Author: Dan Sharp

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

Scripture: I Corinthians 15:1-7; 12-28

Let me now remind you, dear brothers and sisters, of the Good News I preached to you before. You welcomed it then, and you still stand firm in it. It is this Good News that saves you if you continue to believe the message I told you—unless, of course, you believed something that was never true in the first place.

      I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles.

But let me reveal to you a wonderful secret. We will not all die, but we will all be transformed! It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. For our dying bodies must be transformed into bodies that will never die; our mortal bodies must be transformed into immortal bodies.

Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die, this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.

    O death, where is your victory?

    O death, where is your sting?”

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power. But thank God! He gives us victory over sin and death through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, my dear brothers and sisters, be strong and immovable. Always work enthusiastically for the Lord, for you know that nothing you do for the Lord is ever useless.

Music: “Messiah” Voces 8

“Worthy Is the Lamb,” Voces 8      (One of the top vocal ensembles in the world.)

“Hallelujah Chorus,” Voces8     The best I have heard so far.

“Messiah” part 3 Octopus Symphony Chorus

Prayer:

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.                                                                     

                                ―Jude, the earthly brother of Jesus

Friends,

I want to thank you again for journeying together these past six and a half weeks leading to this glorious day! I trust your daily time in Scripture has continued or become a regular habit of yours. Our goal is to learn to walk each day with the Lord and to spend time with him each day, not just reading but interacting in prayer. I also hope you’ve come across some new musical groups you can follow. Nothing is more glorious in music than the human voice. To those of you who passed the link along, thank you! Word of mouth and the internet is our only advertisement. I’m always glad for your feedback!  

The Lord be with you,

Dan

PS Watch for Advent to Ashes, Vol.1    (Amazon or Barnesandnobel.com  iTunes e-book)

dansharp9@gmail.com

©2025 Daniel Sharp

Lent 2025   Texts and Music

Scripture

Genesis 22:1-19, Mar. 17

Exodus 16:9-21, Mar.21

Exodus 34:1-9; 27-28, Mar.12

Psalm 77:10-15, Mar.14

Psalm 121, Mar.13

Psalm 130, Apr.6

Daniel 9:15-25a, Mar. 15

Joel 1:1-2, 12-17, Mar. 5

Jonah 3:10-4:11, Mar.7

Matthew 4:1-11, Mar.9

Matthew 6:1-4, Mar.25

Matthew 6:5-8, Mar.26

Matthew 6: 9-15, Mar.27

Matthew 6:16-18, Mar.28

Matthew 6:19-24, Mar.29

Matthew 17:1-9, Mar. 16

Matthew 18:1-7, Mar.8

Matthew 22:1-14, Apr.14

Matthew 27:27-38, Apr.18

Mark 11:15-19, Mar.19

Luke 15: 11-12, Mar.31

Luke 15:13-16, Apr.1

Luke 15:17-20a, Apr. 2 

Luke 15:20b-21, Apr.3

Luke 15:22-24, Apr. 4

Luke 15:25-32, Apr. 5

Luke 19:28-40, Apr.13

Luke 22:1-6, Apr.16

John 3:1-13, Mar.22

John 4:5-15; 19-26; 39-42, Mar.23

John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38, Mar.30

John 11:1-6, Apr.7

John 11:7-16, Apr.8

John 11:17-24, Apr.9

John 11:25-27, Apr.10

John 11:28-35, Apr.11

John 11:36-45, Apr.12

John 12:37-38; 42-50, Apr.15

John 13:1-20, 33-35, Apr.17

Romans 1:1-7, Mar.6

I Corinthians 15:1-7; 12-28, Apr.20

Ephesians 1:7-14, Mar.20

Hebrews 2:10-18, Mar.10

Hebrews 4:14-5:10, Mar.11

1 Peter 2:4-10, Mar.18

2 John 1:1-13, Mar.24

Music

“Abide with Me,” St. Olaf Cantori and Congregation    Mar.20

“Agnus Dei,” Robert Shaw Festival Singers    Apr.19

“Ah Holy Jesus,” Fernando Ortega and Quintessence Ensemble, Apr.15

“Amazing Grace,” Il Divo      Apr.5

“And Can It Be that I Should Gain,” the Brits SING!  Apr.7

“As the Deer,” Masters Chorale, Mar.28

https://www.youtube.com/watc?v=oYNNIUtQ160

“Be Thou My Vision,” Nathan Pacheco, Mar.29

“Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” Fernando Ortega   Mar.24

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b0FTKMYGZ4

“Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy,” Fernando Ortega    Mar.14

“God Moves in a Mysterious Way,” Deo Cantamus      Apr.8

“Go Down Moses,” Sam Robson   Mar.12

“Goin’ Home,” Libera    Apr. 1

“Goin Home,” Sissel   Apr.2

“Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” A hymn sing in England    Apr.4

“Hear My Prayer O Lord,” Purcell Voces 8    Mar.7

“How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,” Fernando Ortega   Apr.3

“He Watching Over Israel,” Robert Shaw    Mar.13        

“Holy, Holy, Holy” Audrey Assad, Mar.6

“Hosanna to the Song of David,” Cambridge Singers, Apr.13

“If Thou Wilt Suffer God to Guide Thee,” Calvin Alumni Choir, Apr.9

“In Christ Alone,” All Souls Orchestra     Apr.10

“I Need Thee Every Hour,” Sam Robson       Mar.11    

“It’s All About Me,” Rob Still    Mar.31

“Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” Fernando Ortega     Mar.10

“Jesus Loves Me,” Whitney Houston   Mar.8

“Jesus Messiah,” Gaither Vocal Band    Mar. 23

“Miserere Mei,” Tenebrae Choir, Mar.18    

“Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” Out of Darkness, Mar.22

“O Sacred Head Now Wounded,” Fernando Ortega, Apr.19

“O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus,” Simon Khorolskiy, Mar.25   

“Out of the Deep” Cambridge Singers   Apr.6

“Requiem,” John Rutter, Apr. 19

“Requiem,” W.A. Mozart, Arsys Bourgogne, Apr.19

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7LZ6gEh7yBM

“Ride On King Jesus,” Robert Shaw Festival Singers, Apr.13

“Salvation Is Created,” National Lutheran Choir, Mar.19

“Sanctus” from Requiem Durufle   Robert Shaw Festival Singers   Mar.16

“Steal Away,” Mahalia Jackson and Nat King Cole, Apr.12    

“The Church’s One Foundation,” Duke Chapel Choir, Apr.14

“The Lord’s Prayer,” Andrea Bocelli, Mar.27   

“This Little Light of Mine” Moses Hogan Singers, Mar.30

“To God Be the Glory,” Sissel       Mar.21

“What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” Alan Jackson, Mar.26  

“What Wondrous Love Is This,” Chelsea Moon with Franz Brothers, Mar.9

“What Wondrous Love Is This,” Robert Shaw Chamber Choir, Apr.16

“When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” Massed Choirs, Weston Noble, Mar.17

“When Jesus Wept” The Orchard Enterprises, Apr.11

“Sweet Hour of Prayer,” Radiance, Mar.15              

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph43J3pnBDo,

“Ye People Rend Your Hearts and If with All Your Hearts” Andrew Haji, Mar.5

PRAYER BOOKS

The Oxford Book of Prayer, ed. Appleton, OUP

Valley of Vision, ed. Bennett, Banner of Truth Pub.

Prayers Ancient and Modern, Mary Wilder Tileston, 1897

A Diary of Private Prayer, John Baillie

Eerdmans’ Book of Famous Prayers, compiled by Veronica Zindel

Celtic Daily Prayer, Andy Raine and John Skinner, Northumbrian Community

The Quiet Corner, ed. Shirwood Wirt, Fleming H. Revell

Book of Common Prayer, Episcopal,1979

Guideposts Prayers for Easter, Julie Hogan, Ideals

Some Thoughts

Had you or I been one of the believers in Jesus, this day would have been the worst of our lives. We had seen what Jesus had done with our own eyes. We followed him everywhere. We’d seen him raise Lazarus, heal blind people instantly, walk on water and so much more. We heard him say firsthand that he was the Son of God. He forgave our sin, something only God can do. He said the kingdom of heaven was among us. He rode into Jerusalem as king. Then everything went south. Yesterday they crucified and buried him. I guess we were wrong about him. Talk about being depressed. It was like a terrible mix-up.

     But think about it. What were his last words? He said, “It is finished.” But in our eyes, what was finished? He was dead; his life was finished. If ushering in the Kingdom of heaven was the goal, it surely doesn’t look like that project is finished. If I recall, there was another time when, after Friday, the sixth day of the week, God the Father used the same words. God said he had finished his work of creation and rested on the seventh day, the Sabbath and called it holy. But unlike the other six days of creation, God did not say “it was evening and it was morning” regarding this seventh day. Why omit those words for this particular day? How are these phrases connected?

     Likewise, the Son of God finished his work on the sixth day of the week and rested in the tomb on the holy Sabbath. But Jesus rose on the eighth day ushering in a new era as he paved the way for resurrection for all believers. God did not say “it was evening and it was morning” regarding his Sabbath rest, because we have yet to enter our final rest. We are still in the sabbath rest awaiting our Eighth Day and our future resurrection when Jesus returns to lead all people either to eternal life or to judgment (2 Cor. 5:1-10). As Paul writes in First Corinthians, “Christ was raised as the first of the harvest; then all who belong to Christ will be raised when he comes back.” We are currently in that Sabbath rest, awaiting his return. Then the Sabbath will have an “evening and morning” as we enter eternal life where there is no longer an evening and morning, but one glorious never-ending day.

     For the early church, Holy Saturday was a solemn day. Then at midnight, the believers gathered and held an Easter Vigil. There were four parts to this unique service: 1) a Service of Light in which Jesus was celebrated as the Light of the world overcoming darkness; 2) a Service of the Word in which the following passages were read outlining the entire biblical story from Genesis to the Resurrection; 3) a Service of the Water in which new converts were baptized; and 4) a Service of the Bread and Cup in which the Lord’s Supper was celebrated.  Read some passages from each of the nine sections. This is a good day for quiet reflection thinking of the Savior’s love for you as you read and for listening to some of the musical suggestions. Make this day a different kind of Saturday in preparation for tomorrow.

Scripture:

1 

Genesis 1:1—2:4a

Psalm 136:1-9, 23-26

2

Genesis 7:1-5, 11-18; 8:6-18; 9:8-13

Psalm 46

3

Genesis 22:1-18

Psalm 16

4

Exodus 14:10-31; 15:20-21

Exodus 15:1b-13, 17-18

5

Isaiah 55:1-11

Isaiah 12:2-6

6

 Proverbs 8:1-8, 19-21; 9:4b-6

Psalm 19

7

Ezekiel 36:24-28

Psalms 42 and 43

8

Ezekiel 37:1-14

Psalm 143

9

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Psalm 98

Romans 6:3-11

Psalm 114

John 20:1-18

Music: “Requiem,” John Rutter, Apr.19

“Requiem,” W.A. Mozart, Arsys Bourgogne, Apr.19

Scripture: Matthew 27:27-38

Some of the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into their headquarters and called out the entire regiment. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him. They wove thorn branches into a crown and put it on his head, and they placed a reed stick in his right hand as a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mockery and taunted, “Hail! King of the Jews!” And they spit on him and grabbed the stick and struck him on the head with it. When they were finally tired of mocking him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him again. Then they led him away to be crucified.

     Along the way, they came across a man named Simon, who was from Cyrene, and the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. And they went out to a place called Golgotha (which means “Place of the Skull”). The soldiers gave him wine mixed with bitter gall, but when he had tasted it, he refused to drink it.

     After they had nailed him to the cross, the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice. Then they sat around and kept guard as he hung there. A sign was fastened above Jesus’ head, announcing the charge against him. It read: “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” Two revolutionaries were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left.

Some Thoughts

This is a familiar heart-rending passage. It is stated in such a matter-of-fact manner. Jesus was hauled into headquarters and, notice, the entire regiment was called out. These soldiers had undoubtedly heard of Jesus and wanted to see him. They also wanted extra security no doubt. Can you picture a large group of coarse Roman soldiers insulting, mocking, and striping Jesus then giving him a scepter, the rod of a king? I can image all the things they said that are mercifully not recorded in Scripture. Jesus remained silent. I wonder if these soldiers became more and more off center as things progressed. They had crucified thousands of people before and I doubt any had responded in silence as did Jesus. The soldiers did offer him wine mixed with gall but Jesus refused after tasting it.

     There is such irony. In mocking ignorance, the soldiers wrote the truth on the placard, “He is King of the Jews.” And you’ll notice, once again, the thieves are two witnesses to the truth, even though one does not believe (Deut. 17:6). But one thief testifies to the truth and believes. One of the things that stands out to me in this whole passage is Jesus’ restraint and acceptance of the abuse in all its forms. Can you imagine having the power to destroy the mockers with a single word, and not only not using it, but saying nothing, not even “Do you have any idea who is in your presence, your Creator and the Creator of the entire universe?”

     What was Jesus’ basis for keeping quiet and not responding?  Obedience to the Father and an unmovable commitment to fulfilling his mission of redeeming the entire created order, not just people. This was the moment in the history of the universe that would change and bring transformation to the entire creation in eternity. Other than Jesus and his Father, no other being had a clue as to what was transpiring. Despite the taunts, mockery, ridicule, and sick curiosity of others, Jesus remained on course. God the Father, however, did speak through his action. The curtain in the Temple was torn from top to bottom, the earth shook and split rocks, tombs opened, and many people were raised from the dead and left the cemetery in affirmation and acceptance of the Son’s atoning sacrifice. That must have been a frightening sight. The soldiers quickly gained perspective in their words; this man truly was the Son of God. In reading this passage again, I’m quite sure we have little idea of the depth of Christ’s love for the Father and the Father’s love for his Son. The Triune God has made it possible for us to experience being loved far more than we mortals can grasp. What a gracious God we have.

Music: “Agnus Dei,” Robert Shaw Festival Singers

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6ilqJW3fV8&list=TLPQMjkwMTIwMjCrAh08LRSyCA&index=1   There are many recordings of this piece. It is extremely difficult to sing with very long phrases. Many conductors speed it up so it is easier to sing. This recording has terrific singers and Mr. Shaw lets the text determine the tempo. “Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.” This recording is also beautifully balanced among the parts. The music aurally paints the meaning of the text.

“O Sacred Head Now Wounded”       Fernando Ortega

O Sacred Head Now Wounded

            -Bernard of Clairvaux, 12^th century

O sacred head, now wounded,

with grief and shame weighed down,

now scornfully surrounded

with thorns, thine only crown,

O sacred head, what glory,

what bliss till now was thine,

yet, though despised and gory,

I joy to call thee mine.

What thou, my Lord, has suffered

was all for sinners’ gain,

mine, mine was the transgression,

but thine the deadly pain.

Lo, here I fall, my Savior!

‘tis I deserve thy place;

look on me with thy favor,

and grant to me thy grace.

What language shall I borrow

to thank thee, dearest friend,

for this thy dying sorrow,

Thy pity without end?

O make me thine forever,

and should I fainting be,

Lord, let me never, never

outlive my love to thee.

Prayer:

Today he who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross. He who is King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns. He who wraps the heaven in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery. He who in Jordan set Adam free receives blows upon his face. The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails. The Son of the Virgin is pierced with a spear. We venerate thy Passion, O Christ. Show us also thy glorious Resurrection.  

 ―Hymns for Good Friday, Orthodox

Please plan to attend Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services somewhere if your church does not have them. It will change your Easter Sunday morning!                       

Scripture: John 13:1-20, 33-35

Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end. It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

 When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”  Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”  “No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”    Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”  Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

“I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’ I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I AM the Messiah. I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

“My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come.

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Some thoughts:

If you knew you were going to die in the next day or so, what would you say to your family and closest friends?  What topics would you cover? I doubt you’d be talking about sports, the stock market, or work. My guess is you’d be telling your loved ones what was most important to you and how much you loved them. That you wanted them to love and look after each other and that you’d miss them, but that you’d see them again. That’s essentially what Jesus did in John’s gospel in chapters thirteen through sixteen.

     The material you just read is found only in the gospel of John. His gospel is twenty-one chapters in length and chapters thirteen through nineteen cover about twenty-four hours! John does not record the observance of the Passover meal as do the synoptic gospels. Foot washing is unique to this gospel. Here also we find the details of Judas’ betrayal and Peter’s denial being predicted. Chapters fourteen through sixteen give great details of Jesus’ conversation with his disciples during the meal. Several times in Scripture we are told that Jesus went away by himself and prayed to his Father. I’ve often wondered what he prayed about. In chapter seventeen is a marvelous opportunity to listen in on Jesus praying to his Father in heaven. Notice the content of Jesus’ prayer. The theme of glory occurs again and again, God’s glory, Jesus’ glory. We have a clear picture of Jesus shared glory with the Father before the beginning of creation. Jesus earnestly prayed for his followers as they are sent out into the world. In verse twenty we see that Jesus also prays for us and prays that we will all be united in the presence of God to experience his glory firsthand.

     I want to make an observation on something the rabbi, Jesus, did.  Rabbis had disciples called talmudeen, a small group of people who followed them around wherever they went and did whatever the rabbi did. They copied his every move. They left their homes, left everything and followed him in order to become like him. In this setting, the disciples’ rabbi, humbled himself and took the role of a slave. He knelt before them and washed their feet. Unheard of. A rabbi would never ever do such a thing. His talmudeen would wash his feet. Jesus was demonstrating personal humility and servanthood. He was laying aside every personal right he had. Do you realize he also washed the feet of Judas, knowing that within minutes Judas would leave to betray him?  What do you think was going on in Jesus’ mind . . . in Judas’ mind? 

     As many of you know, foot washing was part of my experience in growing up in our little Mennonite church. Though not shared by all, it is my opinion and experience that the practice of foot washing has tremendous significance and impact even today for many of the same reasons that it touched the hearts of the disciples so deeply. It is very humbling to have another wash your feet, and it is a great honor to wash another’s feet. I would encourage you to participate in foot washing if you ever have an opportunity. Email me if you are curious for more information.

     The apostle John did us a great favor in recording all these final conversations of Jesus. Over the next couple of days, take your time and read chapters thirteen through seventeen in one sitting putting yourself in the midst of the disciples. 

Music: “Ubi Caritas,” Ola Gjeilo, Central Washington Chamber Choir

The composer, Ola Gjeilo, is accompanying.  

                        Ubi Caritas-author unknown

                              ancient text for Maundy Thursday

Where charity and love are,

God is there.

Christ’s love has gathered us

into one.

Let us rejoice and be glad in Him.

Let us fear and love the living God.

And may we love each other

with a sincere heart.

Where charity and love are,

God is there.

As we are gathered into one body,

Beware, lest we be divided in mind.

Let evil impulses stop,

let controversy cease,

And may Christ our God

be in our midst.

Where charity and love are,

God is there.

And may we with the saints also,

See Thy face in glory,

O Christ our God:

The joy that is immense and good,

Unto the ages through infinite ages. Amen.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, you stretched out your arms of love on the hard wood of the cross that everyone might come within the reach of your saving embrace: So clothe us in your Spirit that we, reaching forth our hands in love, may bring those who do not know you to the knowledge and love of you, for the honor of your name. Amen.

                            ―the Worship Sourcebook

Scripture: Luke 22:1-6

The Festival of Unleavened Bread, which is also called Passover, was approaching. The leading priests and teachers of religious law were plotting how to kill Jesus, but they were afraid of the people’s reaction. Then Satan entered into Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve disciples, and he went to the leading priests and captains of the Temple guard to discuss the best way to betray Jesus to them. They were delighted, and they promised to give him money. So he agreed and began looking for an opportunity to betray Jesus so they could arrest him when the crowds weren’t around.

Some Thoughts

Betrayal is one of the most despicable acts one person can do to another. It is even more hideous because it is dependent upon the noble character of trust. Trust must be established for betrayal to be effective. Trust grows out of the depth of relationship, love, confidence, affection, dependability, comfort, admiration, gratitude, and serenity in the friendship. One act of betrayal destroys all these qualities instantaneously. The betrayer puts self and self-interest above the relationship in total disregard for the other person. If trust is ever regained, it is a rare, difficult, painful process.

     In these most difficult hours of his life, Jesus experienced betrayal from one of his followers, a man who had traveled with him for three years, a man he had chosen to be one of the twelve. Judas had experiences with Jesus only eleven other men had in the history of the world and he threw it all away. What makes the betrayal even more difficult is that Jesus knew who the betrayer was. Even in this circumstance, Jesus did not override the freewill of Judas and call him out on what he was about to do.  In honoring those he created, God does not usurp a human’s free will, and, in this case, even if it brings about his own crucifixion and death. That is love.

     What was Jesus’ response to betrayal? He continued in the course his Father had laid out for him. He did not get pushed off center by Judas’ betrayal, nor did he dwell on it, even though only hours later the other eleven disciples fled in another kind of betrayal. In Jesus’ case, there were more things of significance at hand, namely the redemption of the world. Perspective, friends, perspective. Jesus never lost it, even in betrayal. As painful, hurtful, and devastating as being unfaithful to a loved one is for the victim, Jesus kept God’s biggest picture in mind. God redeemed the situation at the cost of his only Son so deep was his love for his children. The betrayer received his just reward and justice was served. For the betrayer, forgiveness is always possible, just ask Peter. His betrayal of Jesus did not destroy his life.

     If you want something interesting to do, read I & II Peter in the New Testament, keeping in mind these epistles were written by a man who betrayed his Savior and repented and was forgiven. Peter was one of the leaders in the early Church. His past actions did not sabotage his life.

Music: “What Wondrous Love Is This,” Robert Shaw Chamber Choir

                                   -Appalachian folk hymn

What wondrous love is this,

O my soul, O my soul

What wondrous love is this, O my soul,

What wondrous love is this,

That caused the Lord of bliss

to bear the dreadful curse

for my soul, for my soul,

To bear the dreadful curse for my soul.

Prayer:

Father, the hour has come. Glorify your Son so he can give glory back to you. For you have given him authority over everyone. He gives eternal life to each one you have given him. And this is the way to have eternal life-to know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, the one you sent to earth…I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message…Father, I want these whom you have given me to be with me where I am. Then they can see all the glory you gave me because you loved me even before the world began!

            ―Jesus praying for us, from John 17

Scripture: John 12:37-38; 42-50

Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

   “Lord, who has believed our message

      and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”

Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

“As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

Some Thoughts   

“If I can just see it, I’ll believe it.” How many times have you heard that? It’s not true. We can see and still not believe, especially when it comes to faith. Jesus had just raised someone from the dead a short time ago and had done other miraculous signs in the Pharisees’ presence and still most of them would not believe. Did it also register as you read that some believed but would not confess their belief because of social or peer pressure? Believing and confessing go together. Action follows belief. 

     Notice Jesus was not influenced by anyone but his heavenly Father. He spoke the exact words his Father gave him and in the way his Father told him to speak. Being rejected did not change his message. He was on a divine mission on earth which was ending. I want to look closer at this portion of today’s passage.

     The connection between Jesus and Father is apparent throughout Scripture; to believe in Jesus is to believe in the Father. John underscores and important point in a Jesus and me theology world. I wonder how conscious we are in thinking of Jesus in terms of the Triune God. Our Father is the judge and Jesus is the voice of the Father to the people. Jesus isn’t the one who condemns, but his words can bring condemnation. People condemn themselves by failing to believe what Jesus said, thereby failing to believe what the Father said through his Son. In a nutshell the non-believer says that God the Father is not telling the truth. That is a tough position to hold. Jesus’ mission is salvation. The Triune God’s desire for everyone is eternal life. Every worship service should reference the Trinity and the roles of each personage of the Godhead.

     I find it also interesting that Jesus told us that the Father told him what and how to say his message. I would surmise the same is true for us as we listen to the Father. Jesus never went out on his own and improvised but was submissive to his Father. There is more to Christianity than Jesus and me. We worship a triune God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. This passage reminds us of the dynamic relational dimension of the Trinity for it is the Spirit who reveals the light.

Music: “Ah Holy Jesus,” Fernando Ortega and Quintessence Ensemble

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3Rq7DoDmywPrayer: O Lord Jesus Christ, you have said that you are the way, the truth, and the life. Suffer us not to stray from you, who are the way, nor to distrust you, who are the truth, nor to rest in anything other than you, who are the life.      ―Erasmus, 1469-1536

The Scripture passages chosen for this week were all conversations Jesus had during these last few days prior to his crucifixion. These are roughly in chronological order. 

Scripture: Matthew 22:1-14

Jesus also told them other parables. He said, “The Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a king who prepared a great wedding feast for his son. When the banquet was ready, he sent his servants to notify those who were invited. But they all refused to come!

“So he sent other servants to tell them, ‘The feast has been prepared. The bulls and fattened cattle have been killed, and everything is ready. Come to the banquet!’ But the guests he had invited ignored them and went their own way, one to his farm, another to his business. Others seized his messengers and insulted them and killed them.

“The king was furious, and he sent out his army to destroy the murderers and burn their town. And he said to his servants, ‘The wedding feast is ready, and the guests I invited aren’t worthy of the honor. Now go out to the street corners and invite everyone you see.’ So the servants brought in everyone they could find, good and bad alike, and the banquet hall was filled with guests.

“But when the king came in to meet the guests, he noticed a man who wasn’t wearing the proper clothes for a wedding. ‘Friend,’ he asked, ‘how is it that you are here without wedding clothes?’ But the man had no reply. Then the king said to his aides, ‘Bind his hands and feet and throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

“For many are called, but few are chosen.”

Some Thoughts

In this account Jesus is telling a parable on the Pharisees and leading Jewish leaders. The king is God the Father, his son is the Messiah. The religious leaders and the children of Israel are the invited guests. Their refusal to come to the wedding banquet is their rejection of God and his word through the years and their current rejection of the Messiah. The servants are the Old Testament prophets who proclaimed God’s message to Israel. When the guests refused to come, the king destroyed the town.

     Jesus was predicting the destruction of Jerusalem which in fact occurred in 70 AD. In this parable the king then sent the servants out to invite anyone. By this action Jesus meant that God’s invitation was being extended to everyone, not just Israel. To the self-righteous Jewish leaders, this offer to anyone was damnable. Gentiles were despised and eating with them was an abomination. They would never be invited to a Jewish wedding feast.

     Taking Israel’s place in the parable was the Church, the Bride of Christ. The Church is now God’s people. When the king entered the feast, he noticed one of the guests was not wearing the proper wedding clothes. The wedding garment would have been provided by the king and this particular guest rejected these special wedding clothes (clothes of righteousness?) given him, a direct affront to the king. The king had him thrown out into outer darkness. The wedding clothes correspond to spiritual fruit that demonstrates true faith. This guest was a fraud. (See Matthew 7:13-27 for Jesus’ further description of this guest.) The outer darkness is a metaphor for eternal punishment.

     The Pharisees and leading priests understood this parable to be against them and were even more determined to kill Jesus. The last verse in this passage reminds us that the invitation from God is extended to everyone and the response is crucial. What can you do? Continue to share the invitation and pray for those people you know who have not yet found the narrow way to life in God’s kingdom. Pray that the message of Holy Week and Easter penetrates hearts not only of those around you, but people from every tribe, nation, and tongue throughout the world. 

Music: “The Church’s One Foundation,” Duke Chapel Choir

The Church’s One Foundation

            -Samuel Stone, 1886

The church’s one foundation

Is Jesus Christ her Lord,

She is his new creation,

By water and the word.

From heaven he came and sought her

To be his holy bride,

With his own love he bought her

And for her life he died.

Elect from every nation

Yet one o’er all the earth

The charter of salvation

One Lord, one faith, one birth

One holy name she blesses,

Partakes one holy food,

And to one hope she presses

With every grace endued.

Prayer:

Remember, O Lord, your Church, to deliver her from all evil, and to make her perfect in your love; and gather together from the four winds the sanctified Church into your kingdom, which you have prepared for her. For yours is the power and the glory forevermore. Amen.

                                      —the Didache, c. 120 AD

Scripture: Luke 19:28-40

After telling this story, Jesus went on toward Jerusalem, walking ahead of his disciples. As he came to the towns of Bethphage and Bethany on the Mount of Olives, he sent two disciples ahead. “Go into that village over there,” he told them. “As you enter it, you will see a young donkey tied there that no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks, ‘Why are you untying that colt?’ just say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”

So they went and found the colt, just as Jesus had said. And sure enough, as they were untying it, the owners asked them, “Why are you untying that colt?”

