A Pot Luck Thanksgiving
Luke 17:11-19
A few years ago our extended family of 3 generations had a pot luck Thanksgiving. Everyone was supposed to bring a dish. I offered to bring mashed potatoes. After all, how hard can it be to peel, cut, boil, and mash potatoes? But I didn’t want to be preparing my dish at the last minute, so I found a recipe for a mashed potato casserole.
Of course, I needed to do a trial run of the recipe before Thanksgiving. And when I did, it went well and tasted pretty good. I began thinking about an empty casserole dish on Thanksgiving Day and lots of compliments. The dish would be a big hit.
But then I thought about some of the things that could go wrong. What if there was so much food that little of my casserole dish was eaten? Or what if another dish was the favorite and not my dish? Or suppose someone didn’t bring a dish and do their share of the work? These were all things that could keep us from being thankful on Thanksgiving Day.
There is a story about being thankful in Luke’s Gospel. Ten lepers were healed by Jesus, but only one of them returned to Jesus and said, “Thank you.” The other nine may have had good excuses. They may have been so excited that they went and told their families and friends and forgot to say “Thank you.” Or they may have thought it was not fair that the others had been healed and they hadn’t had leprosy as long as they had. Or, they may have thought that they deserved to be healed and that they shouldn’t have ever had the disease. Whatever their reasons, only one of the ten who were healed returned to Jesus and told him “Thank you.”
During the season of Thanksgiving, we may want to watch out for those things that may keep us from begin thankful. Sometimes we can take what we have for granted and even think that we deserve more than we have. Or, we may see what other have and be frustrated and jealous because we don’t have as much as they have. Or, we may just be so busy with our own activities that we fail to take at least a moment to say “Thank you.”
The story of the ten lepers reminds us that God has blessed us and given us everything that we have. When we remember that, then we will do what one of the ten lepers did. We too can say “Than you.” because we are thankful for all that we have and because all of it is a gift from God.
Monday, November 21, 2011
Sunday, June 19, 2011
The God You Always Needed
The God You Always Needed
Genesis 22:1- 14
Let’s begin with a question. What is God like? There are several answers that can be heard from time to time. One is that God is “The man upstairs.” This usually means that God is remote, distant, and only occasionally checks on people to see what they are doing. Another answer is that God is a heavenly Santa Claus, who gives people what they want if they ask. Some have said that God is a kindly old grandfather who smiles at his grandchildren and lets them do whatever they want to do. A contrast to that is the God who is the heavenly police officer who strikes when someone does something wrong. All of these are answers to the question “What is God like?”
The story of Abraham and Isaac gives another answer to this question that is unlike any of the ones that have been listed. If there was a newspaper article about this story, the headline would probably read: “Father Caught in Attempt to Kill His Son”. The article would say that Abraham said that God told him to do it. If we heard that story about someone today, we might say that this man is mentally ill and needs treatment. Or we might say that this is an evil man, a threat to society, who needs to be in prison. This would be one of the worst possible events that we can imagine – a parent seriously injures or kills their own child. That is not the kind of parent that we would want, or would want to be.
And then there is the question about God. What kind of god would tell a parent to kill a child? That doesn’t sound like the kind of god that we would want. It sounds like a crazy, evil god. Nevertheless, this is what the story about Abraham and Isaac says – God told Abraham to kill his son Isaac, and Abraham was going to do it. But there are also some things that the story does not tell us. It doesn’t say why God told Abraham to kill Isaac. And it doesn’t say why God gave Abraham an animal to kill, instead of his son. If we can look beyond the problem of a parent killing their own child, then this story can tell us something about God and about faith in God.
One lesson from this story is that God does not solve all of our problems. Sometimes we get the idea that if we believe in God, and go to church, that we will be happy. We may think that will solve all of our problems, and that God will provide all that we need. But the purpose of faith is not to make us happy, or even to solve all of our problems. The purpose of faith is to make us faithful and truly alive. That means that we will feel both joy and pain. Indeed, faith can lead us to experience greater joy and greater pain. We hear about both in the words of Jesus. He said “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” And in The Lord’s Prayer he taught us to pray for forgiveness for our sins. The words of Jesus address both joy and pain. They remind us that faith in God does not solve all of our problems.
Faith in God can indeed solve some problems, but it may also create other problems. In Abraham’s case, Isaac was a wonderful, unexpected gift from God. The challenge for Abraham came when God asked Abraham to offer the gift back to God. The gift of Isaac solved one of Abraham’s problems. The command to sacrifice Isaac created a new problem for Abraham. One problem was solved, and another was created. That sometimes happens with faith in God.
