Future Reflections

   A copule of weeks ago, I decided that I was being nourished by the regimen of creating these daily reflections during Lent. I decided that I would continue them through the Easter season. What I did not anticipate, however, was getting sick on Palm Sunday and being out of shape for most of Holy Week. I barely had the time or energy to get the things done that needed to be done this past week. I definitely did not have time to get a weeks worth of devotions ready for publiction on my blog.

   I will be taking a week off this week and most likely won’t be able to find the time to work on the blog or the reflections. However, once I get back into the office on April 16th, I’ll most likely begin again and continue through Pentecost. Between now and then, I will be enlisting the aid of my parishioners to write reflections on their favorite passages of scripture during the summer months. Several have said they would share their thoughts. I think this will be a good way to let them use their talents.

   If anyone reading this would like to share a devotional on your favorite passage of scripture during the summer months of June, July, and August, then please contact me. The format is simple.

1. Pick a passage. It can be short or long.
2. Write a reflection on the passage. Somewhere between 150-300 words.
3. Write a short prayer related to the theme of the reflection.
4. Give a title to your reflection.

I reserve the right to edit or not to include any or all submissions.

Keeping Watch at the Tomb

Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 31:1-4, 15-16
Job 14:1-14
1 Peter 4:1-8
Matthew 27:57-66

 Matthew 27:57-66 

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

 The Burial of Jesus
 57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.

The Guard at the Tomb
 62The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63″Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”  65″Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” 66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.

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We switch from John to Matthews Gospel for our reading today.  This Saturday between Good Friday and Easter is a somber day. Christians worship on this day in a rather reflective manner.  Good Friday is behind us, but Easter is not yet here. So we wait. We ponder. We wonder at the marvelous plan of God sending his Son to the Savior of the world.

   Today’s text is the account of Joseph of Arimathea asking Pilate for Jesus body. Joseph, a follower, wanted the body to receive a proper burial. The Chief Priests and the Pharisees, though, wanted to make sure there were no under handed shenanigans going on. So they asked that Pilate put a guard on the tomb. They quoted Jesus saying, “After three days I will rise again.” Pilate consents to their request and a Roman guard put a seal upon the tomb and then took up positions around it.

   I wonder what the guards thought of their assignment. I am sure they were all aware of the happenings of the previous couple of days. They may even have been the ones that helped to scourge him. They might have been the same detail that nailed him to the cross. Perhaps, the one that put the spear into Jesus side was now standing there with the same spear in his side. Perhaps he was wondering, “Why am I guarding a dead man?” Indeed, perhaps they all wondered what was going on that made this man, even in his death, so important as to require a contingent of Roman soldiers to guard his tomb.

   With the tomb sealed, and the guard in place. The Jewish leaders could be sure that Jesus would stay dead. There would be no missing corpse that would miraculously be said to have come back to life. There would be no Lazarus again walking in their midst. The job was done. The task was completed. The Jewish Carpenter was no longer going to stir things up with the Romans and there would be peace and security once again in the land.

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  Prayer: Lord, help me as I wait with anticipation for what I know is coming tomorrow.

Good Friday?

Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 22
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Hebrews 4:14-16, 5:7-9
John 18:1-19:42

John 19: 28-42

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
(Please note that this is only a small portion of the entire Gospel reading for today. I suggest that you might want to read all of the text.)

The Death of Jesus
 28Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” 29A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips. 30When he had received the drink, Jesus said, “It is finished.” With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

 31Now it was the day of Preparation, and the next day was to be a special Sabbath. Because the Jews did not want the bodies left on the crosses during the Sabbath, they asked Pilate to have the legs broken and the bodies taken down. 32The soldiers therefore came and broke the legs of the first man who had been crucified with Jesus, and then those of the other. 33But when they came to Jesus and found that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced Jesus’ side with a spear, bringing a sudden flow of blood and water. 35The man who saw it has given testimony, and his testimony is true. He knows that he tells the truth, and he testifies so that you also may believe. 36These things happened so that the scripture would be fulfilled: “Not one of his bones will be broken,”[d] 37and, as another scripture says, “They will look on the one they have pierced.”[e]

