Unexpected - Luke 4:16-30 - Third Sunday after the Epiphany

 

Luke 4:16-30 NIV

¹⁶ He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, ¹⁷ and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:

¹⁸ “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
    because he has anointed me
    to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
    and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
¹⁹     to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

²⁰ Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. ²¹ He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

²² All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

²³ Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”

²⁴ “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. ²⁵ I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. ²⁶ Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. ²⁷ And there were many in Israel with leprosy in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”

²⁸ All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. ²⁹ They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. ³⁰ But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

Unexpected

There are things that come on unexpected. Things we really can’t foresee or foretell. Things that just don’t jive with the way we think the world should work. Things that happen way out of our own plans. There are things that come on unexpected that we are left to deal with that we would rather not deal with. Unexpected things that break into our world.

I’ll have to admit, even after a week of study of this Gospel passage, of teaching Sunday School, on this same passage, and after worship services; this reflection took on a deep and personal change from what I expected. Yes, to say the least… unexpected.

In this passage of Scripture, a group of Jesus’ hometown folks were left both amazed and hostile. Two emotions that seem to conflict with one another but really don’t. There are things that come on unexpected that maybe first shock or amaze us, but may even leave us a little, or a lot, hostile with God and the way God seems to act in our world. There are things that come on unexpected.

But first let me give you a little background into the type of service common with the Jewish Synagogue worship.

Commonly the service began with the reading of a Shema (shuh-MAH) or prayer. And Old Testament example is…

Deuteronomy 6:4-9 NIV

⁴ Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. ⁵ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. ⁶ These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. ⁸ Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. ⁹ Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.

It kind of serves as an introduction to worship. Sets the tone and puts God first.

Then the service would continue with a reading from the Law and/or the Prophets. This would be read while standing.

Next the leader would sit down for teaching on the reading chosen. Kind of like what we think of in Christian worship as the sermon.

Finally, the service would conclude with a blessing from the priest or a layman.

So that’s just a brief explanation of what was going on in the passage of scripture from Luke above.

So, we have Jesus going to the synagogue service… What shouts out to me right off the bat is the words, “as was His custom.” With just a few words we gain insight into how seriously Jesus took “Church.” Or going to church.

This phrase… “as was His custom,” is only used twice in the New Testament. The other time it was used was at the Mount of Olives…

Luke 22:39 NIV

³⁹ Jesus went out as usual to the Mount of Olives, and his disciples followed him.

What was the occasion for Jesus going “as was His custom” or as interpreted here “as usual”? This was when Jesus went to pray after the Last Supper with His disciples. This was just before Jesus’ denial and the start of the night of suffering, leading to His rejection by the people, the religious leaders of the day, his crucifixion and death. Keep this thought in mind for a moment for me.

Jesus prayed. Prayer was very important to Jesus. Jesus prayed alone and in public. Yes, Jesus made a practice of prayer AND going to church.

Today, so many Christians make up shallow excuses that God can be worshipped anywhere. Well, that’s true, BUT… Going it alone in personal prayer is NOT the end of worshipping God. That’s a vital and needed time to reflect, learn and study. That’s a vital time to pray and hear God’s Word, but there’s more.

A Christian disciple NEEDS just as much, fellowship, first with God and together in unity with other disciples IN church. Together in Church, disciples need to have fellowship with other souls “in the fire,” so to speak. Yes, the fire of the Holy Spirit that binds the Church together in Word and Sacrament.

To isolate with God in nature, or any other place alone is fine… BUT “As was his custom,” or “as usual,” Jesus, points us to how God comes to us in unity with one and each other… In Church. Going to Church IS vitally important. Don’t excuse yourself with weak excuses! Yes! Make it your custom… make church going, your usual.

But you look at this Luke passage and see the results? Why would Jesus want this!? Why would you or I want to expose ourselves to such behavior?