Another lesson from this story is that God expects total commitment and radical obedience. It reminds me of the breakfast example. That is, if you have eggs for breakfast, then the chicken was involved. But if you have bacon or sausage, then the hog was totally committed. Abraham is totally committed to God. When he is told to offer his son Isaac to God, he doesn’t hesitate. He is ready to do it. But we have to ask, what was he thinking? Was he thinking that God knew what He was doing and would provide the sacrifice, whether it was Isaac or something else? Or was he thinking that if he killed Isaac that God would bring him back to life? Or was he simply remembering God’s promise to bless and multiply Abraham and his offspring, and that no matter what happened, that God would keep His promise? Whatever he was thinking, there is no question that Abraham was totally committed to God, and ready to be totally obedient.
It might be helpful to ask ourselves, when do we follow in the footsteps of Abraham? The ready answer seems to be – whenever we make sacrifices, and served at our own expense. We might note that faith has a certain amount of unreasonableness to it. When we attend worship services, it may seem like a waste of time. When we pray, our prayers may seem ineffective. When we give our offerings, it may just feel like we are helping the church to pay its bills. But there is more to faith than meets the eye. Faith means saying “yes” to God in ways that may seem unreasonable, but that show we are totally committed to God . The good news of faith is that God is totally committed to us, and calls us to be totally committed to Him, just like Abraham was.
Another lesson for us in this story is that God is both a tester and a provider. God will challenge our faith, and challenge us to grow. But along with the test, God will provide everything that we need to pass the test. Abraham would tell us that the tough part is that God will test us, and that the good part is that God will provide all that we need. Our faith and our commitment to God are tested every day. When we hear that someone needs help and we are able to help them. When someone cuts us off on the highway, or follows too closely. When we have to choose between work time and family time, or giving and keeping, or self-expression and self-control. We can remember that our faith is being tested, and that we will always have enough, because God will provide everything that we need.
What kind of God do most of us want? It would be great to have a god who solves all of our problems, doesn’t require much of us, provides all of our needs, and most of our wants. That’s the kind of God that most of us want. But that is not the God of Abraham and the God of Jesus. Their God creates conflict and difficult choices for us, challenges us, and both tests and provides for us. This may not be the kind of God that we want, but it is the kind of God that we need. We need a God who will test us and bring out the best in us. We need a God who calls us to be totally committed and radically obedient. We need a God who will bless us and provide everything that we need.
The challenging part of faith is that God will test us. The good news is that God will provide everything that we need to pass the test, and that we can be totally committed to God and totally blessed by God.
Genesis 22:1- 14
Let’s begin with a question. What is God like? There are several answers that can be heard from time to time. One is that God is “The man upstairs.” This usually means that God is remote, distant, and only occasionally checks on people to see what they are doing. Another answer is that God is a heavenly Santa Claus, who gives people what they want if they ask. Some have said that God is a kindly old grandfather who smiles at his grandchildren and lets them do whatever they want to do. A contrast to that is the God who is the heavenly police officer who strikes when someone does something wrong. All of these are answers to the question “What is God like?”
The story of Abraham and Isaac gives another answer to this question that is unlike any of the ones that have been listed. If there was a newspaper article about this story, the headline would probably read: “Father Caught in Attempt to Kill His Son”. The article would say that Abraham said that God told him to do it. If we heard that story about someone today, we might say that this man is mentally ill and needs treatment. Or we might say that this is an evil man, a threat to society, who needs to be in prison. This would be one of the worst possible events that we can imagine – a parent seriously injures or kills their own child. That is not the kind of parent that we would want, or would want to be.
And then there is the question about God. What kind of god would tell a parent to kill a child? That doesn’t sound like the kind of god that we would want. It sounds like a crazy, evil god. Nevertheless, this is what the story about Abraham and Isaac says – God told Abraham to kill his son Isaac, and Abraham was going to do it. But there are also some things that the story does not tell us. It doesn’t say why God told Abraham to kill Isaac. And it doesn’t say why God gave Abraham an animal to kill, instead of his son. If we can look beyond the problem of a parent killing their own child, then this story can tell us something about God and about faith in God.
One lesson from this story is that God does not solve all of our problems. Sometimes we get the idea that if we believe in God, and go to church, that we will be happy. We may think that will solve all of our problems, and that God will provide all that we need. But the purpose of faith is not to make us happy, or even to solve all of our problems. The purpose of faith is to make us faithful and truly alive. That means that we will feel both joy and pain. Indeed, faith can lead us to experience greater joy and greater pain. We hear about both in the words of Jesus. He said “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” And in The Lord’s Prayer he taught us to pray for forgiveness for our sins. The words of Jesus address both joy and pain. They remind us that faith in God does not solve all of our problems.
