Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-20) - Third Sunday after Pentecost - Hearts overflowing

Matthew 9:35-10:8 (9-20) ---(Please read link)

Gospel for the Third Sunday after Pentecost

"Hearts Overflowing"

Tell the story of Jesus. That's it! The Story will do it's own work. If people know about Jesus they will love him.

The characteristics of Jesus ministry is to Teach, Preach and Heal. These characteristics move beyond the body and include the soul. Jesus has compassion for all people. Jesus' motive is compassion both towards body and soul. A love for us here and now and a love to take us with him into eternity.

In Jesus we can find a compassion that means so much more than caring. Jesus has a compassion that is the pain of love. Jesus loves the "common" person because he knows the "common" person to be "uncommon." Uncommon enough that Jesus' compassion took him to the cross. This is a compassion in the pain of love.

In no way do we people, born into a world of sin, our own sin, and who die in our own sin, in this world of sin; deserve this compassionate pain of love through Jesus. But, Jesus loves us so much that he freely gives to us eternal life in his presence, both here and now, and forever with him, by taking upon himself our sin and putting it to death on a cross. And then... and then... he rose again in new life, promising a resurrection, with all who believe in him, to be with him forever, in perfect freedom and grace in resurrected bodies; perfect in his righteousness. Not our righteousness. but through him alone, will we be righteous.

But we are here and now. And Jesus chooses to use his disciples. Jesus' followers who believe in him rather than themselves. Jesus sends us to "Sow" the Word of God to all the world. We are Jesus' laborers or perhaps his farm workers, in this world in which we live. Workers sent to "Harvest" the field. The "Harvest" is often a symbol of the age to come. That age of eternity, in our own resurrection, as we live with Jesus into eternity.

Let's talk about disciples for a moment, working our way towards apostles. 

Disciples are ready to respond to the Gospel. The people of this world in which we live, are God's field in this illustration. People in this field of here and now, made for life with God. 

Disciples are ordinary people, but their greatness is in Christ. A disciple does not make a name for him or herself. A disciple lives out and through the name and works of Jesus. Disciples are diverse in temperament and gifts. Some disciples lead, some follow. All disciples need encouragement and correction. Together, disciples are like an orchestra, each different and vital to Jesus mission in the field.

Disciples are learners, and Apostles are sent out. Apostles are Disciples sent out into the field to harvest for Christ. Both are called to surrender their human pride and follow Jesus.

Jesus message does not stop at our lips. Jesus message proceeds from our joy overflowing our hearts in what God's grace gives to all the world. A sent disciple can't help themselves. God gives the grace of everlasting life freely to the underserving sinners who are disciples. As a result disciples can't help but to freely give God's grace to all in the field of the world in which we live today. Freely we receive Jesus, so freely we give to the world the grace of Jesus through us from Jesus. God's kingdom is only ours as we share it --- like in the field in which we live today.

As a disciple, we can't hug our salvation for ourselves. My salvation is not mine, My salvation is not something I earn or even gain by my own faith. My salvation is not from anything I do but rather it is a gift from God. In salvation the joy moves disciples to share it and give it freely in the harvest field of this world to anyone that would receive salvation's graceful love from God.

In this harvest field of God's grace, God gives all of us the universe to see with our eyes

AND

God gives Jesus for our soul.

Both are immeasurable gifts from God. See what God has done! See what God has done both for body and soul. We belong to God and God claims us as his own and loves us to death. God proved his love for all of us in this harvest field of life, God proved his love, especially for sinners, in giving himself all the way through, body, soul and into eternity.

So, as a disciple sent into the "Harvest Field," we trust God for the spoken Word he gives to and through us, that all may come to see the Grace of God in Jesus, to eternal life with him... today... tomorrow... and forever.

Hearts Overflowing - Thanks be to God!

Matthew 9:9-13 - Second Sunday after Pentecost - "In the Midst of Life"

 Matthew 9:9-13 English Standard Version

As Jesus passed on from there, he saw a man called Matthew sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, “Follow me.” And he rose and followed him.

And as Jesus reclined at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and were reclining with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means: ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

In the midst of life I look back and reflect on Sunday's Gospel. Sometimes it gets busy. Even at this moment as I come out of the fog of a couple of medical procedures, I realize, life gets complicated. It's the same way for most all of us. Life can get complicated, yet, as I reflect back on my past week's study of this passage, I can hear the voice of Jesus.

I take time each week to look ahead to the Gospel of the next Sunday. I read the Gospel each day and research, just a little bit, from Bible resources and commentaries. I listen to the Word spoken from the pulpit, from the pastor on Sunday. What I reflect upon here in this Blog, is just my thoughts and what I pick up throughout the week, and sometimes what I hear on Sunday. It all depends on when I write this Blog. My intention is to write ahead of hearing the message from the pulpit. But, sometimes I just get caught in the "Midst of Life."

I love that Jesus got caught up with Matthew in this week's Gospel, "In the Midst of Life." Jesus joins us in the "Midst of Life." Pretty much every day Jesus joins in with me in my life, wherever I happen to be, to call me, direct me, and most importantly, to love me. So, I turn to face Jesus. I face Jesus as the sinner that I am and listen. I face Jesus to be loved by him and to love him in return. I face Jesus with my sinful friends as we feast at the table "In the Midst of Life."

Jesus loved Matthew, a despised sinner, and called Matthew. I can relate to this love, as I too, am a despised sinner. Jesus cleanses Matthew and myself from sin and loves us. He loves us, not because we are good. I'm not all that good. I loves us because we are sinners and need him.

Matthew and I live by faith. Faith that God freely gives. I can never presume that my faith can save me. It's not about my faith. Faith is given to me and to Matthew and through this gift of faith, Matthew and I, and all the sinners at the Table of Life, can trust God to lead and guide us. We don't walk alone in this life. As we are "In the Midst of Life," we need a guide. And Jesus is our Guide, calling us to follow him. 

Jesus seeks out me, Matthew, and the group of sinners that I walk "In the Midst of Life" by my side with.  

Jesus treats people as individuals. Jesus has the cure for my sinful wickedness. Jesus gives this cure as a healing gift. A gift, to me, Matthew, and my fellow sinners, "In the Midst of Life."

I know my unrighteousness and turn to face righteous Jesus, and live in him. I live being fully convinced that God is able to do all he promises. I live to listen to God teach me good judgment and knowledge. I listen to Jesus Word... and return to face God in my sinfulness with a steadfast love that I see Jesus show me in accepting my as the sinner I am, yet loving me to death and new life in him. Not by anything I have done. My sacrifices are worthless to God. It's only through the mercy of God's love for me, for Matthew, and for all sinners, "In the Midst of Life," that we may live.

Jesus wants mercy not sacrifice. So, I'm called by Jesus to love in mercy all those God gives to me in this space and this place of my life. I'm called through the love of Jesus to emulate that love to the sinners that I live with "In the Midst of Life." I'm called "In the Midst of my Life" and in the "Midst of the Life" of those I am with to sit at Table, and Love as Jesus loves all of us.