First off… Jesus made it perfectly clear with an Old Testament reading that He was the power of God on earth. The power of God sent in Jesus in the love of God for us… ALL of us! This was the power of God that brings good news to the poor, liberty to the oppressed and sight to the blind. This was the power of God that moves to us and in us and through us … TO… ALL people.

Yes, Jesus as God was present in that synagogue then and in our churches today. Jesus’ presence to heal the broken-hearted and give sight to the blind.

Yet, Jesus didn’t want people to be drawn to Him for only physical healing alone. No! Jesus wanted their minds AND souls set free. The gift that Jesus’ proclaimed to those gathered in the synagogue and the churches today IS that God has been and IS near to mankind, in the synagogue and in the churches today.

As we go “as our custom” or “as usual” to church, we look to God and see Jesus. Really see and hear Jesus in Word and Sacrament. God comes to us in the body and the blood of Jesus, in, with, and under the bread and the wine. God comes to us through Word, Promise and the waters of our baptism.  And it’s here, in church, that we look to God and see our neighbor’s souls. It’s here in church that we hear of Jesus’ release of the captive. It’s here in our common confession of our sin, when we give up on our own selfish will, to protect ourselves, and become glad to surrender and release our own will, TO God and TO neighbor.

So, what was the deal with these synagogue folks, these hometown folks of Jesus that upset them so much to want to kill Jesus right then and there?

Well, first off, they knew Jesus as a child. They knew Jesus, and they wanted some clear proof that Jesus was truly God. Sure, Jesus could say He was God through Old Testament scripture, BUT… where’s the proof! Come on Jesus, show us a miracle or give us a cure!

But instead, Jesus gave them examples from Elijah and Elisha, where God came to Gentiles. Gentiles… outsiders… people NOT of this synagogue. Perhaps today we might think of people outside of the wonderful Christian “like” people. Jesus gave examples of God coming to heal and save “those” other people. How disgusting!

The people were upset with Jesus’ teaching of “Grace” that reaches the Gentiles as well as the Jews… in other words… Grace that reaches all mankind.

Be careful that our own privilege as disciples, does not push away other people as intolerable. That’s selfish pride. Remember… You too are a Gentile!

And the attitude of the people went from praise to disbelief in Jesus.

“Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.

The question actually points to hostility… NOT… surprise.

Sometimes there are things that come on unexpected.

So, what’s the point? The prophets Elijah and Elisha ministered to non-Jews also. God comes to ALL of us, not just a chosen few, or the people who declare themselves to be good in the sight of God. Nope! God reaches out with His Grace and love in Jesus to ALL. Yes, all, even a dirty thief hanging on a cross next to Him, even my own sinful self as well as your own dirty sinful self.

And the people of Jesus’ hometown were angry. The people of Jesus’ hometown were filled with wrath, with the thought that the gifts and benefits of Jesus’ new ministry would go to those filthy, dirty, sinful, Gentiles too.

Yet, think back earlier in this reflection; this rejection of Jesus by His own hometown people prepared Him, and us, for the rejection of Jesus by the Sanhedrin… religious leaders, the Jewish nation. Yes, the rejection of God’s gift of the Gospel of freedom from sin and death through Jesus saving Grace.

You see, salvation is for both Jew and Gentile… for ALL mankind.

In the words of Paul… from the book of the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 28:28 NIV

²⁸ “Therefore I want you to know that God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!”

There are things that come on unexpected. Things we really can’t foresee or foretell. Things that just don’t jive with the way we think the world should work. Things that happen way out of our own plans. There are things that come on unexpected that we are left to deal with that we would rather not deal with. Unexpected things that break into our world.

But, remember… Jesus will give us the Grace and love to walk right through that valley of death to something new, something great, something that will bring us the unity with God and one another in eternity, as we praise God and Jesus in love. One for another and all for God.

There are thinks that come on unexpected… yet God has it. God has it all figured out… today… tomorrow… and forever. Thanks be to God!