The Burial of Jesus

 38Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jews. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. 39He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds.[f] 40Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. 41At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. 42Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

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    We come to the end of our Lenten journey with today’s Gospel reading. The first few words of the passage sum up what we have been about these last few weeks: “…knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled,…” Jesus journey was no accident. He didn’t just stumble into the job of Messiah one day. He wasn’t just a mere human that God selected. No, he was the Lamb of God slain from the foundation of the world and today—Good Friday—we see the culmination of his work and the fulfillment of the Scriptural promises of the Old Testament. 

   On Good Friday, our Lord and our Savior died upon the cross of Calvary for our sins. It was a one time sacrifice sufficient for all time.  Our sins were placed upon him. The one that was fully human and fully God. He was the only one capable of paying the price of our transgression. With his words, “It is finished.” He bowed his head and died.

   While God mourned, I am sure that Satan and his minions were leaping and shouting for joy. Their nemesis was destroyed. In their eyes, the Messiah hung there lifeless on his cross. He hung there naked, humiliated, beaten—between two thieves. The King of the Jews—was dead.

   I don’t know about you, but that doesn’t seem the best of plans to me. After all, the hero is supposed to survive until the end of the movie. Isn’t he? God’s plan, though, was somewhat different than we could imagine. For God the hero dies at noon—on the day we call—Good Friday. I’m sure that at that point all creation moaned. The one that had been present when the foundations of the world were laid, now hung on a Roman cross dead and lifeless.

   We call it Good Friday, yet in the back of our mind do we ask ourselves, “What Good can come from such an event?” On that day, without the hindsight we have today, there was no rejoicing. There was only sadness and defeat as those that followed their friend and master made their way back into the crowds and grieved with one another in the Upper Room. 

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Prayer: Lord, do not let me overlook the enormity of your sacrifice. Do not let me forget your pain. Let me celebrate your loving sacrifice on my behalf. 

Washing One Another’s Feet

Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 116:1-2, 12-19
Exodus 12:1-42
1 Corinthians 11:23-26
John 13:1-17, 31b 35

John 13:1-17 
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society Jesus Washes His Disciples’ Feet 

1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.[a] 2The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus. 3Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 

6He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 

7Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 

8″No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”     

 Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 

9″Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 

10Jesus answered, “A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place.

“Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13″You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them. 

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Today is Holy or Maundy Thursday. We commemorate the events to Jesus final night with his disciples. We see him at the Passover Feast perform an act of servitude. That catches the disciples unawares. In the society of that day, sandals were the normal footwear. The roads were dry and dusty or wet and muddy. When you came into someone’s home, one of the first acts of hospitality was to have a slave, or at least the low person on the totem pole, to wash the feet of the guests. It was sort of a refreshing gesture of welcome.   

   In this passage, Jesus takes on the servants role. He, who is the teacher, the one who’s feet should be washed, becomes the one that washes the disciple’s feet. It sort of makes you wonder why they had dirty feet to begin with. Were none of them willing to take on such a subservient role and perform the traditional gesture? If this was the case, then Jesus once again takes an everyday moment and turns it into a teachable moment.   

   In doing so, he reminds them of the heavenly pecking order—The first shall be last and the last shall be first. He reminds them that in the Kingdom scheme of things that if you want to save your life, you must first give it up. He reminds them that God’s ways are not our ways.  

   I truly like Holy Thursday, from early in my ministry I have performed the ritual of foot washing on this night. It has been interesting to see the various people as they approach this act of love. Some seem quite reticent. Others simply move right in and do what needs to be done. No one, though, has gone away unaffected. Everyone seems to have been touched in one way or another by this simply act of humble service to a fellow believer.  

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Prayer: Lord, let me never get so proud that I am unwilling to bow down and do what needs to be done for your Kingdom.