As Jesus joins, me, Matthew, and you, "In the Midst of Life;" we gather in love with one another and in the love of Jesus to live out our lives... here... now... in this space... in this time... together.

Lord, thank you for loving me and all the sinners of this world. May we all live out your mercy and love together, "In the Midst of Life," today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

Doubt in Dirty Flesh - Matthew 28:16-20 - Holy Trinity Sunday

 

Matthew 28:16-20 (ESV)

Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted.  And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,  teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Oh boy! Doubt! How much I doubt! Doubt can haunt my soul. But I still doubt. 

This passage of scripture gives: 

direction... to the mountain... 

worship and doubt... 

authority... 

the Triune God... 

and Jesus' eternal presence.

It's the doubt that trips me up. I doubt! Sin clouds my faith. Faith that God graciously gives to me, not faith from my own actions or mind. Sin clouds the faith God has given to me and makes my eyesight towards God dim. Was the resurrection really true? Did I really see Jesus? Enter... DOUBT. I think this same doubt was with the disciples in this passage as well. And if all of us are honest about it... We all doubt.

In doubt there is something good however. In doubt, I am acknowledging the God exists. In doubt, I have already seen God. The opposite of faith is not doubt. The opposite of faith is cynicism. When I doubt, I actually have turned towards God. When I turn towards God, I pray about my doubt and God lovingly looks towards me and gives me faith. It's not my faith. it's God's gift of faith to me that counts.

And then Jesus gives authority to the disciples throughout time. It's not WWJD... No! It's WWJHMD!

What Would Jesus Have Me Do

So, I pray in the midst of my doubt for God to lead and guide me each and every day. What is the will of God for me in this life God has given me today. Lord do what?

And then the disciples, into eternity, are sent to share the joy of Jesus with all the world! In the daily goings of life share your joy of Jesus with all the people God gives to you. As you are going through this life, in this world of sin and death, go and baptize and teach the joy of Jesus.

We move beyond the Stone Tablets of the Law, to the Law made flesh and fulfilled in Jesus. The Holy Spirit moves us to give God's gift of Baptism, to Teach God's gift of Grace in the living flesh of Jesus, our new Law.

God gathers the disciples, new, old, and yet to be, in the power of God the Creator, Redeemer, and Advocate. God gathers people in the Baptism of intimate love in the Triune God. God comes to us, despite our doubt and sin, to give us this baptism of life in him.

And... Jesus is always present. Jesus is here, and with us... Living... not dead... Forever and Always.

Lord Jesus, as I go... Lead and guide me to the people you give to me in this place and in this time to share the Joy of you... the Joy of the Trinity in Baptism and Word... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen!

John 7:37-39 Living Water - Day of Pentecost

 

Day of Pentecost - Gospel Lesson

John 7:37-39 ESV
On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive, for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

What a great day, Pentecost! The day that God sent the Holy Spirit upon his people. A day for all disciples to keep our eyes focused on God. A day that marks the beginning of Christian witness. For so many, a day of Confirmations across the world where individual disciples declare belief in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. A day that sets our lives on fire with the presence of the Holy Spirit with us and in us. A day that we are gifted and made aware of all that God has done for us. A day that we realize that it's never about our own actions or dedication, but all a total gift from God. A day that we renew and revive our witness to God's love and grace and freedom of salvation to all the world. What a great day, Pentecost!

The Gospel passage for this Pentecost Sunday is short and to the point. I didn't even need to add a link to this passage. It is printed in full above. Some, context is appropriate. 

Jesus statement takes place on one of, or perhaps the last day, of the Feast of Tabernacles. So, what is that?

During the Feast of Tabernacles the people would dwell in booths to remind them of how God rescued them out of slavery in Egypt, bringing them through the wilderness into the Promised Land. There is much meaning held within the celebration of this Feast. One of the actions that would take place during the Feast was a procession of water from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple. You may recall Jesus healing the Blind Man at the Pool of Siloam. The Pool of Siloam was a key cleansing place. The word Siloam, in itself, reflects deep meaning in this passage, since Siloam means "Sent." I'll mention more about being sent later.

The Feast of Tabernacles and the Pool of Siloam were reminders to the Israelites of a time in the wilderness when water was drawn from a rock in a time of need and thirst. Pause and reflect upon a couple of words here as well... water... rock... Jesus is the source of  "Living water". Jesus is our "Rock." This is a recurring theme throughout the Scriptures, in the Old and New Testaments. In fact... Jesus is smeared all over the Old Testament in obvious ways, just look for him as you read through the Old Testament, with the words of the New Testament in mind.

So, as the water was brought from the Pool of Siloam to the Temple, the people would sing with joy, that you will draw water from the wells of salvation. Wells were gathering places for people to draw water and receive, salvation, and life, and quench thirst from, in the times of the Old and New Testament. Recall the Woman at the well with Jesus and her realization that Jesus was the Messiah, a source of "Living" water... salvation. She left that well with more than her thirst quenched or the animals watered. She walked away from that well, having seen the Messiah and taking in the Living Water of salvation.

So that's a sort of long way around to setting the time of year and the Feast that Jesus is present at for this Gospel passage. 

Now, for the Day of Pentecost. Jesus makes this brief, yet powerful statement prior to his death, resurrection and ascension. Jesus gives his disciples a hint of the pouring out of Living Waters from him through the Holy Spirit upon us. Jesus in these few verses gives a prophecy to be realized at Pentecost, the Advent of the Holy Spirit. Jesus tells us, in other words, that out of his gut, the very center of his being, flows "Living" water. Recall at the crucifixion, upon piercing his side by the soldier, how water and blood flowed from the gut of Jesus. Well, that reminds me that my sin is washed by the water and blood of Jesus. Living Water, saving blood. 

Anyone who is thirsty come to Jesus and drink "Living" water. As we are baptized we are washed and buried under water to arise anew to new life in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. We are given new life that we certainly do not deserve, nor attain by anything we do. We are given New Life by what God has done for us and now in us, and through the Gifts of the Holy Spirit, making us one with God. We are drawn into communion with God and sent out.

As God lives with us we gain faith. We gain faith, not from our own efforts. We gain faith by what God does for us and with us. And we come to believe in God. It's nothing to do with what my efforts or thoughts or actions bring forth. It's all, completely, about God's action towards me or you that we have a believer's heart.

Living waters, flowing through Jesus and from the Holy Spirit into my believing heart. 

Celebrate the Day of Pentecost. Wash in the Living Water of God the Father, Son and especially, this day, the Holy Spirit. And then Go! You have been SENT! Use this new life, not for yourself... but rather throw it away to others in the love of God, and the love of neighbor. As you walk away from church tomorrow, testify, witness and tell all those God gives to you, about the Source of Living Waters... today... tomorrow... and forever!

Thanks be to God for Living Water! --- Amen

Weight of the World Allowed Living Water to Flow is a painting by Melani Pyke

John 14:15-21 - Paraclete? What's that?