As I reflect on Jesus’ walking away from that wrath filled crowd, this YouTube music came to mind. It also reminds me of something much closer as well…

“Into Marvelous Light I’m Running”

Into Marvelous Light I'm Running

God bless you this week and always… Bill

Joy - John 2:1-11 - Second Week of Epiphany

 

John 2:1-11 NIV

2 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, ² and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. ³ When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”

⁴ “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”

⁵ His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”

⁶ Nearby stood six stone water jars, the kind used by the Jews for ceremonial washing, each holding from twenty to thirty gallons.

⁷ Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim.

⁸ Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.”

They did so, ⁹ and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew. Then he called the bridegroom aside ¹⁰ and said, “Everyone brings out the choice wine first and then the cheaper wine after the guests have had too much to drink; but you have saved the best till now.”

¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Joy

Another week has passed. With this reflection, I find myself having thought about, studied, and taught from God’s Word. May His Word fill the air, and not mine. May this reflection Point to Jesus, I pray.

What stands out and shouts out the loudest to me in this first of a sequence of seven miracles of Jesus, is a grand display of Jesus’ glory and the joy involved in and throughout this wedding celebration. All seven miracles point to, and reveal Christ’s glory.

Prior to this passage of the Wedding Feast Miracle, Jesus came from being tempted by Satan in the wilderness. In the wilderness, Satan tempted Jesus to use Jesus’ own powers to satisfy Jesus’ own needs. But, in this first miracle, Jesus isn’t concerned with His own needs, no, He is concerned with the needs of others. And, by extension in time, Jesus is concerned for our needs as well.

Jesus love for all, is a love of joy. Jesus wants to bring joy to the people at the wedding feast and to us today. Yes, this first miracle of Jesus, was an introduction of a religion of Joy.

There is Joy in turning water into wine. So, Jesus’ command to fill the jars to the brim, was an action that the servants could do, at the command of Jesus. And as the water filled jars are drawn out for the testing taste of the master of the banquet, he tastes more that just water. The master of the banquet tastes the fruit of Jesus first miracle… Wine.

Isn’t this ironic? For later in Jesus’ ministry, He would have us taste Jesus’ wine, His blood, His life-giving grace for all the world. Yes, as we taste the wine, we taste Jesus’ blood and salvation.

But, don’t get too hung up, as is easy, on water and wine. This miracle begins a display of pointing to Jesus and His glory.

Sometimes, in Scripture, there seems to be little reminders of God’s grace planted. Look back at the beginning of this passage. “On the third day…”

Talk about Joy… Joy comes on the third day as we project forward to Jesus’ resurrection from the dead.

Sometimes it’s also easy to read something into the way Jesus speaks to His mother. As Jesus speaks to His mother, He calls her “woman.” Well, today, we may confuse this with some level of disrespect. But, that’s not really the case. In Jesus day, this title was a term of respect. In fact, some other interpretations say, “dear woman.”  Yet, this same expression is used later on by Jesus at the cross, and this title is a form of respect.

John 19:25-27 NIV

²⁵ Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman, here is your son,” ²⁷ and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this disciple took her into his home.

I’m convinced that Jesus highly respected all the women in His life, especially His own mother.

Then Jesus questions Mary that His hour had not yet come. Well, talk about a show of respect for His mother! As I reflected on this question, it seemed to me that surely, Jesus knew about the “hour” He was speaking of, and He was aware of His approaching crucifixion, death and resurrection, yet Jesus listened to His mother’s request to take action at this joyous occasion.

Now, let’s look at these water jars. These jars were some really big jars, that were used for ceremonial washing. Ceremonial washing from the Law of God, an Old Testament thing. And Old Testament thing that was there as a demonstration of God’s power.