Faith in God can indeed solve some problems, but it may also create other problems. In Abraham’s case, Isaac was a wonderful, unexpected gift from God. The challenge for Abraham came when God asked Abraham to offer the gift back to God. The gift of Isaac solved one of Abraham’s problems. The command to sacrifice Isaac created a new problem for Abraham. One problem was solved, and another was created. That sometimes happens with faith in God.
Another lesson from this story is that God expects total commitment and radical obedience. It reminds me of the breakfast example. That is, if you have eggs for breakfast, then the chicken was involved. But if you have bacon or sausage, then the hog was totally committed. Abraham is totally committed to God. When he is told to offer his son Isaac to God, he doesn’t hesitate. He is ready to do it. But we have to ask, what was he thinking? Was he thinking that God knew what He was doing and would provide the sacrifice, whether it was Isaac or something else? Or was he thinking that if he killed Isaac that God would bring him back to life? Or was he simply remembering God’s promise to bless and multiply Abraham and his offspring, and that no matter what happened, that God would keep His promise? Whatever he was thinking, there is no question that Abraham was totally committed to God, and ready to be totally obedient.
It might be helpful to ask ourselves, when do we follow in the footsteps of Abraham? The ready answer seems to be – whenever we make sacrifices, and served at our own expense. We might note that faith has a certain amount of unreasonableness to it. When we attend worship services, it may seem like a waste of time. When we pray, our prayers may seem ineffective. When we give our offerings, it may just feel like we are helping the church to pay its bills. But there is more to faith than meets the eye. Faith means saying “yes” to God in ways that may seem unreasonable, but that show we are totally committed to God . The good news of faith is that God is totally committed to us, and calls us to be totally committed to Him, just like Abraham was.
Another lesson for us in this story is that God is both a tester and a provider. God will challenge our faith, and challenge us to grow. But along with the test, God will provide everything that we need to pass the test. Abraham would tell us that the tough part is that God will test us, and that the good part is that God will provide all that we need. Our faith and our commitment to God are tested every day. When we hear that someone needs help and we are able to help them. When someone cuts us off on the highway, or follows too closely. When we have to choose between work time and family time, or giving and keeping, or self-expression and self-control. We can remember that our faith is being tested, and that we will always have enough, because God will provide everything that we need.
What kind of God do most of us want? It would be great to have a god who solves all of our problems, doesn’t require much of us, provides all of our needs, and most of our wants. That’s the kind of God that most of us want. But that is not the God of Abraham and the God of Jesus. Their God creates conflict and difficult choices for us, challenges us, and both tests and provides for us. This may not be the kind of God that we want, but it is the kind of God that we need. We need a God who will test us and bring out the best in us. We need a God who calls us to be totally committed and radically obedient. We need a God who will bless us and provide everything that we need.
The challenging part of faith is that God will test us. The good news is that God will provide everything that we need to pass the test, and that we can be totally committed to God and totally blessed by God.
Thursday, April 28, 2011
Easter: Life is Worth Living
Easter: Life is Worth Living
John 20:19-31
I often remind myself that Easter is not over after Easter Sunday. In the church calendar, Easter is a season that begins on Easter Sunday and ends almost six weeks later, on the day of Ascension. So Easter is more than just one day, but it is a season that recalls the 40 days that Jesus spent with his disciples after his resurrection, and before his ascension into heaven.
In the story about Thomas, we learn that it is not wrong to have doubts. We also learn that doubts, when expressed, explored, and moved through, can lead us to a deeper faith. There is a little of Thomas in every one of us. Sometimes we have doubts, and we are often skeptical of things that we cannot see. We like proof, explanations, and we want to see things for ourselves before we believe. Fortunately, in this story, Thomas is there to be a doubter and to demand to touch Jesus, before he will believe that Jesus is alive. Thomas does what many of us would do in the same situation – he wants proof before he will believe.
The real challenge for us may not be simply to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. The real challenge for us may be to believe that the resurrection of Jesus makes a difference in our lives, that is, that it makes our lives worth living.
On the first Easter Sunday, the Gospels say that two women went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. The story goes that when they arrived, the tomb was empty. So they went and told the disciples that the body of Jesus was not in the tomb. The news eventually spread throughout the city of Jerusalem, and eventually there were two rumors that began to circulate to try to persuade people that Jesus had not been raised and that he was not alive.