 

John 14:15-21 Gospel for the Sixth Sunday of Easter

Yes, it's still Easter. That wonderful time of year that we celebrate new life. New life in flesh and new life in spirit. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus as we look forward to that awesome day that we will be resurrected as well.

This past week I spent some time in North Carolina and had time to see, hear and smell, new life on walks by creeks, waterfalls and nature. The earth is coming to life in this place. 

I also had time to reflect on how, when I read God's Word, when I participate in God's presence in the Sacraments; I open my heart in prayer to ask God that I may hear and see what God has to speak to me and show me each day. How does God want me, to do his will, and hear his voice, and see his spirit, in me and through me. My ever living hope is that those God gives to me each day will see straight through me and witness God active in this place and time, and not see a tiny bit of me in so doing that. So, as I go through these reflections; the question still remains. What did you hear or see God speaking you?

So, here is my reflection on the passage listed above. Click the scripture link above and read and note what you hear God speaking to showing you.

I'm taking a different approach this time since the scripture is short. I will reflect what I heard and saw this week from within the Word. These are my notes or thoughts along the way throughout my week of study on the passage. Please accept them as my humble offering to you. 

15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 

Love Jesus and keep God's commandments. Maybe a better way to say this for myself is to keep watch over Jesus command to love God and each other. There is a sense of the Law here but it seems to me to be more a combination of Law and Gospel. To seek to keep Jesus commandments is to remain in Jesus love. The Law of this, points me to how I fail miserably to love God and to love Neighbor. 

The Gospel of this is, Jesus shows us his love in that he gave himself to us to bring us out of sin and death to new life in him. 

Sure, I sin. This world is full of sin, and for people to deny this in the world and in themselves is a delusion. It's a delusion that we can be born free from sin and just by taking responsibility for our actions, pay the price for the wrongs we commit. We can't do that, nor has anyone ever been able to correct themselves enough to make this world all better. Only God can take that BIG task on. And to think that we can take care of our own actions is a fantasy. We need God to "right the ship," so to speak. 

The Father through the Spirit became flesh in Jesus and entered our sinfulness to free us from our sin by becoming our sin, dying in our sin and rising to new life for us to rise in new life in him.

16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, 

In this "Helper" name comes the word Paraclete. The Paraclete is the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is our Counselor. One called to the side of, is a definition that I came across. Like a legal Counsel but so much more. The Holy Spirit or Paraclete, is someone to help us in relation to the world we live in. Someone to be with us in all aspects of our lives. We have the Holy Spirit with us forever. 

The Holy Spirit not only comforts us, but also rallies us to our feet to face life again, unafraid. The Holy Spirit is strong when we are weak and pulls us up and back to new life.

Jesus is a fleshly witness to God. Jesus came into this world as both a man and also God. Jesus came to a specific place at a specific time. People witnessed to the life of Jesus, wrote down what they saw and followed Jesus as disciples. That still happens to this day, but we don't see Jesus as he was seen at that time and at that place. There was the body of Jesus--- external God. 

17 even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.

Jesus left his disciples in flesh, yet graciously gave us the Holy Spirit (Paraclete), and we have now God's presence within us. We know the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is within us and with us. And the knowledge given here from Jesus is that the Holy Spirit will stick with us in our life's journey. Life is not promised to be easy. We will suffer all kinds of things in this life we live. We will mourn, be depressed, give in to temptation, become addicted, turn and run from God at times, attempt to save our selves, depend on false gods to bring us out of pain and suffering... on an on... yet... the Holy Spirit is by our side. Jesus sticks with us to save us. God really loves us. He loves us to death... his own in Jesus and our own in this world in which we live. But there is hope and a promise to those who stick with God as God sticks with us.

The Holy Spirit works into the external world through his disciples.

18 “I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 

Jesus promises us that he will not leave us orphans or comfortless, Jesus will come to us. God's heart is directed towards us. Each one of us. Why? God loves us. Yes! It's true. Jesus loves me this I know... For the Bible tells me so. 

God comes to us today, tomorrow, and forever. God comes to us in Body and Spirit. God comes to us in Word and Sacrament. As we look to God's Word and listen, read and see it; God will speak. And as we participate in and witness Baptism and Holy Communion; we can see God's presence in the water, the bread and the wine and hear the Word spoken and a promise of everlasting life in the presence of God.

19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 

Jesus makes us a part of the resurrection. Sure, we're going to die. Our loved ones will die. We will witness death and destruction in this world...

BUT

We will never be alone. 

20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 

We are part of the Resurrected Jesus. Jesus promises to be with us and return for us and take us from paradise to a New World to live with and under him in his Kingdom. It's a great promise of no more tears, pain, death or evil.

21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.”

As disciples in the here and now... we respond to the love of Jesus. The love of Jesus will be our own live with a new presence of Jesus. 

May the Holy Spirit within Jesus' followers, expand God beyond a certain place and time to all the world throughout all time. And may all the world see right through his disciples to witness Jesus, the Gate, the Door, the Truth and the Life and see none of us.

Lord, I give thanks that you were put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the Spirit. Lead each of your disciples out to a spacious place to live with you in the closeness of your love that we may love you and each other... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

John 14:1-14 - Who's in who and where is what and we're going where?

 John 14:1-14 (Gospel for the 5th Sunday of Easter... please read first)

You need a little background on this Gospel lesson. Jesus and his disciples are in the Upper Room where Jesus washed the feet of the disciples, Jesus tells of his betrayal and denial, by the very same men that he loves. Jesus is going ahead to his death and resurrection. Jesus is in for a rough time.

Last week was about Jesus being the gate. This week Jesus is the Way. Jesus death is also the Way to the Father.

Life is not easy for Jesus or for any of us when we face death. I hear from this passage God speaking a message. Once again a personal message, yet a message that applies to any one. If the worst in life does come, there is nothing to be afraid of, because, Jesus will find you and bring you to himself. Jesus will not leave you or forget you. Jesus is always thinking of you... Even here in this passage of scripture where Jesus is willing to take that journey toward the death that I deserve, for the sin I commit, to lead me through my own death to my sinful self, to life in and with God through Jesus and what he is about to face. 

Jesus speaks of his Father's house. God has dwelt with his people throughout time in houses, tents, boats, temples and in the flesh of Jesus himself. God comes to us to save us. God created a paradise for us and really wants us to live with him in paradise. But early on we had our own ideas and today we continue in our sinful nature attempting to save ourselves in our own ways. 

God saves this sinful world and dwells with this world and creation in a boat... or ark. The world is saved through this dwelling with God. God comes to the Israelites and dwells with his people in a tent, leading his people enslaved not only to hard labor in Egypt but enslaved in their own sin. God lives with his people in the tabernacle to lead his people to union with him in eternity. 

God lives with us to save us from sin, death and the power of the devil in order that we may be his own and live with him, and serve him, in everlasting blessedness, righteousness, and innocence, even as Jesus has risen from the dead and lives and reigns for all eternity. Sound familiar? See Luther's Explanation to the Second Article of the Apostles' Creed. Anyway, God dwells with his people and he came in the flesh of Jesus to dwell with us and save us from our destructive, sinful selves.