And the disciples simply replied, “The Lord needs it.” So they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their garments over it for him to ride on.

As he rode along, the crowds spread out their garments on the road ahead of him. When he reached the place where the road started down the Mount of Olives, all his followers began to shout and sing as they walked along, praising God for all the wonderful miracles they had seen.

“Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord!

    Peace in heaven, and glory in highest heaven!”

But some of the Pharisees among the crowd said, “Teacher, rebuke your followers for saying things like that!”

He replied, “If they kept quiet, the stones along the road would burst into cheers!”

Some Thoughts

Just to give us a little context we retrace recent events. Jesus had raised Lazarus within the last week to ten days. Last night (Saturday) there was a party at the home of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus to honor Jesus for the raising of Lazarus. Many people, both friends and the curious, came to see both Jesus and Lazarus. The day of the above passage was the next day, Sunday. Word had been circulating about Jesus’ raising a man from the dead and the Pharisees and Sadducees were plotting to do away with Jesus and with Lazarus as well. Jesus knew this would be his final week on earth.

     You’ll notice all this coming week Jesus was completely in charge of everything. He sent two disciples to get a donkey, one on which no one had ridden . . . suitable for a king. He told them what to say and it happened just as he said. You know the story quite well. I want to make a few observations. In his ride down the Mount of Olives, Jesus announced himself as Israel’s king. He accepted the accolades from the crowd which further upset the Jewish and Roman leadership. When kings rode donkeys, they were coming in humility, in peace, and in reconciliation. When they rode horses, they were coming in battle. This donkey was a royal, peaceful limousine as it were. Jesus did not intend to raise a military army, much to the people’s disappointment.

     King David, a distant relative of Jesus, a thousand years earlier, had exited Jerusalem as king on a donkey, fleeing before his son, Absalom, who attempted a coup, and who was, incidentally, riding a mule, an animal for war. The Mount of Olives was the place of Christ’s Ascension (Acts 1:9,12), is also the place of his return (Zechariah 14:4)!

     As Jesus rode down the hill, great crowds gathered singing hosanna! (meaning ‘salvation now’) and waving palm branches as was typical in celebrating a hero, their king of Israel.  What they sang is interesting. You’ll recall at the birth of Jesus, the angels sang, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and peace on earthto those with whom God is pleased.” Here the crowd is singing, “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in highest heaven! In both cases glory is offered to God. The birth of Jesus was to bring peace on earth, a situation that lies yet in the future, though millions have already experienced God’s indwelling peace. But Jesus did bring peace in heaven through the cross as he brought reconciliation between God and human beings. It is ironic the people shouting these texts from the New Testament did not realize what they were saying. Within a few days many of them were yelling “crucify him!” when he did not conform to the people’s expectations as to what he should do regarding the Roman occupation. Likewise, we need to be careful we don’t dictate how and when God should act. 

Music: “Ride On King Jesus,” Robert Shaw Festival Singers

Bonus!

“Hosanna to the Song of David,” Cambridge Singers

Prayer:

O Christ, the King of glory who didst enter the holy city in meekness to be made perfect through the suffering of death: give us grace, we beseech thee, in all our life here to take up our cross daily and follow thee, that hereafter we may rejoice with thee in thy heavenly kingdom, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end Amen.

 ―Prayers for Easter, p.34

Scripture: John 11:36-45

Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him! But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 

Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.

 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, (literally, “he already stinks!”) for he has been there four days.”

Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

     So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

     When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.   

     Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, put their faith in him.”

Some Thoughts

Mary, Martha, the disciples, and the mourners get to see the rest of this story. Jesus enabled all of them to get to see the glory of God in raising Lazarus from the dead. In Jesus’ own resurrection from the dead, recall his empty grave clothes were left in the tomb, never to be needed or used again. In Lazarus’ case, he came out of the tomb wearing his grave clothes. Lazarus would need them again, not so with Jesus.

     Notice Jesus’ words as he prayed . . . that they may believe that you sent me. The point in the raising of Lazarus was that Mary, Martha, and their friends would discover who Jesus really was, the one sent from God on a mission to bring redemption by ushering in the Kingdom of God. As a result of the raising of Lazarus, many more Jews put their trust in God. They had seen Jesus exercise power over death. Word spread. But this victory, while bringing joy to many, also was hugely significant in moving things ahead to the completion of God’s plan for redeeming the world. Some of the witnesses to the raising of Lazarus made a beeline to the Pharisees to tell them what had happened. The threat to their authority was growing.

     Because of jealousy and Jesus’ challenge to the Jewish leadership’s status, power, and exposing their corruption, hatred from the Jewish leaders grew into a murderous plot. Because the status quo and positions of power and influence of the Romans were also being challenged by this itinerant carpenter from Nazareth, they, the Jewish leaders and Romans, joined together believing Jesus had to be killed.

     On still a grander scale yet with the crucifixion and death of Jesus, it appeared that God’s master plan was going awry and that things were not going to turn out as they should have. If anything, we are shown again and again and again in the life of Jesus, that we can trust the Father regardless of how it looks at any given moment in our life. If we continue to trust, we will see the glory of God. The empty tombs of Lazarus and Jesus still speak. 

Music: “Steal Away,” Mahalia Jackson and Nat King Cole   None like her!

 I can almost imagine Lazarus singing this song after being raised from the dead!

Bonus: The raising of Lazarus. from “The Chosen”

If you don’t know about The Chosen series, be sure to check it out. Start with Season One, Episode 1. Season five is in the theatres currently.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, here I am again praying with words, words, and more words. I seem stuck with the same ones all the time. I have trouble finding the right ones to express my love and complete gratitude for what you have done and continue to do on my behalf. Words are so limiting. If you had not done what you did on the cross, there would be no hope at all. I cannot begin to imagine what that would be like without you. I would be depressed and have to pretend that somehow life made sense but based on what I wouldn’t know. To keep sane, I wouldn’t think about it but live for the moment getting lost in basketball or music or technology or . . . anything. Thank you Lord, that is not the case. I very much connect with Paul Gerhardt’s phrase, “What language shall I borrow to thank thee dearest friend, for this thy dying sorrow, thy pity without end?” I still don’t have words, but please listen to my heart, it’s trying to tell you what’s in there. This I pray as Jesus intercedes on my behalf, my loving Lord. Amen. ―Daniel Sharp  

Scripture   John 11:28-35

And after she had said this, [Martha] went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. Now Jesus had not yet entered the village but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When the Jews who had been with Mary in the house, comforting her, noticed how quickly she got up and went out, they followed her, supposing she was going to the tomb to mourn there.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.

      “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

 Jesus wept.

Some Thoughts

Mary joins Martha in failing to fully grasp the power of the Son of God, even though they used his appropriate title. From their identical comments, “Lord, if you had been here, our brother would not have died,” they reveal a belief that Jesus needed to be physically present to do the healing, even though he at times had healed from afar. From Mary’s standpoint, Jesus needed to ask God for permission, failing to understand Jesus’ fully divine authority as God in the flesh. Jesus interacted with Martha with words. Now he interacts differently with Mary who fell at his feet weeping. Jesus’ response is somewhat of a surprise. Deep anger welled up within his own spirit in reaction to the response of the people’s mourning.  

     This shortest verse in the Bible is a kind of bottom line from Jesus’ perspective in this whole passage. Why did Jesus weep? He was about to raise Lazarus from the dead. He knew what was coming. The mourners visiting Mary and Martha, assumed he was weeping because of the death of his good friend. Or was he weeping out of pity for the sisters because of his empathy for their own sadness? But here, his weeping was of a different kind. Normal Jewish expression of sorrow at death would be a loud wailing which was the case of the sisters and those comforting them. The word used for Jesus’ weeping, dakryeino, is used only one time in the New Testament and it is here. The word is for a soft, subdued weeping. While those standing around seemed to think he wept because of the death of his friend, to me it seems more likely that his sorrow was for Mary, Martha, the disciples, and the world in general in not grasping who he was and what was his mission on earth. Three years in their midst, eating meals together, seeing all the miraculous works, hearing his teaching with such authority and still they missed it. Even when he told them point blank about what was to happen, they still didn’t understand. This community was so immersed in their own world, in their perception of Jesus, and in the limited view of their faith, that they were unable to understand and receive the Kingdom of God as proclaimed by the Son of God. They simply did not fully grasp who it was that was in their presence. Have you ever felt frustrated that someone you deeply loved, just couldn’t grasp the significance, and embrace the gospel and continue to resist? My guess is you’ve shed some tears over your loved one. Keep praying for the working of the Holy Spirit in their life. Our Savior understands. He is not willing that any should perish.

Music: “When Jesus Wept,” The Orchard Enterprises

William Billings was an early American composer at the time of the Revolutionary war.

When Jesus wept, a falling tear

In mercy flowed beyond all bound.

When Jesus groaned, a trembling fear

Seized all the guilty world around,

Prayer:

O Jesus who wept over the death of Lazarus, be with all who grieve. O Jesus who wept alone in Gethsemane, be with all who feel alone, all who face difficult decisions. O Jesus who cried, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” be with all who are tortured, all who are victims. O Jesus who offered up prayers with loud cries and tears, hear our prayers. O living God who knows all our pain and joy, be with us in our lives. Amen.

  ―The Worship Sourcebook, p.573

Scripture:  John 11:25-27

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?”

“Yes, Lord,” she told him, “I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.”

Some Thoughts

No more glorious words have been spoken since the beginning of language. Is there life after death? Without a doubt! Jesus’ words and life couldn’t be clearer evidence. Believe in him and live on, even when your earthly physical body doesn’t. You’ll get a body not subject to death because death has been defeated. Death is extinct! You’ll recall when Jesus was a baby, Mary and Joseph took him to the old priest Simeon. Do you remember Simeon’s words about his own death? They were, Lord, now let your servant depart in peace (NASB). He didn’t say die in peace. The Greek word is apoluo meaning to let go. On the Mount of Transfiguration a similar concept was expressed in speaking of Jesus’ “exodus” from this earth.

     Upon our death, our bodies are instantly transformed. We simply depart or are dismissed (NIV) from this body. This truth was brought home to me so clearly when my mother died. I was present with mom when she took her last breath and departed this life. I was overwhelmed with the truth that mom just left. It was as if Jesus said to me, Mary is not here anymore. The shell of her body on the bed was where she used to be. In her last moments she reached up with both hands and said, “home,” the only word she said in her unconscious state. An instant later she was in the presence of her Lord and Savior.

     This Jesus is the same “I AM” who spoke to Moses in the burning bush, the Good Shepherd, the Light of the World, the Way, the Truth and the Life. The power of Christ is not only in the resurrection but also eternal life. Martha’s comment from yesterday’s passage that everyone rises on the last day told us she was thinking only of the final judgment day. As we have mentioned several times. Most of the time Jesus referred to himself as the Son of Man. Here Martha refers to him as the Son of God, believing in his divinity, recognizing who he is. Even at that, she did not fully grasp his power over life and death. Jesus and Martha were thinking on two different levels. Martha was thinking the biggest, end picture. Jesus’ thinking comprehended both the end but also its impact on the present circumstance. 

     Martha did what so many of us do; we think of the grand story of God and fail to grasp its impact on the present situation. That Martha hadn’t understood what Jesus was getting at is evidenced by her comment about not wanting to open the tomb because it will stink. We need to roll the stone away from our theological tombs more often and see the power of our great Savior working in the world in which we live right now. Faith in Jesus is always moving forward never pre-determining conclusions.

Music: “In Christ Alone” All Souls Orchestra     Kristin Getty      Glorious

This is a picture of the Body of Christ. The Brits sing again!

In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song

This Cornerstone, this solid ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm

What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease

My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand

In Christ alone, who took on flesh, fullness of God in helpless babe

This gift of love and righteousness, scorned by the ones He came to save

‘Til on that cross as Jesus died, the wrath of God was satisfied

For every sin on Him was laid, here in the death of Christ I live

There in the ground His body lay, light of the world by darkness slain

Then bursting forth in glorious Day, up from the grave He rose again

And as He stands in victory, sin’s curse has lost its grip on me

For I am His and He is mine, bought with the precious blood of Christ

No guilt in life, no fear in death, this is the power of Christ in me

From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny

No power of hell, no scheme of man, can ever pluck me from His hand

‘til He returns or calls me home, here in the power of Christ I’ll stand

Prayer:  

You are God and we praise you; you are the Lord and we acclaim you; You are the eternal Father; all creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, cherubim and seraphim sing in endless praise, ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord, God of power and might; heaven and earth are full of your glory.’ Throughout the whole world the holy church acclaims you, Father of majesty unbounded; Your true and only Son worthy of all worship and the Holy Spirit advocate and guide. Come then Lord and help your people bought with the price of your own blood; and bring us with your saints to glory everlasting. Amen.   ― from Te Deum, 4^th century

Scripture: John 11:17-24

On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home.

“Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.”

Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.”

Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.”

Some Thoughts

Does it ever seem like all hope is lost? Martha, the more impetuous of the two sisters, was the one who went to meet Jesus. Apparently, with Jesus’ two-day delay, he wouldn’t have gotten there in time anyway since Lazarus has already been in the tomb four days. If he had been in the tomb four days that means he died the day the message of illness was on the way to Jesus since Jesus was a day’s journey away. Jewish burial was normally held as soon as possible after death, meaning Lazarus was put into the tomb the day he died. Jewish belief was that the soul of the deceased hung around for three days for some possible means of entering the body again. By the fourth day all color was gone from the body and it left with no hope of resuscitation. John was perhaps making sure his readers knew that Lazarus was dead dead! 

     Many of Mary and Martha’s friends had come to the house to console the sisters . . .and eventually became eyewitnesses to the raising of Lazarus. The funeral custom in those days would have been to come and sit in silence sharing the grief with the mourners. I must add a personal comment here. When my father was killed in a farming accident in 1972, many people came to our house to express their sympathy with us. The most comforting and helpful solace came from a farmer who stood quietly outside for a while and said nothing. As he left, he just came up and said, “I’m so sorry” with tears in his eyes. I remember it to this day many decades later. His being there and words were the greatest comfort. It’s called the ministry of presence.

     Martha’s response is kind of a mixed faith. She had been around Jesus and seen him heal people before and wished that he had been there earlier because he could have brought healing to her brother. She believed in an eventual final resurrection, but that was of little consolation now. She knew Lazarus was dead. That was final. This kind of situation was one of those challenging times when we have solid faith in the biggest picture but are still in great pain for the present time. Martha reached out to the Lord and expressed her broken heart. Jesus did not rebuke her for her response of sorrow. Notice that Jesus never reprimands genuine anger or frustration from his children. We never need to fear in expressing our pain to the Lord.

     We live in a culture which has its own kind of denial of death. Funerals have morphed into memorials which have become celebrations of life . . .except that the person is dead. We have a convoluted sense of the reality of death and an inability to know how to respond to it. We too often seek to avoid grieving and push to get back to normal. Judaism on the other hand, has a set time of grieving in a period called shiva which is seven days from the funeral, followed by another period, sheloshim, which counts thirty days from the funeral, which happens on the day of death, if possible, though sometimes it is delayed these days to allow people to travel for the service. Then there is also the marking of a year anniversary of the death called the yahrzeit.

We can have wonderful memories, but the truth is that person is gone from this earth and we will never see them again this side of glory. That is heart-breaking and happy talk doesn’t deal with the reality of loss. Embracing the truth of life, death, and the resurrection of Jesus from the dead is what brings our only comfort in the death of a loved one. Never be afraid to express your true heart to the Lord in a tough time. Talk with the Lord and listen carefully with ears of faith. He understands better than anyone. He’s been through it. Sometimes there are surprises. Just ask Martha!

Music: “If Thou Wilt Suffer God to Guide Thee,” Calvin Alumni Choir

                  If You Will Trust in God to Guide You                 ―Georg Neumark, 1641

If you will trust in God to guide you and place your confidence in him,

You’ll find him always there beside you, to give you hope and strength within.

For those who trust God’s changeless love build on the rock that naught can move.

Sing, pray, and keep his ways unswerving, offer your service faithfully,

And trust his word; though undeserving, you’ll find his promise true to be.

God never will forsake in need the soul that trusts in him indeed.

Prayer: 

And now unto him who is able to keep us from falling and lift us from the dark valley of despair to the bright mountain of hope, from the midnight of desperation to the daybreak of joy; to him be power and authority, for ever and ever. Amen.    

                                ―Martin Luther King Jr., 1928-1968

Scripture:  John 11:7-16

Then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”

“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews tried to stone you, and yet you are going back there?”

Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? A man who walks by day will not stumble, for he sees by this world’s light. It is when he walks by night that he stumbles, for he has no light.”

After he had said this, he went on to tell them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep; but I am going there to wake him up.”

His disciples replied, “Lord, if he sleeps, he will get better.” Jesus had been speaking of his death, but his disciples thought he meant natural sleep.

So then he told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.”

Then Thomas (called Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

Some Thoughts

That little phrase is far too often descriptive of my response to the way of the Lord. “But Lord, I thought that . . .”  Here we see the single-mindedness of Jesus. A couple of months prior to the moment above, during the Feast of Dedication (Hanukkah) in Jerusalem, Jesus and the disciples fled Judea and Jerusalem because the religious leaders attempted to stone them. Tension and hatred of Jesus was building ominously. Up to this point, Jesus had kept a lower profile and spent much time in the region of Galilee though it had become increasingly difficult to remain an unknown even there. Because of his growing notoriety, he stayed away from Jerusalem and the Jewish hierarchy of leadership. On this occasion he stayed east of the Jordan River out of Judea.

     His response in this text of “there are twelve hours in the daylight” was his way of telling the disciples God, his Father, had given him a task to do. He was the Light of the world which he declared at the Feast of Dedication previously in the disciples’ presence. The disciples themselves were struggling in their own darkness trying to understand the Light who was among them. In their minds, why would Jesus go back to the place where they had nearly been killed? It didn’t make sense to them.

     But the time was approaching for the completion of his earthly mission. The raising of Lazarus from the dead was part of his Father’s course of action to bring light. Jesus told the disciples plainly that he would wake Lazarus from his sleep. He did not explain more at this point. In Thomas’ final comment, he still doesn’t completely understand, but speaks for the rest of the disciples. Since their last time in Jerusalem ended in their leaving the city to avoid being stoned to death, we’ll go and die with you seemed a normal response. The next time you and I are tempted to respond, Lord, but I thought . . ., let’s listen to Moses’ words to the Israelites before crossing the Red Sea, be still and watch the mighty hand of God.

Music: “God Moves in a Mysterious Way” Deo Cantamus

Prayer: Lord God in heaven, who knows all things, who understands all things, who has power over all things, who has created all things, who sustains all things, who loves all things, who is over all things, who is everywhere present, who has been revealed in Jesus Christ, who is present in the Holy Spirit, who has given his written word, who has made provision for the restoration of the whole created order, grant us one more thing: faith to trust you when we cannot understand your ways in this world. This we pray through Jesus Christ, who reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen. 

                                            ―Daniel Sharp

(A side comment here. This week we will look at the account of Lazarus. This event happened shortly before Palm Sunday and was a major triggering event which stimulated the plot to kill Jesus. (John 11:51-53) As we move to the conclusion of Lent, our focus moves from more introspection and repentance in our own lives, to the events that led Jesus to Calvary. In the ancient church, yesterday, the fifth Sunday in Lent, was called the First Sunday of the Passion.)

Scripture John 11:1-6

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair. So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.”

    When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. Yet when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days.

Some Thoughts

Does it ever seem like God doesn’t do the right thing, or at least his timing is noticeably off? He clearly could do something and just doesn’t.  In fact, sometimes it seems as if he deliberately ignores us. The Lord’s words in Isaiah 55 read for my thoughts are not your thoughts neither are your ways my ways. Then when that truth plays out in real life, we’re surprised.

     Such was the case with Lazarus. He was at his home and very sick. Jesus was in another part of the country. His sisters sent word for Jesus to come, after all, Jesus had healed many people, why not their brother? Jesus was not mad at Mary, Martha, or Lazarus. They were all good friends and had honored him on various occasions. Yet, he enigmatically ignored their request and stayed two more days because, though they did not know it nor could imagine it, something better was in store.

     Since when Jesus finally did arrive and Lazarus had been in the tomb four days, it is likely that Lazarus was already dead by the time Jesus received the first message given the travel time of both the messenger and Jesus’ travel time to Bethany. That something better was not the resurrection of Lazarus from the dead but the glorification of God and of Jesus as the Son of God, as the One who had the power over death. In the biggest picture of what God was doing, God’s timing was everything. The point in raising Lazarus was not that he brought him back from the dead as great as that was, for Lazarus eventually died again. The point was that even death submitted to the power of Jesus. For in between Lazarus’ two deaths, Jesus died once for all making Lazarus’ ultimate resurrection eternal.

     Jesus’ glory continues for all eternity as the one who gained victory over death for everyone who believes, not just Lazarus.  You may be going through the “Jesus stayed two more days” phase of your life and wishing he’d hurry up before it’s too late. Pray that God might be glorified in what is coming your way. As my father-in-law so often reminded us, “The Lord may tarry, but he is never too late.” Just ask Mary and Martha.

Music: “And Can It Be that I Should Gain,” the Brits SING!

Prayer: O Lord, let me not henceforth desire health or life except to spend them for you, with you and in you. You alone know what is good for me; do therefore what seems best to you. Give to me or take from me; conform my will to yours; and grant that with humble and perfect submission and in holy confidence I may receive the orders of your eternal providence and may equally adore all that comes to me from you.       

                                                                                              -Blaise Pascal, 1623-1662

Scripture: Psalm 130

From the depths of despair, O Lord,

    I call for your help.

Hear my cry, O Lord.

    Pay attention to my prayer.

Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,

    who, O Lord, could ever survive?

But you offer forgiveness,

    that we might learn to fear you.

I am counting on the Lord;

    yes, I am counting on him.

    I have put my hope in his word.

I long for the Lord

    more than sentries long for the dawn,

    yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

O Israel, hope in the Lord;

    for with the Lord there is unfailing love.

    His redemption overflows.

He himself will redeem Israel

    from every kind of sin.

Some Thoughts

Psalm 130 is one of the classic psalms of lament, faintly reminiscent of Jonah’s prayer. In these days of the Lenten season, repentance is a central theme. This psalm gives us a beautiful pattern of the process. In the opening plea, we read of a person in deepest despair. They have given up fighting the problem on their own and called to the Lord for help. The next sentence revealed something of the relationship between the psalmist and the Lord with the words “Hear my cry, Lord. Pay attention to my prayer.” To pray those words said something about the transparency of his relationship with God. The psalmist addressed the Lord in the same manner as if he were talking face to face with a friend. He addressed the Lord in the second person. Please listen and pay attention to what I’m saying. I’m hurting badly. He was not afraid to ask the Lord to pay attention.

     He then admitted if the Lord kept track of all his sins in a book, he’d be dead He was not trying to hide anything before the Lord. Transparency is essential in repentance and confession. What followed was interesting. God offered forgiveness so we can learn to fear him. What does that mean? 

     Fear in this sense I believe follows along the lines of Martin Luther’s explanation. There is a kind of fear that is truly afraid of heavy punishment. This use of the word is not that kind of fear. It is more like that of a child having great love and respect for her parents and wanting to please them. She has a fear, not because she is afraid of punishment from her mother, but rather of not wanting to disappoint her. This fear grows out of great affection and sense of security. The next sentence affirms this love with the words “I’m counting on the Lord . . . I put my hope in his word.” We see this love and longing continuing in the next line mirroring the sentries’ longing for the end of night and the light of another day, a beautiful image for lamenting heart. The focus of the psalmist shifts from despair to the unfailing faithfulness of the Lord. Remember Jesus’ frequent use of the light motive?

     The psalmist then becomes a preacher! To this point, he has been expressing his own heart. Now he speaks to the whole community. Having expressed his relationship to the Lord in the second person, he now preaches of God to the whole nation of Israel in the third person. And sure enough, he speaks of God’s great love and redeeming power, encouraging the nation to experience God in the second person intimate relationship. The very last sentence speaks a word of prophecy. God himself will redeem Israel and the whole world from every kind of sin―on the cross of calvary. This psalm is also known by its Latin name―De profundus, “out of the depths.” 

Music: “Out of the Deep” Cambridge Singers

Prayer:

O thou great Chief, light a candle in my heart, that I may see what is therein, and sweep the rubbish from thy dwelling place.    ―An African schoolgirl’s prayer

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

“Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

“The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

“His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours. We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

Some Thoughts

Here we see the jealous heart of the other self-centered brother. While the younger son grabbed what was his and took off, the older brother blamed his father for not being generous toward himself. This was a giant narcissistic party. Serving his father he called slavery. Was he glad to see his prodigal brother? Was he concerned about the time his brother had been away? He even distanced himself from his sibling with the comment “this son of yours,” a further dig at his father. Did he feel his father owed him something for his self-righteous faithfulness? In a nutshell, he was bitter his father had forgiven his brother. His proud heart was embarrassingly laid bare before us. The older brother was completely unaware of his own need for repentance. 

     When the younger son demanded his inheritance and left, the father let him go. He gave him that freedom. But here in contrast, the father pleaded with the elder son to rejoice with them in the joy of a repentant son. The elder son would not move on from his brother’s past. He was stuck in his own pride and therefore missed the joy of the present moment. The father even reminded him that he was also an heir. The father treated both sons with the same love. Remember this was not a parable about raising children (!), Jesus meant to show the Pharisees and us the nature of God the Father’s love for the repentant sinner.

     The elder son had likewise strayed from the father even though he never left home. And he had not yet returned. The sadness in this parable is that this older son had not yet realized his own sinful heart and need for repentance. Interestingly, his parable is left open-ended. We don’t know if the elder brother repented and joined the celebration or continued wallowing with the pigs his self-righteousness. Since Jesus told this parable about the Pharisees, it is open ended as to whether the elder son ever repented. Some Pharisees repented and believed (Nicodemus) and others did not and remained prodigals.

Music: “Amazing Grace,” Il Divo     When you get to heaven, you can sing like this.

Prayer:

Gracious Lord of joy and delight, grant that I may rejoice with those who rejoice, cheer for those who are cheerful, laugh with those who laugh, be happy with those who are happy, be enthusiastic with those who are enthusiastic, discover with those who discover new things. Forbid that I should ever withhold my heart’s embracing of another’s joy for some silly, selfish, or jealous reason. Your kingdom does not need more joy monitors. From sour-faced saints, good Lord deliver us!      ―Daniel Sharp

Scripture: Luke 15:22-24

 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.”

Some Thoughts

This part of the parable is about restoration and forgiveness. Notice the father (God) barely responded to the son’s words of confession. He clearly received them and moved on. The father was not slow to accept the words of confession. No lectures on past failures, foolish decisions, personal greed, and so forth. The father called for the “best” robe, the robe of royalty. The best robe was the father’s own robe. The son was fully restored to the family. No penalty box necessary for you hockey fans.

     He put a signet ring on his son’s finger to remind him that he was still an heir, implying he still had an inheritance despite what he forfeited. The ring was an affirmation giving him authority. The son remained an heir, even though poor choices, running from home, and wonton self-will had marked him a prodigal. He was given shoes for his worn, dirty, and cracked feet. Perhaps a reminder to stay on the right path? The father completely restored the son’s position and identity. This called for celebration. Do you ever think of God “rejoicing” over you when you turn from self-will to his will? We all have prodigal moments. But are there some prodigals you have been praying for for a long, long time? Keep praying. They may not have made it to the pig pen yet. Keep watching the horizon and get ready to run. Skip your speech and hug them like they’ve never been hugged! That’s how God loves.

Music: “Great Is Thy Faithfulness,” A hymn sing in England!! Note the broad cross-section of singers! Looks like the church universal.

Prayer: 

Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day in the person of your sick, and, whilst nursing them, minister unto you. Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize you, and say: ‘Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve you.’ Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience. Lord, increase my faith, bless my efforts and work, now and for evermore, Amen.         