One rumor was that Jesus had not really been dead when he was placed in the tomb. The explanation was that he had been in a coma, a deep sleep, and had awakened after he had been placed in the tomb. There are a couple of facts in the story that challenge this rumor. On is the account in John’s Gospel that says when Jesus was on the cross that a soldier pierced his side with a sword and that blood and water came out of the body of Jesus. This was a sign that his body had already begun to break down and that he was indeed dead before they removed him from the cross. There is also an unanswered question about how Jesus could have moved the large stone in front of the tomb by himself after hanging on the cross for several hours. He would have been too weak to move the stone by himself.
Another rumor that circulated was that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus from the tomb. The rumor was that they had probably come in the night to take his body and to lead everyone to believe that he was alive. A problem with this rumor is that Matthew’s Gospel says that Pilate set a Roman guard at the tomb and that the tomb was sealed with a Roman seal. This meant that the disciples would have to deal with the guard, and break the seal. It doesn’t look like the disciples had that kind of courage after Jesus had just been executed. In fact, they were hiding, because they were afraid.
One of the strongest arguments for the resurrection of Jesus is found in the change in the disciples. After the death and burial of Jesus, the disciples were afraid and weak. But after they saw the empty tomb, and then saw Jesus, and heard his words, they believed. And they were strong and full of courage, even willing to die. They were ready to die, because they believed that death was not their great enemy. Their greatest enemy was that they would have nothing to die for. Their faith made all the difference in the world. Faith was more important for them than life or death.
The faith of the first disciples has continued on in the church for centuries. It means realizing that people are not in control, and cannot always explain everything. It means knowing that God can do anything. God can give a new resurrected life to a dead body. God can bring something good out of any situation. God can bring hope to hopeless situations. God can take a tragedy and use it for good. God can turn sorrow into joy, turmoil into peace, and fear into faith and courage. That is what happened with the early disciples during the season of Easter. And that is God’s promise for us, if we will have faith, and trust in God.
One of the hymns of the Christian faith expresses trust in God who gives hope and new life:
Because he lives, I can face tomorrow; because he lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know he holds the future; and life is worth living, just because he lives.
In John’s Gospel, before he saw the risen Christ, Thomas said,” Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails, and my hand in his side, I will not believe. “A short time later, Jesus appeared to Thomas and said, ”Put your finger here, and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe.” Thomas answered: “My Lord, and my God!” Jesus then said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have come to believe.”
It is a blessing to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, and that Jesus is alive. It is a blessing to believe that God can do anything, including bringing good things out of bad situations. It makes life worth living.
John 20:19-31
I often remind myself that Easter is not over after Easter Sunday. In the church calendar, Easter is a season that begins on Easter Sunday and ends almost six weeks later, on the day of Ascension. So Easter is more than just one day, but it is a season that recalls the 40 days that Jesus spent with his disciples after his resurrection, and before his ascension into heaven.
In the story about Thomas, we learn that it is not wrong to have doubts. We also learn that doubts, when expressed, explored, and moved through, can lead us to a deeper faith. There is a little of Thomas in every one of us. Sometimes we have doubts, and we are often skeptical of things that we cannot see. We like proof, explanations, and we want to see things for ourselves before we believe. Fortunately, in this story, Thomas is there to be a doubter and to demand to touch Jesus, before he will believe that Jesus is alive. Thomas does what many of us would do in the same situation – he wants proof before he will believe.
The real challenge for us may not be simply to believe that Jesus was raised from the dead. The real challenge for us may be to believe that the resurrection of Jesus makes a difference in our lives, that is, that it makes our lives worth living.
On the first Easter Sunday, the Gospels say that two women went to the tomb where Jesus had been buried. The story goes that when they arrived, the tomb was empty. So they went and told the disciples that the body of Jesus was not in the tomb. The news eventually spread throughout the city of Jerusalem, and eventually there were two rumors that began to circulate to try to persuade people that Jesus had not been raised and that he was not alive.
One rumor was that Jesus had not really been dead when he was placed in the tomb. The explanation was that he had been in a coma, a deep sleep, and had awakened after he had been placed in the tomb. There are a couple of facts in the story that challenge this rumor. On is the account in John’s Gospel that says when Jesus was on the cross that a soldier pierced his side with a sword and that blood and water came out of the body of Jesus. This was a sign that his body had already begun to break down and that he was indeed dead before they removed him from the cross. There is also an unanswered question about how Jesus could have moved the large stone in front of the tomb by himself after hanging on the cross for several hours. He would have been too weak to move the stone by himself.
Another rumor that circulated was that the disciples had stolen the body of Jesus from the tomb. The rumor was that they had probably come in the night to take his body and to lead everyone to believe that he was alive. A problem with this rumor is that Matthew’s Gospel says that Pilate set a Roman guard at the tomb and that the tomb was sealed with a Roman seal. This meant that the disciples would have to deal with the guard, and break the seal. It doesn’t look like the disciples had that kind of courage after Jesus had just been executed. In fact, they were hiding, because they were afraid.