Jesus prepares himself as a house or a temple or a boat of salvation that we may rest with God a while and then as Jesus did, be on the way to the cross. We continue our life journey with God as we come to know the only true God.

Our union with Chris is the way of God, and the way to God. In Jesus we find the ultimate truth and the Way. It is through Jesus... the gate (remember?), that God brings us to himself and salvation and everlasting life with God. 

But here, as with Jesus upcoming journey from the Upper Room, we find also that the Way leads through death, the death of our sin, dies upon that cross of Jesus, leading Jesus and his people to resurrection and life. Jesus had to die. Jesus had to suffer and die so that he could enter into glory.

In this passage we find that Jesus is IN the Father... We are IN Jesus... and Jesus is IN us. 

Jesus is going to the Cross... the Tomb... to death... to resurrection... and to the Father. Jesus goes ahead of us to prepare a place (or a Tabernacle, House, Boat) for us. God wants life for you and me. Abundant, everlasting life.

Jesus came into our very own world that we may know how much God loves us. Jesus is the gate, the door, the Way to the Father's love. And the way to know God is to live with him. To live with Jesus.

Yes, Jesus calls me out that door to see for myself, with my own experiences and adventures with Jesus, to discover life with him in this world and into eternity. Day after day Jesus calls me and you to live now and forever with him.

My way and your way through Jesus door or gate is a walk each and all of us take. I walk that I want to take. A walk that I fear to take. A walk that leads to death. Yet... It's a walk I delight to take. Why? Because Jesus took this walk before me, and walks my walk with me, to lead me to him into a new world with God in everlasting life.

Open your eyes to the words Jesus speaks in this Gospel. As we see Jesus, we see the Father. As we see Jesus and the Father we see the Holy Spirit. As we open our eyes, we see God. Jesus leads us to himself in God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

And as Jesus is in us, his love fans out across this world. the Gospel of God's love for all the people is testified to, one by one. Each of us tell of living in Jesus and Jesus living in us. And it all comes from Jesus, the Way, the Truth, and the life.

It's almost like a Gospel/Law conundrum. In the Gospel, we see God's love and gift of life... why?... because we can't free ourselves from our own sin and death. We need Jesus to lead in the Way that we may follow him through our sin that he took upon himself to a resurrection like his. 

So, follow Jesus and live life in and through God, just as God comes to tabernacle with all of us in his wonderful house of flesh and blood in God,,, in Jesus... in the Father... and with the sustenance of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus prepares a place for us... in him... through him... and forever with him.

Lord, I follow your Way... your Truth... to Life with you... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen

John 10:1-10 "Can Billy Come Out to Play?"

John 10:1-10 (Please follow the link and read the passage)

This passage of scripture seems to jump out, like we're listening in on another conversation. In a way, it is like this. It would probably be better to read John 9 and then you would see that Jesus has just healed a man born blind and gave the man sight. Jesus healed the man on a Sabbath Day and the Pharisees were investigating the healing. The Pharisees condemned Jesus, and were upset with the healed blind man too.

With this passage, Jesus, apparently still speaking in the presence of the Pharisees, tells a parable to teach us all an insight into how God loves us. 

For me, the parable has many parts to it. Maybe, for me, too many. I'll start with the gate or door to the place of the sheep. Try to get away from the picture of a modern farm. Think more about a place in the open country with a stone wall built in a square with a gate on it. More like this:

Now this picture doesn't even show a door, but play with me here a little. Imagine a strong door or gate on this. Jesus tells us that he is the gate or the door to the pen. Jesus is the way in and out of the pen for the sheep. The sheep... that is you and I... can only enter the safety of the pen through the strong door of Jesus. Jesus provides all the protection needed from harm for the sheep. Jesus keeps all the bad stuff out of the pen.

Now if Jesus is the door or gate; there must be someone to open the gate. A gatekeeper that knows the correct Shepherd for the sheep. The gatekeeper can't just let anyone into the pen!

The gatekeeper only allows the correct Shepherd for the sheep into and out of the pen. The Gatekeeper must be faithful and likewise know the Shepherd. Now this, is where it gets just a tad confusing, but deal with it. Jesus is not only the door or gate to the pen; he is also the Shepherd to the sheep in the pen.

To the sheep, their Shepherd is intimate, affectionate and personal. The sheep hear the voice of their very own Shepherd and respond to his voice. The sheep know the voice of their Shepherd and they hurry to be with him. The sheep will not follow a stranger, rather they will flee from the stranger.

The real Shepherd of the sheep always uses the door or the gate to the pen to lead the sheep to protection for the night, and to lead them to pasture during the day. The Shepherd leads the sheep to safety and life through the gate or door.

OK so far:

• Jesus is the gate or the door
• Jesus is the shepherd
• Jesus guides the sheep
• The sheep know the voice of Jesus the Shepherd
• The Gatekeeper knows Jesus and only opens the gate for Jesus
• The sheep hurry to Jesus 
• The sheep run away from a stranger

So what? You can draw your own analogies, like who are the sheep, who is the gatekeeper and so on. I'll leave that up to you. 

But this is where it gets personal for me. Just ten verses of scripture reach into my core, my gut, my bowels and call me out, show me my sinfulness and show me a forgiveness and love that leads to life.

Maybe you can relate... maybe not... but here goes...

Jesus no doubt calls me and keeps calling me and misses me when I fail to respond. Jesus comes to my door each and every day of my life. And Jesus speaks to me. "Can Billy come out to play?" At a young age I had this very dream of Jesus coming to my door and asking this very question. There is more to the dream but this much will do for now.

I'm not alone in this calling. Jesus comes to his disciples each day and calls. Jesus comes to the door to guide me, and many others besides me to life. You only need to recognize that Jesus comes. God is faithful in coming to you and to me. God's faithfulness does not depend on my own faith. 

God is faithful to me even when I'm not faithful to him. It's not about how I act towards Jesus. That's not what any of this life or disciple stuff is about at all. Rather, it's about how Jesus acts towards you or me.

I and you belong to God and God comes after me or you. Even when I run to something else. God comes after me.

One time in my life, when I was running away from God, and hiding for all it's worth, because I was keenly aware of my sinful actions and how my sinfulness had an impact on so many people that I loved and care for; God chased me down. God chased me down with a message in lights for all to see, but it seemed the message was there just for me at that moment. The message? "God is closer than you think."

I was running away from God, but God was running after me. God was running after me to love me, forgive me, and lead me to new life with him. Jesus goes "before" us to lead, call and guide with patience and love. 

God became flesh in Jesus and Jesus knows exactly the sin and temptation that I fall into. Jesus knows me exactly. Jesus knows my sin so intimately that he died on a cross to defeat the sin that I give in to, so that I can turn to him, hear his voice and hurry to him.

When Jesus invites Billy out to play. He daily forgives my sinfulness and frees me to a new day in his awesome Light, to witness through him the peace that passes all understanding. Through this daily, worldly play with Jesus, is real joy and hope and strength. Through this door, daily I live with Jesus in real joy and hope and strength. Through this door, daily, Jesus shows me life.

And yes... at the end of the day... at least while I live in this realm of life. I come home messed up. I ran after some of the wrong stuff. I denied Jesus. I doubted Jesus. I betrayed Jesus. I crucified Jesus. How could I? But I did! And each day I kick myself for it all. I confess my failure. I cry on my pillow.

But here's the thing. The next day... Jesus is right back at my door! Can Billy come out to play? Jesus really meant it when he said on that cross... It is finished. He took care of sin for all time. Even as I sin each day, I'm not held captive to that sin. 

See! Look! There is Jesus at my door. My Shepherd comes to my door and I hurry out that door into this sinful world in which I live, free, happy, adventurous, and excited to live another day following Jesus into whatever or wherever he leads me, to play and have a great time. 

It is in Jesus that I have life abundantly. A door opens and Jesus leads me to life. Everlasting life. Life forever and ever.

Lord Jesus, I see you at the door... Billy, and many other friends, we are all ready to come out to play! For we hear your voice, we see your love and are ready to live life with you... lead us... guide us... and show us all, your will and your way --- today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Thanks be to God! - Amen

Luke 24:13-35 --- The Twilight Zone

 Luke 24:13-35 (read this amazing passage of scripture)

Imagine with me, if you will; traveling in daylight away from Jerusalem. You are walking along, confused about the current events that have occurred in the city. You are disappointed, and for sure saddened by the events that have taken place. Discussing all of this with a friend of yours. And the day is coming towards its' end.

Prepare yourself... for you are about to enter the Twilight Zone.

With your backs to Jerusalem you wondered about this man, Jesus. You wondered what had Jesus done about living by dying.

A man appears, seemly out of nowhere, and walks by your sides. You and your friend fail to recognize this person. How? This person was Jesus, perhaps your nephew or your cousin. But you don't recognize him all the same.

You tell Jesus all that you have seen and heard in the recent past in the city of Jerusalem. All so confused by the oncoming dusk, you can't tell if night is on the way out or morning is on the way in? Yet, you, your friend, and Jesus continue to walk down that road, out of Jerusalem.

And Jesus speaks. God deals with the human soul that is blind and disbelieving in amazing ways. In this half light and half darkness, upon this road; Jesus interprets all the scripture of old. How the cross, the Messiah, the Lamb of God, is smeared all over and through the Words of scripture. Jesus speaks the Word from the beginning of creation, and proves, through the Words, and the lives, and the happenings of things past, that salvation comes through his own very suffering, death. Jesus shows the defeat of sin on the cross. Jesus shows through the testaments and prophecies, that God has shown all along, a way that God will defeat sin on the cross and give new life to all creation, through his resurrection from the dead. 

As we walk into darkness, away from the cross, Jesus walks with us and shows us the need of the cross. A need that moves throughout the realm of time. The need of the cross in the time of this sinful, evil world and in the midst of all our own sinfulness. Jesus, through this cross, leads us along our road in the hope of new life beyond sin and death. Yes, Jesus walks with us in our darkest times, and talks to us about something else. Something else, not dark, not death, not the black blood stain of the cross, but Jesus talks to us about Light instead of Darkness.

In the midst of this road away from Jerusalem, away from the cross, in the darkness of sunset; Jesus appears to want travel further. It's time to stop in this darkness and take shelter. Jesus stops with us instead of moving on without us.

We break for food and rest. And then Jesus breaks the bread at the table, feeds us his very self and opens our eyes to his Light of a new morning. We were with Jesus all along on this road away from Jerusalem and the cross. It was Jesus who opened the Scripture to us interpreting all the things about himself spoken by the prophets. This is Jesus! And then... and then... he's gone!

So, we turn and we run back towards Jerusalem, we run back towards the cross. We pick up our very own cross that we carry in this road of life to testify to all the people that God gives to us in our life. We run towards the cross of Jesus, we run towards Jerusalem carrying our own life that is in Jesus' hands to tell of the Love of God made known now to us in the death and resurrection of Jesus. Given and shed for me, given for you and for all people for the forgiveness of sin... for new life... for new hope... leading us to our very own resurrection to come to live in glory with God our Creator and Redeemer in a perfect world.

Yes! Jesus goes with us in his life as we go to the cross of our death to die to ourselves and be resurrected to new life and live forever in this NEW life with God. 

As we receive his body... his blood... Jesus invades us... walks with us... and loves us to death... my death... your death... --- Then facing Jerusalem... I see my cross... my death... and yet also my resurrection. All because of what Jesus did for me and for you.

So... will you turn to face Jesus? Only he can open your eyes. Only he can show you a love so deep and so vast that his love extends throughout time. Jesus loves you forever and forever.

Step out of the Twilight Zone into the love of God.

Lord,

As I turn around and realize what you have done, I'm humbled. I turn from all of my own actions to save myself in my own ways, and realize that what you did on that cross was all that was ever needed. When you declared that it was finished, you didn't need me. But, you finished off sin and death for me and for all people. Help me to live in this world with the people that you give to me daily, to testify about your love and your gift of life... today... tomorrow... and forever. --- Amen 

My Lord and my God!

 

John 20:19-31 - Second Sunday of Easter

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2020%3A19-31&version=ESV

So what kind of proof do you need? What's it going to take? How are you going to either believe that Jesus rose from the dead, or declare it all a lie? You know, it's up to you.

In this passage of scripture Jesus beathed on his disciples and told them to receive the Holy Spirit. This Holy Spirit is given freely to those gathered that Easter Sunday. They could refuse to accept the Spirit. You also can refuse the Spirit. Many people will and do refuse to accept the Holy Spirit as real. Many people will and do turn from the Resurrection of Jesus and claim that it was all a made up story of a delusional people who refuse to admit that Jesus died and is gone for good.

So, what's it going to take for you to believe. How much proof do you need? Even the disciples were unprepared  to believe that Sunday evening after the Resurrection. They were hiding in fear of the Jews. And then the proof. Jesus comes to them from behind locked doors. How can this be? 

If you begin to realize that Jesus was present at the creation of all things; why would it be a stretch that Jesus could appear from behind locked doors. The resurrected Christ is no longer bound by normal space conditions. 

Ponder with me for a moment some words of Luther regarding The Promise of the Sacraments...

"... an object is circumscriptively or locally in a place, i.e. in a circumscribed manner, if the space and the object occupying it exactly correspond and fit into the same measurements, such as wine or water in a cask, where the wine occupies no more space and the cask yields no more that the volume of the wine... In this mode, space and object correspond exactly, item by item,

... The space is really material and circumscribed, and has it's own dimensions of length, breadth and depth."

Ponder those words carefully for a moment. Then think about the times you read in scripture of the Holy Spirit... even demon possession. Reflect upon spiritual passages. Think angels and stuff like that. You begin to understand that there must be something more to this "God" stuff than the material, objective things of the earth we live in. There must be more to God than rocks, grass, body, blood and things that take up space and volume. 

Here are some more words from The Promise of the Sacraments...

