of the stone rolled away and the resurrection. So rather than not allow people to hear only the good parts of the story, we make those who will be at worship to listen to the story on Sunday and again on Thursday and Friday.  As you can tell, I think we should focus on the triumphal entry…

So I’m talking about need and want because of the text we read for Palm Sunday in year B of the lectionary, Mark 11:1-11.

When they were approaching Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples and said to them, ‘Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden; untie it and bring it. If anyone says to you, “Why are you doing this?” just say this, “The Lord needs it and will send it back here immediately.” ’ They went away and found a colt tied near a door, outside in the street. As they were untying it, some of the bystanders said to them, ‘What are you doing, untying the colt?’ They told them what Jesus had said; and they allowed them to take it. Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks on it; and he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, and others spread leafy branches that they had cut in the fields. Then those who went ahead and those who followed were shouting,
‘Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Blessed is the coming kingdom of our ancestor David!
Hosanna in the highest heaven!’

Then he entered Jerusalem and went into the temple; and when he had looked around at everything, as it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the twelve.

Jesus is coming into Jerusalem and needs to fulfill the prophecy of riding on a donkey, but that is not the best part of the text in my opinion. You see in the Gospels and actually all of the scriptures there is only one thing that it says Jesus ever says He needs.  And that is in our text today. In today’s text it is a colt, in Matthew it is a donkey and a colt. But the message is clear, the only thing that Jesus says He needs is a donkey. What do you need?

Jesus is entering Jerusalem to the shouts of Hosanna by a group of people who will only days from now call for His execution, and He needs a donkey. Jesus has endured the people chasing after Him to heal there illness, and fix their lives, He has had to ward off the Pharisees, and the Jewish leaders.  He has put up with the disciples not getting it year after year, and yet all He needs is a donkey! Our TV goes out and we have to have one. We get upset when the internet is not working on our flight. We whine about the littlest things, and Jesus is entering Jerusalem, the city in which He will be killed, to the shouts of a crowd that He knows will turn on Him and knowing the physical beating and agony He will endure and all He needs is a donkey. And when you boil it down the only reason He needs this is to fulfill prophecy!

So what do you need?