Yet, now, as these jars are filled with water to the brim, at the command of Jesus, comes New Wine. Jesus is this New Wine of salvation in His blood. Salvation in the blood of Jesus that rises out of the cleansing waters of baptism. Yes, my baptism, and your baptism as well. We rise out of the waters of our baptism each and every day, as we die to our sins, receive forgiveness, and live New lives in and through Jesus’ blood, and the power of the Holy Spirit.

As we learned in earlier “Pointing to Jesus” reflections, God reverses things. And in this New wine, there is a LARGE amount! Yes, Jesus provides not only gloriously, joyfully, but abundantly as well.

This first miracle of Jesus in His sequence of seven miracles has a three-way climax of sorts. First, Jesus gives to all the world a concrete sign of love and joy. Jesus shows His glory for all to see, taste and take in. And finally, for Jesus’ disciples then and today, He gives us Faith.

¹¹ What Jesus did here in Cana of Galilee was the first of the signs through which he revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

Seeing Jesus glory and the joy he gives, his disciples then and throughout time believed in Him.

Disciples and Servants of God… Used by Jesus in His glory. You and I too, are called by Jesus to tell of His glory in our own lives. We each and we all have a story to tell of God’s grace in our lives.

Jesus enters into our troubles, into our lives, and enriches us with New Life, with New Wine. Jesus comes to us with His full intensity right in the midst of our own tragedies, to bring Joy and Life, today… tomorrow… and forever!

Let us pray,

Lord, open our eyes to the Joy you give each and every day. We walk happy lives with You as You build us up. For each day, Your Spirit is active in the gifts that you give to Your people. May we use these gifts to build up our neighbor and bring glory to You. --- Amen

I leave you with this YouTube music video that reminds me of this passage of scripture…

“Our God”

"Our God"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iO-qvwgTq2Q

A Flash and Then Thunder - Luke 3:15-22 - The Baptism of Our Lord

 

Luke 3:15-22 NIV

¹⁵ The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Messiah. ¹⁶ John answered them all, “I baptize you with water. But one who is more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” ¹⁸ And with many other words John exhorted the people and proclaimed the good news to them.

¹⁹ But when John rebuked Herod the tetrarch because of his marriage to Herodias, his brother’s wife, and all the other evil things he had done, ²⁰ Herod added this to them all: He locked John up in prison.

²¹ When all the people were being baptized, Jesus was baptized too. And as he was praying, heaven was opened ²² and the Holy Spirit descended on him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.”

A Flash and Then Thunder

We’ve been here before. I can tell from the highlights in the Bible and the study texts that I use to study this Gospel message. We’ve been here before, over and over and over again. Yes, we’ve been here before.

In this passage, John the Baptist introduces Jesus and God’s Voice punctuates Jesus’ beginning ministry. This is amazing stuff here. And yes, in this amazing stuff, we must realize, that, we’ve been here before.

Heaven opens up, the Holy Spirit assumes the body of a dove, and a Voice from heaven, declares Jesus as the Son of the Father. Yep! We’ve been here before. We’ve been here before, not only in this passage of Scripture, over and over, but in many passages of God’s Word throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. We’ve been here before.

And notice… this is easily missed… Jesus was praying before heaven was opened.

Do you wonder what Jesus was praying about? Jesus always seems to be praying. And here, before the heaven opens, Jesus is praying.

We’ve been here before. How many times do you read in Scripture how Jesus prays. He even gives us some instruction on how to pray. Yep! We’ve been here before.

And then… and then… the Holy Spirit descends in the form of a Dove and equips Jesus for His ministry.

All the baptized, should see, here how the Holy Spirit, descended upon you or me, as adult or child, to equip us for God’s ministry in our lives. Lives eternal. Yep! We’ve been here before. Over and over, God’s disciples, have been here before.

So, what’s “A Flash and Then Thunder” have to do with any of this?