"This (see above paragraph that I wrote), I call and uncircumscribed presence in a given place, since we cannot circumscribe or measure it as we measure a body, and yet it is obviously present in the place."

Here comes the good stuff...

"This was the mode which the body of Christ was present when he came out of the closed grave, and came to the disciples through a closed door, as the gospels show. There was no measuring or defining of the space his head or foot occupied when he passed through the stone, yet he certainly had to pass through it. He took up no space, and the sone yielded him no space, but the stone remained stone, as entire and firm as before, and his body remained as large and thick as it was before... For as the sealed stone and the closed door remained, unaltered and unchanged, though his body at the same time was in the space entirely occupied by stone and wood, so he is also at the same time in the sacrament and where the bread and wine are, though the bread and wine in themselves remain unaltered and unchanged."

Jeremiah 23:23, "I am a God at hand and not afar off. I fill heaven and earth."

"All this I have related in order to show that there are more modes whereby an object may exist in a place than the one circumscribed, physical mode on which the fanatics insist."

That's some amazing thinking. That is a very interesting thought. God exists in another dimension also. God can be everywhere. God can also fill a space. But then again... God created everything. 

What kind of proof do we need to believe in the risen Jesus?

That first evening, the disciples were convinced that this was Jesus. They looked at his hands and his side. They believed! 

Jesus gives us himself and fills his disciples with himself and his Spirit in this uncircumscribed presence. The disciples testify to us that we may believe. This is the beginning of the church inspired by the Spirit of Jesus to spread the gospel. And not just a few people. Many witnessed Jesus. So many that they recorded it all for all time. There were other sightings of Jesus that went unrecorded. What we have is just a sampling. A sampling of testimonies, that we, today, and tomorrow, may come to believe in the resurrected Jesus. 

And then there's Thomas. What a testimony Thomas gives for us and all to come after us. A week later, the doors are shut again. No big deal for Jesus in his uncircumscribed, circumscribed world; Jesus appears and shows Thomas his hands and side. And Thomas displays the highest level of faith, proclaiming, "My Lord and my God!"

After all this... I can NOT NOT believe. I must stop and proclaim... My Lord and my God!

So... that recurring theme over the past few weeks takes place back then and now and in the future. Disciples throughout all time testify boldly to Jesus and the Gospel of grace as witnessed through the cross and the resurrection of Jesus. Disciples throughout time continue to testify and proclaim Jesus as Messiah. Disciples in their newly resurrected birth at the baptismal font along with all creation, praise the Lord. 

And, even as we fail in our testimony in and of ourselves... WITH Christ we will succeed in  the mission God calls us to carry forward. To attempt life in thinking I need to live for God, I will fail in my own efforts. I need Jesus spirit within me that I may live in Christ.

So there you have it. What proof do you need to believe in the risen Jesus? What proof do you need that Jesus took your sin and took care of it for all time? What proof do you need that through death there is life in Christ? What proof do you need to believe?

You can refuse Jesus' Spirit. You can stop and proclaim... My Lord and my God! 

It's up to you.

So, as I approach that Table, as I see the bread and the wine; I will recall that closed door and that stone at the tomb, and see Jesus in the bread and wine, his real body and blood, and proclaim...

My Lord and my God! ...today... tomorrow... and forever. Thanks be to God!

The Great Divide

 

Matthew 28:1-10... https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2028%3A1-10&version=ESV

Women went to the tomb of Jesus. Went to the tomb to see, to witness. They weren't expecting God's miracle of resurrection grace. The women did not expect to witness a transformation. They didn't know that they were about to witness a great dawn and a new day in the story of humanity. They just went to the tomb.

Likewise as I gaze upon the cross of Friday, I go to witness. When the sins of myself and all humanity were bare before all the world to see in the cruel death of a sinless man made obvious my need for a savior. I go to the tomb, to the grave of my sin each and every day and recount my sins and my need for a savior. I am a sinful man and need to see the grave, the tomb where my sin resides dead through the grace of Jesus who became my sin, and put the threat of death and eternal damnation to an end once and for all time upon that cross. Yes! I need to see that tomb, that grave, just like the women needed to see, to witness. I need to be convinced of the death of sin, my sin.

But to be honest… is that what I go to see? Or do I go to mourn what I have done to someone I love?

What do the women witness? What do the guards at the tomb witness? What do I witness? 

We all witness an earthquake. The very foundations of the earth quake just like the earth quaking at the giving of the law on Mt. Sinai. Just like the earth quaking at the death of Jesus on the Friday of his death. Yes, we witness an earthquake. An earthquake of God calling attention to another momentous event in the history of God's love for his creation and his created. 

Heaven meets earth in this earthquake of love, and God sends a mighty angel, a shining angel, a strong angel, a messenger of power, purity, and strength. An angel that rolls away that tomb stone to bare before all the world and all humanity an empty tomb. An angel that shows me, you, and everyone throughout all time, that Jesus has already risen in a body of glory, no longer subject to the natural laws that we all accept in our earthly existence. 

The angel strikes all with the fear of God. A fear striking deeply into our hearts leaving all of us in speechless awe. This can't be! This is impossible! This too must be a lie! The guards fall in fear, and the women pull back in amazement. And the angel, as angels from God always do, proclaims a new message to the women.

This angel tenderly and simply gives the news. Jesus is not here. See! I roll this stone away. Look in. Jesus is raised. Come and see. Come and see, look in, see where Jesus once dead and rested on the Sabbath. Jesus is raised. 

Witness a new sign of faith. Your sign of faith is not so much a crucifix. No rather it is an empty cross. Your sign of faith isn't any sign at all, but rather now your new sign of faith is the very presence of God and the absence of death. Jesus is not dead. There is hope here in this empty tomb, this empty sign of faith.

There is hope mixed with the nature of an empty tomb on this earth. There is hope in us that this resurrection fact, this tomb, this grave of Jesus, and our own very grave of death, will be no home for Jesus, or for you and me. The grave is not the home of Jesus, and will not, nor ever will be, the home of all believers who live in this new hope of the resurrection. 

In this empty tomb of Jesus, God presents to all believers life and immortality. See with your eyes this empty tomb. But how? How can this be real?

How can I, a sinful man aspire to the presence of God? How can I fulfill this destiny of the pure? I am not pure? I am sinful? See my sin! No! I cannot come into the presence of God! 

I can't, at least on my own power! I can't forgive the sins I have. Sin is against God. I can't cancel my dark past! I can't rule time! 

But... Jesus revealed God. Jesus revealed God in the wrestling of my sin upon the cross. Jesus proved his power over the death of my sin by this very empty tomb, this empty grave that I peer into this glorious new day. 

As I peer and stare into this empty tomb of Jesus, I witness the glory of my very own empty grave. A grave beckoning and calling me to the hope that all my sin is forgiven. My death is sure yet it is gone and I'm invited by my Savior to step outside of my grave to live forever in the presence of God. I'm invited into God's presence and made righteous through Jesus' action upon that cross and this empty tomb into which I peer.