                               ―Sister Teresa of Calcutta, 1910-1997

Scripture: Luke 15:20b-21

 “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’”

Some thoughts:

We may think of this story as a parable about the two sons, but these words tells us it may be more about the boys’ father and his love for them. There is something here that is unique in all of Scripture. Something occurs in this parable that does not happen anywhere else in the Bible. Look again at the verses above and see if you can figure out what it is. Except for this parable, nowhere else does God ever “run” after his children. Jesus walked everywhere. God walked in the Garden in the cool of the evening (Gen. 3:8-10). The good shepherd went to find the lost sheep. He never ran to a situation. God walks beside us (Psalm 23:4). Sometimes he deliberately stayed where he was and made a point of not going after someone (when Lazarus died). God never runs after people. In Jewish culture, it was considered unseemly for an old man to run. Patriarchs did not run. Notice the father didn’t run after his son when he left but ran to his son in granting forgiveness.

      In this parable by Jesus, the father, in self-humiliation for the sake of his lost son, ran to meet him. Jesus painted a picture of our heavenly Father and his love for his children. God does not force his way into people’s lives, but he is always near at hand ready to receive his own. He gives people freedom to receive or reject him. Those who truly seek, always find him. He makes sure of that.

     Did you also notice that apparently the father was watching for his son’s return. He saw him “from a long way off.” The father was watching and waiting, hoping to see his son return (2 Peter 3:9 “God is not willing that any should perish”). Here is a beautiful picture of God’s love for the repentant person. The son had turned toward home and the father, filled with love, saw him and ran to him, put his arms around him and kissed him. God is patiently waiting for us to turn around when we launch down the road where the street sign says “Self”. There is not a bony fingered condemnation for our self-centered will, but a warm embrace to the repentant and a glad to have you back home. Can you offer this kind of love to someone today? Can you receive it?

Music: “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us,” Fernando Ortega

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dLDGVl8D5UU Prayer

Scripture: Luke 15:17-20a 

“When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired men have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired men.’ So he got up and went to his father.

Some Thoughts

What was I thinking!  Have you ever said that? When we first wander off the path, it’s hardly recognizable. We used to live in Seattle. We drove the 2,081 miles 30-hour trip (who’s counting) to the farm in Illinois every summer. There was a point in eastern Washington where the interstate highway I-90 splits. We could go straight and go the northern route through Montana or choose to make a slight veer to the south through Oregon and a day later be somewhere in Nebraska, hundreds of miles to the south of where we might have been. At the time of making the split, it didn’t seem like that significant, but it did set the course for the next several days. The longer we continued our course, the wider the separation.

     When the prodigal son left home, all he could see was wealth and good times ahead! It was a much more exciting road than sitting around home. His father wasn’t that old. Why wait around for him to die. The prodigal’s chosen path, however, slowed down and became bumpier with more rocks and ruts. Finally, the ruts became more like a grave with open ends. A person immersed in sin is living outside of their true self (Romans 7:17-20). In the words of C.S. Lewis:

We all want progress. But progress means getting nearer to the place where you want to be And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road, and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the progressive man (Mere Christianity, Book I chapter 5).

     If you are in fantasy land or on the wrong road, turn around (Just to clarify, it is not a sin to drive through North Dakota, though it apparently is if you are doing 90 mph . . .there is nothing out there . . .another story.) The seed of humility in the son we mentioned yesterday began to grow. As he moved toward his true self, he recognized his sin against not only his earthly father, but against heaven itself. This is key. Like King David, he realized his sin was first against God, his heavenly Father, and then against his earthly father. All sin is first and foremost against our Creator. The prodigal repented and went back to the place where he got off track. Home. Notice how much more there is here than a simple “I’m sorry, dad.” There is a complete attitude and heart change. A complete change in direction. That is what happens in true repentance. Where is the path you are on taking you? You are on a path to somewhere.

Music: “Goin Home,” Sissel   The song of every prodigal. Sissel does a beautiful and sensitive recording of this classic. I know you heard this song yesterday, it’s worth hearing again in this rendition. Trust me!

Prayer:  Fix thou our steps, O Lord, that we stagger not at the uneven motions of the world, but steadily go on to our glorious home; neither censuring our journey by the weather we meet with, nor turning out of the way for anything that befalls us. The winds are often rough, and our own weight presses us downwards. Reach forth, O Lord, thy hand, thy saving hand, and speedily deliver us. Teach us, O Lord, to use this transitory life as pilgrims returning to their beloved home; that we may take what our journey requires, and not think of settling in a foreign country.    ―John Wesley, 1703-1791

Scripture: Luke 15:13-16

 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything.”

Some Thoughts

When the “Trinity of Self” was worshiped, it rewarded the indulgent worshiper handsomely. Welcome to the world of “self” son. Should we be surprised that no one gave him anything? That is one of the sorry benefits of this kind of worship; you are on your own. Look with whom he was spending his time and money. This was not a community that was known for giving or forgiving, certainly not sharing. This was the gang of the Trinity of Self, the takers. You see, in this world, it is only a pretend community. That truth became particularly evident when everything headed south for the son.

     He was not in Jewish country. He lost his inheritance in a Gentile country, grounds for excommunication. Feeding the pigs was the lowest, degrading job for a Jew, a kind of Jewish Skid Row. He was truly in exile from his father. He personified a disgusting fool. Look at all the people and corporations today who have squandered their wealth on irresponsible living, people with their hands out wanting their share of the stash. Observe all those living beyond their means expecting someone else to bail them out after all, you don’t need to make a payment now . . .or ever. Politicians make a living promising more and more appealing to the envious and greedy. Please note, we speak here not of those who have genuinely fallen on hard times not of their own making, but of those who are absorbed with self, pleasure, and instant gratification.

     We see the seeds of humility being planted in the son’s soil of desperation. His loneliness became overwhelming and spurred him to change his course and repent. He began to doubt the value of this “Trinity of Self.” Look for people in your life today who may be in the son’s situation and extend a hand in whatever way to bring them encouragement and hope. There is a little ToS in all of us. Perchance you may even be that person who left home. Go back home. Ask your heavenly Father forgiveness. You won’t be disappointed at his response.

Music: “Goin’ Home,” Libera    The voices of angels!

Prayer: Lord, I am blind and helpless, stupid and ignorant. Cause me to hear, cause me to know, teach me to do, lead me.                    ―Henry Martyn, 1781-1812

Scripture:

Luke 15: 11-12

“Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them.”

Some Thoughts

We live in the prodigal’s era of a new trinity. Unlike the real Trinity, this one is not mysterious in the least! You can figure it out naturally and it is easily understood by even the smallest child. It is the trinity of “me, myself, and I.” Those four little, simple, short words speak volumes. The season of Lent is about helping us to recognize how often that idea slips into and shapes our lives and how we are very unlike Jesus. We live in a society, and, indeed in our own lives, where we are very aware of our rights. Look at all the lawsuits and testimonial commercials advertising  how much money a certain lawyer got for them in their lawsuit. Be sure you get what’s coming to you and the so and so law firm will get you what you deserve. What strikes me is not that someone was injured and the offending party has a responsibility care for the injured. The focus is we’ll fight to get you the most money possible. It’s all about you! Where did we get this idea of my rights? I think it started in the Garden of Eden.

     In this parable, the younger son was a rightful heir, albeit an impatient, self-centered, short-sighted one. He used another version of the personal trinity with four words. Give me my share. I’m embarrassed for him. It revealed so much about his heart. Like Adam, he used what his father had given him to rebel against his father. Notice the Father did not reprimand him, humiliate, or dishonor him in his foolish demand. He granted the demand, knowing full well the consequences of this immature, greedy, self-serving request. What the son was saying in another way was that he wished his father would hurry up and die. He cared so little for his father.  

     There are certainly many times when our heavenly Father does the same for us. He does not impose his will or force us in any direction. He lets the truthfulness of our heart’s motives reveal themselves to us and to him. It is one of the ways God teaches his children.

     The father here likewise does not override the son’s stupidity and immaturity. Can you imagine a love like this so honoring and strong, knowing the foolishness that lies ahead, yet gives his children freedom to fail? There is no “thy will be done” in this son’s demand. As you pray today, be careful of what you ask for. In God’s gracious way, he may give it to you. 

Music: “It’s All About Me,” Rob Still    Rob was one of my IWS students and has captured today’s cultural mindset in a beautiful way!!! Right! (He’s doing a worship seminar in Hungry.) A little musical change of pace today!   (The theme song of the Prodigal!)

Prayer:

O God our Father, help us to nail to the cross of thy dear Son the whole body of our death, the wrong desires of the heart, the sinful devising of the mind, the corrupt apprehensions of the eyes, the cruel words of the tongue, the ill employment of hands and feet; that the old man being crucified and done away, that the new man may live and grow into the glorious likeness thy Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end.  Amen.                                                   —Eric Milner White 

Scripture: John 9:1, 6-9, 13-17, 34-38

As Jesus was walking along, he saw a man who had been blind from birth.

Then he spit on the ground, made mud with the saliva, and spread the mud over the blind man’s eyes. He told him, “Go wash yourself in the pool of Siloam” (Siloam means “sent”). So the man went and washed and came back seeing!

His neighbors and others who knew him as a blind beggar asked each other, “Isn’t this the man who used to sit and beg?” Some said he was, and others said, “No, he just looks like him!”

But the beggar kept saying, “Yes, I am the same one!”

Then they took the man who had been blind to the Pharisees, because it was on the Sabbath that Jesus had made the mud and healed him. The Pharisees asked the man all about it. So he told them, “He put the mud over my eyes, and when I washed it away, I could see!”

Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus is not from God, for he is working on the Sabbath.” Others said, “But how could an ordinary sinner do such miraculous signs?” So there was a deep division of opinion among them.

Then the Pharisees again questioned the man who had been blind and demanded, “What’s your opinion about this man who healed you?”

The man replied, “I think he must be a prophet.”

“You were born a total sinner!” they answered. “Are you trying to teach us?” And they threw him out of the synagogue.

When Jesus heard what had happened, he found the man and asked, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”

The man answered, “Who is he, sir? I want to believe in him.”

“You have seen him,” Jesus said, “and he is speaking to you!”

“Yes, Lord, I believe!” the man said. And he worshiped Jesus.

Some Thoughts

We mentioned yesterday Jesus’ many references to images of light in various ways in his interaction with people. Here is a classic example. Again, a little context is helpful. In previous chapters (7-8), Jesus was in Jerusalem for the Feast of Tabernacles. One of the central themes of that festival was the lighting of the menorah and many more lamps creating great light in the Temple reminding the people of God’s presence, the Shekinah glory present in the wilderness Tabernacle and at the dedication of Solomon’s Temple. This particular festival also had messianic implications in its anticipation of the coming of the Messiah.

     It was during this Feast that Jesus told the people he was, in fact, the Light of the world which created a great stir among the Jewish leaders. In this context, he encountered the blind man and healed him (darkness to light). The leaders refused to believe what they saw, particularly since they knew this person had been blind all his life. They remained in spiritual darkness. The facts didn’t fit their mindset so they sought in various ways to explain away reality. The Pharisees questioned the formerly blind man to no avail. Some of the Jewish leaders were rational and wondered how an ordinary sinner in their view could do such a miracle. There was clear division and dispute among the Jewish leaders. Their solution was to throw the blind man out of the synagogue. But the problem for the leaders is that truth never goes away. Jesus found the man and asked him if he believed in the Son of Man. For Jews “Son of Man” was a loaded question because it had clear and direct implications to the Messiah (book of Daniel). Neutrality was not possible.

     This interaction is very similar to Jesus’ concluding conversation with the woman at the well in John 4. The formerly blind man believed and worshiped Jesus on the spot. The spiritually blind woman believed and worshiped Jesus on the spot. The great irony in this account is that a man who was born blind both physically and spiritually gained physical sight (light) and spiritual sight (light). While the spiritual leaders born with physical sight were the ones who remained spiritually blind. In a way, the healed man is symbolic of all humanity. Everyone needs the illumination of Christ, the Light of the world.

     Note also that in giving the blind man sight, Jesus used a mixture of clay and saliva in restoring sight to this man much as God used the dust of the earth to create a human being in the Garden of Eden (Irenaeus’ observation). This man is the only blind person Jesus healed who was born blind from birth. The Pharisees, on the other hand, were so convinced and set in their ways, that they were willing to deny the reality in front of them in order to maintain their beliefs. What they saw didn’t fit with what they believed, so they rejected what they saw and remained in the dark spiritually though they claimed to be in the light. Their faith in Moses was not a living faith, for Moses had affirmed Jesus’ mission at the Mount of Transfiguration, though the Pharisees were unaware of that encounter. Jaroslav Pelican commented, “Traditionalism is the dead faith of living people and tradition is the living faith of dead people.” How true! The legalistic faith of the Pharisees died with Moses on Mt. Pisgah. But the grace of Moses’ faith clearly crossed the Jordan into the Promised Land and from there encouraged the Savior on his “exodus.” May we not be so certain in what we know that we miss the work of the Savior among us. He often works outside of our certainty.

Music: “This Little Light of Mine” Moses Hogan Singers

Prayer:

Give me grace, O my Father, to be utterly ashamed of my own reluctance. Rouse me from sloth and coldness and make me desire you with my whole heart. May my faith not be set in legalized stones but in living stones next to the Cornerstone. Teach me to love meditation, sacred reading, particularly Thy word, and a living life of prayer. Teach me to love that which must engage my mind for all eternity.  Amen. 

                                     ―John Henry Newman, Prayers for Easter, p.22, adapted D.S.

Scripture:

Matthew 6:19-24

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

 “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

Some Thoughts

As we narrow in on Jesus’ life an the ominous weight of the cross draws nearer, we see more and more clearly how single-minded and centrally focused he was. His earlier words, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth” was lived out in his words “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.” He had no home. When he was killed, he had nothing other than the clothes he was stripped of. When he died naked on the cross, he had nothing. He was destitute of everything but breath which would leave shortly. He came to this earth with nothing and he left with nothing. Jesus did not store up treasure on earth. What treasure he stored in heaven, however, is glorious beyond our imagination! His heart was not set on earthly things, but in people. Have you noticed in nearly every mention of Jesus in the New Testament, he is engaged with people, his greatest treasure? Even when it describes him as alone, he is talking with this Father.

     Secondly, have you observed the number of times Jesus refers to the subject of light? Healing blind men, calling the Pharisees blind guides, blind fools, I am the Light of the world, Nicodemas’ coming to Jesus at night when it was dark, you are the light of the world, are just some of the instances where Jesus seeks to open the eyes of the blind and to bring Light to “people who walk in darkness.” The reference is to the “eyes of the soul.”

     Finally, Jesus makes very clear that to follow him, people must die daily to themselves. Having it both ways is not possible because both masters want everything. They will not share. People serve God or something else. A legitimate question we might ask is, “How much of my life (my time, energy, thought, money) is going into things or pursuits that are of little eternal consequence?” In C.S. Lewis’ words of wisdom, “Do not live these days for things in your life that will end when you do.” If we measure “treasure” only in terms of money, pleasure, leisure, identity, or the material, we see how quickly it can all fade. When we are in the grave, none of those treasures matter in the least. Billionaires take not one cent to the grave.

     Do you see in Jesus’ words, the point is not earthly treasures, but the affections of the heart?  The quality of the treasure is indicative of the quality of the heart. The character of the heart is central, not the treasure. It is for that heart’s affection that Jesus went to the cross. Where is your heart’s affection today?  That is the treasure you are accumulating. Hopefully, it doesn’t end when you do.

Music: “Be Thou My Vision,” Nathan Pacheco

Prayer:  May God support us all the day long, till the shades lengthen, and the evening comes, and the busy world is hushed, and the fever of life is over, and our work is done! Then in His mercy may He give us a safe lodging, and a holy rest, and peace at the last.                                                      ―John Henry Newman 1801-1890

Scripture:  Matthew 6:16-18

 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, so that it will not be obvious to men that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Some Thoughts

Fasting has long been a religious discipline in many faiths. In the Jewish and Christian tradition it is most often associated with repentance and humbling oneself before God. A Jewish fast would typically be from morning until evening, eating only after sundown. Fasting twice a week was common. We read in the Scriptures frequently of fasting in sackcloth and ashes. There was likewise a keen awareness of one’s mortality. The longing that comes because of a lack of food during a fast, reminds one of our complete and utter dependence upon the Lord for life itself. 

     There are positive benefits in the discipline. Fasting produces a longing that must be resisted while denying a need or wish. This act is symbolic of the discipline it takes to turn away from sin. True fasting is not simply a repudiation of a physical act. Fasting truly sharpens the mind, sensitizes one’s spirit to the Lord, and quickens spiritual perception. Feeding on Scripture instead of food is of great good. The practice often enables one to gain a clearer focus on what is significant, what is unimportant, and clarifies the clutter of the mind and soul. Fasting can be instrumental in deepening one’s understanding of an issue of concern. We often think of fasting as related solely to food. But fasting can also include abstaining from a particular habit or practice for a period of time. Fasting of some sort is a normal part of Lent. In a kind of reverse fast, one may also take on a particular spiritual discipline for a period of time.

     Again, Jesus said when you fast not if you fast. Sometimes there are short total fasts for a day or two or more. On other occasions there are longer fasts, maybe from specific foods, or perhaps choosing to eat only one meal a day for the specific purpose of being liberated from a fleshly habit or desire. Fasting was a normal and regular part of the life of every major character in the Bible. If this is a new area to you, it will be worth doing your own Bible study on fasting, and then adopting it in some form. As you’ll find out, fasting was never intended to manipulate or gain favor with God. As Jesus pointed out, the whole purpose is to deepen one’s relationship with our heavenly Father. Clearly, Lent is not simply about giving up something for the season.

     Try setting aside a regular time to fast during these days, perhaps fasting for one meal or one day a week for starters. Of course be sure that you don’t have a medical condition that would make fasting unhealthy or dangerous. Giving alms for the poor, prayer, and fasting, three of the central themes of this season, are three of the disciplines practiced regularly by our Savior. Maybe he knew something we don’t know.

Music: “As the Deer,” Masters Chorale

https://www.youtube.com/watc?v=oYNNIUtQ160Prayer: Come now, little man turn aside for a while from your daily employment, escape for a moment from the tumult of your thoughts. Put aside your weighty cares, let your burdensome distractions wait, free yourself awhile for God and rest awhile in him. Enter the inner chamber of your soul, shut out everything except God and that which can help you in seeking him, and when you have shut the door, seek him. Now, my whole heart, say to God, ‘I seek your face, Lord, it is your face I seek.’       ―Anselm 1033-1109 

Scripture: Matthew 6: 9-15

“This, then, is how you should pray:

   ” ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.’ 

For if you forgive men when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.”

Some Thoughts

Right after Jesus talked about the importance of praying, he gave us an example. Notice his careful choice of words. He began, “Our Father in heaven . . .” He made a point of reminding us of the great reality of the moment. We are not simply saying words, we are talking to the Creator of the universe in real time. As we mentioned yesterday, there are a great many similarities between the Kaddish in the Jewish liturgy of Jesus’ day and the Our Father. You’ll note many, many prayers in the Old Testament begin not with requests but with an acknowledgement of the greatness of God. In the Our Father we are being reminded of whose we are (the Father’s) and at the same time reminding us of the existence of another world we cannot see. The Bible is the one book that presumes the reality of other dimensions and worlds outside the four dimensions in which we live. The writers never presume an allegorical or mythical mindset of heaven. Heaven is always treated as reality.

     Perhaps it would be wise for us to think a little more carefully than we sometimes do in how we begin prayers. It might be that “God, we ask you to . . .” may not be the most thoughtful, respectful way to address our Creator. Our words belie our shallow understanding of the One we address. “God” is not meant as a punctuation mark. Notice the way Jesus addresses his Father in John 17. In that chapter John invites us to listen in on Jesus’ conversation with his Father. Jesus is always mindful of who he is and who his Father is. Certainly there are times when a prayer is as short and urgent as “Help, Lord!” Though Jesus is our friend, he is also our coming King, our constant Intercessor, our victorious Warrior, our compassionate Redeemer, our holy Savior, all of which do not make us equals. In his prayers, Jesus was ever aware of his own Father/Son relationship. Remember, we are praying to a Father in heaven who has adopted us as his children. That kind of awareness is perhaps something we can tune our hearts to in our prayers. As you pray this week, be very aware of with whom you are talking. Jesus always was.

Music: “The Lord’s Prayer” Andrea Bocelli   

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, all the universe is yours. In its vastness you are everywhere present. No place is too far away to communicate. That you would interact with your creation is wondrous. Forgive us for those times we pray without thinking of the One to whom we are talking; for those times when we babble, lost in our words and our little world, oblivious to your grand design; for those times we drift off and forget we are praying; for those times when we tell you how to solve our problems and how to be God; and for those times when we are disrespectful and arrogant in our prayers as we seek to be clever or earthy. Teach us to pray as your dear Son prayed, for it is in his name that we offer this prayer. Amen.       —Daniel Sharp

Scripture: Matthew 6:5-8

 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

Some Thoughts

Again in a plain, beautiful way Jesus simply comments “when you pray.” Prayer, our conversation with God, is a normal, daily part of the Christian life. When is a word of action. It occurs in time. It signals the beginning of an event. So in Jesus saying when, his full expectation is that prayer is a part of our daily lives. The hypocrites, who have turned praying into a show of spirituality, miss the heart of prayer, which is personal, intimate communion with God.

     I couldn’t help but notice Jesus’ play on the word seen. Hypocrites were condemned for praying to be seen by others. Jesus then makes a point of praying in secret by going alone into one’s own room and shutting the door and praying to Father who is unseen. The humorous irony is that the unseen Father sees you and rewards you. The hypocrite’s shallow reward is from man, your eternal reward is from God.

     Notice Jesus does not condemn many words, just words that are babble. The words we use are meant to be communion with God. Nor does he condemn repetition, only vain repetition. You’ll recall Jesus gave us a model prayer to pray (the Lord’s Prayer) . . . which is based on a Jewish prayer from the synagogue liturgy (Kaddish), a prayer still prayed today in Jewish worship. True prayer is not telling God what he already knows and our telling him what to do about it! True prayer is humbling ourselves before God in privacy and praying to our Father who knows what we need. In praying every day with the same request, we need to be careful not to do so with a detached heart in order to get through our prayer list. I’m talking to myself here!

     Having said that, maybe you want to keep a prayer list or a prayer journal. It is very encouraging to be praying for some situation over a period of time and then see it come to fruition in God’s timing. While interceding for others is an important part of prayer, don’t neglect adoration, confession, and thanksgiving. I’ve noticed we’re very good at asking. In prayer we are turning to God in dependency as we turn from sin. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. One of the other important, though often neglected and difficult parts of prayer, is that of taking the time to listen to the Lord. My tendency is to be quiet a little bit and then get going. I’m still working on the listening part. There are a great many examples of prayer in Scripture to guide us along (Col. 1:9-14; Phil. 1:3-11; Dan. 9:1-19). Maybe during the Lenten season you’ll want to build a collection of all the prayers you can find in Scripture to deepen your prayer life as you learn from the saints.

Music: “What a Friend We Have in Jesus,” Alan Jackson    

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, our Intercessor, may our hearts be open to you, to see as you see. May we be obedient to your voice. Help us learn to be quiet and listen to you. May your voice become more and more familiar to our ears. May our prayer life with you multiply many times throughout the day. We ask that today you’d bring to our minds those people who need prayer. May we be free to pray with those in need as we go through the mornings, afternoons, and evenings of our lives. In all of this, may you receive glory. Thank you for praying for us continually. We pray this in the name of Jesus, who with the Father and Holy Spirit is worshiped and glorified, one God, forever and ever. Amen. 

                                            ―Daniel Sharp                                                                            

Scripture: Matthew 6:1-4

“Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven. So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you.

Some Thoughts

We don’t need big words to say powerful things. These words of Jesus have four or fewer letters and most have a single syllable.  He couldn’t be clearer. Ours is a faith that expresses itself in actions. Giving to the needy is one of those expected actions that is done not to buy God’s favor, make him love us more, or earn salvation. We give to those in need as an expression of our loving relationship with our heavenly Father. Giving is what we do as Christians in expressing our love. Jesus was clear. He didn’t say if you give to the needy, but rather when you give to the needy. Giving alms (money, food, or clothing) is one of the three primary themes of Lent along with fasting and praying. Have you noticed that is exactly what Jesus did his whole life? He fasted regularly; he prayed often; he gave continually to all, especially to those in need.

     In observing Jesus’ giving during his time on earth, I can’t think of one time when he gave money. The Bible doesn’t say anything about his bank account or if he even had one. When he paid his taxes, the coin was procured from the mouth of a fish! But in keeping with his words, Jesus did not broadcast when he gave to people so we don’t know about the money side of his life. He gave food to thousands when the five and four thousand were fed and clothing to the demoniac. What we do know is how much of his time he gave to people in need, all kinds of needs. His timing for giving was often guided by the needs of those around him. Jesus’ “when you give” seemed always to be tuned to the situation at hand. Also concerning the “when,” there is also no record of Jesus running anywhere. He often gave until he was exhausted and we are the beneficiaries. Not only is Jesus our model, but the Holy Spirit is also our source of strength to give. Does someone just need to be listened to? Expand your alms thinking. Ask the Lord to bring to mind someone you can encourage and give to in a practical way. It’s living the life of Jesus.

Music: “O the Deep, Deep Love of Jesus,” Simon Khorolskiy    

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, our Sustainer and Provider, help us to be your hands and feet to those in need. You have given to us so lavishly in so many varied ways. Tune our hearts to your own generous heart that we may more and more see as you see and do something about it. May the gradual transformation of our being into your likeness lead to the transformation of our doing. Thank you for coming to us in our great need. You are our only hope and salvation. May we bring hope, the hope found in you, to those around us. In Jesus’ name, Amen.       ―Daniel Sharp

Scripture: 2 John 1:1-13

“This letter is from John, the elder.

I am writing to the chosen lady and to her children, whom I love in the truth—as does everyone else who knows the truth— because the truth lives in us and will be with us forever.

Grace, mercy, and peace, which come from God the Father and from Jesus Christ—the Son of the Father—will continue to be with us who live in truth and love.

How happy I was to meet some of your children and find them living according to the truth, just as the Father commanded.

I am writing to remind you, dear friends, that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive your full reward. Anyone who wanders away from this teaching has no relationship with God. But anyone who remains in the teaching of Christ has a relationship with both the Father and the Son.

If anyone comes to your meeting and does not teach the truth about Christ, don’t invite that person into your home or give any kind of encouragement. Anyone who encourages such people becomes a partner in their evil work. I have much more to say to you, but I don’t want to do it with paper and ink. For I hope to visit you soon and talk with you face to face. Then our joy will be complete.

Greetings from the children of your sister, chosen by God.”

Some Thoughts

Have you ever noticed that many of the New Testament letters had to do with combating the heresies circulating in those days? (Galatians, Colossians, 2 Thessalonians, I Timothy, 2 Peter, Jude, John, and I, II, & III John!) Peter, Paul, Jude, and John all addressed the issue of false teaching about Jesus’ identity and what he taught. Notice also in this shortest book in the New Testament that John also stresses loving one another with discernment in the midst of confusing times. This is a striking letter in light of the 21st century church. But this is not the first time people have grappled and rejected the truth. Thomas Jefferson went through the Bible with a razor and cut out everything that had to do with the divinity of Christ or miracles and made up his own bible. It is a sad book. No hope, only moral teachings, no resurrection, no Pentecost, no Second Coming, no heaven, no sin, no relationship with God.

     In our day, not only is there hostility toward Christianity in some places, but there is also conflict within the church itself. Denominations split over doctrine and interpretation of Scripture to the point where heresies have entered the church in some quarters. In some churches the Bible is viewed as non-authoritative and in need of being reevaluated and reinterpreted. Enlightened humans will decide what it says and means considering today’s culture. There are individual churches and some denominations which have reexamined marriage. In such places marriage is no longer between one man and one woman, there are other options. Gender is no longer simply male and female, there are additional choices. Killing children waiting to be born is re-interpreted to as a woman’s right to choose (notice a pregnant woman is not referred to as a mother-to-be). For others, Jesus is not the only way to salvation. Hell is more of an idea than a reality and so forth.

     The divinely inspired words of the Scriptures span all of time. The challenge for us is to know what the Scriptures do in fact say, and most particularly, what did Jesus say regarding the Scripture of his day, the Old Testament. He freely quoted passages as God’s inspired word. He believed and taught every word of it as true. He fulfilled it. John points out here that we are to “remain in the teaching of Christ” that we might remain in relationship with both the Father and the Son.

     Did you notice something else in this pericope? John wrote about loving brothers and sisters in Christ as an act of obedience to God’s commands. But in his next thoughts he reminded his readers to have nothing to do with those who taught heresy. Do not embrace their teachings. Do not encourage them. Love does not mean you agree with everyone in the name of love. Loving in a Christian manner is loving with discernment.

     In our journey to the cross with Christ during this season, we can rest assured in the truth of his word and in Jesus’ view of the Scriptures. Such is the purpose of these daily devotionals, that we would spend time and encounter the Lord each day. Oh yes and remember to love your brothers and sisters in Christ and those potential brother and sisters.

Music: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing,” Fernando Ortega

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b0FTKMYGZ4

Make no mistake: if He rose at all it was as His body; if the cells’ dissolution did not reverse, the molecules reknit, the amino acids rekindle, the Church will fall . . .  Let us not mock God with metaphor, analogy, sidestepping, transcendence; making of the event a parable, a sign painted in the faded credulity of earlier ages: let us walk through the door.    ―John Updike

Prayer:

Lord God, your claims are absolute; we must accept them without bargaining. You are always right. Your demands are so full of blessings! I thank you for your severity as Redeemer, I thank You for never having allowed us to mingle the odor of death with Your perfume of eternity. I shall go towards You as towards my state of rest and my eternal life. In Your two hands You hold my being; and You are my reward, because the perfection of my being lies in You. Grant that I may love more and more of this life of faith, wholly irradiated by hope; grant that I may love this desert-place where You have put my soul, this immense plain with You in the center, where I stand always before You and someday soon, by Your Grace, by Your side. Amen.

                                                                ―Florence Allshorn, The Quiet Corner, p.93

Scripture: John 4:5-15; 19-26; 39-42

Eventually [Jesus] came to the Samaritan village of Sychar, near the field that Jacob gave to his son Joseph. Jacob’s well was there; and Jesus, tired from the long walk, sat wearily beside the well about noontime. Soon a Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Please give me a drink.” He was alone at the time because his disciples had gone into the village to buy some food.

The woman was surprised, for Jews refuse to have anything to do with Samaritans. She said to Jesus, “You are a Jew, and I am a Samaritan woman. Why are you asking me for a drink?”

Jesus replied, “If you only knew the gift God has for you and who you are speaking to, you would ask me, and I would give you living water.”

“But sir, you don’t have a rope or a bucket,” she said, “and this well is very deep. Where would you get this living water? And besides, do you think you’re greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us this well? How can you offer better water than he and his sons and his animals enjoyed?”

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again. But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

“Please, sir,” the woman said, “give me this water! Then I’ll never be thirsty again, and I won’t have to come here to get water.”

 “Go and get your husband,” Jesus told her.

 “I don’t have a husband,” the woman replied.

Jesus said, “You’re right! You don’t have a husband—for you have had five husbands, and you aren’t even married to the man you’re living with now. You certainly spoke the truth!”

“Sir,” the woman said, “you must be a prophet. So tell me, why is it that you Jews insist that Jerusalem is the only place of worship, while we Samaritans claim it is here at Mount Gerizim, where our ancestors worshiped?”

Jesus replied, “Believe me, dear woman, the time is coming when it will no longer matter whether you worship the Father on this mountain or in Jerusalem. You Samaritans know very little about the one you worship, while we Jews know all about him, for salvation comes through the Jews. But the time is coming—indeed it’s here now—when true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth. The Father is looking for those who will worship him that way. For God is Spirit, so those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.”

The woman said, “I know the Messiah is coming—the one who is called Christ. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

Then Jesus told her, “I am the Messiah!”

The woman left her water jar beside the well and ran back to the village, telling everyone, “Come and see a man who told me everything I ever did! Could he possibly be the Messiah?”

Many Samaritans from the village believed in Jesus because the woman had said, “He told me everything I ever did!” When they came out to see him, they begged him to stay in their village. So he stayed for two days, long enough for many more to hear his message and believe. Then they said to the woman, “Now we believe, not just because of what you told us, but because we have heard him ourselves. Now we know that he is indeed the Savior of the world.”

Some Thoughts

My guess is that you have read this particular passage many, many times and have listened to more than one sermon addressing this account of “Jesus and the Woman at the Well.” What more is there to say? I have found so often in Scripture that God has more things to tell me about himself that further alters the way I am to live and be, even from passages I’ve heard many times before. This pericope is another one of those conversations with God. The familiar part is that Jesus had walked a long way out of the way resulting in his being in hostile territory. It was noontime. He was tired. A questionable Samaritan woman came to the well for water. They were alone in a culturally improper, inappropriate setting. That is the general situation, now some context.

     Jesus had been in Judea and was traveling back north to Galilee. The main road from Jerusalem to the Galilee region ran straight through Samaria (presently included in the West Bank). Normally Jews avoided Samaria altogether and traveled on the east side of the Jordan River, the eastern boundary of Samaria, which was both a region and the name of the capital. Rather than going the usual eastern route, Jesus went straight through the middle of Samaria. Sychar was a little village just outside the capitol. The Samaritans were half-breed Jews, coming from the ten northern tribes who had intermarried with various nations who had invaded their land in the past. Some scholars believe that Samaritan Sanballat, who had given Ezra and Nehemiah such grief in rebuilding the wall in Jerusalem, was the one who built the Samaritan temple on Mt. Gerizim.

    In terms of religion, the Samaritans accepted the Pentateuch as their scripture and, like the Jews, were looking for the messiah. The Jews wanted nothing to do with Samaritans. They resented any blood relationship, which makes Jesus’ story of the “good Samaritan” even more pointed. Into this setting Jesus asks the woman for a drink. She was surprised and asked why he would ask her. He commented about living water. (Cisterns and wells had “dead” water. “Living water” was fresh flowing water. Samaria had no rivers and no “living water,” hence her comment.) She gave a little dig at him in her comment if he thought he was greater than our ancestor Jacob, reminding him that Jews and Samaritans had a common ancestor.

     Then came Jesus’ comment about the husbands. What strikes me is her immediate comment suggesting he must be a prophet for only a prophet could know hidden truth. There was no way a normal person could know about her past. I think she realized she was talking to an authentic prophet and so asked him a question about the ongoing controversy of the day between the Jews and Samaritans, worship at Gerizim (Samaritan temple) or Jerusalem (Jewish temple)? Who’s right? A true prophet would know. Jesus’ response was salvation comes from the Jews, not the Samaritans. But Jesus continued carrying the conversation to an even deeper level to the heart of her question. Worship is not about a place but takes place in spirit and in truth. Worship is not a ritual. The doubting woman’s response was immediate. When the Messiah comes, he will explain everything to us. Then came Jesus’ most powerful response, “I AM the Messiah.” She ran to town to tell everyone what had happened. As a result, Jesus was invited to go into the town and many people became believers as a result.

     Here are some things you may have noticed about Jesus in this encounter. He went out of his way into uncomfortable territory and crossed cultural barriers to meet someone who was socially unacceptable. He engaged her in her world. He asked something from her in starting the conversation. What followed were five questions from her. He led her into the truth. Though he knew her past, he did not condemn her. He went past her surface reactions and offered salvation and healing to her broken heart. He revealed himself to one who was truly open to the gospel. He forced nothing but responded to her questions. He followed up by staying more days in her town. Jesus has given us a model in sharing the gospel. Might we encounter a Samaritan man or woman today?

Music: “Jesus Messiah,” Gaither Vocal Band

Bonus:

Jesus and Samaritan woman   from “The Chosen”

Prayer:

O God, who wouldest not [will] the death of a sinner, but that he should be converted and live: forgive the sins of us who turn to thee with all our heart and grant us the grace of eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.  ―Early Scottish Prayer

Scripture: John 3:1-13

There was a man named Nicodemus, a Jewish religious leader who was a Pharisee. After dark one evening, he came to speak with Jesus. “Rabbi,” he said, “we all know that God has sent you to teach us. Your miraculous signs are evidence that God is with you.”                                           

Jesus replied, “I tell you the truth, unless you are born again, you cannot see the kingdom of God.”

“What do you mean?” exclaimed Nicodemus. “How can an old man go back into his mother’s womb and be born again?”

Jesus replied, “I assure you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and the Spirit. Humans can reproduce only human life, but the Holy Spirit gives birth to spiritual life. So don’t be surprised when I say, ‘You must be born again.’ The wind blows wherever it wants. Just as you can hear the wind but can’t tell where it comes from or where it is going, so you can’t explain how people are born of the Spirit.”

“How are these things possible?” Nicodemus asked.

Jesus replied, “You are a respected Jewish teacher, and yet you don’t understand these things? I assure you, we tell you what we know and have seen, and yet you won’t believe our testimony. But if you don’t believe me when I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe if I tell you about heavenly things? No one has ever gone to heaven and returned. But the Son of Man has come down from heaven.”                                

Some Thoughts

One of the more familiar accounts in the gospels is the interaction between Nicodemus, a leader of the Pharisees and one of the esteemed seventy rulers (like a Jewish Supreme Court), and Jesus. His coming at night presents a picture of one who is in the dark spiritually seeking light, a common theme in John’s gospel. In this portion of their conversation, one thing you notice is Nicodemus’ struggle to think beyond a literal physical birth in trying to understand the meaning of a spiritual birth or being born again. Jewish leaders did not believe they needed to repent of their sin. Their way to salvation was through observing the law and the traditions. They didn’t need to be saved or born again. After all, they were God’s chosen people. So Jesus’ idea of being born into the Kingdom of God did not fit their theology. But Nicodemus was open minded toward Jesus, hence this meeting under the cover of night.

     Jesus’ challenge to Nicodemus was if you won’t believe what I tell you about earthly things, how can you possibly believe what I tell you about heavenly things? Jesus’ explanation was a magnificent account showing how earth-bound humans can be connected to heaven, to God, a relationship established through the action of the Holy Spirit resulting in a spiritual birth. No person has a spiritual birth simply as a result of rational thinking. The point Jesus was making was that human striving or effort will never get one into the kingdom of heaven. The Holy Spirit is the agent from above granting a new birth even as a person exercises faith. Baptism is the result of the gracious act of God and a believing human.

     In Jesus’ words on entering the Kingdom of God, he said that it was necessary to be born of water and the Spirit. There has been much discussion through the centuries as to what born of water means. One thought was that it referred to John’s baptism of repentance. A second thought was that it refers to procreation and a third is that it alludes to Christian baptism, though that has not yet occurred at this point. Whichever view one holds, the main point is the activity of the Spirit in bringing new birth.

     In giving added authority to his comment, Jesus then makes a once in eternity statement, “No one has ever gone to heaven and returned, but the Son of Man has come down from heaven!” In other words, there is no way humans can ever attain heaven on their own. In Jesus, earthly history and theology are melded into one. The Son of Man came from heaven, took on human flesh, died, rose again, returned to heaven awaiting his final return to earth. There is no religion in the world where the god became fully human, dwelt on earth, died, and rose again, and returned to heaven. Christianity is unique. Thank God today for your spiritual birth and continue to pray for those who have not yet been born of water and the Spirit. Be encouraged. Keep praying for the Nicodemus’ in your world.

     While today’s music is often associated with Advent, it is music of the Incarnation and after all, Advent, Christmastide, Lent, Easter, and Pentecost are all part of the same story! The name of the group is perfect for today’s Scripture passage.

Music: “Of the Father’s Love Begotten,” Out of Darkness

Bonus:

Jesus interacts with Nicodemus in “The Chosen”

Prayer:

Gracious God, you brought Christ into the world to bear our afflictions, and by his stripes we are healed; we come with thanksgiving for his cleansing redemption. Purge the stain of sin within us and give us clean hearts, that we may serve you more faithfully. Renew right minds that we may enjoy the fruits of your Spirit and abound in the love, joy, peace, goodness, and faithfulness we find in the reconciling love of Christ Jesus, our Savior and Lord. 

―Prayers for Easter, James G. Kirk, p.15               

Scripture: Exodus 16:9-21

Then Moses said to Aaron, “Announce this to the entire community of Israel: ‘Present yourselves before the Lord, for he has heard your complaining.’” And as Aaron spoke to the whole community of Israel, they looked out toward the wilderness. There they could see the awesome glory of the Lord in the cloud.

Then the Lord said to Moses, “I have heard the Israelites’ complaints. Now tell them, ‘In the evening you will have meat to eat, and in the morning you will have all the bread you want. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God.’”

That evening vast numbers of quail flew in and covered the camp. And the next morning the area around the camp was wet with dew. When the dew evaporated, a flaky substance as fine as frost blanketed the ground. The Israelites were puzzled when they saw it. “What is it?” they asked each other. They had no idea what it was.

And Moses told them, “It is the food the Lord has given you to eat. These are the Lord’s instructions: Each household should gather as much as it needs. Pick up two quarts for each person in your tent.”

So the people of Israel did as they were told. Some gathered a lot, some only a little. But when they measured it out, everyone had just enough. Those who gathered a lot had nothing left over, and those who gathered only a little had enough. Each family had just what it needed.

Then Moses told them, “Do not keep any of it until morning.” But some of them didn’t listen and kept some of it until morning. But by then it was full of maggots and had a terrible smell. Moses was very angry with them.

After this the people gathered the food morning by morning, each family according to its need. And as the sun became hot, the flakes they had not picked up melted and disappeared.

Some Thoughts

This passage from Exodus is the iconic picture of humanity! I’m going to back up a bit to bring this portion into context. The Israelites were freed from 430 years of slavery to the Egyptians a month ago. They had just left an oasis and were continuing towards the Promised Land, the land God had given them. These people, a million plus strong, were complaining about Moses’ and Aaron’s leadership. In the people’s words, we sat around in Egypt with pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted! They were slaves after all! They didn’t sit around at a barbecue in the evenings.   

     Complaining often blinds us to reality and tends to feed more complaining, which was true for these people. Moses was quick to remind them their gripe was against God, not against him and his brother. Moses wanted no part of the crabbing. The Lord then told Moses his plan which was to give the Israelites food one day at a time, just the amount they needed for that day. Then the day before the Sabbath, they should take a double portion because God would provide no manna on the Sabbath. God was resting from any work on that day and they should too. So far so good.

     Then we come to the passage you just read. Aaron passed God’s words and plan along to the people. They had been complaining about meat and bread and God provided both, even with the same words of their complaint. (All the bread you want . . .) And the point? Then you will know that I am the Lord your God. And that phrase is the point. The awesome glory of God in the cloud was a visual, physical reminder to the people of God’s continuing presence with them. Notice God provided exactly what they needed and the amount they needed. They had to trust him for each day’s need. If they got greedy, the food spoiled. If they got lazy, they went hungry. And of course some people tried it both ways as the passage continues after the portion you read.

     This account of the desert wanderings has a very clear point. We are to learn to turn to the Lord each day for sustenance. The purpose is to learn to rely on him for the immediate present. Don’t worry about next week. (Matthew 6:34, Jesus’ words, “Don’t worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring its own worries. Today’s trouble is enough for today.”) Go to him daily for relationship and for nourishment. He will always provide. And quit complaining imagining things are better in another situation. Have you ever noticed that complaining is always self-focused? P.S. That entire generation to a person, hundreds of thousands of people died in the desert, never arriving to the place God had promised them. The Israelites turned what should have been an eleven-day journey into the Promised Land into a forty-year death march. And all because they could not trust the Lord one day at a time.

Music: “To God Be the Glory,” Sissel       

If you let it keep running after this video, there are additional videos of her singing this piece at different years in her life. A gorgeous voice. Not to be missed.

Prayer:

Almighty God, forgive my doubt, my anger, my complaining, my pride, my greed, my selfishness, my sinful thoughts, my impatience, my laziness . . . Lord, you get the idea. I am a sinner through and through. Lord Jesus, help me learn to live with a grateful heart, a patient heart, a trusting heart, a clean heart, a tender heart, a truthful heart, a heart more like yours as you live in and through me. May I grow in holy living. By your grace and nourishment I will endeavor to continue the journey through the desert of this world until I cross the Jordan into the Promised Land, the Land you have prepared for all your children to dwell in your presence for the rest of Eternity. In the name of the one who is the Bread of Life, even Jesus my Savior. Amen.   ―Daniel Sharp

Scripture: Ephesians 1:7-14

He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins. He has showered his kindness on us, along with all wisdom and understanding. God has now revealed to us his mysterious plan regarding Christ, a plan to fulfill his own good pleasure. And this is the plan: At the right time he will bring everything together under the authority of Christ—everything in heaven and on earth. Furthermore, because we are united with Christ, we have received an inheritance from God, for he chose us in advance, and he makes everything work out according to his plan. God’s purpose was that we Jews who were the first to trust in Christ would bring praise and glory to God. And now you Gentiles have also heard the truth, the Good news that God saves you. And when you believed in Christ, he identified you as his own by giving you the Holy Spirit, whom he promised long ago. The Spirit is God’s guarantee that he will give us the inheritance he promised and that he has purchased us to be his own people. He did this so we would praise and glorify him.

Some Thoughts

You may have often heard that God has a wonderful plan for your life. If you are like me, I find it easy to think of God’s plan in terms of specific things or events in my life. I’m not so sure this concept is always what God has in mind. Sometimes, yes, it appears to be the case. Maybe there was some event or action that you recognized had God’s hand all over it. But there are plenty of other times when it seems God’s plan is a complete mystery.

     The pericope you just read is one of the clearest articulations of God’s purpose for his Son and for us. It tells us how God feels about human beings and how it is possible for humans to relate to God. His love for everyone and desire to forgive sin is clear. Christ will fulfill his plan and bring pleasure and glory to God as it comes to fruition. When there is a plan, it is important to know the end result when the plan is completed. What does it look like when it is finished? In these verses God gives us that picture. Those people who are his own are guaranteed an inheritance by the Holy Spirit in their lives. All the work of Christ happened so believers might offer praise and glory to God. All of this comes together under the authority of Christ at the right time. What detail, one that we wish were there, is missing in this passage? The timing of getting to the end of God’s plan. There is a reason.

     As you read in the passage above, God’s plan is to fulfill his own good pleasure. If our desire is to bring glory to God in our lifetime, then we do want to be in accord with his plan. It is the only way glory will go to God. The italicized print clarifies the timing of such. My problem is I don’t know the timing and God isn’t telling me. Matthew Henry has two very pertinent quotes: “God has wisely kept us in the dark concerning future events and reserved for himself the knowledge of them, [why?] that he may train us up in a dependence upon himself and a continued readiness for every event.” And “Cast not away your confidence because God defers his performances. That which does not come in your time, will be hastened in his time, which is always the more convenient season. God will work when he pleases, how he pleases, and by what means he pleases. He is not bound to keep our time, but he will perform his work, honor our faith, and reward them that diligently seek him.” Well said, Matthew! Hang in there folks.                                               

Music: “Abide with Me,” St. Olaf Cantori and Congregation

This is worth your 7 minutes and 12 seconds! THIS IS CONGREGATIONAL SINGING! Note the number of millennials in the congregation singing! Let’s hear it for the Lutherans!               

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.     

Prayer:                         

Almighty and ever-blessed God, I thank Thee for the love wherewith Thou dost follow me all the days of my life. I thank Thee that Thou dost inform my mind with Thy divine truth and undergird my will with Thy Spirit’s leading, and for all those little happenings which, though seeming at the time no more than chance, yet afterwards appears to me as part of Thy gracious plan for the education of my soul. O let me not refuse Thy leading or quench this light which Thou hast kindled within me, but rather let me daily grow in grace and in the knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord and Master. Amen.                             

―John Baillie, A Diary of Private Prayer, p.47

Scripture: Mark 11:15-19

When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.

That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city. 

Some Thoughts

If you knew you were to die for certain in three weeks, what would you do? My guess is you could care less about the news or the weather or sports or finishing up the quarterly report. My guess is we’d call together the people we are closest to and love dearly and tell them what is most important to us. I’ve always been curious as to those things which were significant to Jesus as he neared the end of his earthly life. A quarter to one half of each gospel is devoted to the last six days of Jesus’ life on earth. Unlike us, he knew he was going to die and knew when he would die. This pericope gives us one of the early insights into Jesus’ perspective as to what was important to God.

     God’s house, the Temple, was to be a place of prayer for everyone, not just the Jews. That was a surprise to everyone in Jesus’ day. It was to be a place of communing with God the Father, of intimate conversation with the Creator. It had become something else, a place of crass religious business. As you might guess, the merchants were not pleased that he called them out and destroyed their crass business. So the religious leaders and teachers, encouraged by the merchants no doubt, began to hatch a plot to kill Jesus, even though he was very popular.

     Jesus’ heart lay with all people communing with his Father in prayer. I wonder if that is what happens when the body of Christ gathers for worship these days? Is worship in your church a place of communing with the Father as a congregation or do we have a “high five, yeah Jesus time?” Is catching up with others on the past week the highest priority? Do we acknowledge the presence of God in our midst at a conscious level? When was the last time the body of Christ was on its knees in repentance in awe of our life-giving Savior. Just asking. So, what would you say to your children, grandchildren, or nieces or nephews, or some other close friends as you came to the end of your life on earth?

     My father finished lunch, went out in the barnyard to move a grain elevator, and a split second later was in heaven when a cable snapped. What are the most important things you want to communicate to your loved ones? What’s keeping you? You know, you are not guaranteed next week or even tomorrow. I know what was most important to my dad. He lived it and taught it.

Music: “Salvation Is Created,” National Lutheran Choir

Prayer

Almighty God, the giver of all life and breath and hope, I worship and glorify your holy name. The whole creation has come into being through your power; and I rejoice that your purpose for creation is a loving purpose. You revealed your love for me in Jesus Christ; and I am privileged indeed to have been brought to a living faith in you. Forgive me, Lord, for the times I have made myself and my feelings the center of my worship. With people in every corner of the world I join our offering of worship with the offering that rises to you constantly from earth and heaven. Blessing and honor and glory and power be to our God―Father, Son and Spirit―on this day and always; through the priesthood of our Savior Jesus Christ. Amen. 

                                                   ―Prayers for Sunday Services, p.40, adapted Daniel Sharp 

Scripture: 1 Peter 2:4-10

You are coming to Christ, who is the living cornerstone of God’s temple. He was rejected by people, but he was chosen by God for great honor.                                   

And you are living stones that God is building into his spiritual temple. What’s more, you are his holy priests. Through the mediation of Jesus Christ, you offer spiritual sacrifices that please God. As the Scriptures say,                          

“I am placing a cornerstone in Jerusalem, chosen for great honor,

and anyone who trusts in him

will never be disgraced.”

Yes, you who trust him recognize the honor God has given him. But for those who reject him, “The stone that the builders rejected has now become the cornerstone.”

 And, “He is the stone that makes people stumble, the rock that makes them fall.” They stumble because they do not obey God’s word, and so they meet the fate that was planned for them. But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

“Once you had no identity as a people; now you are God’s people.

Once you received no mercy; now you have received God’s mercy.”                                 

Some Thoughts

In today’s passage, Peter reminds us that we are living stones, an actual part of the Temple in which Jesus is the cornerstone. This is not pretend faith. We are part of the real thing, a world that is bigger and extends beyond what you and I can see. It doesn’t feel like it, does it? As you are sitting somewhere reading this, my guess is that it doesn’t feel very spiritual. Us as living stones may seem more like a “theological principle” than reality is my guess. The truth is, we are part of another world. We’re so often caught up in this present world, that we forget about the biggest picture.

     Did you notice how obedience to God’s word enters in here again? How often have you heard, “But I don’t feel like it.” Obedience doesn’t rely on feelings at its core. In the Hebrew mind, doing is the evidence that one has heard. Think of the Shema. If there is no action, one has not heard. Look at all the examples in the Scriptures. Action is the evidence that you have heard. In their growing up years, we sought to impress this concept upon our children― “Time to go to bed . . .  ok, I heard you dad . . . Are you in bed . . . I’m going . . .” with varied results!

     The mercy here is that we are God’s chosen children. He called us out of our bondage to sin and now we are marked with his identity. The season of Lent is concerned with God’s recovering and restoring a people for himself. We are a part of a great human exodus, an exodus from slavery to sin to freedom from sin, from darkness to light. Sadly, there are always those who wish to remain in Egypt under the yoke of slavery to sin. But we are a royal priesthood, a holy nation. The Tabernacle in the wilderness is us, the place of God’s dwelling. Can you doubt we are living in a wilderness? You and I are parts of God’s physical kingdom on earth. We didn’t used to be, but, having come to faith in Jesus, now we are living stones in his earthly Temple. So, do the work of a priest today. Bind the broken-hearted, support the weak, honor all people. Love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t really matter how you feel. Do it!

Music: “Miserere Mei,” Tenebrae Choir    

         This is a setting of the confessional Psalm 51                                      

Prayer:

Go forth into the world in peace, be of good courage, hold fast to that which is good, render to no one evil for evil, strengthen the faint hearted, support the weak, help the afflicted, honor all people, love and serve the Lord rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit, and may God Almighty, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be with you and remain with you now and always. Amen.       ―1928 Book of Common Prayer

Scripture:  Genesis 22:1-19

Some time later, God tested Abraham’s faith. “Abraham!” God called.

“Yes,” he replied. “Here I am.”

“Take your son, your only son—yes, Isaac, whom you love so much—and go to the land of Moriah. Go and sacrifice him as a burnt offering on one of the mountains, which I will show you.”

The next morning Abraham got up early. He saddled his donkey and took two of his servants with him, along with his son, Isaac. Then he chopped wood for a fire for a burnt offering and set out for the place God had told him about. On the third day of their journey, Abraham looked up and saw the place in the distance. “Stay here with the donkey,” Abraham told the servants. “The boy and I will travel a little farther. We will worship there, and then we will come right back.”

So Abraham placed the wood for the burnt offering on Isaac’s shoulders, while he himself carried the fire and the knife. As the two of them walked on together, Isaac turned to Abraham and said, “Father?”

“Yes, my son?” Abraham replied.

“We have the fire and the wood,” the boy said, “but where is the sheep for the burnt offering?”

“God will provide a sheep for the burnt offering, my son,” Abraham answered. And they both walked on together.

When they arrived at the place where God had told him to go, Abraham built an altar and arranged the wood on it. Then he tied his son, Isaac, and laid him on the altar on top of the wood. And Abraham picked up the knife to kill his son as a sacrifice. At that moment the angel of the LORD called to him from heaven, “Abraham! Abraham!”

“Yes,” Abraham replied. “Here I am!”

“Don’t lay a hand on the boy!” the angel said. “Do not hurt him in any way, for now I know that you truly fear God. You have not withheld from me even your son, your only son.”

Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the LORD will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the LORD it will be provided.”

Then the angel of the LORD called again to Abraham from heaven. “This is what the LORD says: Because you have obeyed me and have not withheld even your son, your only son, I swear by my own name that I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.”

Then they returned to the servants and traveled back to Beersheba, where Abraham continued to live. 

Some Thoughts

As the Lenten season begins to point more specifically toward the cross, we come to this familiar story of Abraham and Isaac. There are so many familiarities and Christological types in the First Testament. Another way to look at these accounts is what the Scriptures call shadows. Abraham was a type of God the Father figure in that he did not withhold his son, his only son whom he loved. We are reminded of Jesus on the mount of Transfiguration when the Father spoke from heaven “this is my beloved son, my chosen one, listen to him.” Isaac was a type of Christ figure. He was the chosen one rather than Ishmael. As Jesus carried the wooden cross on his back for his sacrifice, so also Isaac carried the wood on his back for his sacrifice. A lamb was eventually sacrificed in place of Isaac, but Jesus, as the Lamb of God, laid down his life as our sacrifice. There were two servant witnesses who accompanied Abraham and Isaac but did not observe the eventual sacrifice. There were two thieves who bore witness to the crucifixion of Jesus. (Jewish law required the testimony of at least two witnesses to verify the truth in any situation. Deut.17:6)

     The sacrifice of the ram took place on Mt. Moriah, which can also be a region, the eventual site of Solomon’s Temple as well as Golgotha. A donkey went with them reminding us of Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. The sacrifice was offered on the third day. As it turned out, Isaac, was in effect, raised from the dead on the third day. As God the Father raised Jesus on the third day, so Abraham believed God would raise his slain son (Heb.11:19). I’m not making this up! The one performing the burnt offering was also the one who slayed the sacrifice. A burnt sacrifice was consumed completely by the fire, unlike other types of sacrifices which often had some portion of the sacrifice go to the priest. This sacrifice was to atone for a sinful state, rather than for forgiveness of a specific sin. The sacrificial victim was to be in perfect health at the onset of the prime of its life. While the sacrifice of the ram was a substitute in place of Isaac Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross was in our place. Indeed, as the Scripture says, “On the mount of the Lord it shall be provided.” 