I can’t help but to be reminded of Lightening and Thunder. When I get on my radio to listen and send CW messages, sometimes, especially during the summer months, I can hear very distant cracks of noise. Yes, this is distant cracks of lightening and thunder bouncing off of our ionosphere in radio frequency noises. Crack, and crackle, over and over again. Messages sent through messages sent. As I listen for another CW message from a friend, I hear over and over the crackles of noise. Noise that reminds me, that I’ve heard this before, over and over. A crackle that interrupts my listening and sometimes draws my attention completely away from the CW message I am trying to understand.

John the Baptist was trying to send a crackle of a message to all the world that someone greater than he was coming. A crackle of a message that we need to turn from our sinfulness and prepare ourselves to witness something new and amazing. John’s message crackled through the air, interrupting any and everything else, at that time, and even today. John’s Lightening and Thunder introduced fear with a message of repentance and coming salvation.

But John’s Crackle and Thunder didn’t come exactly like he or the world expected. John’s introduction of a new Crackle and Thunder, didn’t come in a way that the world expected. That Flash and Lightening, didn’t quite come like a King David, to take over all the governments of the day and right all the wrongs of this world with power and might. Well, not like what mankind expected.

We’ve been here before. Jesus’ Flash and Thunder came to this world in a much different way. Jesus, the man who did not sin, was baptized with John’s baptism of repentance and turning from sin. Well, what sin? What sin did Jesus have or commit?

And then there’s that Flash and Thunder of God. You see, Jesus took on our sin and became our sin. Flash and Thunder! Heaven opens, a dove descends and the Thunder of God’s Voice announces this Jesus’ as His one and only Son. Yes, God sent His Son into this world with a Flash and Thunder, of sorts, to save mankind from the curse of sin and death and eternal separation from God.

In God’s Flash and Thunder, in God’s ear-piercing crackles over the eternal air waves, minds and hearts turn to God. Mankind is captured in the fascination of God’s salvation. Life as God would have it, not as mankind thinks life should be. A Flash and Thunder that brings to earth God’s purpose in life. God’s gift of a direct relationship with Him through the Fellowship of God’s own Son, here and now. God’s crackle and Flash and Thunder teaches us how to live together with God and each other.

Yes, that crackle, that Flash of Light, that vision of Jesus grace in death, coming patient and gradual to the Cross. Death in an amongst much prayer. Just like we experience death in our baptismal waters, as we go under to be raised to New Life with God and have our very own Dove descend on us to bring us through life, to death and to eternal life with, and in God.

A crackle, a Flash, a Thunder of the voice of God, sent to all mankind, in Jesus, to illuminate REAL power. Not like the power of earthly men, but the REAL power of love and grace of God through Jesus’ life, ministry, healing, suffering, death and resurrection.

That’s the Flash… the Thunder… the Crackle that overpowers all other words in this world, that I’m talking about.

See the Flash, hear the Crackle, hear the Thunder… Know that Heaven has opened up to you and me and a Dove has descended upon this world and you and I, as well… In Jesus’ baptism and in your baptism, we have died and rose again to something else.

Matthew 27:50-53 NIV

⁵⁰ And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.

⁵¹ At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split ⁵² and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. ⁵³ They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.

Can you hear the Crackle, see the Flash, listen to the Thunder. May Jesus overwhelm your soul with new life in Him… today… tomorrow… and forever.

Let’s Pray,

Lord, You are with me through everything. All that this life brings, You are there too. May I listen to the Thunder and see the Flash of Light; that I may be dead to sin and alive forever through Christ. --- Amen

Wow! Look at this YouTube Video --- Read the words, look at the images, and think about this passage of Scripture on the Baptism of Our Lord and you as well.

In Christ Alone

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C77pE9-V0vU

“In Christ Alone”

Astonished - Luke 2:40-52 - Second Sunday of Christmas

 

Luke 2:40-52 NIV

⁴⁰ And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was on him.