Yes! That day long ago, there were two groups of people and both saw an angel. The women tell the truth to the world, and the guards tell lies about the women. The proof of this story is not in scripture. The truth is what brings change in the lives of the disciples of Jesus. He is risen!

The instant effect of the Resurrection was fear. But, Easter inspires a certain kind of fear. We live in an enclosed valley of earth. Easter takes us to new heights. Easter grabs us from our valley of sin and death and tramples on our sinful dust to raise us from our dust to the mountain of an eternal life with God. We pass through, in faith and hope, this graveyard of sinfulness to reach our home with God. We walk behind Jesus out of this tomb, this grave, to live everlasting life with God in Jesus. 

Along their way from the tomb; Jesus greets the women. How? Well… this is great! Jesus says "Good morning!" Jesus says "Hail!" Jesus greets the women with a customary greeting between friends. Ordinary words were on the lips of Jesus that take on an eternal meaning for the women, and for you and for me as well. Jesus greets all of us to a new day, a new way, a new life. Howdy! Jesus says to his newly redeemed people. Howdy, to my new day, your new day! Howdy Jesus!!!

Through these women… without the aid of man… Jesus comes… Jesus comes down… born of Mary… born of Spirit. Jesus calls these women and sends them. Sends them to tell, and tell they did. These women tell the world of something new and glorious. He is risen! Jesus is our risen Lord... our risen Word... our risen Savior. The event that  these women witness turned their blindness, my blindness, and perhaps your blindness, into a new mode of seeing. A sight that inspires an earthly love of one for another. A sight that inspires courage in the face of death. And and eternal sight of the Resurrection of the great divide in human history.

Thanks be to God for the empty tomb and all the hope that the resurrection brings for me, for you, and for all creation… yesterday… today… tomorrow… and forever!

Yes! He is risen! He is risen indeed! Alleluia!

The Power of God's Love

 

Matthew Chapter 26-27

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew%2026-27&version=ESV

This Sunday is Palm Sunday or the Sunday of the Passion. For me, it draws forth emotions deep and convicting of my sin, yet a personal touch of love for me and all the world from God. Take time to read the passage and prepare an extended amount of time to reflect with me the love of God through the saving grace of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Palm Sunday begins with a triumphant parade of Jesus riding into Jerusalem. It reminds me of the Feast of Tabernacles where the Jewish people would make booths of Palm branches to remember their living forty years in the desert before entering the Promised Land. It was around this time that Jesus’ rode into Jerusalem. Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead, so there was a mixture of celebration and glory for Jesus’ power among Jesus' followers and a fear of some that Jesus may supplant the rulers of the day and drastically change the religious order as well. So, during this day there was celebration and tension among the people.

Now having celebrated or feared the arrival of Jesus into Jerusalem, my emotions take a turn towards something deep that I fail to fully understand but love to ponder. So, here goes the recollection of Calvary, God's redeeming act of grace. 

Calvary reminds me of the Old Testament Israel as well. Calvary was another Passover of sorts. The angel of God would again visit his people. Not only the people of Israel alone, but also the people of all the world. There was another blood sprinkling on the doorposts of the earth. There was another Paschal Lamb and another Life given for the remission of all the sins of the world.

In this story, a woman comes to Jesus and anoints him with ointment. Expensive ointment. And Jesus appreciates her act of love towards him at this time. Jesus knew what was about to take place in the next few days, I'm sure, so this act brings forth to me something similar to baptism. The woman performed an outward visible sign of an inward invisible truth in this moment of time. Some in the room thought this act of expensive ointment to be a waste of money that could be used for something else. But, when Jesus dies on that cross in the next day or so, may no man say, "Why this waste?"

The woman pouring the oil on Jesus has prepared him for burial. What this woman has done for Jesus will be told through the world. What an act of love!

Now contrast the woman's act of love towards Jesus to the act of Judas. Judas sold Jesus into the hands of the authorities for thirty pieces of silver, a couple of hundred dollars, the price of a slave. Satan entered Judas and evil enters the scene.

Now, here, I don't want to pretend that I don't have a little bit of Judas in me as well. Satan enters me at times as well. It's easy for me to know Jesus at a deep level and betray Jesus myself. I exhibit demonic forces of greed, jealousy and pride. I'm sure we are all guilty as well. So, don't be all self-righteous. I need a Savior and you need a Savior. I'm a sinner and you are a sinner too.

Now, onto the subject of the Lord's Supper. My research points me to some debate as to if the Lord's Supper was a Passover Meal or possibly a meal on the day before Passover. I'll let that debate reside in the hand of God. For me at this point in the story, there are more important points that God has to make with me, rather than some debate.

 It seems to be that the Passover Supper leads to the Lord's Supper just as the Passover Lamb leads to Jesus the Lamb of God. Jesus dies on the cross on or around the very time that the paschal lambs were being slain in the Temple. And it was during the Last Supper and soon after that Judas would betray Jesus, Peter would deny Jesus and Jesus male disciples would desert Jesus.

Here once again, I am convicted of my sinfulness. I can certainly walk away from the Lord's Supper and in minutes, hours or some amount of time, and betray Jesus. We do not know the mixture of good and evil in us and I too may well ask as the disciples asked, "Lord, is it I?" Is it I that may betray, deny, or abandon? Lord, forgive my sinful nature!

Well, in the Lord's Supper I see how I live by signs. I see bread, I see wine, I see the body and blood of Jesus. I see bread that comes from a seed buried into the ground that springs to life and feeds me. I see wine that comes from the juice of trampled grapes that sustain me. Think about that statement.  I see an outward and visible sign of an inward and life sustaining grace. 

Drinking blood by the Jews was considered a sin. But here Jesus brings me his blood not as a curse, not as a sin, but as forgiveness of my sin. Surely, I should come before Jesus at the Lord's Supper confessing by sinfulness. And likewise, as well, I can walk away from the table of Christ with my sin swallowed up in praise for Jesus has pardoned me at his table. Through this Sacrament all people are brought again into the fellowship of God and forgiven. God brings us into a new relation with him and with each other. What a gift Jesus gave to the world this night through the Lord's Supper.

And after the supper? To my amazement. Knowing the outcome of Calvary and the suffering and death to come… Jesus sang on the way to the Cross. How I too have been gifted with music to sing my way through this life and into eternal life with God through the grace of what Jesus is about to do for all the world.

Now, to the conversation with Peter and denial. Peter overestimates his power of will in the struggle he will have with his soul. Peter believes that denial will not be something that can or would occur. I'm convicted once again here as well. I think I'm strong. I think that I can avoid temptation. Well, that just ain't so. I'm a sinner. Peter was a sinner. You are a sinner. No one is strong on their own. We can only find strength in the power of Jesus. 