The Judas in All of Us

Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 70
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Hebrews 12:1-3
John 13:21-32

John 13:21-32 
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

 21After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me.”

 22His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”

 25Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”

 26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. 27As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.

   ”What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, 28but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. 30As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.

 31When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him. 32If God is glorified in him,[a] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.

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   Judas Iscariot is one of those archetypal characters that we can all recognize. He is the trusted follower that betrays his master. He is mentioned now for the third time in the last few days. First we saw his taking of the 30 pieces of silver. Then we saw him at the supper at Lazarus’ home. Now we see him take the final step and move from trusted disciple—to Satan’s handyman.

   The words, “As soon as Judas had taken the bread, Satan entered into him.” I can’t think of a much more foreboding sounding passage in the scriptures. In an instant, he moved from follower to adversary. He moved from one of God’s own to being one of Satan’s own. 

   I’ve always had trouble with Judas’ role in the grand scheme of things. It almost appears as if he is doomed from the outset. I wonder could he have taken another turn? Could he be forgiven for his role? Was it really necessary for him to take this role in God’s grand scheme of things? If he could turn so easily on Christ and have Satan enter into him, then what keeps us from rejecting Christ and accepting Satan?

   As United Methodists, we don’t preach a once saved—always saved doctrine. If someone wants to turn his back on God, then we believe that an individual has the right to do so. I would hope, though, that it would not be an easy thing to do. I would hope that if we decide to reject God it would only come after much soul searching on our part. Personally, I don’t see the scenario that would make that possible in my life. Then again, may be Judas never thought he could make such a betrayal either.

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Prayer: Lord, help me to always love you and never turn my back on you or to betray you.

God’s Plan Didn’t Need Our Help

Daily Lectionary Readings:

Psalm 71:1-14
Isaiah 49:1-7
1Corinthians 1:18-31
John 12:20-36

John 12:20-36 

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Jesus Predicts His Death

 20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

 23Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25The man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

 27″Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!”

   Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

 30Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself.” 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

 34The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Christ[a] will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

 35Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36Put your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

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     This passage contains a couple of things I want to comment upon. First of all, I truly love the first few verses. Greeks at the Festival approach Philip and say, “Sir, we would like to see Jesus.” There is just something about those words that sends a shiver up and down my spine. The word of mouth concerning this man from Galilee was indeed spreading and now people approach his followers and ask for an audience with him. 

   Jesus hears of their request and then begins a monologue on servant hood and his impending death. A voice even comes from the heavens and speaks to him so that the crowd could know that he was no mere mortal. There was something special about him. Then he says the words, “When I am lifted up, from the earth, I will draw all men unto me.” We of course know that he was referring to his impending death on the cross.  

   The only problem with this story is the crowd. They still could not understand what he was saying to them. He tries to explain. He again uses the light and darkness imagery, but it appears as if they are still completely immersed in the darkness. 

   As Holy Week progresses, there seems to be more and more supernatural activity—voices from heaven—and yet the people still cannot understand him. I suppose we could say the Good News in this scenario is that what he had to do did not rest upon the ability of the people to understand. He was there to accomplish God’s plan and God’s wisdom and ways of doing things are very different from our own.

   He knew that the cross loomed on his horizon, but he did not back away from it. He continued to march headlong toward it because he knew that he was doing the will of the heavenly Father.

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Prayer: Lord, give me the determination that Jesus had to accomplish what I need to accomplish for you kingdom. 

Do I Look Like Christ?

Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 36:5-11
Isaiah 42:1-9
Hebrews 9:11-15
John 12:1-11

John 12:1-11 

 New International Version
(NIV)Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Jesus Anointed at Bethany 

1Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 

4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5″Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.[b]” 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 

7″Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. ” It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” 

9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.

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   I have already commented upon this scripture as the text for the Fifth Sunday during Lent. Let me offer some other insights on this passage.

   One part of the passage not included in the other reading are the final verses. It seems as if the commotion that Jesus was stirring up in Bethany was attracting a lot of attention. Remember, he had raised Lazarus from the dead. That got their tongues a wagging. Now he was back in town and he was having dinner at Lazarus’ house. I sort of imagine that the scene would be similar to a modern day celebrity surrounded by a crowd of paparazzi all trying to get the best angle on what was happening.

From the text, I get the impression that the crowd was big enough to catch the attention of the Jewish leaders.   The leaders realized that they now had a double dilemma on their hands. Not only were the crowds eager to see Jesus the Miracle Worker, they also were now eager to see his latest miracle—the risen Lazarus! Thus, the plans were laid to kill not only Jesus, but his friend Lazarus. The reason—”…on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their faith in him.”  

   This last phrase is one that I would like on my tombstone, “On account of Terry, many became followers of Christ.” I don’t say this in a bragging way, I say it to remind me that as a Christian that is my role in life. I am to emulate Christ. I am to be one of his miracles and when people see me, they will see Jesus and the things that he has taught and said and done. As a result, they will put their trust and faith in Him.   

   I hope no one ever seeks to put his or her trust in me for eternal salvation. I will surely let them down. However, if they can see Jesus through me, then I will be blessed beyond my wildest measure. 

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Prayer: Lord, let me be so like Christ, that when people see me—they really see him—and put their trust and faith in him. 

Crucifix or Cross?

Daily Lectionary Readings:

Psalm 118:1-2, 19-29
Isaiah 50:4-9a
Philippians 4:5-11
Matthew 26:14-27, 66

Matthew 26:14-27

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

Judas Agrees to Betray Jesus

 14Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests 15and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. 16From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.

The Lord’s Supper

 17On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

 18He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’ ” 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

 20When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21And while they were eating, he said, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me.”

 22They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely not I, Lord?”

 23Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

 25Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?”

      Jesus answered, “Yes, it is you.”[a]

 26While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

 27Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.

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    We are coming to the end of our Lenten journey. Holy Week has arrived. Today, at worship, we celebrate Jesus’ entry into the city on Palm Sunday. We hear shouts of “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The praise and acclamation quickly dissipate and we move ever onward to Jesus appointed task.  

  In the lesson from Matthew, we see some history of Judas as he accepts the thirty pieces of silver to betray Jesus. We then see them as they make their way to the home of a “certain man” that seems to be expecting Jesus.

    Once in the home they celebrate his final Passover meal and Jesus informs Judas that he knows of his role in these final hours.

    As we move into Holy Week, the emotions become more intense. The story becomes more riveting. We begin to sense the urgency in Jesus actions. He is like an athlete focused on the game that is in front of him. There will be no distractions for him. He will finish the race and receive the prize. For him, though, finishing the race means his death on the cross. This prize—is his resurrection.

    I have often used the phrase, that without death, there can be no resurrection. I remember once when I was buying a piece of jewelry for a girlfriend. I was getting her a crucifix that she could wear around her neck. Notice that I said crucifix. That means that the cross had Jesus hanging on it. The sales lady said, “You don’t want to buy a crucifix. You want to get a cross. After all, we Christians celebrate the fact that the cross is empty.”

    Well, at least she had a theology of the cross, yet I wonder how her faith dealt with Jesus’ agony and death. My theology reminded me that he had to first suffer and die for my sins. That is why I wanted a crucifix and not just a cross.

   As we enter into Holy Week, we often jump from the festive entry into the city on Palm Sunday to the joy of the resurrection on Easter morning. This year, please take the time to remember the things that happened in between. Take a look at the rest of the story and appreciate al that Christ suffered and did on your behalf. 

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Prayer: Lord, as the joy of Palm Sunday becomes a distant memory, let me face the fullness of Christ’s sacrifice for me

Repercussions of our Actions

Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 137, 144
Jeremiah 31:27-36
Romans 11:25-36
John 12:37-50

 John 12:37-50 

New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society

 The Jews Continue in Their Unbelief

 37Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This 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?”[a]

  39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

 40″He has blinded their eyes
      and deadened their hearts,
   so they can neither see with their eyes,
      nor understand with their hearts,
      nor turn—and I would heal them.”[b]

41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

 42Yet 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; 43for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.

  44Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. 46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

  47″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. 48There 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. 49For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

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   Throughout John’s Gospel, we read, time and time again, of the unbelief of the people. They have heard Jesus teach. They have seen Jesus heal and perform miracles. Yet, their hearts are still hardened and they refuse to believe that what he says is really true.
   In today’s passage, I am drawn to the following words:
 

42Yet 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; 43for they loved praise from men more than praise from God.
 

   There are some that believed. Many of the believers were the leaders of the Jewish people. However, belief and a public profession of that belief appear to be two different things. Because the text makes it clear that if they professed their belief, they would be exiled from the synagogue. The text goes on to indicate that they craved the adulation of their fellow Jewish leaders than they desired praise from God.

   I wonder about us today. Have our churches become places in which we crave the praise and adulation of our fellow worshipers or places where we seek the praise of God? The last time that there was a difficult decision to be made, did we first ask ourselves, “I wonder what the members will think about this?” Or did we just do what we felt God wanted us to do without worrying about the repercussions? 

   In many churches, we spend too much time worrying about the repercussions of our decisions and not enough time actually doing what it is that God wants us to do.

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 Prayer: Lord, let me be less sensitive to the repercussions of my decisions and more willing to do whatever you want me to do for you.    

The Emotional God

Daily Lectionary Readings:
Psalm 22
Jeremiah 29:1, 4-13
Romans 11:13-24
John 11:28-44

John 11:28-44 
New International Version (NIV)
Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society
  28And after she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary aside. “The Teacher is here,” she said, “and is asking for you.” 29When Mary heard this, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet entered the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31When 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. 

 32When 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.”

  33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34″Where have you laid him?” he asked.

      ”Come and see, Lord,” they replied.

  35Jesus wept.

  36Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!”

  37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?”

 Jesus Raises Lazarus From the Dead

  38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39″Take away the stone,” he said.

       ”But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

  40Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?”

  41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42I 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.”

  43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44The 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.”

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     As a pastor, I am often confronted with families that have just lost a loved one. In our culture, we don’t have the professional mourners and the weeping and wailing that would have surrounded the death of a Jewish person. We do, however have grief. There are tears that are shed. There are questions that are asked: “Could we have gone to another doctor?” “We should have stopped him from going on the trip?” “Could we have found the cancer sooner?” All these and many more questions and emotions come to the forefront in a family when death occurs.

   One of the things that I like about this passage is the emotion found within it. Not just from the mourners and the family, but also from Jesus. As anyone that has done Bible drills knows, the shortest verse in the Bible is found in this passage. It simply says, “Jesus wept.” These two little words convey large amount of information about Jesus. 

   We often talk about how well God knows us. God knew us as we were knit together in our mother’s womb. God knows the number of the hairs found on our head. From these passages I get the impression that God is not out there somewhere and not concerned about what happens to us, but rather God is with us now in a very loving and caring way.

   Lazarus, Martha, and Mary were Jesus’ friends he seemed to frequently be in their home. When Lazarus died, Jesus didn’t simply say. “Ashes to ashes. Dust to dust.” or “You win some and you lose some.” Instead, the Scriptures tell us that “Jesus wept.” There was some connection between him and these friends of his. When one of them died, he felt the pain.

   I think God is that way as well. He sent his Son into the world to die for our sin. In the movie The Passion I think the best scene is the tear that falls from heaven as Jesus dies on the cross on Good Friday. God wept at the loss of his Son. I believe that God still weeps at the loss of one of his sons or daughters that refuse to accept what he has done for them through Jesus’ sacrificial death.

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Prayer: Lord, don’t make me cause you to weep by rejecting what Jesus has done for me. Let me accept him as my Lord and Savior.