⁴¹ Every year Jesus’ parents went to Jerusalem for the Festival of the Passover. ⁴² When he was twelve years old, they went up to the festival, according to the custom. ⁴³ After the festival was over, while his parents were returning home, the boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem, but they were unaware of it. ⁴⁴ Thinking he was in their company, they traveled on for a day. Then they began looking for him among their relatives and friends. ⁴⁵ When they did not find him, they went back to Jerusalem to look for him. ⁴⁶ After three days they found him in the temple courts, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. ⁴⁷ Everyone who heard him was amazed at his understanding and his answers. ⁴⁸ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”

⁴⁹ “Why were you searching for me?” he asked. “Didn’t you know I had to be in my Father’s house?” ⁵⁰ But they did not understand what he was saying to them.

⁵¹ Then he went down to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. But his mother treasured all these things in her heart. ⁵² And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.

Astonished!

A little bit of background will help with this passage of Scripture to begin with. At least it helped me.

First of all, a time-line. For me, it was easy to get confused of the events in Jesus’ life up to this point. So here is a time-line with the help of Unger’s Bible Handbook:

·       Jesus is born in Bethlehem

·       8 days old Jesus is circumcised

·       33 days after this Jesus is presented in the Temple --- this was last week’s reflection

·       At around 1 year of age three events occur

o   Magi visit

o   Mary/Joseph/Jesus flee to Egypt

o   Children are murdered in Bethlehem

·       At around 2 to 3 years of age – Jesus, Mary, and Joseph return to Nazareth

·       When Jesus was 12 years old – Jesus along with Joseph and Mary and a clan of Jewish believers visit Jerusalem – Probably for Passover --- and Jesus stays behind --- 3 days total --- hmmm!

·       From Jesus age of 12-30 years there is silence --- there were books written about Jesus’ childhood – But all the resources I found said the stories were somewhat ridiculous --- I’ll leave that up to your own study and your own determination

 

Some additional background will help as well:

From my studies – I learn that missing Jesus on the journey back was not that big a deal – the people traveled in groups for safety and fellowship – So, children likely played together – It was common for the parents not to meet up with their children until the end of the day – typically called the “evening roundup” – So -Mary and Joseph didn’t think anything of not seeing Jesus for the day.

And… Jesus was 12 years old. This was when a Jewish boy was prepared, or trained, for adult status in the Jewish community.

Also… I found an “Easter Egg” hidden in this passage, at least for me. This came as a surprise to my understanding of God’s work.

Here is my Easter Egg…

·       Joseph and Mary find out Jesus is missing on the evening of the first day

·       On the Second day, Joseph and Mary retrace their step looking for Jesus

·       Then on the morning of the third day, they find Jesus in the Temple

 

·       I can’t help but to recall Jesus’ crucifixion and burial on the evening of the first day – Good Friday

 

·       Jesus in the tomb on the Second Day

 

·       And Jesus resurrection of the morning of the Third Day

 

Is there deeper meaning to this? For me yes, perhaps for you as well. I’ll leave that to your own reflection and prayer.

What surprised me the most about this short passage of Scripture is the Joy involved. Yes, this passage inspired me to new joy. New joy in God’s Word through the joy of Jesus that I came to realize.

Another link of this passage to the Old Testament, Samuel and Hannah stories occurs here as well. Let’s dive into that for a little inspiration…

1 Samuel 3:1-10 NIV

3 The boy Samuel ministered before the Lord under Eli. In those days the word of the Lord was rare; there were not many visions.

² One night Eli, whose eyes were becoming so weak that he could barely see, was lying down in his usual place. ³ The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was lying down in the house of the Lord, where the ark of God was. ⁴ Then the Lord called Samuel.

Samuel answered, “Here I am.” ⁵ And he ran to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

But Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.” So he went and lay down.

⁶ Again the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

“My son,” Eli said, “I did not call; go back and lie down.”

⁷ Now Samuel did not yet know the Lord: The word of the Lord had not yet been revealed to him.

⁸ A third time the Lord called, “Samuel!” And Samuel got up and went to Eli and said, “Here I am; you called me.”