Into the Garden of Gethsemane, we go. Jesus goes to pray and it seems the disciples go to sleep. An interesting thing about the meaning of the word Gethsemane. Gethsemane means "oil press." I'm sure Jesus felt the squeeze of sin in this place. All Jesus asks is that his disciples "watch" with him. There is no way that I can know the great sorrow that Jesus felt that night. Jesus suffered under the cup of a lonely grief for the sins of the entire world throughout all time.  All the world, like Judas, were rushing straight into the claws of sinful destruction and death. In Gethsemane, Jesus felt the darkness and wickedness coming upon him in waves of horror and death. And Jesus knew that he was the only one in the entire universe that could cleanse creation from that darkness of sinfulness and death.

Lord, forgive me! May I watch! May I see your passion and love and live into the calling you have for me. Forgive me, I pray for my slothful being. Hear my prayer, my great Companion.

And now comes the kiss. The kiss of Judas. And the desertion of the disciples. Why run and hide? The darkness of sin had overtaken these men. The power of the dark had its hold on them. Lord, forgive me when I run in fear and selfishness to hide from you! A Christian does not hide faith in the corner. I need to be open to the Truth. My peace is too often, peace at the cost of truth. My openness is too often proud and hidden selfishness. You see, the triumph of Christ is the defeat of the hidden nature of men and open to the Truth of God's peace through Jesus. Forgive me, I pray and lead me into the openness of your Truth and Peace.

Jesus now appears all alone, in the dark of night before the entire council of the Sanhedrin… religious mucks. This trial violates the very rules of Jewish judicial proceedings in almost every way. Caiaphas, the high priest, displays his disgusting lack of truthfulness. Truth meant nothing to him this evening, and the life of an innocent man was of little importance to him.

Ironically this night, Jesus' enemies remember the promise of a resurrection… yet Jesus' male disciples have forgotten all about that. Yes, the judgment of the evening… "He (Jesus) deserves death." Perhaps we should ask ourselves before joining any crowd or group... Why are we here? What's the purpose of this gathering. A crowd my sweep us beyond ourselves into good or even for evil. Stop and seek the Spirit to lead and guide before going along with the crowd.

Now Peter denies Jesus. Peter is hanging out in the courtyard as the proceedings are taking place before Caiaphas and the Council. Peter is tempted into denial. Temptation comes like a "Thief in the night." Temptation sneaks up and overtakes all of us. You, me and Peter are tempted. Peter's denial reminds me of how I too am exposed in the place of my sin. But there is something more here. Peter's denial and his subsequent confession reminds me that the last Word belongs to Christ in his gracious and powerful pardon of my sin.

Next, Jesus is brought before Pilate. Jesus was condemned by Pilate on the charge of treason. Interesting study made me aware that Pilate was seen or maybe more accurately, turned into a saint or a devil. One account, mostly Egyptian and Syrian, describes Pilate as an unwilling participant in the death of Jesus and innocent of Jesus' blood. Pilate is even seen as a Christian in his own conviction and the Coptic church has canonized Pilate. In the other (mostly Western) picture, Pilate bears full responsibility for the death of Jesus and is presented as an unjust judge --- weak-willed at best, evil at worst. He commits suicide and his corpse becomes home for demons.

Now when Judas realized that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests. What does repent mean? This one I'll leave up to you. Was Judas' repentance authentic? Repentance is a change in will, a turning around. Would it had made any difference if Judas had gone to Jesus or the disciples to repent rather than someone else like the chief priests? Would the repentance have been validated had Judas not committed suicide? Suicide wasn't a new thing to the Jews. Jewish tradition seems to excuse suicide and even suicidal thinking with Saul, Samson, Zimri, Jonah and others. I think that the decision of the repentance of Judas belongs with God not man.

So, Pilate comes down to this… "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" The crowd cries to let Jesus blood be on them. The fact is that everyone has some share in this deep guilt of the crucifixion of Jesus. Our hand washing as well as Pilate's handwashing does not make any difference here. The only cleansing that can come here for us and for Pilate and for the crowd gathered in that day, can come through Jesus’ sacrifice upon that cross that we send him to.

And then, if ugly were a description of mankind, it gets even worse. Thorns are twisted into a crown, shoved on Jesus’ head. Jesus is mocked and spat upon and whipped and forced to carry the cross to his death. "Hail, King of the Jews!" How disgusting mankind can be, me included! Everything was done to Jesus to make sure he was put to shame. But... the darkness of mankind is contrasted with the bright Light of Jesus in this moment in eternity. And what are we left with? We either crucify Jesus or we help him carry his cross.

Beneath the Cross of Jesus, in my sinfulness may I never shrink from sight. I am convicted of my sinfulness. I look up and see Jesus and realize that he can't even save himself from my sin. Jesus can't save himself.

In the darkness of sin even nature hides in shame at my wickedness and the wickedness of all men. I am convicted of my sin! Convicted right there at the foot or beneath the cross of Jesus. And all the land becomes dark. 

But… even though everything has forsaken Jesus, God was with him. God was close yet God was gone! You see, God was in Jesus saving the world unto himself. And Jesus cries!

Jesus dies in anguish and then… and then… immediately heaven and earth respond. The ripping of the Temple curtain possibly signifies that a new covenant has begun through which sins are forgiven by the blood of Jesus rather than the blood of animal sacrifice. And the earthquake and raising of the saints shows forth that the gates of hell have fallen. The power of death has been broken... now and forever.

How many dividing curtains ripped apart that day? Ripped from top to bottom. A new age begins. The final days are here! In the death of Jesus… it is finished. Sin is defeated. It's not about our action of overcoming sin, even the current sinfulness of the day. All sin is defeated... it may not be gone yet... but it is defeated...

 And the saints who have fallen asleep in their sin were raised to new life.

And then… just like has happened over the past couple of weeks… there is a big change… The Centurion standing beneath the cross of Jesus testifies! He testifies that "Truly this was the Son of God!" A confession of faith in God his Lord and Master. The man who killed Jesus was Jesus first follower after death and the first to proclaim himself to be a follower of Jesus, God in flesh. I likewise shout with all awe and wonder, as I pause here, beneath the cross of Jesus, "Truly, Jesus is the Son of God!"

Also… beneath the cross… are the steadfast courage, gratitude, love and conviction of the women disciples of Jesus. They are the ones that stuck with Jesus the entire time. Oh, what an example! Oh, what love! Oh, what courage it took for these women. Their helpless watching was not helpless. These women were the very transmission of the true faith in Jesus.

Jesus is buried. Even in burial, Jesus' disciple Joseph, thinking Jesus dead forever, becomes a person to proclaim the Gospel. Guards were sent by Pilate at the request of the chief priests and the Pharisees to seal the tomb. Their last act was to try and make the tomb Jesus prison forever.

Even here, I'm convicted. I try to lock Jesus in a prison of things, I set up riches, I look to science or medical discoveries, I make myself busy so that I can think I am the one to save myself. Men seal the tomb with war, greed, sex, and power to keep Jesus in that tomb. But none of that will work.

So, what's this all about? Man in his wickedness was not enough to defeat the power of God's love. Jesus is the incarnate God, and Jesus proves that it is impossible that death should hold him captive. 

Thanks be to God, who gives us victory through our Lord Jesus Christ… yesterday… today… tomorrow… and forever! ---- Amen… Amen… Amen!!!