     Abraham returned home with his son. And we await the return of our Father in heaven with his Son. The ultimate sacrifice has been completed. So where does this account register with us today? What difference does it make? What happened to Abraham in the story, happens to each of us every day if we will recognize it. While certainly not as dramatic, the core principle certainly presents itself. When God called Abraham, his response was “Here I am.” The Hebrew word is hineni. The closest we can get in meaning in English is readiness, alertness, attentiveness, very responsive to instructions. I think of asking your dog if he wants to go for a walk! Imagine God asking you that question every morning. Do you want to walk in my path today? He does. And we have a choice to die to ourselves each morning. Will I rely on my own insight in every situation that arises? Will I listen for God’s voice today? Will I trust God when a situation looks impossible? Will I be obedient to what God shows me even if it doesn’t make sense to me? Will I act on what God shows me? Jesus is our perfect model.

Music: “When I Survey the Wondrous Cross,” Massed Choirs, Weston Noble,

                                    -Isaac Watts

When I survey the wondrous cross

On with the Prince of glory died,

My richest gain I count but loss

And pour contempt on all my pride.

See from his head, his hands, his feet

Sorrow and love flow mingled down,

Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,

Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine

That were a present far too small

Love so amazing, so divine,

Demands my soul, my life, my all.

(This may well be the grandest hymn in the English language.)

Prayer:

You are God and we praise you; you are the Lord and we acclaim you; you are the eternal Father; all creation worships you. To you all angels, all the powers of heaven, cherubim and seraphim sing in endless praise, Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of power and might; Heaven and earth are full of your glory. The glorious company of apostles praise you; the noble fellowship of prophets praise you; the white-robed army of martyrs praise you. Throughout the whole world the holy church acclaims you, Father of majesty unbounded, your true and only Son worthy of all worship, and the Holy Spirit advocate and guide. To you eternal God, three in one we give you praise. Amen.

                                    -Te Deum, 4^th century

Scripture: Matthew 17:1-9

Six days later Jesus took Peter and the two brothers, James and John, and led them up a high mountain to be alone. As the men watched, Jesus’ appearance was transformed so that his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became as white as light. Suddenly, Moses and Elijah appeared and began talking with Jesus.

Peter exclaimed, “Lord, it’s wonderful for us to be here! If you want, I’ll make three shelters as memorials—one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.”

But even as he spoke, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my dearly loved Son, who brings me great joy. Listen to him.” The disciples were terrified and fell face down on the ground.

Then Jesus came over and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” And when they looked up, Moses and Elijah were gone, and they saw only Jesus.

As they went back down the mountain, Jesus commanded them, “Don’t tell anyone what you have seen until the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.”

Some Thoughts

What would have it been like for you as one of his disciples to travel with the famous Jesus? He was a rock star. Great crowds of people showed up wherever you all went. You saw his miracles with your own eyes. You lived and travelled with him. He even gave you power to do a few miracles yourself. Now as Peter, James, or John, you were a part of his inner circle yet you couldn’t quite figure him out. Where was he headed with his mission? Sometimes you were almost afraid of him or fearful of asking him to clarify what you didn’t understand. This was a pretty heady time for you as a very ordinary blue-collar disciple. The only really unusual thing was that he chose you to follow him in the first place. And now you have this unusual experience.

     Jesus often referred to himself in the third person as the Son of Man. In fact, just before the passage of Scripture you just read, he had asked the twelve disciples this pointed question, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” Peter (of course) answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus then told the three not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah. To a disciple, this must have seemed to be a very strange request.

     A short time later Matthew recorded an event called the Transfiguration. Jesus took his inner circle, Peter, James, and John with him to a mountain top. There is speculation as to on which mountain this occurred, though Mt. Tabor is assumed to be the location according to tradition. This unique event affirmed three things: the identity of Jesus as the Son of God, his relationship to the Old Testament greats, as well as the Father’s affirming of his mission.

     The presence of Moses and Elijah may seem a curious pair at first. Why these two men? Moses died 1400 years earlier and Elijah around 850 BCE. Moses led the first exodus of Jews from the bondage of slavery to freedom in a shadow of what was to come. We learn from the Synoptics that the conversation among Moses, Elijah, and Jesus concerned Jesus’ own “exodus” from this world, that’s the word Luke used (Luke 9:31). The Transfiguration showed that Jesus was the new and better Moses leading all peoples enslaved to sin to a path to eternal freedom. Moses died looking into the Promised Land and was buried by God himself in an unknown grave. Moses was held in highest esteem by the Jews, as the one who received and represented the Law, after all, he had talked with God directly and represented the very best of tradition and truth under the Law. In contrast, Jesus fulfilled the Law, died and entered a known grave, overcame death, rose again, and opened the way for all to enter the Promised Land.

     You’ll recall Elijah did not die, but rather was taken by a chariot of fire straight to heaven. He was viewed as one of the greatest prophets of the Old Testament. He was the prophet Malachi announced would appear to prepare the way of the Lord (Malachi 4:5. Note that Malachi also pairs him with Moses and the Law in the previous verse). The Transfiguration fulfills Malachi’s prophecy concerning Moses and Elijah. Here the disciples saw two very noteworthy, prominent Old Testament figures in Moses and Elijah appearing from that Promised Land. They apparently came to comfort and give solace to Jesus as he prepared to give his life as the ultimate Lamb of God in freeing all peoples from the bondage of sin. When the cloud lifted the disciples saw only Jesus indicating that the Law (Moses) and the Prophets (Elijah) had been fulfilled as only Jesus was left standing in shining brilliance. Their work was finished as Jesus embarked on his. Clearly, Peter’s suggestion of building three equal booths was inappropriate. The disciples were witnesses to the brilliance of the event and the affirmation of Jesus as God spoke from heaven.

     Then we read further that Jesus told these three to say nothing of what they had seen and heard. Why? It was not yet God the Father’s timing. Why did these three get to see this event and not the other disciples? It appears Jesus was grooming them for leadership after he was gone. After the resurrection and ascension, Peter and John did assume significant leadership in the early days of the church. James was killed early on (Acts 12:2). Peter later referred to seeing Jesus’ glory (2 Peter 1:16-21) and cited the experience as giving him greater confidence in the truth of Jesus as the Son of God as they led the early church. Remember, the disciples were trying to understand Jesus’ mission.

       What does this have to do with Lent? We can always have great confidence in the great and detailed care God gave in bringing redemption to all tribes, tongues, and nations. His plan begun before the dawn of creation, came to a pivotal point in the Transfiguration, and continues to this day. It will culminate in the Lord’s Return which will usher in the heavenly realm for all eternity . . . and all Jesus’ disciples worldwide will be there!

Music: “Sanctus,” from Requiem Durufle   Robert Shaw Festival Singers

“Holy, holy, holy, Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest.”

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, until the day when we see Thee face to face in all Thy glory, when we don’t have to come down the mountain but dwell in Thy presence forever, when we see what we’ve never even conceived, when we hear music that our ears have never even imagined, when the whole world sees the glory of the glorious Son of God, until then may we be faithful. May we not keep quiet, but go into all our world preaching the great Good News of redemption in Christ in deeds, in words and in demeanor. Amen.     

                                                                                             ―Daniel Sharp

Scripture: Daniel 9:15-25a

“O Lord our God, you brought lasting honor to your name by rescuing your people from Egypt in a great display of power. But we have sinned and are full of wickedness. In view of all your faithful mercies, Lord, please turn your furious anger away from your city Jerusalem, your holy mountain. All the neighboring nations mock Jerusalem and your people because of our sins and the sins of our ancestors.

“O our God, hear your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate sanctuary.

“O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your city—the city that bears your name—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy.

“O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your city bear your name.” 

I went on praying and confessing my sin and the sin of my people, pleading with the LORD my God for Jerusalem, his holy mountain. As I was praying, Gabriel, whom I had seen in the earlier vision, came swiftly to me at the time of the evening sacrifice. He explained to me, “Daniel, I have come here to give you insight and understanding. The moment you began praying, a command was given.And now I am here to tell you what it was, for you are very precious to God. Listen carefully so that you can understand the meaning of your vision.

“A period of seventy sets of seven has been decreed for your people and your holy city to finish their rebellion, to put an end to their sin, to atone for their guilt, to bring in everlasting righteousness, to confirm the prophetic vision, and to anoint the Most Holy Place. Now listen and understand! Seven sets of seven plus sixty-two sets of seven will pass from the time the command is given to rebuild Jerusalem until a ruler—the Anointed One—comes. Jerusalem will be rebuilt with streets and strong defenses, despite the perilous times.”

Some thoughts:

The reading today is the concluding portion of Daniel’s prayer to the Lord. Daniel had been given a vision concerning the time to come. Interestingly, the message was given by the angel, Gabriel, the same angel who would hundreds of years later speak to Zachariah and Mary. Here again is news concerning the Messiah and Jerusalem. This task seems to be Gabriel’s job. The understanding of his message has been subject to a wide variety of interpretations. Our interest is with his prayer.

     This prayer gives us much insight into the act of prayer itself, one of the key themes of the Lenten season along with fasting, and giving to the poor. Notice several things in Daniel’s words: 1) We are reminded of God’s covenant promise to his people. In prayer it is always good to begin with reiterating the great truths about God. It puts our heart and mind into the right context for the rest of our prayer. [cf. Yesterday’s devotional] 2) Daniel confessed his own sin as well as the sins of his people. Moreover, he did not say we’ve made mistakes; we’ve used bad judgment; we should have been wiser, we misread the situation. His words were: we were wicked; we rebelled; we turned away; we did not listen. There is complete admission that we have been in the wrong.

     In looking at today’s pericope we read the expression of a truly repentant heart and one of the most touching passages in Scripture. We do not make requests of you because we are righteous, but because of your great mercy. O Lord, listen! O Lord, forgive! O Lord, hear and act! For your sake, O my God, do not delay, because your city and your people bear your Name. Note the thrice appeal. There are few three’s in the Bible, this is one of them. It is worth reflecting on these appeals in light of the Trinity. We also see that the fervent prayer of a righteous person avails much (James 5:16). Daniel’s prayer moved heaven itself. What does all this tell us? Prayer is effective in the courts of heaven and on earth. There are times when God is moved to action by our prayers. Gabriel’s words to Daniel were the moment you began praying, a command was given. Prayer is not limited to earthly chronological time. Keep praying God’s timetable. In his prayer, Daniel was given God’s perspective on the situation since he had been reading Jeremiah’s prophecy prior to beginning this prayer (Dan.9:2-3). As you pray today for those things on your heart, listen for God’s perspective in the Scriptures. What has he put on your heart. Pray for that. You may have to sit, be quiet, and meditate on his word.

Hymn: “Sweet Hour of Prayer,” Radiance                https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ph43J3pnBDo

Prayer: God of compassion, you are slow to anger and full of mercy, welcoming sinners who return to you with penitent hearts. Receive in your loving embrace all who come home to you. We confess that we have been wayward children. We have disobeyed your commands; our ears have been deaf to your call; our hearts have been cold to your love. In thought, in word, and in deed, in attitude we have hurt others and dishonored your name. Our sin is against you. Receive us yet again as your beloved children, not because we are worthy but for the sake of him who loved us and gave himself for us. Amen.                                        -Anonymous

Scripture: Psalm 77:10-15

And I said, “This is my fate;

    the Most High has turned his hand against me.”

But then I recall all you have done, O Lord;

    I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago.

They are constantly in my thoughts.

    I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.

O God, your ways are holy.

    Is there any god as mighty as you?

You are the God of great wonders!

    You demonstrate your awesome power among the nations.

By your strong arm, you redeemed your people,

    the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. 

Some Thoughts

Asaph, the author of this psalm had nearly given up on God. His words? This is my fate; the Most High has turned his hand against me. Have you ever felt that God is working against you?  There is no worse feeling than concluding that someone has given up on you . . . especially when it’s you. It’s even worse when that someone is God. What’s the use? It’s over. We’ve made too big a mess. It can’t be fixed. Even in that state, if we’re honest, we’re hoping for a deep down miracle of someone changing their mind about us or that the situation will miraculously turn around or melt away. “The Most High has turned his hand against me . . .”  Is there a way to be convinced that God hasn’t slammed the door on us?

     There is the famous little three letter word “but” followed by “recall”. Yes, in those moments of greatest doubt and discouragement, let history come to the rescue. History is much longer than the time you are in and may also provide a better perspective than you have in this moment.  Why do you think that throughout the entire Old Testament God continually reminded the people to recite their history? I’m indebted to Dennis Prager for this thought. Memory permeates faith. No memory, no faith. Memory permeates gratitude. No memory, no gratitude. God commanded that his people remember certain feasts for that very purpose (Passover, Pentecost, Tabernacles).

      On top of that, God has selective memory and so should we. He cannot remember sin, but he does remember his covenant. In moments of greatest doubt go to what you know is true from the past. The psalmist writes “I recall all you have done O Lord.” Truth filled history adjusts and corrects current perspective. The psalmist lets God’s past action permeate his mind. “I cannot stop thinking about . . . they are constantly in my thoughts.”

     There is another thing to note about this psalm. Our passage begins with verse ten. The first nine verses you haven’t read are a cry from one who feels forgotten by God. Verse ten, our beginning sums up the first nine verses. Once the psalmist moves from his perspective to God’s history things change. The last four verses which we do not have, name specific acts of redemption of the people’s history with God

     The next time you are low and are convinced God has forgotten you, stick a big “but” in the middle of your thoughts. Then shift your thinking and remember God’s actions toward you in the past. Let his past work in your life permeate your mind. As you remember God’s actions, you’ll most likely hear his voice talking to you reminding you what is true. God will never forget you.

Music: “Come Ye Sinners, Poor and Needy,” Fernando Ortega

Prayer: 

Give us, O Lord, steadfast hearts, which no unworthy thought can drag downwards; unconquered hearts, which no tribulation can wear out; upright hearts, which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside. Bestow upon us also, O Lord God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

                        ―Thomas à Kempis, 1380-1471

Scripture: Psalm 121 

I look up to the mountains—

    does my help come from there?

My help comes from the Lord,

    who made heaven and earth!

He will not let you stumble;

    the one who watches over you will not slumber.

Indeed, he who watches over Israel

    never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord himself watches over you!

    The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.

The sun will not harm you by day,

    nor the moon at night.

The Lord keeps you from all harm

    and watches over your life.

The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,

    both now and forever.

Some Thoughts

You have read at different times in the First Testament how the pagans worshiped in “high places” and on hilltops under spreading trees. Why? The reason is in order to be closer to the gods! This idolatrous cultic practice on mountains had an unhealthy attraction for God’s people. The opening of this psalm could be read as a rhetorical question expecting a negative answer. Your help does not come from gods worshiped on mountain tops. Your help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth and the mountains!

     This psalm is an underscoring of Genesis 1:1. “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Though this great Creator God created all that exists, he is still concerned and cares about you. He is always tuned to his creation for he never slumbers or sleeps. Think about it. Our God is always awake dialed into everything going on in his creation in all parts of everywhere in the known and unknown worlds since before time began. It’s exhausting even thinking about it. And God does all of this without expending himself in any way. He never tires. He never has a pause. He watches over nations and over you and me right now.

     The sun and the moon were objects of cultic worship in those days and in our day in New Age thought as well, so the psalmist makes clear the Lord is master of both sun and moon. They have no power as gods in any way. You need not fear them. The Lord’s eye is on you at all times and in all places.

     On a little different note, this psalm is similar to many Hebrew psalms in that it is antiphonally conceived. The poetry of the psalms is not of words rhyming, but of parallel thoughts. The speaker in verse one asks a question. Another speaker (verse two) answers the question. Sometimes the response adds to or restates the first idea in different words (v.3 & 4) or adds information or explanation (v.5 & 6 and 7 & 8). If someone is with you as you read this, you may want to go back and reread the psalm antiphonally. For several thousand years these particular verses have been heard as people ascended to Jerusalem to worship on Mt. Moriah.

The people traveled to Jerusalem to the Temple to worship God, the Temple being located on Mt. Moriah. God’s Holy Name hovered over the Ark in the Temple. God’s presence had come down to the people. Jesus was crucified and gave his life on Mt. Moriah. Yes, our help comes from the Lord. The people didn’t go to the mountain to get close to god, God came to the mountain to redeem the people.

      Whatever it is going on in your life today notice God and the verbs in this psalm. “Help comes from the Lord; He will not let you; he watches over you; he watches over Israel; Lord himself watches over you; Lord stands beside you; Lord keeps you from all harm; watches over your life; Lord keeps watch over you. Do you get the idea that God is looking out for you? Rest well in his peace.

Music: “He Watching Over Israel,” Robert Shaw        

Prayer:

Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord, my soul to keep. If I should die before I wake, pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen.  

          ―My bedtime prayer in my childhood. (I always slept well!)    Daniel Sharp

Scripture: Exodus 34:1-9; 27-28

Then the Lord told Moses, “Chisel out two stone tablets like the first ones. I will write on them the same words that were on the tablets you smashed. Be ready in the morning to climb up Mount Sinai and present yourself to me on the top of the mountain. No one else may come with you. In fact, no one is to appear anywhere on the mountain. Do not even let the flocks or herds graze near the mountain.”

     So Moses chiseled out two tablets of stone like the first ones. Early in the morning, he climbed Mount Sinai as the Lord had commanded him, and he carried the two stone tablets in his hands. Then the Lord came down in a cloud and stood there with him; and he called out his own name, Yahweh. The Lord passed in front of Moses, calling out,

“Yahweh! The Lord!

    The God of compassion and mercy!

I am slow to anger

    and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness.

I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations.

    I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin.

But I do not excuse the guilty.

    I lay the sins of the parents upon their children and grandchildren;

the entire family is affected—

    even children in the third and fourth generations.”

     Moses immediately threw himself to the ground and worshiped. And he said, “O Lord, if it is true that I have found favor with you, then please travel with us. Yes, this is a stubborn and rebellious people, but please forgive our iniquity and our sins. Claim us as your own special possession.”

     Then the Lord said to Moses, “Write down all these instructions, for they represent the terms of the covenant I am making with you and with Israel.”

Moses remained there on the mountain with the Lord forty days and forty nights. In all that time he ate no bread and drank no water. And the Lord wrote the terms of the covenant—the Ten Commandments—on the stone tablets.

Some Thoughts

In Hebrew the Ten Commandments are simply called “The Ten Words.”  These are the only things we’ve ever had in God’s own handwriting. They were designed to be memorized―ten words, ten fingers. Easy to remember. There are some significant things to note here. There were two sets of tablets that went into the Ark of the Covenant, one to remind the people of what God said and one to remind God of his covenant with his people. These words were given specifically to God’s Covenant people as indicated in the preface. I am YHWH, your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Memory is so key to exercising faith.

     Like Moses’ previous trip up Mt. Sinai to meet God, we are reminded of God’s holiness with the prohibition of anyone or any animal entering the holy ground. God descended in a cloud, the cloud being a biblical indication of God’s presence (E.g. a pillar of fire and cloud to lead Israel, a cloud at the Transfiguration, a cloud at the Ascension). In the Scripture preceding this pericope, Moses had a rather pointed conversation with God regarding God’s presence among his people. Moses asked God to show him his presence (Ex.33:18). (This is the place where God hid Moses in a crack in the rock and he saw the backside of God as God passed by.) Moses desperately sought God’s presence with his people.

     To better understand “The Ten Words,” it would be better to view them as God’s description of what a community in covenant with himself should look like. This covenant relationship with God dealt in reality. Daniel Block writes, “We should interpret this document not as a law code but as a foundational covenant document, intended to create a picture of life within the community of faith governed by covenant principles.” (For the Glory of God, p.85) Our response to the Ten Commandments should grow out of our relationship with God rather than attempting to look at them as simply a set of legalistic rules to follow. This perspective does not lessen their force or impact, but it does put them into a context of relationship with God, their original context and purpose.

     What does all this have to do with Lent? In this season, “The Ten Words” admonish us to treat others with great care. Contrary to our world with its great concern with marches for “my rights,” have you noticed the concern of “The Ten Words” is for others to be treated fairly, treated well, and with selfless compassion. The first four are concerned with treating God, the next six are for treating others. Notably missing is treating ourselves. Apparently, contrary to all our private wishes, we are not the center of the universe! Again, as we journey to the cross with our Savior, who, out of his great love put aside his rights and privilege and lay down his life that we all might have life. Where can you lay down your life for others today?

Music: “Go Down Moses,” Sam Robson   God is in the business of redeeming his people, then and now.

Prayer:

Why is it, Lord, that we think trying to keep rules is enough? It’s so easy to be a Pharisee and feel good about ourselves because we haven’t done anything terrible, at least terrible in our eyes. We look at other people and we aren’t as rude as that driver, or as foul mouthed as that co-worker, or as self-centered as our neighbor. We don’t talk about ourselves all the time when we are with others. We’re doing OK. We do break the Ten Words occasionally, but not too bad and so far have avoided the really bad ones. But Lord, our hearts are dull toward you. Too often we read the Bible more from obligation rather than to converse with you or to hear your voice. We may pray when we think of it, but we seldom encounter you in our prayers. Lord this prayer is more me than I wish. God of mercy, forgive my foolish ways. May my heart burn for you. Don’t let me stay the same, please. Help me to live our covenant as you summarized in the two greatest commandments, love you and love my neighbor. May my living out our relationship express our being of one mind, your mind living in and through me. In my Savior’s glorious name. Amen.  

                                                                                                           ―Daniel Sharp

Scripture: Hebrews 4:14-5:10

So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.

     Every high priest is a man chosen to represent other people in their dealings with God. He presents their gifts to God and offers sacrifices for their sins. And he is able to deal gently with ignorant and wayward people because he himself is subject to the same weaknesses. That is why he must offer sacrifices for his own sins as well as theirs.

     And no one can become a high priest simply because he wants such an honor. He must be called by God for this work, just as Aaron was. That is why Christ did not honor himself by assuming he could become High Priest. No, he was chosen by God, who said to him,

“You are my Son.

    Today I have become your Father.”

And in another passage God said to him,

“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”

     While Jesus was here on earth, he offered prayers and pleadings, with a loud cry and tears, to the one who could rescue him from death. And God heard his prayers because of his deep reverence for God. Even though Jesus was God’s Son, he learned obedience from the things he suffered. In this way, God qualified him as a perfect High Priest, and he became the source of eternal salvation for all those who obey him. And God designated him to be a High Priest in the order of Melchizedek.

Some Thoughts

Yesterday we spent some time underscoring why Jesus had to take on human flesh in order to accomplish his ultimate purpose. Today we read further of his unique position as a human being to bridge sinful humans and a holy God. As you read this, Jesus is our flesh and blood in heaven right now. The perfect, sinless human Son of God is in heaven interceding on our behalf. What is more is that he is our High Priest. There are some things we need to be reminded of in regard to this position.

     The High Priest must be appointed by God. Aaron, Miriam, and Moses did not make a family decision that Moses would be the leader, Aaron would be the priest, and Miriam would lead the music! There was no election and no lobbying for positions. God chose the person and God gave the qualifications. Such was the case with every high priest. The high priest must be a Levite and from the lineage of Aaron. He had to be a male and one of the people . . . another reason for the humanity of Jesus. The position was for life.  

     As you know, the high priest entered the Holy of Holies one day a year after having offered sacrifices for his own sin, the sins of his family and then for the sins of the people. On the Day of Atonement, only the high priest could offer sacrifices on behalf of the people. The people could not make sacrifices on behalf of themselves. In Jesus, whose earthly descendants were from the tribe of Judah, we have a High Priest who was named to this position by God even though he was not of the lineage of Aaron, but in the order of Melchizedek.

     A brief word about Melchizedek may be helpful. His name means “king of righteousness.” Melchizedek was not a Jew, in fact there is no record of his ancestry, no beginning no ending of his life. He was king of Salem (Jerusalem= king of peace). He was also a priest of God Most High. In Melchizedek’s blessing of Abram, whose descendant centuries later was the God appointed high priest, Aaron, indicates the superiority of Melchizedek ranking above Aaron’s priesthood. The fact that Abram also paid a tithe to Melchizedek demonstrates the same truth.

     In Jesus’ case, the high priestly position in the order of Melchizedek is for all eternity. Jesus’ role as an eternal high priest fulfills the Old Testament Law perfectly. Because of his humanity, Jesus is the perfect High Priest because he understands the challenges humans face regarding the temptation to sin since he himself faced everything we face. We are invited to come to him again and again with our struggles and intercessions knowing he understands perfectly. Have you noticed how Jesus never presumes anything in relation to his Father? Because he is the Son of God, he never says, “Because I’m who I AM, I get a pass. God’s rules don’t apply to me.” As the Son of God, he always submits to his Father. Our big brother doesn’t pull executive privilege. Remember, you have a high priest who continually intercedes on your behalf and a priest who will hear your confessions day or night. Ask the living Christ in you this day to shape your heart and mind even as he prays for you.

Music: “I Need Thee Every Hour,” Sam Robson        

I know I’ve used this one in other years. Sam communicates our need for our High Priest interceding on our behalf beautifully. 

Prayer:

O God of my delight, Thy throne of grace is the pleasure ground of my soul. Here I obtain mercy in time of need, here see the smile of thy reconciled face, here joy pleads the name of Jesus, here I sharpen the sword of the Spirit, anoint the shield of faith, put on the helmet of salvation, gather manna from thy Word, am strengthened for each conflict, nerved for the upward race, empowered to conquer every foe. Help me to come to Christ my High Priest, my Intercessor, as the fountain head of descending blessings, as a wide-open floodgate of mercy. I marvel at my insensate folly, that with such enriching favors within my reach I am so slow to extend the hand to take them. Have mercy upon my deadness for thy name’s sake. Quicken me, stir me, fill me with holy zeal. Strengthen me that I may cling to thee and not let thee go. May thy Spirit within me draw all blessings from thy hand. When I advance not, I backslide. Let me walk humbly because of good omitted and evil done. Impress on my mind the shortness of time, the work to be engaged in, the account to be rendered, the nearness of eternity, the fearful sin of despising thy Spirit. May I never forget that thy eye always sees, thy ear always hears, thy recording hand always writes. May I never give thee rest until Christ is the pulse of my heart, the spokesman of my lips, the lamp of my feet.

                        ―The Valley of Vision, p.150, adapted Daniel Sharp

Scripture: Hebrews 2:10-18

God, for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation.

So now Jesus and the ones he makes holy have the same Father. That is why Jesus is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. For he said to God,

“I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.

    I will praise you among your assembled people.”

He also said,

“I will put my trust in him,”

    that is, “I and the children God has given me.”

Because God’s children are human beings—made of flesh and blood—the Son also became flesh and blood. For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying.

We also know that the Son did not come to help angels; he came to help the descendants of Abraham. Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.

Some Thoughts

We’ve seen pleas on commercials for people to adopt homeless pets. Adoption is a unique process and a wonderful old concept. One may adopt a dog, but by adopting you don’t become part of the dog’s family pedigree. You can love a dog, but you can’t become a dog. When you get sick, you don’t go to the vet. And the dog, in spite of what some people think, can’t become human!

     I don’t know if you’ve ever given it thought as to why Jesus became a human being. In all other religions, the god remains distant, separated from this world. There is no relational, personal, or physical human dimension in any of these gods. Face-to-face encounters are not possible. One of the great challenges to those of the Jewish faith is the reconciling of God who is Spirit with a human Jesus who claims to be God incarnate, God with human flesh, and not just human flesh, but also completely human in every way. The above Scripture is profound. If God were not completely human in every way, then the sacrificial death would be a faux sacrifice. A spiritual god dying a spiritual death would not solve the human problem.

     Looking at things from the human side, if humans were to become brothers and sisters of our Lord, then the Lord would truly have to become one of us in order that we might be able to be adopted. Dogs and people are not of the same family. Heaven and earth are not of the same family unless . . . heaven condescends to earth . . . unless the spiritual takes on flesh and blood, born of a virgin woman. The conception had to come from God the Spirit in order to unite the two worlds.

     The glorious truth is that now, death is forever defeated as, by the power of God, the God-Man, Jesus was raised from the grave destroying the devil’s power over death. Notice also this passage has no bearing on angels which are not human beings. This comment reflects a clarifying factor for the Jewish readers who held angels in highest esteem. The portion you read is part of a larger discussion the author is writing regarding the superiority of Jesus over angelic beings. In this season we are reminded anew of the humanity of Jesus and his dealing with all the temptations and struggles of this life of ours. He knows; he’s experienced it. He is able to help us, even this day. He’s adopted us into his family and signed the papers with his blood.