Then Eli realized that the Lord was calling the boy. ⁹ So Eli told Samuel, “Go and lie down, and if he calls you, say, ‘Speak, Lord, for your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.

¹⁰ The Lord came and stood there, calling as at the other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”

Then Samuel said, “Speak, for your servant is listening.”

Do you see the connection? Both Jesus and Samuel were dedicated to God’s service. And both Jesus and Samuel ended up in the Temple to “listen” to God. To hear God speaking.  Both Jesus and Samuel have a call from God and a mission to carry out by God’s command.

And to take this in a bit, you and I too are called to listen to God; to respond to God’s love and to serve God and all those God gives to us in the love of our forgiven lives in an astonished joy and freedom that only God, through and in Jesus can give to us. Think that through a bit, and like Mary and Joseph, and Hannah, and Elizabeth, and Zachariah, and John the Baptist, and the disciples and all God’s people… internalize it. Take it in. Take it in like you take in the bread and the wine and the body and the blood into your very being. Internalize Jesus… I promise that this will astonish you!

God’s writings were close and dear to the 12-year-old Jesus. Jesus was in the Temple with the teachers and religious people of the day, asking questions and listening. Jesus wasn’t there to instruct, like some artwork seems to indicate. No, Jesus was passionate about God’s word and God’s Law. Here, Jesus has a happy, eager and open mind, along with a simple spirit of joy in God’s word and Law. Jesus had a desire to learn more and more and more.

In this passage, we witness Jesus’ joy and friendliness and cheer for learning. Yet, later on Jesus is given the title of “Man of Sorrows.” But Jesus was also as much, even more a “Man of Joy.”

And Joseph and Mary are “Astonished” by what they discover when they find Jesus on the morning of that third day.

And I’m astonished as well!

I’m astonished at the joy of learning the Word as presented to me in the Scriptures. I’m astonished at the joy of the gift of my baptism, as I am buried in the waters of my baptism and risen to new life with God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

I’m astonished at the joy of Jesus coming to me and becoming an intimate part of me as I take in the bread and the wine, the body and the blood of Jesus, and Jesus joins with me, yes, comes to me to give me forgiveness and everlasting life in Holy Communion.

I’m astonished by God’s action, when I read and internalize God’s Word through Old Testament and New Testament writings. I’m astonished when I hear and listen to God’s Word of Law and Gospel spoken to me through all the Pastors of my life, yesterday, today and into the future. Gifted disciples, steeped in God’s Word that I can ask questions of and listen to, all precious gifts from God.

I’m astonished when I listen to fellow laypersons, disciples and hear how God is active in their lives. Hear how God has called each and every one of them to be priests in God’s active Word in the worlds in which we live.

As Jesus was in the Temple, in His own astonished state of joy and passion, He listened and even as He was aware of being the Son of God the Father; Jesus was astonished by all that God has done, since before all things.

Yes, it’s all astonishing! I’m astonished, today… tomorrow… and forever. How could I not be astonished at what God has done for all mankind, in granting forgiveness, salvation for sin and death and everlasting life with God.

Astonishing! And that word really can’t be expressed in its entirety as to how God excites me day after day.

On the first day, the day that my sin was taken in by Jesus and that day that Jesus died with my sin and was laid in the tomb. To the Holy Saturday, when I go back to search for my Savior, in the sorrow of my sin, to that Astonishing Day when I see Jesus’ empty tomb and the promise of my own resurrection to come… I’m ASTONISHED!

Astonished by a 12-year-old boy, astonished by God’s Word Himself. What an example of passion and excitement in a call that was so tough, yet so necessary for me and you and all the world.

Thanks be to God! Astonishing!

I leave you with this YouTube Music video by Chris Tomlin

“Indescribable”

Indescribable

Photo --- Laminin - The Protein that holds our bodies together...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpLqAUJcUbo