“The fact is that the cross isn’t a form of cosmic child abuse – a vengeful Father, punishing his Son for an offence he has not even committed. Understandably, both people inside and outside of the Church have found this twisted version of events morally dubious and a huge barrier to faith. Deeper than that, however, is that such a concept stands in total contradiction to the statement that “God is Love”. If the cross is a personal act of vioence perpetrated by God towards humankind but borne by his Son, then it makes a mockery of Jesus’ own teaching to love your enemies and to refuse to repay evil with evil”
-Steve Chalke
Where is the Hope?
Where is the hope? This day is after all Good Friday. What is really Good about a day where the one who we thought was the Messiah is crucified, killed on the cursed tree? The worst type of death known to man. What is so Good about this?
The hope is in 19:39 – Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came… And where is the hope in Nicodemus coming at the end of Jesus’ death to help get him off the cross and put him in his tomb? It shows devotion to Jesus, and a following of his teachings that is where the hope is. Nicodemus came to Jesus in chapter 3 of the gospel of John under the cover of darkness. This is because he was a Pharisee and did not want to be seen talking to Jesus. Yet he knew Jesus was a great teacher, and so he went to him. He questioned Jesus and went away pondering. Then later in the gospel of John, Nicodemus defends Jesus in front of the Jewish High Council. He makes a stand for Jesus, all be it a weak one, he makes a stand. And here on Good Friday the day of our Lord’s death, Nicodemus comes out in broad daylight, and helps remove Jesus body from the cross and place it in the tomb. Not worried about what any one will say, but doing what he knows is right. Throwing all caution to the wind, he comes and pays respects to Jesus, and shows to be a follower of the Way he taught. That is the hope, which is the gospel, where the seed is planted and then it grows over time. Nicodemus did not get converted in a moment, and that is the hope each of us has in our weaknesses. Jesus is still working in and through us to bring us to the hope, of stepping out in our faith in a radical way that will make our friends heads turn and see what is up.
Bearer of all hope, fill us as you did Nicodemus and guide our lives to be ever devoted to you, that we will throw caution to the wind and serve you regardless of the consequences. Amen
To Serve…
“Jesus rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him.”
Jesus served his disciples. He set the example for us to be the servant of all. And it is in this section we see that most clearly. The beginning of the chapter, Jesus washes the feet of his disciples, all 12 of them. Right we know this we have heard this story before. But remember who the 12 are now…
Judas is one of the 12, and Jesus served him. The one who hands Jesus over to the authorities. Jesus is troubled because one of his own will hand him over. But the fact that this one is going to do this act, Jesus still loves him and washes him. He sits down and eats with him.
Jesus shows us what it means to serve, by serving the one who hands him into the hands of those that send him to his death. On this day remember the wonderful sacrifice given to us in the last supper, the time of fellowship and the most wonderful gift ever given to us. And on this day remember the command we have been given, to love one another, not who we want, but every one. Jesus served Judas, so we have no excuse.
Gracious Lord, help me to be humble and follow where you lead and show your love to all, through service and giving of what I have been given. Fill me with yoru spirit and guide me in your love. Help me to remember the wonderful gifts of grace you have given me and help me to give that to others. Amen.
Are you devoted to God?
Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. (John 12:3).
Mary took a lot of perfume and anointed Jesus feet. In Matthew and Mark she anointed his head (Matt. 26:7; Mark 14:3), but here she anoints his feet. This was the work of servants. In Jesus’ day when one entered the house their feet would have been washed by a servant, and then dried, so they did not bring any disease or unwanted stuff they might have traveled through into the home. This was a very intimate gesture, as the feet were the part of the body that people did not talk about. Yet here Mary takes some perfume that costs about a years wage and anoints Jesus’ feet with it. And then on top of her washing his feet, she takes down her hair and wipes his feet. Women never took their hair down in public, she did something unmentionable, something unheard of, something no woman would do. She went to extra mile in complete devotion to Jesus.
Are you completely devoted to Jesus you would do whatever he needs, even if it makes you look bad in the eyes of everyone? Are you willing to let your reservations go and give it all to him knowing that it only matters what God thinks and not the rest of the world? Jesus did the unthinkable in a few days when he takes off his robe and washes the feet of the disciples, including the one who hands him over. This was not what people expected the Messiah to do, but he did, because it was what he had to do. Let go and give it up to God, knowing he will not lead you wrong, even though society will think you are a rebel.
Daddy God, help me to give it up to you and not worry about what others will say about me. Knowing that you are all that truly matters. Amen.
Forever God is with us! Psalm 118:1-2
I read this psalm, and starting singing a song I rememebr from my days in North Carolina. At the start up mission congregation my family and I were a part of there. It is a song by Chris Tomlin from his first album The Noise We Make, called Forever. This song is a paraphrase of these verses for today (Psalm 118:1-2).
The second verse is:
From the rising to the setting sun
His love endures forever
By the grace of God
We will carry on
His love endures forever
Sing praise, sing praise
Sing praise, sing praise
Yeah
Forever God is faithful
Forever God is strong
Forever God is with us
Forever God is with us, so we can sing praises to him regardless of what is happening around us, because by His grace we can always carry on. He will never leave us, and He will always be faithful and is able to see us through whatever comes our way.
Sing praise to our God who is forever faithful to us who he calls his own.
Wonderful gracious king, help us to sing praises to you, knowing you have promised to always be with us and to guide us along the paths in front of us. Give us your strength so we might cling to you always. Amen.
Strong Enough
I was taking the girls to school this morning and I heard this song by Matthew West and it really struck me.
We sometimes wonder why God has brought us to this place, and sometimes maybe it is so we realize that we can not do it by ourselves and we have to give it up…
God please help me to always remember I am not strong enough to do this on my own, yet through you who gives me strength I can do all things, and I do not have to be strong enough on my own.
The Gifts…
Remember your birthday? How there were stacks of presents and all for you? Could you contain your excitement? But then all of the people around, you just lose interest in the presents, I mean they can be opened later, why not spend time together and worry about those presents later…
I do not know many people who would react this way to having a stack of gifts to open, or even one gift to open. We rip into that paper as fast as we can to get at what we are getting. We want to know what it is. We want to have it.
Yet God gives us gifts, and we are less apt to be moved by them, or even recognize them. We pass over them so quickly and get on with the important stuff happening all around us. Shouldn’t we be more moved by God’s gifts, which will last a lot longer than the iPod, or whatever else we got from our friends and family.
Rip into the wrapping on the best gifts we will ever get.
Bank Account
I received this in an email and thought it was worth sharing.
A 92-year-old, petite, well-poised and proud man, who is fully dressed each morning by eight o’clock, with his hair fashionably combed and shaved perfectly, even though he is legally blind, moved to a nursing home today.
His wife of 70 years recently passed away, making the move necessary. After many hours of waiting patiently in the lobby of the nursing home, he smiled sweetly when told his room was ready.
As he maneuvered his walker to the elevator, I provided a visual description of his tiny room, including the eyelet sheets that had been hung on his window. I love it,’ he stated with the enthusiasm of an eight-year-old having just been presented with a new puppy.
Mr. Jones, you haven’t seen the room; just wait.’
‘That doesn’t have anything to do with it,’ he replied.
Happiness is something you decide on ahead of time.
Whether I like my room or not doesn’t depend on how the furniture is arranged … it’s how I arrange my mind. I already decided to love it. ‘It’s a decision I make every morning when I wake up. I have a choice; I can spend the day in bed recounting the difficulty I have with the parts of my body that no longer work, or get out of bed and be thankful for the ones that do.
Each day is a gift, and as long as my eyes open, I’ll focus on the new day and all the happy memories I’ve stored away.. Just for this time in my life.
Old age is like a bank account. You withdraw from what you’ve put in.
So, my advice to you would be to deposit a lot of happiness in the bank account of memories!
Thank you for your part in filling my Memory Bank. I am still depositing.
‘Remember the five simple rules to be happy:
1. Free your heart from hatred.
2. Free your mind from worries.
3. Live simply.
4. Give more.
5. Expect less.
Called by name!
“we are called by your name; do not leave us.”
God has called each of us by name. In our Baptismal service we heard the words Name, I baptize you in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. And then we heard the words “Name, child of God, you have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever.” You have been sealed by the Holy Spirit and marked with the cross of Christ forever. You have been joined with Christ in his death and have the promise of being joined to him in his resurrection. He will never leave us or forsake us.
But do we not all question that? Do we not all wonder if we have done enough, or done the right things to get us to belong in heaven? Have we not said “we are called by your name, do not leave us alone.” “God, am I one of your people, why do I feel all alone?”
God through Jesus and the Holy Spirit are with us always, that is the promise from Matthew 28, and I am with you always even until the close of the age. Forever God is faithful and with us.
Rejoice in your baptism and the fact that you are God’s elected child, named and claimed by him and brother/sister to Christ co heir of the kingdom of God.
Wonderful daddy, bless us in remembering how you have claimed us through your Spirit, and named us as your own. Help us to cling to the promises you have given us all, and show all those we meet how much you love us and them. Amen.
Life’s truisms
| Someone has written these beautiful words. One must read and try to understand the deep meanings in them.
They are like the Ten Commandments to follow in life all the time. 1] Prayer is not a “spare wheel” that you pull out when in trouble; it is a “steering wheel” that directs us in the right path throughout life. 2] Do you know why a car’s WINDSHIELD is so large & the rear view mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on. 3] Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write. 4] All things in life are temporary. If going well enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong don’t worry, they can’t last long either. 5] Old friends are like Gold! New friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don’t forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold! 6] Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, “Relax, sweetheart, it’s just a bend, not the end! 7] When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn’t solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities. 8] A blind person asked St. Anthony: “Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?” He replied: “Yes, losing your vision.” 9] When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you. 10] WORRYING does not take away tomorrow’s TROUBLES; it takes away today’s PEACE. |
aSacredRebel 