Music: “Jesus, Lover of My Soul,” Fernando Ortega

Prayer:

Lord Jesus Christ, our Savior, who has taken up our humanity to be seated at the right hand of God the Father, we bow before you again this day with hearts filled with gratitude. That you have willingly laid aside the glories of heaven to become one of us in human flesh for the purpose of restoring the whole world, is truly more than we can ever comprehend. It is beyond our imagination or conception as to what the heavenly realm is like as we have only veiled and shadowy thoughts at this point. We can only think like humans but it is still hard for us to truly grasp. Maybe when we are in heaven with you, we may have greater understanding and comprehension of your great love. But as one of your followers, Jesus, in your humbling to become one of us as our brother, we offer our deepest gratitude for adopting us into God’s immortal family. All praise and glory to you, one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, world without end. Amen.          ―Daniel Sharp

Scripture: Matthew 4:1-11

Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil. For forty days and forty nights he fasted and became very hungry.

During that time the devil came and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread.”

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say,

‘People do not live by bread alone,

    but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’”

Then the devil took him to the holy city, Jerusalem, to the highest point of the Temple, and said, “If you are the Son of God, jump off! For the Scriptures say,

‘He will order his angels to protect you.

And they will hold you up with their hands

    so you won’t even hurt your foot on a stone.’”

Jesus responded, “The Scriptures also say, ‘You must not test the Lord your God.’”

Next the devil took him to the peak of a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. “I will give it all to you,” he said, “if you will kneel down and worship me.”

“Get out of here, Satan,” Jesus told him. “For the Scriptures say,

‘You must worship the Lord your God

    and serve only him.’”

Then the devil went away, and angels came and took care of Jesus.

Some Thoughts 

Yesterday we heard Jesus’ words regarding one who would cause another to sin and how it would be better for that person to be drowned in the depths of the sea. In the passage you just read, we see the devil occupying that position as one tempting Jesus to sin. This was not Satan’s first attempt to thwart God’s plan of redemption, though his goal and his tactics are always the same . . . bring death and separation from God. In the Garden of Eden the temptation concerned food (the fruit of the tree) the physical need; testing God’s word (Did God really say?); tempting to distrust God; and worship (“you will be like God”); self-rule. The devil’s desire to be God and to be worshiped, “I will be like the Most High,” got him kicked out of heaven (Is.14:13-14; Ezek. 28:14-17). 

     The Second Adam, Jesus’, food was nourishment from the word of God (1 Cor. 15:45-49). To Jesus spiritual sustenance was more important than physical satisfaction as was trusting his Father for daily bread. Jesus always did his Father’s will. Secondly, rather than frivolously test God, Jesus trusted God’s word of protection. And finally, rather than worship the devil, Jesus would not live apart from his Father’s will and humbled himself and worshiped and served his Father in obedience. The First Adam in the Garden fell and did something to us, he brought death. The Second Adam triumphed over the devil and did something for us, he brought eternal life. Remember, the devil’s ultimate goal is to drive a wedge and separate you from God. Anything to accomplish that is fair game, even good things.

    The devil is relentless both then and now. He tried to kill Jesus at his birth. He tempted Jesus in this passage. Through Peter’s words, he sought to convince Jesus not to give his life as a ransom for sin eliciting Jesus’ strongest rebuke to Peter, “Get behind me Satan!” (Matthew 16:23). Perhaps the final time of testing Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane as Jesus sweat great drops of blood coming to his conclusion, “Not my will, but thine be done.” Once again, as he had throughout his earthly life, Jesus submitted to his Father’s will. Would that we had as much love for the Father. Make no mistake, the devil continues to create as much havoc as possible on this planet and seems to be doing a good job. In our world of competing ideas, values, and viewpoints, remember Jesus’ words above all other words, “It is written . . .” Stay in the Scriptures each day as you converse with the Lord. It behooves us to know “what is written.”

Music: “What Wondrous Love Is This,” Chelsea Moon with Franz Brothers

Prayer:

Give me, O Lord, a steadfast heart which no unworthy affection may drag downwards;

Give me an unconquered heart which no tribulation can wear out;

Give me an upright heart which no unworthy purpose may tempt aside.

Bestow on me also, O Lord my God, understanding to know you, diligence to seek you, wisdom to find you, and a faithfulness that may finally embrace you, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.   ―Thomas Aquinas 1225-1274

*Be sure to read the Preface if you haven’t.

Scripture: Matthew 18:1-7

About that time the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Who is greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven?”

Jesus called a little child to him and put the child among them. Then he said, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn from your sins and become like little children, you will never get into the Kingdom of Heaven. So anyone who becomes as humble as this little child is the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven.

“And anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf is welcoming me. But if you cause one of these little ones who trusts in me to fall into sin, it would be better for you to have a large millstone tied around your neck and be drowned in the depths of the sea.

“What sorrow awaits the world, because it tempts people to sin. Temptations are inevitable, but what sorrow awaits the person who does the tempting.”

Some Thoughts

It’s important to know something of the context of this passage from Matthew. Just prior to this time Peter, James, and John had been with Jesus on the mountain when he was transfigured in their presence and the four of them were joined by Moses and Elijah in a most remarkable encounter. On the way down the mountain, Jesus told them to say nothing about what they had experienced.

     I have to wonder if they kept their mouths shut. Peter, as well as the brothers James and John, apparently spent more time with Jesus than the other nine disciples. When you recall that James’ and John’s mother asked Jesus if her boys could sit on his right and left sides in the kingdom and the negative reaction that followed from the rest of the disciples, we may get the idea that there may have been some jealousy and rivalry among the men from time to time. At this point they still did not fully grasp Jesus’ mission on earth.

     We then come to the passage you just read and their question to Jesus as to who was the greatest in the Kingdom of Heaven. Notice how Jesus defined greatness. The disciples were ambitiously thinking position and power, responsibility and authority will define greatness. Dismissing those attributes, Jesus defined greatness along the character side of things: transparency, humility, repentance, dependance, and trust as to keys of greatness. And this mind set simply marked entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus pointed out that the disciples clearly need to repent of their heart attitudes. He taught it is childlike faith which establishes greatness. Have you noticed how Jesus is always more interested in character and actions of the heart than he is in position or power?

     This is a season for us to examine our own hearts. What do we give great value in our own lives? Is it our position, our reputation, our knowledge, our resources, our prestige, our goals, or our family? Jesus is most interested in your heart attitude toward him. He confronted the disciples more than once on this issue. He also made it very clear that to cause another person with a childlike, humble, trusting heart to fall into sin is very grave to the point of your being better off dead. This day give yourself to transparency, humility, repentance, and trust to the Lord as you interact with all those with whom you come in contact. One of simplest, most profound summaries of childlike faith is: “Jesus loves me, this I know, for the Bible tells me so.”

Music: “Jesus Loves Me,” Whitney Houston  

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, we have to admit that sometimes, like the disciples, we chase work, ambition, success, pleasure, and a host of other things and neglect a childlike faith. Humility is hard for us. What if people don’t notice what we’ve done or given? All too often we do things so we can tell others what we’ve done. Forgive our childish ways and give us child-like innocence. But we do love you and just get off track from time to time. We know you love us in our unfaithfulness and pride, because your word tells us you are faithful even when we are faithless toward you. We confess our tendency to drift from a dependent, tender trust in you. Forgive our foolish ways as we seek once again to draw near to you this day. In the name of Jesus who is strong when we are weak. Amen.

—Daniel Sharp

*Be sure to read the Preface if you haven’t.

Scripture: Jonah 3:10-4:11

When God saw what they had done and how they had put a stop to their evil ways, he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.

This change of plans greatly upset Jonah, and he became very angry. So he complained to the Lord about it: “Didn’t I say before I left home that you would do this, Lord? That is why I ran away to Tarshish! I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people. Just kill me now, Lord! I’d rather be dead than alive if what I predicted will not happen.”

The Lord replied, “Is it right for you to be angry about this?”

Then Jonah went out to the east side of the city and made a shelter to sit under as he waited to see what would happen to the city. And the Lord God arranged for a leafy plant to grow there, and soon it spread its broad leaves over Jonah’s head, shading him from the sun. This eased his discomfort, and Jonah was very grateful for the plant.

But God also arranged for a worm! The next morning at dawn the worm ate through the stem of the plant so that it withered away. And as the sun grew hot, God arranged for a scorching east wind to blow on Jonah. The sun beat down on his head until he grew faint and wished to die. “Death is certainly better than living like this!” he exclaimed.

Then God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry because the plant died?”

“Yes,” Jonah retorted, “even angry enough to die!”

Then the Lord said, “You feel sorry about the plant, though you did nothing to put it there. It came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a great city?”

Some Thoughts

One of the central themes of the Lenten season is that of repentance; in fact, it should be a central theme of the Christian life. You have just read the tail end of a familiar story, with three characters: the narrator, God, and the beleaguered prophet Jonah. God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach repentance. To Jonah’s great disappointment, the people listened to his message and repented en masse . . . even the animals wore sack cloth! There are several interesting questions here: Shouldn’t Jonah have been pleased that the people repented? Do animals live in spiritual darkness? What’s the point of the withering plant? Why did Jonah so resist his mission from God? Those would be interesting discussions, but the question I want to reflect on is in the very first verse we read, “When God saw what they had done . . . he changed his mind and did not carry out the destruction he had threatened.” Does an omnipotent God change his mind? And what are the ramifications? What does that say about God?

     One of the principles of Scripture in dealing with a question like this is to ask, are there any similar situations in other parts of the Bible. There is the instance of Noah and the flood where God regretted that he had made man and wiped out all the people save eight and started over. Think of Moses coming down from Mt. Sinai with the Ten Commandments and the Israelites worshiping the golden calf. God told Moses he would wipe out Israel and start over with Moses himself and rebuild the nation. Moses argued with God on behalf of the people and God changed his mind (Ex. 32:14). Notice God is not afraid when we push back. The Hebrew expression, nihem ‘al, is “to regret, to change one’s mind.” In these passages in both Exodus and Jonah, it is a case of God’s changing his mind from negative to positive. In Noah’s case, God’s regret did not lead to his changing his mind to destroy what he had created and start over from a man he viewed as righteous. A final judgment for all creation lies ahead following Christ’s return.

     Though more complex than we have space for here, we need to avoid extreme interpretations. God changing his mind does not mean he is out of control nor that he is surprised by what happens. We must likewise not assume the two instances we cited are merely hypothetical. While God is sovereign above all and immutable in his character, omniscient, and unchanging, he is likewise dynamic and relational and loves his people with great passion. His heart can be broken (Gen. 6:6). According to Scripture as evidenced in these situations, when people repent and turn from their wicked ways, God can change his response. What does that say to us? Earnest, fervent prayer moves the heart of God when people pray for those threatened with judgment. Pray for repentance throughout the land.

Music: ““Hear My Prayer O Lord,” Purcell Voces8 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74Q33UL7ugc

Prayer:

O our God, hear your servant’s prayer! Listen as I plead. For your own sake, Lord, smile again on your desolate world. O my God, lean down and listen to me. Open your eyes and see our despair. See how your world—the creation that you made—lies in ruins. We make this plea, not because we deserve help, but because of your mercy. O Lord, hear. O Lord, forgive. O Lord, listen and act! For your own sake, do not delay, O my God, for your people and your whole created order, forgive our determined rebellion and repeated rejection of you. We have greatly sinned and repent of our evil ways. We have not loved as we ought; we have not valued babies waiting to be born; we have failed to care for the poor as we should; we have twisted the clear truth of your word to satisfy our own bent desires. We have become arrogant. O Lord, hear, O Lord forgive. This we pray through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.    ―adapted from Daniel 9. Daniel Sharp

*Be sure to read the Preface if you haven’t.

Scripture: Romans 1:1-7

This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.  God promised this Good News long ago through his prophets in the holy Scriptures. The Good News is about his Son. 

In his earthly life he was born into King David’s family line, 

and he was shown to be the Son of God 

when he was raised from the dead 

by the power of the Holy Spirit. 

He is Jesus Christ our Lord.  

Through Christ, God has given us the privilege and authority as apostles to tell Gentiles everywhere what God has done for them, so that they will believe and obey him, bringing glory to his name.

And you are included among those Gentiles who have been called to belong to Jesus Christ. I am writing to all of you in Rome who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.

Some Thoughts

What is your purpose in life? Why are you on earth? To enjoy life? Live comfortably? Stay healthy? Make enough money to retire? Advance in your occupation? Find someone to love? Get married? Have children? Have a great career? It’s Lent, a time to reflect on how life is going in relation to our journey with Jesus on his way to the cross, namely living and dying to self, day by day. In the words of Irenaeus (130-202 AD) “The Son of God became what we are, that we might become what He is.”  In his opening statement, Paul makes clear to the Romans his calling by God and his purpose in life, namely that of preaching the gospel as a servant of Christ. He then quotes what some scholars believe may have been a hymn or creed of the early church. The parallel structure of the Greek writing is decidedly different from the rest of this letter as noted above. Paul had not started a church in Rome at this point and actually did not know the people he was writing to so he laid out the gospel in his salutation.

     I want to focus a bit on the very last part of this passage: “you who are loved by God and are called to be his own holy people.” As followers of Christ, we are called to be a holy people. P.T. Forsyth commented, “The miracle of the Incarnation is not [merely] the Word made flesh, but the Holy made sin for us.” He was our sin dying on the cross. Part of the focus of the journey of Lent is that we might grow in holiness, not only individually but corporately as the body of Christ, that our churches may also grow in holiness. Christianity is not “Jesus and me.” We are his Body, the Church universal through the ages. Just as we do not become more humble by our human effort, we cannot become more holy by trying to be holy. It is only when we are filled with the mind of Christ living in us that true humility and holiness flourish. We are all called to be his holy people. Absorb him in his word each day and we will increasingly, in the words of Irenaeus, “become what he is.”

Music: “Holy, Holy, Holy” Audrey Assad  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgHrNNM23p8

Prayer:

God, my God, I am all weakness, but Thou art my Strength; I am ever anew bowed down by any trial, but Thou can and wills to lift me up. Let me not fail, O God my Strength; let me not be discouraged, O God, my Hope. Draw me each day, if it be but a little nearer unto Thee; make me, each day, if it be but a little less unlike Thee; let me do or bear each day something, for love of Thee, whereby I may be fitter for Thee. Let no day pass without my having done something pleasing unto Thee. Thus alone would I live, that I may live more unto Thee, becoming more like unto Thee; thus would I die, longing to love thee more. Amen.    

                    ―Edward Pusey, 1800-1882, Prayers Ancient and Modern, p.88.

   A Journey with Jesus

          The Preface

Today marks the beginning of Lent, a forty day, six-week period leading up to Easter Sunday. Six weeks is forty-two days, but since Sundays were not fast days, that leaves only thirty-six fast days so four more days were added, thus Lent always begins on a Wednesday, Ash Wednesday.

The Lenten season while reflective is not morbid. Prayer, fasting, and giving to those in need are themes, but the heart of the focus is on Jesus’ journey to the cross and his taking on our dust and solving our mortal problem, our death. “From dust you came to dust you will return” (Gen. 3:19). As C.S. Lewis commented, “100 percent of us die, and the percentage cannot be increased.” Well, yes and no. You will die physically at some point, but that’s not the end. God has the last word and it is not death for those who die in Christ Jesus. A better word for Christians is departure. You depart this life for your life beyond death. The daily devotionals over the next six weeks will reflect on these truths.

     It is important to understand the meaning and purpose of this season. For some people being reminded about death and having to “give something up” are their primary thoughts regarding Lent . . . and are two good reasons to think about something else. The root of the word “lent” simply means “spring” new life, buds, blossoms, the end of the long winter. Sounds more like life than death to me. Though observing a season of fasting and prayer were practiced regularly during the first centuries of the church, the days prior to Easter were initially devoted to the final preparations for those being baptized into a new life in Christ. The primary time for baptisms in the early centuries of the church was on Easter Sunday. As Christianity was made legal, by the fourth century we began to see more widespread evidence of a six-week period of preparation for Easter by the whole Christian community, with fasting, almsgiving, and prayer being key elements (Matthew 6:1-13). You see, Lent is not a Roman Catholic thing or having to give something up as many people believe. It is a time of taking spiritual inventory in our walk with Jesus as we look to him.

     The heart of the Christian faith is our participation in the life, suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus as Lord. While Advent is concerned with the final Judgment, the Incarnation, and the birth of Jesus in history, this season points us to the price paid for our redemption. During these coming days may we grow spiritually through repentance, prayer, fasting, giving, and reflecting on our walk with Christ and his incomparable demonstration of his love for all he created. We might even think of it as a spiritual spring cleaning to a degree.

     A short word about the Scripture passages themselves. The Bible was written originally without chapters and verse numbers. With that in mind, I left out the verse numbers so that it reads a little differently. I find it easier to grasp the whole thought this way. I trust you will find the same. The translation I used is the New Living Translation. The music we have chosen comes from a wide variety of sources and ensembles simply reflecting the wonder and creativity of God’s handiwork. No music you hear or see is original, the composers and musicians have merely arranged the musical notes God made.

     One final word, feel free to pass the link along to family, friends, and co-workers around the country and the world who may benefit from these devotionals. The link to subscribe is: sharpdevotional.com. It’s that simple and thank you for subscribing and passing the link along! Then they will receive the emails in their boxes each morning at 5:00 EST.  Of course subscribing is free.  

March 5, Ash Wednesday

*Be sure to read the Preface if you haven’t.

Scripture: Joel 1:1-2, 12-17

Blow the trumpet in Zion; 

sound the alarm on my holy hill.

Let all who live in the land tremble,

    for the day of the Lord is coming.

It is close at hand—

a day of darkness and gloom,

    a day of clouds and blackness.

Like dawn spreading across the mountains

    a large and mighty army comes,

such as never was in ancient times

    nor ever will be in ages to come.

“Even now,” declares the Lord,

    “return to me with all your heart,

    with fasting and weeping and mourning.”

Rend your heart

    and not your garments.

Return to the Lord your God,

    for he is gracious and compassionate,

slow to anger and abounding in love,

    and he relents from sending calamity.

Who knows? He may turn and relent

    and leave behind a blessing—

grain offerings and drink offerings

    for the Lord your God.

Blow the trumpet in Zion,

    declare a holy fast,

    call a sacred assembly.

Gather the people,

    consecrate the assembly;

bring together the elders,

    gather the children,

    those nursing at the breast.

Let the bridegroom leave his room

    and the bride her chamber.

Let the priests, who minister before the Lord,

    weep between the portico and the altar.

Let them say, “Spare your people, Lord.

    Do not make your inheritance an object of scorn,

    a byword among the nations.

Why should they say among the peoples,

    ‘Where is their God?’”

Some Thoughts

Have you noticed how many things are bad for your health or you should be doing what you are not doing? Whatever is the best for you or your health, you are not doing it and need to change your ways. That’s called advertisement! We’re told that sugar is not good for you, so you need to get this product. You also need to drink a gallon of water a day. Some form of cholesterol is good for you but there is also bad cholesterol. Some forms of fat are beneficial and other forms are detrimental. Bottom line: if you do this and this, you’ll live longer. According to yearly studies, the five leading causes of death in 2024 were: heart disease, cancer, accidents, respiratory diseases and strokes. While I’m all for good health and living as long as possible, I have my own unofficial study as to the three leading causes of death. Number three is disease, old age is number two, and the leading cause of death, (tada!!) . . . is life! Life brings on death 100% of the time without fail. But good news! There is a cure. The season of Lent addresses the problem.

     On Ash Wednesday we are reminded at least once a year of the ultimate statistic and this absolute truth, you will die. The actual number of deaths per 1,000 people is 1,000.  The passage we read in Joel gives warning that the final day on earth does come, but also that life continues after death. Life in this world is not all there is. Joel urges his people and us to repent and turn to the Lord while there is still time. “Tear your hearts, not your garments.” One of the demonstrable signs of repenting and mourning was the tearing of garments (E.g. Esther 4:1). The prophet gives an impassioned plea for his people to turn their hearts to the Lord. The Lord wants your whole heart. That is also our plea as we begin this season of Lent. Let us come to our Savior with pliable, humble hearts, tuned to the fragile nature of this life and to the reality of our own mortality. Let go of anything that would hold us back. In the words of C.S. Lewis, “Do not live these days for things in our life that will end when you do.” Praise be to Christ who assures us of life everlasting when we do in fact return to dust on this earth. For the believer, unlike the Garden of Eden, this time our dust will rise from the grave to be transformed into a glorified body and soul which lives forever having been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. We’ll say more about Lent in the coming days.

Music: “Ye People Rend Your Hearts and If with All Your Hearts” Andrew Haji

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fyD4WIsXzw  A beautiful setting of this passage from Joel in Mendelssohn’s magnificent oratorio “Elijah.”

Prayer:

Almighty God, you have created us out of the dust of the earth: Grant that ashes may be to us a sign of our mortality and penitence, that we may remember that it is only by your gracious gift that we are given everlasting life through your Son Jesus Christ. Lord God, you hate nothing you have made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness, may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

                                                            ―Book of Common Prayer, Ash Wednesday Collect

Friends,

The joyous celebration of Easter Sunday yesterday marked the end of this year’s Lenten devotionals, though Lent actually ends on Maundy Thursday. Since you are used to receiving emails from me, I thought I’d add one more day and bring you all up to date on the book project I’m working on.

A few weeks ago I signed a contract with Covenant Publishing who reviewed the manuscript which is currently in the hands of their editors having been accepted by their editorial board. I continue to edit the manuscript as well. We are aiming to have the book available in time for this coming Advent in 2024. Pray to that end, it could be close as 8-10 months is the usual time it takes for a release date.

A word about the book itself. This is actually the first of four volumes I’m planning on writing. The goal is to write a devotional for each day of the entire year.This volume will cover every day between the first Sunday in Advent to Ash Wednesday. Volume II Ash Wednesday to Pentecost, Volume III Pentecost to Rosh Hashanah, and Volume IV Rosh Hashanah to Advent. The books will be in both paperback and e-book editions.

Since Advent and Easter are not set dates (like Christmas), I have figured out how to make it all work no matter when those seasons begin. I have the starting dates for Advent and Easter every year between now and 2075! As a result, there will be more than 400 daily entries in the four volumes! You will never be without a daily devotional.

The format will be very similar to the devotionals you receive, but in addition there will be a QR code for each day along with the URL link for the music entries. There is new material and much rewriting, re-working, and updating of some previous entries. There is also some new music. The book will include topical, scriptural, and music indices in addition to the Advent and Easter calendars from 2025-2075. 

Well that gives you an update of where we are in this process and we’ll be in touch along the way. I’ll appreciate your passing the word along. Thanks so much.

Blessings and the Lord be with you,

Dan

 Lent 2024 SCRIPTURES

Genesis 1:1-2, 3/30

Genesis 3:1-19, 3/30

Genesis 3: 13-19, 2/14           

Genesis 3:17-19, 2/15

Genesis 3:1-7, 2/16

Genesis 3:8-13, 2/17

Exodus 14:10-31

Exodus 15:20-21, 3/30

Leviticus 16:15-17, 2/22

Exodus 12:1-5, 2/18

Exodus 12:12-14 2/20

Exodus 12:21-27, 2/21

Exodus 14:10-31, 3/30

Joshua 5:9-12, 3/16

Psalm 22, 3/29

Psalm 32:1-11, 2/19

Psalm 51:1-2, 3/10

Psalm 51:3-4, 3/11

Psalm 51:5, 3/12

Psalm 51: 6-9, 3/13 

Psalm 51: 10-12, 3/14

Psalm 51: 13-19, 3/15

Psalm 139: 1-6, 2/25

Psalm 139: 7-12, 2/26

Psalm 139: 13-16, 2/27        

Psalm 139: 17-18, 2/28

Psalm 139: 19-22, 2/29

Psalm 139: 23-24, 3/1

Isaiah 42:1-9, 3/25

Isaiah 55:1-9, 3/9

Isaiah 55:1-11, 3/30

Matthew 6:2-4, 3/3

Matthew 6:5-8, 3/4

Matthew 6: 9-15, 3/5

Matthew 6:16-18, 3/6

Matthew 6: 19-24, 3/7

Matthew 6:25-34, 3/8

Matthew 28, 3/31

Luke 9:28-36, 3/2

Luke 15: 11-12, 3/17

Luke 15:13-16, 3/18

Luke 15:17-20a, 3/19 

Luke 15:20b-21, 3/20

Luke 15:22-24, 3/21

Luke 15:25-31, 3/22

Luke 24:1-12. 3/30

John 12:1-11, 3/23

John 12: 1,2,12-16, 3/24 

John 12:20-36, 3/26

John 13:21-32, 3/27

Romans 5:6-11, 2/20

Romans 6:1-11, 3/30

I Corinthians 5:6-8, 2/21

I Corinthians 11:23-26, 3/28

Hebrews 9:7-14, 2/22

Hebrews 9:13-15, 2/18

Hebrews 10:19-25, 2,23

I Peter 1:18-20 2/18

I John 2:18-28, 2/24

Resurrection Day, March 31 

Scripture: Matthew 28

28 Early on Sunday morning, as the new day was dawning, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went out to visit the tomb.

² Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. ³ His face shone like lightning, and his clothing was as white as snow. ⁴ The guards shook with fear when they saw him, and they fell into a dead faint.

⁵ Then the angel spoke to the women. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I know you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. ⁶ He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead, just as he said would happen. Come, see where his body was lying. ⁷ And now, go quickly and tell his disciples that he has risen from the dead, and he is going ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there. Remember what I have told you.”

⁸ The women ran quickly from the tomb. They were very frightened but also filled with great joy, and they rushed to give the disciples the angel’s message. ⁹ And as they went, Jesus met them and greeted them. And they ran to him, grasped his feet, and worshiped him. ¹⁰ Then Jesus said to them, “Don’t be afraid! Go tell my brothers to leave for Galilee, and they will see me there.”

¹¹ As the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and told the leading priests what had happened. ¹² A meeting with the elders was called, and they decided to give the soldiers a large bribe. ¹³ They told the soldiers, “You must say, ‘Jesus’ disciples came during the night while we were sleeping, and they stole his body.’ ¹⁴ If the governor hears about it, we’ll stand up for you so you won’t get in trouble.” ¹⁵ So the guards accepted the bribe and said what they were told to say. Their story spread widely among the Jews, and they still tell it today.

¹⁶ Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. ¹⁷ When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!

¹⁸ Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. ¹⁹ Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. ²⁰ Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

Some thoughts:

These are Jesus’ words to you and to me as he returned to heaven. “As you are going [the sense of “go”] make disciples of all the nations [and people around you], baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” [Until I return.]

Music: “Messiah” Voces8

Prayer:

Lord God of all that was, is, and will ever be, the moment we have longed for has come: the night of our desires is here. What greater occupation could there be than for us to proclaim the power of your Resurrection! This was the night when you shattered the gates of hell and mortally destroyed the devil, and then you took up the victory banner of heaven. This was the night when you set us among the stars. When your mother Mary gave birth to you, she was overwhelmed with joy at your beauty. Now we are overwhelmed with joy at your power. The blood which flowed from your side has washed away our sins forever. Your body rising from the tomb has promised us eternal life. Eternal are the blessings which in your love you have poured upon us.

To you Lord Jesus Christ we give our deepest praise, love, and gratitude. These things we pray through Jesus, who with you and the Holy Spirit, reign one God for now and forever. Amen.

          —from Guideposts Prayers for Easter, p.66, adapted Daniel Sharp

Thank you all for this journey through the Lenten season concluding with the Resurrection, but remember, there is so much more. It didn’t all end there. Forty days later Jesus ascended to his Father in heaven in a glorified physical body where he sits at his Father’s right hand interceding on our behalf. At a time known only to the Father, Jesus will return to bring to final completion and restoration of the entire created order. He will establish his Kingdom and he will reign forever and ever . . . and we’ll be there!

The daily devotional book: Advent through Ashes continues to make great progress. We’ll keep you informed. At this point it looks like it will be in 4 volumes and cover each day of the year and be flexible enough to adjust whenever the various seasons start!

Dr. Daniel Sharp

©2024 Daniel Sharp

Holy Saturday, March 30 in Holy Week

Some thoughts:

     This is a day of holy quietness and reflection. Change what you would normally do on a Saturday. Skip shopping and running errands. Stay home. Like at creation, God worked the six days of creation and said his work was finished. On the seventh day he rested and blessed the day calling it a holy Sabbath. The work of Jesus on earth likewise was completed on the sixth day of the week as he uttered, “It is finished” and then he rested in the tomb throughout that Sabbath day. It was a quiet day and I am sure an unbearably sad and mournful day for the disciples and followers of Jesus. From their standpoint, the ministry of the past three years was a total failure, plus their leader was dead.

     Though he was in the tomb, God in Christ was accomplishing the culmination of his time on earth, gaining the victory over sin, death, and evil forever. Satan was crushed, destroyed forever. The below passages of Scripture and similar passages telling God’s Redemption Story are read on Holy Saturday evening in what is called an Easter Vigil service. It was (and is) a special service awaiting the morning of the Resurrection. It began with these readings, baptisms, communion, and culminating in a resurrection service. Read, listen, and reflect today on the Savior’s great love and sacrifice for you and his whole creation. The Brahms Requiem is the music for today and follows the Scripture readings.

God Creates: Genesis 1:1-2

1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. ² The earth was formless and empty, and darkness covered the deep waters. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters.

The Man and Woman Sin: Genesis 3

3 The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, “Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?”

2 “Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden,” the woman replied. 3 “It’s only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, ‘You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.’”

4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”

6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. 7 At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.

8 When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the Lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the Lord God among the trees. 9 Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

10 He replied, “I heard you walking in the garden, so I hid. I was afraid because I was naked.”

11 “Who told you that you were naked?” the Lord God asked. “Have you eaten from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat?”

12 The man replied, “It was the woman you gave me who gave me the fruit, and I ate it.”

13 Then the Lord God asked the woman, “What have you done?”

“The serpent deceived me,” she replied. “That’s why I ate it.”

14 Then the Lord God said to the serpent,

“Because you have done this, you are cursed
    more than all animals, domestic and wild.
You will crawl on your belly,
    groveling in the dust as long as you live.
15 And I will cause hostility between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and her offspring.
He will strike your head,
    and you will strike his heel.”

16 Then he said to the woman,

“I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy,
    and in pain you will give birth.
And you will desire to control your husband,
    but he will rule over you.”

17 And to the man he said,

“Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree
    whose fruit I commanded you not to eat,
the ground is cursed because of you.
    All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.
18 It will grow thorns and thistles for you,
    though you will eat of its grains.
19 By the sweat of your brow
    will you have food to eat
until you return to the ground
    from which you were made.
For you were made from dust,
    and to dust you will return.”

Paradise Lost: God’s Judgment

20 Then the man—Adam—named his wife Eve, because she would be the mother of all who live. 21 And the Lord God made clothing from animal skins for Adam and his wife.

22 Then the Lord God said, “Look, the human beings have become like us, knowing both good and evil. What if they reach out, take fruit from the tree of life, and eat it? Then they will live forever!” 23 So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made. 24 After sending them out, the Lord God stationed mighty cherubim to the east of the Garden of Eden. And he placed a flaming sword that flashed back and forth to guard the way to the tree of life.

God Provides Deliverance for His People: Exodus 14:10-31

10 As Pharaoh approached, the people of Israel looked up and panicked when they saw the Egyptians overtaking them. They cried out to the Lord, 11 and they said to Moses, “Why did you bring us out here to die in the wilderness? Weren’t there enough graves for us in Egypt? What have you done to us? Why did you make us leave Egypt? 12 Didn’t we tell you this would happen while we were still in Egypt? We said, ‘Leave us alone! Let us be slaves to the Egyptians. It’s better to be a slave in Egypt than a corpse in the wilderness!’”

13 But Moses told the people, “Don’t be afraid. Just stand still and watch the Lord rescue you today. The Egyptians you see today will never be seen again. 14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.”

Escape through the Red Sea

15 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Why are you crying out to me? Tell the people to get moving! 16 Pick up your staff and raise your hand over the sea. Divide the water so the Israelites can walk through the middle of the sea on dry ground. 17 And I will harden the hearts of the Egyptians, and they will charge in after the Israelites. My great glory will be displayed through Pharaoh and his troops, his chariots, and his charioteers. 18 When my glory is displayed through them, all Egypt will see my glory and know that I am the Lord!”

19 Then the angel of God, who had been leading the people of Israel, moved to the rear of the camp. The pillar of cloud also moved from the front and stood behind them. 20 The cloud settled between the Egyptian and Israelite camps. As darkness fell, the cloud turned to fire, lighting up the night. But the Egyptians and Israelites did not approach each other all night.

21 Then Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the Lord opened up a path through the water with a strong east wind. The wind blew all that night, turning the seabed into dry land. 22 So the people of Israel walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, with walls of water on each side!

23 Then the Egyptians—all of Pharaoh’s horses, chariots, and charioteers—chased them into the middle of the sea. 24 But just before dawn the Lord looked down on the Egyptian army from the pillar of fire and cloud, and he threw their forces into total confusion. 25 He twisted their chariot wheels, making their chariots difficult to drive. “Let’s get out of here—away from these Israelites!” the Egyptians shouted. “The Lord is fighting for them against Egypt!”

26 When all the Israelites had reached the other side, the Lord said to Moses, “Raise your hand over the sea again. Then the waters will rush back and cover the Egyptians and their chariots and charioteers.” 27 So as the sun began to rise, Moses raised his hand over the sea, and the water rushed back into its usual place. The Egyptians tried to escape, but the Lord swept them into the sea. 28 Then the waters returned and covered all the chariots and charioteers—the entire army of Pharaoh. Of all the Egyptians who had chased the Israelites into the sea, not a single one survived.

29 But the people of Israel had walked through the middle of the sea on dry ground, as the water stood up like a wall on both sides. 30 That is how the Lord rescued Israel from the hand of the Egyptians that day. And the Israelites saw the bodies of the Egyptians washed up on the seashore. 31 When the people of Israel saw the mighty power that the Lord had unleashed against the Egyptians, they were filled with awe before him. They put their faith in the Lord and in his servant Moses.

Exodus 15:20-21

20 Then Miriam the prophet, Aaron’s sister, took a tambourine and led all the women as they played their tambourines and danced. 21 And Miriam sang this song:

“Sing to the Lord,
    for he has triumphed gloriously;
he has hurled both horse and rider
    into the sea.”

Invitation to the Lord’s Salvation: Isaiah 55:1-11

55 “Is anyone thirsty?
    Come and drink—
    even if you have no money!
Come, take your choice of wine or milk—
    it’s all free!
2 Why spend your money on food that does not give you strength?
    Why pay for food that does you no good?
Listen to me, and you will eat what is good.
    You will enjoy the finest food.

3 “Come to me with your ears wide open.
    Listen, and you will find life.
I will make an everlasting covenant with you.
    I will give you all the unfailing love I promised to David.
4 See how I used him to display my power among the peoples.
    I made him a leader among the nations.
5 You also will command nations you do not know,
    and peoples unknown to you will come running to obey,
because I, the Lord your God,
    the Holy One of Israel, have made you glorious.”

6 Seek the Lord while you can find him.
    Call on him now while he is near.
7 Let the wicked change their ways
    and banish the very thought of doing wrong.
Let them turn to the Lord that he may have mercy on them.
    Yes, turn to our God, for he will forgive generously.

8 “My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,” says the Lord.
  “And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine.
9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so my ways are higher than your ways
    and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.

10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens
    and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
    producing seed for the farmer
    and bread for the hungry.
11 It is the same with my word.
    I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
    and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

The Resurrection: Luke 24:1-12

24 But very early on Sunday morning the women went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. 2 They found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance.3 So they went in, but they didn’t find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4 As they stood there puzzled, two men suddenly appeared to them, clothed in dazzling robes.

5 The women were terrified and bowed with their faces to the ground. Then the men asked, “Why are you looking among the dead for someone who is alive? 6 He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead! Remember what he told you back in Galilee, 7 that the Son of Man must be betrayed into the hands of sinful men and be crucified, and that he would rise again on the third day.”

8 Then they remembered that he had said this. 9 So they rushed back from the tomb to tell his eleven disciples—and everyone else—what had happened. 10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and several other women who told the apostles what had happened. 11 But the story sounded like nonsense to the men, so they didn’t believe it. 12 However, Peter jumped up and ran to the tomb to look. Stooping, he peered in and saw the empty linen wrappings; then he went home again, wondering what had happened.

Sin’s Power Is Broken: Romans 6:1-11

6 Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? 2 Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? 3 Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? 4 For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.

5 Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was.6 We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7 For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8 And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9 We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10 When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11 So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

The Brahms requiem is unique in that he chose to use texts that point to the resurrection rather than the usual requiem mass texts.

Music: “Brahms German Requiem”  UCLA and Angeles Chorale    (in English)

Prayer:

You are the Great God-he who is in heaven.

You are the creator of life; you make the regions above.

You are the hunter who hunts for souls.

You are the leader who goes before us.

You are he whose hands are with wounds.

You are he whose feet are with wounds.

You are he whose blood is a trickling stream.

You are he whose blood was spilled for us.

-Prayer of a Xhosa Christian, South Africa

Good Friday in Holy Week, March 29

Scripture:  Psalm 22
¹ My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
    Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
² Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
    Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

³ Yet you are holy,
    enthroned on the praises of Israel.
⁴ Our ancestors trusted in you,
    and you rescued them.
⁵ They cried out to you and were saved.
    They trusted in you and were never disgraced.

⁶ But I am a worm and not a man.
    I am scorned and despised by all!
⁷ Everyone who sees me mocks me.
    They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
⁸ “Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
    Then let the Lord save him!
If the Lord loves him so much,
    let the Lord rescue him!”

⁹ Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
    and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
¹⁰ I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
    You have been my God from the moment I was born.

¹¹ Do not stay so far from me,
    for trouble is near,
    and no one else can help me.
¹² My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls;
    fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!
¹³ Like lions they open their jaws against me,
    roaring and tearing into their prey.
¹⁴ My life is poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
    melting within me.
¹⁵ My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
    My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
    You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
¹⁶ My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
    an evil gang closes in on me.
    They have pierced my hands and feet.
¹⁷ I can count all my bones.
    My enemies stare at me and gloat.
¹⁸ They divide my garments among themselves
    and throw dice for my clothing.

¹⁹ O Lord, do not stay far away!
    You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!
²⁰ Save me from the sword;
    spare my precious life from these dogs.
²¹ Snatch me from the lion’s jaws
    and from the horns of these wild oxen.

²² I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters.
    I will praise you among your assembled people.
²³ Praise the Lord, all you who fear him!
    Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob!
    Show him reverence, all you descendants of Israel!
²⁴ For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy.
    He has not turned his back on them,
    but has listened to their cries for help.

²⁵ I will praise you in the great assembly.
    I will fulfill my vows in the presence of those who worship you.
²⁶ The poor will eat and be satisfied.
    All who seek the Lord will praise him.
    Their hearts will rejoice with everlasting joy.
²⁷ The whole earth will acknowledge the Lord and return to him.
    All the families of the nations will bow down before him.
²⁸ For royal power belongs to the Lord.
    He rules all the nations.

²⁹ Let the rich of the earth feast and worship.
    Bow before him, all who are mortal,
    all whose lives will end as dust.
³⁰ Our children will also serve him.
    Future generations will hear about the wonders of the Lord.
³¹ His righteous acts will be told to those not yet born.
    They will hear about everything he has done.

Some thoughts:

     In what is a strikingly descriptive psalm, David describes his own predicament. Yet as he laments his own people’s rejection of him as king, he paints a perfect picture of the rejection of his prophesied descendent, the Messiah. This Old Testament account of Israel casting off David as king is a foretelling of what Israel would do 1,000 years later with the King of kings. Jesus’ plaintive plea opening this psalm expresses his humanity so clearly. We do not know that he did not quote more of the psalm. So much of this psalm describes in specific detail Jesus’ experience as he hung on the cross. The Son of God called out to God the Father for relief, and none came, yet the Son continued in faith and total commitment through horrible physical, mental, and spiritual torture. He willingly bore the weight of the sin of the entire world for all time!

     Note David appeals to God’s past action in helping Israel (v.2-5). He does not doubt God’s character even when God is silent. I don’t know if the religious leaders and elders knew it, but they also ironically quoted this psalm. Verse eight of Psalm 22 is remarkably like Matthew 27:41-43.

     The latter part of the psalm shifts focus beginning in verse twenty-two. In times of great stress, remembering and recounting God’s past faithfulness and history of providing occurs over and over throughout the Scriptures. Here David writes of a day yet to come and of future generations, including us, who will hear of the greatness of the Lord and bow before him. The complete fulfillment of these words has yet to happen. Make no mistake. The magnitude of this day when Jesus took all sin upon himself, the weight of all sin ever committed since the beginning of creation, changed eternity for all who would put their trust in him. Stop and think. The weight of all sin that ever existed being placed on one person is incomprehensible. Only the Son of God could bear that burden and he did so willingly. What God had in mind until humans hopelessly destroyed it, was now again made possible, namely the restoration of what God’s desire was from the beginning . . . perfect communion with his creation, the original state of Eden. The price of sin was paid in full. There is no other hope. Hallelujah! The prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane made possible a return to the Garden of Eden. Full communion with God is again possible. The impossible debt is cancelled forever!

Music: “Surely He Hath Borne Our Griefs” from Messiah or listen to Part II of Messiah

www.youtube.com/watch?v=63tsdDnJtdQ

“He Trusted in God” Voces8 and Academy of Ancient Music

Because of Good Friday, the following prayer is possible. All glory to God.

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, Thou wast poor and in misery, a captive and forsaken as I am. Thou knowest all man’s distress; Thou abidest with me when all others have deserted me; Thou doest not forget me, but seekest me. Thou willest that I should know thee and turn to thee. Lord, I hear thy call and follow thee; do thou help me.           —Dietrich Bonhoeffer   1906-1945

From the Good Friday liturgy, Orthodox

Today he who hung the earth upon the waters is hung upon the Cross.

He who is King of the angels is arrayed in a crown of thorns.

He who wraps the heaven in clouds is wrapped in the purple of mockery.

He who in Jordan set Adam free receives blows upon his face.

The Bridegroom of the Church is transfixed with nails.

The Son of the Virgin is pierced with a spear.

We venerate thy Passion, O Christ.

Show us also thy glorious Resurrection.

Maundy Thursday, March 28 of Holy Week  

Scripture: I Corinthians 11:23-26

²³ For I pass on to you what I received from the Lord himself. On the night when he was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread ²⁴ and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ²⁵ In the same way, he took the cup of wine after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood. Do this in remembrance of me as often as you drink it.” ²⁶ For every time you eat this bread and drink this cup, you are announcing the Lord’s death until he comes again.

Some thoughts:

     These are words we hear every time we observe the Lord’s Supper. Paul takes care to pass along the very words he received from Jesus. Have ever given thought as to why Paul included “on the night he was betrayed”? Jesus clearly knew what Judas was going to do as recorded in John’s gospel. Knowing this fact and seeing how the Lord went ahead without pausing on his mission makes his actions all more commanding yet. “This is my body, which is given for you [you too Judas].” The juxtaposition of the two phrases is so powerful and a beautiful picture of the depth of Christ’s love for his disciples and us—for we have likewise betrayed our Savior.

     Then there is the sentence “Do this to remember me.” We may be inclined to read it and go on, but there is something worth noting in the word “remember.” At its Greek root is the word anamnesis from which we get amnesia. Anamnesis in this case means a recalling of a past action, which brings it into the present moment. The worshiper experiences the present action of Christ in the receiving of the bread and cup.

 “The anamnesis is not a simple intellectual function; it is an action. It has an incomparably wider spectrum, which includes the element of thought and makes it an existential, personal event. As members of the eucharistic community we recall again to consciousness the economy of God in Christ through the Holy Spirit, the incarnation, the crucifixion, the resurrection of Christ, his ascension, and Pentecost. We live them. We share in them. We do this not through our own human abilities but through the grace of the Holy Spirit, through the uncreated energy of God which accomplishes the sacraments.” (Anastasios, “Together on the Way:2.2 Anamnesis” Dec.4, 1998, WCC)

The past action has entered the present. The power and action of Christ at the Maundy Thursday Upper Room is brought into the present. The effect is current and one into which we have entered. This “remember” is very different from remembering something that happened last week for example. The New Covenant which Jesus instituted on that night is current in its impact and life on this night. Notice also how the past, the Lord’s death, is brought into the present and the future (“until he comes again”) is also brought into the present. There is also a word for that concept, prolepsis, but that is for another time. Never underestimate the power of the Lord’s Supper on the “night he was betrayed.” This is a most holy wondrous night.

Music: “Ubi Caritas” Paul Mealor

Prayer: Lord Jesus Christ, who on that treacherous night, did display unending, unconditional love and proclaimed the fulfillment of a New Covenant of grace, we can find no words to express our love and gratitude for the difference your action makes in our lives today so many years later. We are nourished by the bread and the cup, your life-giving body. We live into that holy night rejoicing in the power unleashed by the Holy Spirit. This day we reflect on your love which culminated in your death on the cross to bring redemption to the whole world and all of creation. Receive this our prayer through Christ our Lord, who reigns with you, the Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, world without end. Amen.      —Daniel Sharp

Wednesday, March 27 in Holy Week  

Scripture: John 13:21-32

²¹ Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”

²² The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. ²³ The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table. ²⁴ Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” ²⁵ So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”

²⁶ Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. ²⁷ When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” ²⁸ None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. ²⁹ Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. ³⁰ So Judas left at once, going out into the night.

³¹ As soon as Judas left the room, Jesus said, “The time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory, and God will be glorified because of him. ³² And since God receives glory because of the Son, he will give his own glory to the Son, and he will do so at once.

Some thoughts:

     This pericope is filled with so much richness. Put yourself among the disciples. The hand selected twelve are having a meal with rabbi Jesus with whom they have been traveling and living together the past three years. They are sharing what turns out to be their last meal together, though the disciples don’t know it at this point. In Middle Eastern custom, the host will in some cases, dip bread in a bowl and give it to the honored guest. At any rate, dipping food in a common bowl is a sign of close friendship. The concept even carries over to today. The disciples would not have thought anything unusual for Jesus to do this and then give the sop to Judas. Jesus told them that one of them would betray him, yet they wondered what he meant.

     Betrayal is based on deep trust. The betrayer must have gained complete trust in the one who is to be betrayed, which is probably why the betrayal by Judas didn’t compute with the rest of the disciples, though Jesus certainly knew what Judas was about to do. Remember, John wrote this gospel after everything had happened with Judas.

     Second, recall at Jesus’ temptation, the devil left for a more “opportune” time. Here was an opportune time. Satan entered the body of Judas, a singularly rare occurrence in all of Scripture where this truth is stated so bluntly. Judas was truly possessed by the devil. Jesus, knowing fully what Judas was about to do, told him to get on with it quickly. What must Judas have thought knowing the one who had just washed his feet also knew of his mission of betrayal? The devil is relentless in his attempts to cause sin to abound in people’s lives believers and non-believers alike as evidenced throughout the world today.

     There is a third interesting observation. You’ll recall in the plagues of Egypt at the time of the Exodus. The ninth plague was the one of darkness which fell over the whole land. The final plague resulted in the death of all the firstborn throughout the land except where the blood of the lamb had been applied over the doorposts at the homes of the Israelites. Following receiving the sop from Jesus, Judas went “out into the night,” out into darkness. As in the Exodus, what followed Judas’ going out into the darkness was the death of the Firstborn of all creation (Col 1:18), the Lamb of God, whose spattered blood on the doorposts of people’s hearts covered their sins for all time as they were spared an eternal death. Those not covered by the blood of the Lamb, suffer that same fate as the Esyptians. Then at the death of the Lamb, like in Egypt fourteen hundred years earlier, darkness again fell over the land as God brought about judgment and laid claim to all the firstborn who had been redeemed by the blood of the Lamb. The final atonement was made, death was destroyed, defeated, annihilated forever! Once again, the devil failed in his attempt to thwart the plan of God to redeem and restore his fallen creation. As John had earlier written, “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it” . . . ever.

Music: “Agnus Dei” Samuel Barber, Vlaams Radiokoor (Flemish Radio Choir)

“Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.”

“Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us.”

“Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.”

Prayer: O God my Father, let Thy Holy Spirit rule in my heart. As I pray, let not any room within me be closed to keep Thee out. O Light that never fades, so let me open to Thee the windows of my heart, that all my life may be filled by the radiance of Thy presence. Let no corner of my being be unillumined by the light of Thy countenance. Let there be nothing within me to darken the brightness of the day. Let the Spirit of Him whose life was the light of men rule within my heart till eventide. Let me not be holding some undertaking on which I dare not ask Thy blessing. O Holy Spirit of God, let me not return to evil thoughts and worldly ways, but let that mind be in me which was also in Christ Jesus my Lord. Amen.            —John Baillie, from A Diary of Private Prayer and unknown source, adapted Daniel Sharp

Tuesday, March 26 in Holy Week

Scripture: John 12:20-36

²⁰ Some Greeks who had come to Jerusalem for the Passover celebration ²¹ paid a visit to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee. They said, “Sir, we want to meet Jesus.” ²² Philip told Andrew about it, and they went together to ask Jesus.

²³ Jesus replied, “Now the time has come for the Son of Man to enter into his glory. ²⁴ I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. ²⁵ Those who love their life in this world will lose it. Those who care nothing for their life in this world will keep it for eternity. ²⁶ Anyone who wants to serve me must follow me, because my servants must be where I am. And the Father will honor anyone who serves me.

²⁷ “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! ²⁸ Father, bring glory to your name.”

Then a voice spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name, and I will do so again.” ²⁹ When the crowd heard the voice, some thought it was thunder, while others declared an angel had spoken to him.

³⁰ Then Jesus told them, “The voice was for your benefit, not mine. ³¹ The time for judging this world has come, when Satan, the ruler of this world, will be cast out. ³² And when I am lifted up from the earth, I will draw everyone to myself.” ³³ He said this to indicate how he was going to die.

³⁴ The crowd responded, “We understood from Scripture that the Messiah would live forever. How can you say the Son of Man will die? Just who is this Son of Man, anyway?”

³⁵ Jesus replied, “My light will shine for you just a little longer. Walk in the light while you can, so the darkness will not overtake you. Those who walk in the darkness cannot see where they are going. ³⁶ Put your trust in the light while there is still time; then you will become children of the light.”

After saying these things, Jesus went away and was hidden from them.

Some thoughts:

     Some insight into Jewish festivals will help us understand the significance of this passage. Passover, as you know, was one of three pilgrimage festivals which required every male to come to Jerusalem for its celebration, though women were included. Passover lasted one day and was immediately followed by the Feast of Unleavened Bread. Leaven always represents sin in the Bible. On the day of Unleavened Bread, our sinless Savior was buried. The Feast of First Fruits immediately followed on the first day of the week (Sunday) following the Sabbath and marked the beginning of the seven weeks of seven leading up to Pentecost. A green shock of barley was waved before the Lord on that day since this was the very beginning of the harvest season, which culminated seven weeks later at Pentecost. The dependency on the Lord God for a fruitful harvest was central in the celebration.

       So, when Jesus referred to a kernel being buried in the soil and dying in effect and then producing a stock of barley which produces many kernels, he was in effect proclaiming what he was the “kernel to be buried” and what the result will be, “a plentiful harvest of new lives.” Jesus went on to say that anyone who loves being above ground (loves this world) rather than dying to themselves and being “planted,” will lose everything eternally. That is why baptism by immersion is a symbol of being “buried in Christ.” Apart from John who died of old age, all the rest of the disciples died as martyrs.

     Jesus then asked the very real question, “Should I pray that the Father would save me from this ordeal?” Notice the phrase, “when I am lifted up from the earth.” God the Father then raised his Son from being “planted” in the tomb and in that resurrection, Jesus leads forth all of those who have died in Christ. The prince of this world, Satan, is eternally, permanently defeated. Paul writes in I Corinthians 15:20 that “Jesus was the first fruits of them that slept. Jesus was the first one to lead a great harvest of God’s people who will be resurrected from the dead at the end of the age. God’s redemption works through these great festivals and brings the certainty of the resurrection through the defeat of sin, death, and evil. Every phrase that Jesus speaks has ultimate implications for you and for me.

Music: “Since by Man Came Death” Academy of St. Martin in the Field

 “Goin’ Home” Sissel

Prayer: O God, quicken to life every power within me, that I may lay hold on eternal things. Open my eyes that I may see; give me acute spiritual perception; enable me to taste Thee and know that Thou art good. Make heaven more real to me than any earthly thing has ever been. Amen. —A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, p.59

March 25, Monday of Holy Week

Scripture:  Isaiah 42:1-9

42 “Look at my servant, whom I strengthen.
    He is my chosen one, who pleases me.
I have put my Spirit upon him.
    He will bring justice to the nations.
² He will not shout
    or raise his voice in public.
³ He will not crush the weakest reed
    or put out a flickering candle.
    He will bring justice to all who have been wronged.
⁴ He will not falter or lose heart
    until justice prevails throughout the earth.
    Even distant lands beyond the sea will wait for his instruction.”

⁵ God, the Lord, created the heavens and stretched them out.
    He created the earth and everything in it.
He gives breath to everyone,
    life to everyone who walks the earth.
And it is he who says,
⁶ “I, the Lord, have called you to demonstrate my righteousness.
    I will take you by the hand and guard you,
and I will give you to my people, Israel,
    as a symbol of my covenant with them.
And you will be a light to guide the nations.
⁷     You will open the eyes of the blind.
You will free the captives from prison,
    releasing those who sit in dark dungeons.

⁸ “I am the Lord; that is my name!
    I will not give my glory to anyone else,
    nor share my praise with carved idols.
⁹ Everything I prophesied has come true,
    and now I will prophesy again.
I will tell you the future before it happens.”

Some thoughts: 

     As we enter this most significant week in the history of the universe since the dawn of creation, we look at the remarkable words of Isaiah the prophet written 700 years before Christ. He describes the Messiah’s ministry in fine detail. In Judaic interpretation there is much vigorous debate as to the identity of the servant. Suggestions range from Cyrus, Isaiah, Messiah, and the most common interpretation being the nation of Israel as a whole. Christianity interprets the servant as Jesus, the Messiah based on Jesus’ own interpretation of the passage since he said the prophecy refer to himself! Let’s walk our way through the passage.

     While the Bible never uses the word “trinity,” it nevertheless teaches one God consisting of three persons. The first verse is a classic First Testament example. The “I” and “my” in the opening sentence refer to God the Father. The “he” in the second sentence refers to Jesus and the Spirit in the third sentence refers to the Holy Spirit. Three persons one God. As a reminder, note the text is LORD, that is YHWH, one God. So, here is an Old Testament example of referring to the trinitarian God.

     God speaks through Isaiah concerning his servant, Jesus. God’s plan of redemption first appears in the Garden of Eden. Bear in mind the divine Word, the Logos, is with the Father in heaven as Isaiah writes this. The Father is affirming the Son. He promises to give him strength to bear up against what is coming. Have you noticed this affirmation from God the Father also repeats itself several times when Jesus is on earth seven centuries later with the identical words? (Lk 3:22, Mt 3:17, at his Baptism; Mt17:5 at the Transfiguration; and Jn 12:28-29 during the first days of Holy Week.) I’d like to enlarge a bit on this last reference. 

     In John 12:27-30, Jesus utters these words, “Now my soul is deeply troubled. Should I pray, ‘Father, save me from this hour’? But this is the very reason I came! Father bring glory to your name.” These words were spoken only a few days before his crucifixion. In response to what Jesus said, a voice (God the Father) spoke from heaven, saying, “I have already brought glory to my name and I will do it again.” The people present thought an angel had spoken while others thought it was thunder. Jesus’ response was, “It was for your benefit [people], not mine.” I mention these affirmations of the Messiah’s mission to earth to point out the involvement of the Trinity in all aspects bringing redemption to a very broken world.

     Being empowered by the Holy Spirit, the Servant Savior will bring justice to the nations. He will speak tenderly. He will help the weak and give hope. He will bring justice to all who have been wronged. He will not fail or faint in dealing with injustice. This glorious day is yet to come. You note the central theme in this portion of Isaiah’s writing has to do with injustice. The people of Judah were cheating and taking advantage of the poor. The wealthy and power-grabbing ruling class was crushing the ordinary people. It would seem that the same problem remains in our world today.

     In the next section Isaiah reminds the people that they are dealing with God the creator, the giver of life, their protector and provider. He will guide and guard the Servant Savior. He will be a light to guide the nations. In Luke 2:32, Simeon speaks these very words when Mary and Joseph brought Jesus for his Presentation at the Temple forty days after his birth. “He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!” Once again, we see connections between the Testaments.

     When Jesus began his Galilean public ministry in his home synagogue in Nazareth, he quoted this very passage in Isaiah: “You will open the eyes of the blind. You will free the captives from prison, releasing those who sit in dark dungeons” (Lk 4:18-19) thus identifying for the people of Nazareth that the hometown boy is the long-prophesied Messiah from the scroll of Isaiah! The Nazarites wouldn’t believe him and tried to stone him for blasphemy. 

     Isaiah concludes this portion of our reading with the statement of a true prophet of God. “Everything I prophesied has come true, and now I will prophesy again. I will tell you the truth before it happens.” Seven hundred years later, every word he spoke came to pass verbatim! That is the test of a true prophet of God. What do you think the odds are of those things he prophesied that have yet to be fulfilled will come to pass? 

     What strikes me in this passage is the “affirming personal care” that is reflected from the Godhead as the Son of God dwelt in human form. It wasn’t as though Jesus said, “I’m going on a redemption mission to earth, and since I’m God, there will be nothing to it. I’m God after all.” Were that the case, we could hardly identify with Jesus, and he surely could not feel the pains and weaknesses humans grapple with. In this portion of Scripture, we see once again how very human Jesus was but also how very understanding and tender the Father is now and how present the Holy Spirit is to help and comfort us in our lives. As with Jesus, God is for us.  

Music: “The Blind Man Stood on the Road and Cried” Josh White (singing begins at :45)   

Prayer: 

O God, be Thou exalted over my possessions. Be thou exalted over my friendships. Be thou exalted above my comforts. Be thou exalted over my reputation. Make me ambitious to please Thee even if as a result I must sink into obscurity and my name be forgotten as a dream. Let me decrease that Thou mayest increase; let me sink that Thou mayest rise above. Ride forth upon me as Thou didst ride into Jerusalem mounted upon the humble little beast, a colt, the foal of an ass, and let me hear the children cry to Thee, “Hosanna in the highest.” -A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God, p.108

Palm Sunday, March 24   

Scripture: John 12: 1, 12-16 

12 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead.

¹² The next day, the news that Jesus was on the way to Jerusalem swept through the city. A large crowd of Passover visitors ¹³ took palm branches and went down the road to meet him. They shouted,

“Praise God!
Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord!
Hail to the King of Israel!”

¹⁴ Jesus found a young donkey and rode on it, fulfilling the prophecy that said:

¹⁵ “Don’t be afraid, people of Jerusalem.
Look, your King is coming,
    riding on a donkey’s colt.”

¹⁶ His disciples didn’t understand at the time that this was a fulfillment of prophecy. But after Jesus entered into his glory, they remembered what had happened and realized that these things had been written about him.

Some thoughts:

     Just to give us a little context, we retrace recent events. Jesus had raised Lazarus within the last week to ten days. Many people, both friends and the curious, came to see both Jesus and Lazarus. Jesus was staying just outside Jerusalem in Bethany. The day when the above passage occurred is today, Palm Sunday. 

     Like an out-of-control forest fire, word has been circulating about Jesus’ raising a man from the dead. Meanwhile as religious tensions are rising because of the perceived threat that Jesus presented to their power, the Pharisees and Sadducees are plotting to do away with Jesus and with Lazarus as well. At this point Jesus knows this will be his final week on earth. His life and mission since his birth have been pointing to these very days. You’ll notice all this coming week that Jesus is completely in control of everything. Even in knowing what lies ahead, there is resolve and anguishing moments but no fear. To prepare for his entry into Jerusalem, he sends two disciples (Peter and John according to tradition) to get a donkey, one on which no one had ever ridden. He tells them where to go and what to say, and it happens just as he said. You know the story quite well. 

     I want to make a few observations. In his ride down the Mount of Olives, Jesus was announcing himself as Israel’s king. Notice, Jesus asked for a donkey. When kings rode donkeys, they were coming in humility, peace, and reconciliation. When they rode horses, they were coming to do battle, to fight a war. A donkey was a royal, peaceful limousine as it were. Donkeys are humble servant animals. (You’ll recall Jesus was later in the week to wash the feet of the disciples as a servant.) In fact, the First Testament prophet, Zechariah, prophesied (9:9-10) that Israel’s king would enter Jerusalem on the back of a donkey―a donkey’s colt. What is often overlooked is that the passage goes on to say that your king will remove battle chariots and war horses from Jerusalem and destroy all weapons used in battle, and he will “bring peace to the nations.” The people missed the last part of the prophecy. Jesus’ kingdom was not of this world.

     King David, an ancestor of Jesus a thousand years earlier, had exited Jerusalem as king on a donkey, fleeing before his son. Incidentally, his son, Absalom, who was attempting a coup, rode into Jerusalem on a mule, an animal for war. Now the true King of Israel, of King David’s royal line, enters Jerusalem again on a donkey, the same road by which David had fled a 1,000 years earlier. What is interesting, at some point in the future, the King of kings will again return to set up his eternal kingdom. This time he will be on a white horse as he comes to rule (Rev.19:11) and destroy the forces of evil forever. Jesus’ Palm Sunday trip down the Mount of Olives and the place of Christ’s Ascension is also the ultimate place of his final Return at the end of the Age. This road on the Mount of Olives is one of the most significant geographical places on the planet. I remember walking down that road in 1996 being aware of these very things!

     As Jesus rode down the hill, great crowds gathered singing “hosanna!” (meaning ‘salvation now’) while waving palm branches as was typical in celebrating a hero. The people were undoubtedly hoping and believing that this Nazarene rabbi would lead a revolt against the Roman occupation. 160 years earlier against the Seleucid (Hellenistic) occupation, the Maccabees brothers engineered an overthrow. There was success in that earlier revolt, though latter Israel was again overrun by foreign powers. The people’s hope was that Jesus would set up his own kingdom ousting the hated Romans. Palm branches were waved as a symbolic sign of defiance. This fact was not lost on the foreign occupiers and added to the tensions of the Passover celebration.  

     The historian, Josephus, writes that at Passover there were some 2 ½ million Jews in Jerusalem, double the size of Rome! Even if he exaggerated, there was a massive swell in the Jewish population. Pilate, the Roman prefect, struggled to keep things under control. The war horse he rode was a show of force in great contrast to the donkey Jesus rode! The political climate was tense on several fronts. So the Romans were justifiably nervous as they were significantly outnumbered as well as intensely hated.

     The people sang these glorious words to a victorious king from Psalm 118. “Blessings on the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest heaven!” What the people didn’t realize is that Psalm also has these prophetic words, “Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar,” words that would later in the week be fulfilled as Jesus was bound and crucified as the sacrificial Lamb of God. (v.18) It is prophetically ironic the people shouting these texts from the First Testament did not realize the full extent of what they were saying. Within a few days undoubtedly a number of them were yelling “crucify him!” Jesus did not conform to their expectation as to what he should do regarding the Roman occupation. 

     The Triumphal Entry is a kind of picture of our response to God all too often. We are in a difficult situation wanting release from an imposed stress or an outside pressure, and we pray that God will in effect do our will and get us out of our plight. When God doesn’t do what we think he should or in our time frame, we crab, we doubt, and we get angry at God or each other. Don’t forget. The point in the Triumphal Entry is not the people’s response, but rather the magnificent, costly unfolding of God’s plan to bring healing and restoration to all people. It was not about the people then, and it is not about us and our wills now. Moreover, we need to be careful we don’t dictate how and when God should act. Rather, we should kneel in the Garden of Gethsemane with our Savior praying, “Not my will, but thine be done.” It has a much better outcome. And let’s be the servant donkey, carrying Jesus to the world! Remember, it was about Jesus, not the donkey! He is unfolding his plan for us.

Music: “Ride On King Jesus” Moses Hogan Singers

Bonuses!

“Ride on King Jesus” Jessye Norman

“Hosanna to the Song of David” Cambridge Singers

Prayer:

O Christ, the King of glory who didst enter the holy city in meekness to be made perfect through the suffering of death: give us grace, we beseech thee, in all our life here to take up our cross daily and follow thee, that hereafter we may rejoice with thee in thy heavenly kingdom, who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit world without end Amen.

                                                                                     ―Guideposts Prayers for Easter, p.34

Saturday, March 23     Lazarus Saturday

Scripture:  John 12:1-11

12 Six days before the Passover celebration began, Jesus arrived in Bethany, the home of Lazarus—the man he had raised from the dead. ² A dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, and Lazarus was among those who ate with him. ³ Then Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of expensive perfume made from essence of nard, and she anointed Jesus’ feet with it, wiping his feet with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance.

⁴ But Judas Iscariot, the disciple who would soon betray him, said, ⁵ “That perfume was worth a year’s wages. It should have been sold and the money given to the poor.” ⁶ Not that he cared for the poor—he was a thief, and since he was in charge of the disciples’ money, he often stole some for himself.

⁷ Jesus replied, “Leave her alone. She did this in preparation for my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

⁹ When all the people heard of Jesus’ arrival, they flocked to see him and also to see Lazarus, the man Jesus had raised from the dead. ¹⁰ Then the leading priests decided to kill Lazarus, too, ¹¹ for it was because of him that many of the people had deserted them and believed in Jesus.

Some thoughts:   

     This is a most interesting passage as all four gospels record an anointing of Jesus. Without going into great detail, it would appear there is more than one anointing. Luke’s account clearly seems to have occurred early in Jesus’ ministry since the location, the one anointing, the one objecting, the context, and Jesus’ response are completely different from the other gospels (Luke 7:36-50). Remembering the gospel writers had different audiences in mind, they had different emphases. In addition, they did not always record events in chronological order. For example, the above passage tells us Jesus arrived in Bethany six days before the Passover at Lazarus’ home. The next verse says a dinner was prepared in Jesus’ honor. The passage does not say the dinner was prepared the same day Jesus arrived though that may have been the case. Other scholars have interpreted the dinner as being six days before Passover, hence the designation of Lazarus Saturday. Matthew and Mark record the anointing two days before Passover. They also mention the anointing included Jesus’ head, while John and Luke only record Jesus’ feet being anointed. Remember Matthew is writing to a Jewish audience and his citing anointing on the head was significant because Old Testament kings were anointed on the head and Messiah means ‘the anointed one.’ Matthew was concerned with helping Jews make the connection between Jesus as the prophesied Messiah. You begin to see the point in endeavoring to harmonize the various accounts! With some of these various interpretations in mind, let’s look at the anointing itself.

     What do you do for the person who brought your dead brother to life? It doesn’t happen very often . . . ok, never. You have a party honoring the one who restored your sibling’s life. That is apparently what Mary and Martha did for Jesus in response to his raising Lazarus from the grave. As usual, Martha was busy serving. And once again, Mary was with Jesus. I have to smile reading this passage. You’ll recall an earlier occasion with Mary, Martha, and Jesus (Lk.10:38-42). Martha was busy preparing a meal and crabbing to Jesus that her sister wasn’t helping but talking with Jesus. In this pericope, we read once again, Martha is engaged in serving and Mary is tuned to Jesus. I see a family dynamic pattern here! The Bible is so real and covers up nothing. Sibling rivalry has been around a long time!

     During the meal in the presence of Lazarus and the disciples, Mary took a twelve-ounce jar of very expensive perfume from the essence of pure nard. To give us a better understanding of the value of what Mary did, nard is a product of fragrant roots of a plant of the honeysuckle family grown in the Himalayan mountains between 11,000 and 17,000 feet. You can imagine importing the perfume to Judaea from there would not be cheap. It was worth an entire year’s wage. Now put yourself in Martha and Mary’s home at the party. Can you imagine the aroma of a twelve-ounce bottle of potent perfume filling the air? My guess is that for the following days leading up to the crucifixion, Mary was reminded of the anointing of Jesus as the perfume lingered in her own hair having wiped Jesus’ feet. If it is the same anointing, according to Matthew (26:7) and Mark (14:8), she also anointed his head with the oils running down on his garments. During the coming days, my guess is that Jesus also was reminded of this loving act as the aroma lingered with and on him as well.

     Into this beautiful, honoring, loving and tender moment, Judas is the rude crude bull in the China shop. Mary is devoted to the Savior and Judas is devoted to Judas the greedy thief, the betrayer. As we trace the few references to him, he was clearly operating in a different world. I am surprised he was given responsibility for taking care of the money set aside for the disciples since John knew he had sticky fingers. At any rate he makes a crass comment and is rebuked quite strongly and sharply by Jesus. It was not that Judas misunderstood Jesus and his mission; Judas was inherently an evil at the core thief who cared not the least for the poor. He also seemed to be disillusioned and rejected the nature of Jesus’ ministry. 

     Jesus’ rebuke of Judas in this case is unlike his response to the disciples on an earlier occasion when a “woman of ill repute” anointed his feet, and he gave them an explanation of the implication of what had happened (Luke 7:36-50). In this case, Jesus’ words to Judas were very different . . . with a curt, “Leave her alone.” (Mt.26:10-13) I can’t recall anywhere else in Scripture where Jesus spoke that harshly to a person one on one. He was harsh with groups of people (Pharisees), but never with a one-on-one conversation that I remember. In his following comments, he was certainly not advocating that we don’t need to care for the poor, but rather drawing attention to the significance of his coming death. Mary had expressed extravagant devotion and gratitude to Jesus by what she did, even as she anointed him for his burial.

     This portion of Scripture concludes with the spiritual “rubber-neckers” crashing the party to see the “man who did it” and the guy he raised from the dead. It kind of reminds me of the people who slow down to see how bad the wreck was. They don’t really care about what happened, they just want to see the unusual, the spectacular. With the astounding resurrection of Lazarus from the dead, the priests decided this man of miracles was becoming far too popular as more and more people were slipping away from their teachings and believing in Jesus. Hence, he needed to be eliminated. The triumphal procession into Jerusalem, merely confirmed their suspicions and accelerated their murderous plans.

     What can we take from this pericope? Don’t be half-hearted or measured in your devotion to the Lord. Mary gave of herself to Jesus at great personal and material cost. She knelt at his feet, the act of a slave. She let her hair down, a very unsocially unacceptable act, to wipe his feet, a very personal act of devotion. (A short time later, Jesus was to do a similar thing in washing the feet of the disciples in expressing his servitude to and love for them.) She did not care what anyone else thought. She expressed her love and complete devotion to her Lord with unrestrained abandon. Judas, on the other hand, was concerned with himself and earthly material—money, money in relation to himself since he stole. Mary anointed Jesus for his burial. Devotion to Jesus carries into eternity. Judas’ betrayal yielded a different eternal story. May we express devotion to Jesus with innocent extravagant abandon like Mary.

Music: “Jesus Shall Reign” Grace Community Church

Prayer:

O Lord, let me not henceforth desire health or life except to spend them for you, with you and in you. You alone know what is good for me; do therefore what seems best to you. Give to me or take from me; conform my will to yours; and grant that with humble and perfect submission and in holy confidence I may receive the orders of your eternal providence and may equally adore all that comes to me from you. 

              ―Blaise Pascal (1623-1662), Eerdmans’ Book of Famous Prayers, p.56.   

Friday, March 22 

Scripture: Luke 15:25-32

²⁵ “Meanwhile, the older son was in the fields working. When he returned home, he heard music and dancing in the house, ²⁶ and he asked one of the servants what was going on. ²⁷ ‘Your brother is back,’ he was told, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf. We are celebrating because of his safe return.’

²⁸ “The older brother was angry and wouldn’t go in. His father came out and begged him, ²⁹ but he replied, ‘All these years I’ve slaved for you and never once refused to do a single thing you told me to. And in all that time you never gave me even one young goat for a feast with my friends. ³⁰ Yet when this son of yours comes back after squandering your money on prostitutes, you celebrate by killing the fattened calf!’

³¹ “His father said to him, ‘Look, dear son, you have always stayed by me, and everything I have is yours.  ³² We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found!’”

Some thoughts:

     Here we see the heart of the other self-centered brother. While the younger son grabbed what was his and took off, thinking only of himself, the older brother blamed the father for not being generous toward him, thinking only of himself. This was a giant pity party. Serving his father, he called “slavery.” Was he glad to see his little brother? No. Was he concerned about the time his brother had been away? No. Did he feel his father owed him something? Yes. His heart is embarrassingly laid bare before us. Then the father does something with the older son he did not do with the younger. He pleaded with him. Why? When the younger son demanded his inheritance and took off, the father did not plead with him not to go. He gave him that freedom. But here, he pleads with the elder son to rejoice with them in the joy of repentance.

     The elder son could not let go of his brother’s past. He was so consumed with himself. Though he was the elder brother, in some ways he was the more immature of the two, for he had not yet “come to his senses.” He remained the childish, reluctant, and joyless joint heir of the wealthy father, a sad place for an heir to be.

     What is the bigger picture here that Jesus is getting at? Remember he told three the parable of the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the lost son. Those listening to him were a large crowd including tax collectors and other well-known sinners plus Pharisees and teachers of the religious law who were annoyed because Jesus associated with sinners in their eyes, failing to recognize their own sinfulness. In the parable of the two sons, the prodigal son represented the tax collectors, prostitutes, and such. The father represented God and the elder son the Pharisees and teachers of the law. Like the elder son, the Pharisees complained that they had kept the law to the nth degree and Jesus wasn’t giving them any credit but was embracing and forgiving the sinners and not honoring them. They were intent on distancing themselves from sinners as evidenced in the phrase “Yet when this son of yours . . ..”  

     It occurred to me that the father raised two rather self-centered boys. Had he failed as a father? He gave his sons freedom to fail, and both were self-focused. How did he raise such selfish boys? Then, I remembered in this parable, the father is a portrayal of God. We are the sons in this story! It’s a commentary on the Father’s great love. All of his children are prodigals. It is not a commentary on God’s failure as a parent, quite the opposite. It tells of his great love and eagerness to forgive and restore wayward and rebellious children to the point of going to the cross.

Music: “My Song Is Love Unknown” Sylvia Burnside

Prayer: Gracious Lord of joy and delight, grant that I may always rejoice with those who rejoice, cheer for those who are cheerful, laugh with those who laugh, be happy with those who are happy, be enthusiastic with those who are enthusiastic, discover anew with those who discover new things. Forbid that I should ever withhold my heart’s embracing of another’s joy for some silly, selfish, or sanctimonious reason. Your kingdom does not need more “joy monitors.” From sour-faced saints, good Lord, deliver us! Amen!      —Daniel Sharp

Thursday, March 21 

Scripture: Luke 15:22-24

²² “But his father said to the servants, ‘Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him. Get a ring for his finger and sandals for his feet. ²³ And kill the calf we have been fattening. We must celebrate with a feast, ²⁴ for this son of mine was dead and has now returned to life. He was lost, but now he is found.’ So the party began.”     

Some thoughts:

     This part of the parable is about restoration and forgiveness. In it we learn something of the father’s heart and focus regarding his son’s escapade. Notice the father [God] barely responds to the son’s words of confession and in fact cuts off his son’s forgiveness speech in the middle. The father then negates the son’s “hired hand” self-designation by calling for a rich ceremonial robe which would be given to an honored guest, giving the son a ring an heir would own, and sandals which only a free man would wear. There is no dwelling on the son’s past foolishness, poor decisions, personal greed, moral failure, and so forth. No “I’m glad you finally learned your lesson! What have you learned from your mistakes? It’s about time you wised up.” None of that.

     The father completely restored the son’s position and identity. His coming home called for a celebration! I wonder if the calf was being fattened in anticipation of the son’s returning home. The father’s love for his son never wavered even while the son was deep in debauchery. The father’s words focused on the bottom line of what had taken place. He did not dwell on the surface events of the past, but went to the heart of the issue, the restored soul of his son. Sons and daughters need their father’s affirmation. Notice his words of ‘dead and alive’ and ‘lost and found’ also apply to one’s life before and after coming to Christ. You’ll notice the father’s celebration here affirms Jesus’ words in the lost sheep parable of the great joy in heaven over a sinner who repents and returns to God.

      Repentance brings God joy (Zeph 3:17). Do you ever think of God “rejoicing” over you when you turn from your self-will to his will and repent? Are there some “prodigals” for whom you have been praying a long time? Keep it up. They may not have made it to the pigpen yet. Keep watching the horizon and get ready to run! Your heavenly Father did that for you.

Music: “And the Father Will Dance Over You” New England Conservatory Alumni Choir

Prayer: Dearest Lord, may I see you today and every day in the person of your sick, and, whilst nursing them, minister unto you. Though you hide yourself behind the unattractive disguise of the irritable, the exacting, the unreasonable, may I still recognize you, and say: ‘Jesus, my patient, how sweet it is to serve you.’ Sweetest Lord, make me appreciative of the dignity of my high vocation, and its many responsibilities. Never permit me to disgrace it by giving way to coldness, unkindness, or impatience. Lord, increase my faith, bless my efforts and work now and forevermore, Amen.      —Mother Teresa of Calcutta, 1910-1997, from Eerdmans’ Book of Famous Prayers, p.99

Wednesday, March 20 

Scripture: Luke 15:20b-21

²⁰ “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him. ²¹ His son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, and I am no longer worthy of being called your son.’

Some thoughts:

     We may think of this story as a parable about the two sons, but these verses tell us it may be more about the boys’ father and his deep love for his children. The father is the God figure in the parable. Jesus is teaching the people and us about the nature of God’s great compassion and mercy. There is something here that is unique to all of Scripture. An action happens in this parable that does not happen anywhere else in the Bible. Read the above verses again and see if you can figure out what it is. Except for this parable, nowhere else in Scripture does God ever “run” after people. He does call people to come to him and as the Good Shepherd he goes after his lost sheep. In a patriarchal society it would be considered undignified for the father to run toward anyone.

     Jesus walked everywhere. He never ran to a situation, quite the contrary. Remember Lazarus, Mary, and Martha? When Jesus heard the news about Lazarus, he stayed two more days. God never runs after people. He is near to people. He loves people dearly. He is always ready to respond to people. But he does not force his way into people’s lives. He gives them freedom. But here is a beautiful picture of God’s love for the repentant person. The son had turned toward home and the father, filled with love, saw him and ran to him, put his arms around him and kissed him. Some commentators have surmised that perhaps the father went every day to watch and wait for his son’s return. The Savior is patient toward the lost.

     God is patiently waiting for us to turn around when we get on the wrong road. He does not impose his will on us. Have you thought how hard that must be for God? Think of your own children making terrible choices. How hard is it to not intervene and take over their life? The father is not pointing a boney-fingered condemnation of the son’s stupidity, but rather offers a warm embrace and expresses great joy in having the repentant son back home. The son doesn’t need to hear how foolish he was. He already knows it which is why he came home. The father even calls for a party and great celebration. Can you offer this kind of love to someone today? As you do, you are reflecting your Father’s heart.

Music: “The Love of God” Gaither Vocal Band

Prayer: Bring us, O Lord God, at the last awakening in to the house and gate of heaven, to enter into that gate and dwell in that house, where there shall be no darkness nor dazzling, but one equal light; no noise nor silence, but one equal music; no fears nor hopes, but an equal possession; no ends nor beginnings, but one equal eternity, in the habitations of thy majesty and thy glory, world without end.    —John Donne, 1571-1631

Tuesday, March 19    

Scripture: Luke 15:17-20a 

¹⁷ “When he finally came to his senses, he said to himself, ‘At home even the hired servants have food enough to spare, and here I am dying of hunger! ¹⁸ I will go home to my father and say, “Father, I have sinned against both heaven and you, ¹⁹ and I am no longer worthy of being called your son. Please take me on as a hired servant.”’

²⁰ “So he returned home to his father.  

Some thoughts: 

     What was I thinking! Have you ever said that? When we first get off the path, it’s hardly recognizable. We used to live in Seattle. We drove to the farm in Illinois every summer. There was a point in eastern Washington where the interstate highway split. We could go straight and go through Montana, North Dakota and Minnesota or choose to make a slight veer to the south and a day later be somewhere in Nebraska, hundreds of miles to the south of where we might have been. At that moment of making the split it was hardly noticeable, but it did set the course for the next several days.

     When the prodigal son left home, it seemed to him like a great leap into freedom and the training wheels came off the bike! “I can do what I want. After all, it’s my adventure and I have plenty of money!” As he continued down the path, however, the folly of his course become very clear. If you are in fantasyland or on the wrong road, turn around! (Just to clarify, it is not a sin to drive through North Dakota, though it is if you go too fast thinking there is no speed limit (another story!)

     “Progress means getting nearer to the place you want to be. And if you have taken a wrong turning, then to go forward does not get you any nearer. If you are on the wrong road, progress means doing an about-turn and walking back to the right road; and in that case the man who turns back soonest is the most progressive man.”  —C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity, p.36

     “When he finally . . . came to his senses” is a testimony to God’s grace. Notice the prodigal’s father does not intervene in his son’s poor decisions. The seed of humility in the son we mentioned yesterday finally began to grow. He recognized his sin was against heaven as well as his earthly father. Notice he mentioned heaven first. All sin is ultimately against God and secondarily against others. This realization is an indication of truly understanding the significance of his previous choices. He repented went back to the place where he got off track which was home. Notice how much more there is than a simple “I’m sorry.” We see in the prodigal a complete attitude and heart change giving evidence of true repentance. Where is your path leading you today?

Music: “I Want Jesus to Walk with Me” Moses Hogan Chorale

Prayer: Fix thou our steps O Lord, that we stagger not at the uneven motions of the world, but steadily go on to our glorious home; neither censuring our journey by the weather we meet with, nor turning out of the way for anything that befalls us. The winds are often rough, and our own weight presses us downwards. Reach forth, O Lord, thy hand, thy saving hand, and speedily deliver us. Teach us, O Lord, to use this transitory life as pilgrims returning to their beloved home; that we may take what our journey requires, and not think of settling in a foreign country.           —John Wesley, Eerdmans’ Book of Famous Prayer, p.64

Monday, March 18   

Scripture: Luke 15:13-16

¹³ “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living. ¹⁴ About the time his money ran out, a great famine swept over the land, and he began to starve. ¹⁵ He persuaded a local farmer to hire him, and the man sent him into his fields to feed the pigs. ¹⁶ The young man became so hungry that even the pods he was feeding the pigs looked good to him. But no one gave him anything.

Some thoughts:

     Welcome to the world of “self” son! Should we be surprised that no one gave him anything? Look with whom he was spending his time and money. This was not generally a community that is known for giving or caring about others. No, this was a crowd of self-focused takers. It became particularly evident to the prodigal when everything headed south. Friends of this caliber and character bail as soon as another’s money runs out. The same thing happens today with people and corporations who have “squandered their wealth on wild living.” How many heirs of fortunes, “lottery winners,” and professional athletes are dead broke after a few years of squandering great wealth?

     A kind of severe famine has likewise arisen in the prodigal’s country. Have you ever noticed how often a bad decision escalates into even more disasters? A bad tree can’t produce good fruit (Matt 7:18). But as is sometimes the case, here we see the seeds of humility being planted in the son’s soil of desperation. The seeds sprouted as starvation brought a dose of reality and he decided to look for work. Imagine, . . . work! He got a job feeding pigs. Think about the parable Jesus is telling. Pigs were unclean to the Jews. The son’s job was the lowest of the low. He was on a Jewish skid row. He was eating the same pods as unclean animals! (These were not snow pea pods from P.F. Chang’s!) His loneliness was so overwhelming it spurred him to action. This whole parable centers on a wayward heart which had to make it all the way to the bottom and finally being so alone broke the self. The prodigal finally had enough of, no, was sick of himself and decided to act.

     Look for people in your life today who may be in the son’s situation and extend a hand in whatever form to bring encouragement and hope. It’s not time to judge, but time to love and encourage. The prodigal didn’t need to be told he had played the fool. He needed to be forgiven. Don’t be the “no one gave him anything” person. God may use you to play the prodigal’s father in another’s life today. Or perchance you may be that prodigal person. If that is the case, go back home. Ask forgiveness. You won’t be disappointed at the response. 

Music: “Father of My Heart” Fernando Ortega

Prayer: Lord, I am blind and helpless, stupid, and ignorant. Cause me to hear, cause me to know teach me to do, lead me.         —Henry Martyn, 1781-1812