One of the strongest arguments for the resurrection of Jesus is found in the change in the disciples. After the death and burial of Jesus, the disciples were afraid and weak. But after they saw the empty tomb, and then saw Jesus, and heard his words, they believed. And they were strong and full of courage, even willing to die. They were ready to die, because they believed that death was not their great enemy. Their greatest enemy was that they would have nothing to die for. Their faith made all the difference in the world. Faith was more important for them than life or death.
The faith of the first disciples has continued on in the church for centuries. It means realizing that people are not in control, and cannot always explain everything. It means knowing that God can do anything. God can give a new resurrected life to a dead body. God can bring something good out of any situation. God can bring hope to hopeless situations. God can take a tragedy and use it for good. God can turn sorrow into joy, turmoil into peace, and fear into faith and courage. That is what happened with the early disciples during the season of Easter. And that is God’s promise for us, if we will have faith, and trust in God.
One of the hymns of the Christian faith expresses trust in God who gives hope and new life:
Because he lives, I can face tomorrow; because he lives, all fear is gone.
Because I know he holds the future; and life is worth living, just because he lives.
In John’s Gospel, before he saw the risen Christ, Thomas said,” Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails, and my hand in his side, I will not believe. “A short time later, Jesus appeared to Thomas and said, ”Put your finger here, and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt, but believe.” Thomas answered: “My Lord, and my God!” Jesus then said, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet have come to believe.”
It is a blessing to believe that God raised Jesus from the dead, and that Jesus is alive. It is a blessing to believe that God can do anything, including bringing good things out of bad situations. It makes life worth living.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
A Holy Week
A Holy Week
Matthew 21:1-11
The week that begins on Palm Sunday, and ends on the following Saturday, is the most important week in the life of Jesus. For Christians it is also the most important week in human history. It is called Holy Week because it is different, set apart, and sacred.
The week begins with a Palm Sunday parade. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. There are palm branches waving, coats lying on the road, and “Hosanna!” is shouted. History tells us that this was a traditional celebration of the entrance of a powerful leader, although most leaders probably rode a horse instead of a donkey. The crowd thought they were welcoming a messiah, but what kind of messiah was he? Would he exercise political power or servant power? The crowd was hoping for a political messiah who would set them free, but Jesus knew that this was the beginning of the end of his life here on earth. He knew that the shouts of “Hosanna!” would soon turn to shouts of “Crucify him!”. The end was near.
The week includes a Thursday supper, known as the Last Supper. It was a Passover meal, one that was first celebrated centuries earlier in the days of Moses. It was a traditional Jewish meal during which the people were reminded that God had saved their ancestors from slavery in Egypt, and had brought them to the Promised Land. After the meal, Jesus took the unleavened bread and a cup of wine and gave them, and the Passover meal, new meaning. While holding the bread he said, “This is my body given for you.” And then he took the cup and said, “This is my blood given for you.” This meal marked a new beginning for the followers of Jesus. After his death and resurrection they would receive the bread and cup and hear the words of Jesus, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
Thursday of Holy Week also includes the scenes in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed. While the disciples sleep, Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” While he was praying, and the disciples sleeping, the soldiers came and arrested him. Jesus didn’t resist, and during his trial he was quiet. The verdict was guilty; the sentence was death.
Friday is the day of crucifixion and death. According to the Gospels, it was a painful and agonizing death for Jesus. While hanging on the cross, Jesus offers forgiveness and hope. He prays for forgiveness for those who have caused his death. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” He gives a hopeful promise to one who is crucified at the same time. “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus dies that afternoon and is buried before the sun sets.
The week ends on silent Saturday.
A new week begins on Easter Sunday. It is a new beginning for Jesus and his followers.
Holy Week reminds us that the Son of God humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-11) Those first Palm Sunday participants didn’t know that it was the beginning of the most important week in history. But we know, and we can say “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Matthew 21:1-11
The week that begins on Palm Sunday, and ends on the following Saturday, is the most important week in the life of Jesus. For Christians it is also the most important week in human history. It is called Holy Week because it is different, set apart, and sacred.
The week begins with a Palm Sunday parade. Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey. There are palm branches waving, coats lying on the road, and “Hosanna!” is shouted. History tells us that this was a traditional celebration of the entrance of a powerful leader, although most leaders probably rode a horse instead of a donkey. The crowd thought they were welcoming a messiah, but what kind of messiah was he? Would he exercise political power or servant power? The crowd was hoping for a political messiah who would set them free, but Jesus knew that this was the beginning of the end of his life here on earth. He knew that the shouts of “Hosanna!” would soon turn to shouts of “Crucify him!”. The end was near.
The week includes a Thursday supper, known as the Last Supper. It was a Passover meal, one that was first celebrated centuries earlier in the days of Moses. It was a traditional Jewish meal during which the people were reminded that God had saved their ancestors from slavery in Egypt, and had brought them to the Promised Land. After the meal, Jesus took the unleavened bread and a cup of wine and gave them, and the Passover meal, new meaning. While holding the bread he said, “This is my body given for you.” And then he took the cup and said, “This is my blood given for you.” This meal marked a new beginning for the followers of Jesus. After his death and resurrection they would receive the bread and cup and hear the words of Jesus, “Do this in remembrance of me.”
Thursday of Holy Week also includes the scenes in the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed. While the disciples sleep, Jesus prayed, “Not my will, but Thine be done.” While he was praying, and the disciples sleeping, the soldiers came and arrested him. Jesus didn’t resist, and during his trial he was quiet. The verdict was guilty; the sentence was death.
Friday is the day of crucifixion and death. According to the Gospels, it was a painful and agonizing death for Jesus. While hanging on the cross, Jesus offers forgiveness and hope. He prays for forgiveness for those who have caused his death. “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” He gives a hopeful promise to one who is crucified at the same time. “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Jesus dies that afternoon and is buried before the sun sets.
The week ends on silent Saturday.
A new week begins on Easter Sunday. It is a new beginning for Jesus and his followers.
Holy Week reminds us that the Son of God humbled himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. (Philippians 2:5-11) Those first Palm Sunday participants didn’t know that it was the beginning of the most important week in history. But we know, and we can say “Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Monday, March 28, 2011
A Test for Lent
A Test for Lent
Matthew 4:1-11
In the Christian calendar, the season of Lent includes the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. For reasons that I can’t recall, Sundays are not counted in the period of 40 days, so technically, there are 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. The season of Lent has traditionally been a time for Christians to examine their lives and to prepare to remember the days of Holy Week. That is the week that begins with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, and ends at the place of his burial on Saturday. Of course, the next day is Easter Sunday, the day of Jesus’ resurrection.
As a guide to self-examination it can be helpful to look at the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. This story happens at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. We are told that after Jesus is baptized, he is led by God’s Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted, or tested, by the devil for 40 days. The interesting part of the story is that it is God who leads Jesus into the testing. This was all part of God’s plan. Another note is the correlation between the 40 days of Jesus in the wilderness and the 40 days of Lent. Both are times for self-examination and testing.
The test questions that face Jesus in the wilderness have to do with his identity and his purpose in life. Jesus is challenged to answer questions about who he is, how he will use his power, and what his values are. These are good questions for us as well during the season of Lent.
The first question is one that tests both the identity of Jesus and his power. “If you are the Son of God… “ is a question of identity. It is a challenge for Jesus to prove who he is. “…then turn these stones into bread.” This is a question about how Jesus will use his gifts, abilities, and resources. Will he use them to benefit others, or primarily himself? Will he share who and what he is, or will he keep it all for himself? This is a question that each of us must answer daily. How will we use our abilities and resources?
Jesus answered the first test question by looking beyond his own immediate needs, to focus upon the greater mission that God had for him. The story says that this test came to Jesus after he had been fasting in the wilderness for 40 days. He was obviously hungry. What would it hurt if he turned a few stones into bread so that he could satisfy his hunger? But Jesus knew that this was about more than just being hungry. It was about seeing beyond his physical needs and wants, to focus upon his spiritual life. He passed this test question when he answered, “It takes more than bread to stay alive.”
The second question is one that asks, “Do you make wise decisions, while considering the consequences of those decisions? There is a test again of the identity of Jesus in the wilderness. “If you are the son of God, then throw yourself down, and the angels will catch you.” The temptation is to place himself in a dangerous situation, and count on God to rescue him. In other words, you can do whatever you feel like doing, because God will save you.
Jesus answered the second test question by calling upon the wisdom of the Scriptures. “You shall not put God to the test.” God expects everyone to use the wisdom that God has given them. It is foolish to take unnecessary risks, and count on God to save us. We can do our best to make wise decisions, knowing that God has given us the ability to make good choices, and he expects us to use that ability.
The third question is about values. What is really important to you? In the wilderness, the devil showed all the kingdoms of the world to Jesus and told him that the world could be his, if he would fall down and worship the devil. Who wouldn’t want to own the whole world?
Jesus answered the third test question by quoting Scripture. “You shall worship God and serve him only.” Jesus had passed the test. He had answered all of the questions correctly. He was now free to carry out the mission that God had for him to do. He had chosen to be faithful to God’s call.
This story reminds us that we too have the ability and power to make important choices. The good news is that God’s Spirit is always with us to give us wisdom and to help us to make the right decisions. God’s Spirit gives us strength to resist temptations and to pass the tests that we face every day.
Who are we? We are sons and daughters of God. We are called to use the gifts, resources, and abilities that God has given to each one of us. We are challenged to use the wisdom and strength that God gives us to make wise decisions. And we are called to worship God and to serve God alone. We can’t do this by ourselves, but when we follow the lead of God’s Spirit we can pass every test that comes our way.
Matthew 4:1-11
In the Christian calendar, the season of Lent includes the 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. For reasons that I can’t recall, Sundays are not counted in the period of 40 days, so technically, there are 46 days between Ash Wednesday and Easter Sunday. The season of Lent has traditionally been a time for Christians to examine their lives and to prepare to remember the days of Holy Week. That is the week that begins with the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem, riding on a donkey, and ends at the place of his burial on Saturday. Of course, the next day is Easter Sunday, the day of Jesus’ resurrection.
As a guide to self-examination it can be helpful to look at the story of the temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. This story happens at the beginning of the ministry of Jesus. We are told that after Jesus is baptized, he is led by God’s Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted, or tested, by the devil for 40 days. The interesting part of the story is that it is God who leads Jesus into the testing. This was all part of God’s plan. Another note is the correlation between the 40 days of Jesus in the wilderness and the 40 days of Lent. Both are times for self-examination and testing.
The test questions that face Jesus in the wilderness have to do with his identity and his purpose in life. Jesus is challenged to answer questions about who he is, how he will use his power, and what his values are. These are good questions for us as well during the season of Lent.
The first question is one that tests both the identity of Jesus and his power. “If you are the Son of God… “ is a question of identity. It is a challenge for Jesus to prove who he is. “…then turn these stones into bread.” This is a question about how Jesus will use his gifts, abilities, and resources. Will he use them to benefit others, or primarily himself? Will he share who and what he is, or will he keep it all for himself? This is a question that each of us must answer daily. How will we use our abilities and resources?
Jesus answered the first test question by looking beyond his own immediate needs, to focus upon the greater mission that God had for him. The story says that this test came to Jesus after he had been fasting in the wilderness for 40 days. He was obviously hungry. What would it hurt if he turned a few stones into bread so that he could satisfy his hunger? But Jesus knew that this was about more than just being hungry. It was about seeing beyond his physical needs and wants, to focus upon his spiritual life. He passed this test question when he answered, “It takes more than bread to stay alive.”
The second question is one that asks, “Do you make wise decisions, while considering the consequences of those decisions? There is a test again of the identity of Jesus in the wilderness. “If you are the son of God, then throw yourself down, and the angels will catch you.” The temptation is to place himself in a dangerous situation, and count on God to rescue him. In other words, you can do whatever you feel like doing, because God will save you.
Jesus answered the second test question by calling upon the wisdom of the Scriptures. “You shall not put God to the test.” God expects everyone to use the wisdom that God has given them. It is foolish to take unnecessary risks, and count on God to save us. We can do our best to make wise decisions, knowing that God has given us the ability to make good choices, and he expects us to use that ability.
The third question is about values. What is really important to you? In the wilderness, the devil showed all the kingdoms of the world to Jesus and told him that the world could be his, if he would fall down and worship the devil. Who wouldn’t want to own the whole world?
Jesus answered the third test question by quoting Scripture. “You shall worship God and serve him only.” Jesus had passed the test. He had answered all of the questions correctly. He was now free to carry out the mission that God had for him to do. He had chosen to be faithful to God’s call.
This story reminds us that we too have the ability and power to make important choices. The good news is that God’s Spirit is always with us to give us wisdom and to help us to make the right decisions. God’s Spirit gives us strength to resist temptations and to pass the tests that we face every day.
Who are we? We are sons and daughters of God. We are called to use the gifts, resources, and abilities that God has given to each one of us. We are challenged to use the wisdom and strength that God gives us to make wise decisions. And we are called to worship God and to serve God alone. We can’t do this by ourselves, but when we follow the lead of God’s Spirit we can pass every test that comes our way.
Monday, March 7, 2011
Ash Wednesday
Ash Wednesday
Psalm 51:1-3, 10-12
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And put a new and right spirit within me. (v.10)
I started attending Ash Wednesday services several years ago, almost because I had to. Or, you could say that I got paid to go to Ash Wednesday services. Actually, the reason I started going to the services was because I was a pastor and the church where I was serving had a tradition of Ash Wednesday services, and I wanted to continue that tradition.
The printed services for Ash Wednesday suggest that the leader say one or more phrases when putting the ashes on people’s foreheads. The two that are suggested in the United Methodist Hymnal are, “ Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”, and, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”. I must confess that I was never comfortable with using the phrase about dust. It just seemed too dark and deadly to me. And so, I repeated the phrase about repentance and believing when I conducted Ash Wednesday services.
Usually Ash Wednesday is a time to focus directly on self-knowledge. In the Scripture lesson, King David makes a brutally honest confession. He does not make excuses. “I know my transgression, and my sin is ever before me.” A modern author writes about our tendency to avoid self-knowledge. “We are always perpetually smoothing and rearranging reality to conform to our wishes; we lie to others and ourselves constantly, unthinkingly. When occasionally we are forced to see things as they are, we are like naked people in a storm.” We tell ourselves that if we are not hurting anyone, then what we do is ok. If no one knows, or if everybody else is doing it, then what we do is nobody else’s business.
King David, the writer of Psalm 51 learned to see sin as God sees it, as an offense against the God who created us. Ash Wednesday calls us to look at our sin and the sin of the whole human race. If we take an honest look at ourselves we will see that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s expectations for us.
The good news is that when we are honest with ourselves, we are able to welcome and receive the mercy of God. We can remember that God is gracious and forgiving. David wrote this as he began the Psalm: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your lovingkindness…”. When we remember that God is a loving and forgiving God, we realize that we don’t need to defend ourselves, or lie to ourselves, or pretend to be sinless people. We can be honest with ourselves and with God. And when we confess our sins, God shows us mercy, and forgives us.
The honest truth is that we are all sinners. The good news is that in the name of Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Repent and believe in the Gospel.
Psalm 51:1-3, 10-12
Create in me a clean heart, O God,
And put a new and right spirit within me. (v.10)
I started attending Ash Wednesday services several years ago, almost because I had to. Or, you could say that I got paid to go to Ash Wednesday services. Actually, the reason I started going to the services was because I was a pastor and the church where I was serving had a tradition of Ash Wednesday services, and I wanted to continue that tradition.
The printed services for Ash Wednesday suggest that the leader say one or more phrases when putting the ashes on people’s foreheads. The two that are suggested in the United Methodist Hymnal are, “ Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”, and, “Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”. I must confess that I was never comfortable with using the phrase about dust. It just seemed too dark and deadly to me. And so, I repeated the phrase about repentance and believing when I conducted Ash Wednesday services.
Usually Ash Wednesday is a time to focus directly on self-knowledge. In the Scripture lesson, King David makes a brutally honest confession. He does not make excuses. “I know my transgression, and my sin is ever before me.” A modern author writes about our tendency to avoid self-knowledge. “We are always perpetually smoothing and rearranging reality to conform to our wishes; we lie to others and ourselves constantly, unthinkingly. When occasionally we are forced to see things as they are, we are like naked people in a storm.” We tell ourselves that if we are not hurting anyone, then what we do is ok. If no one knows, or if everybody else is doing it, then what we do is nobody else’s business.
King David, the writer of Psalm 51 learned to see sin as God sees it, as an offense against the God who created us. Ash Wednesday calls us to look at our sin and the sin of the whole human race. If we take an honest look at ourselves we will see that we have all sinned and fallen short of God’s expectations for us.
The good news is that when we are honest with ourselves, we are able to welcome and receive the mercy of God. We can remember that God is gracious and forgiving. David wrote this as he began the Psalm: “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your lovingkindness…”. When we remember that God is a loving and forgiving God, we realize that we don’t need to defend ourselves, or lie to ourselves, or pretend to be sinless people. We can be honest with ourselves and with God. And when we confess our sins, God shows us mercy, and forgives us.
The honest truth is that we are all sinners. The good news is that in the name of Jesus Christ we are forgiven. Repent and believe in the Gospel.
Monday, January 24, 2011
The Power of Water
The Power of Water
Matthew 3:13-17
I grew up in Weldon, a small town in northeastern North Carolina. When I lived there, the population was about 3,000 people. Like I said, it was, and still is, a small town. Its claim to fame is that it is “The Rockfish Capital of the World”. Located on the fall line, right next to the Roanoke River, once a year the Rockfish (aka Stripers), make their way up the river to spawn and lay their eggs among the rocks. At the same time, the river is crowded with boats and fishermen, trying to catch the Rockfish.
In the 15 years that I lived near the river, I never got in a boat on the river. No one in my immediate or extended family had a boat, or was interested in fishing. But I do remember hearing warnings from family, neighbors, and strangers about the dangers of the river. They warned about the swift currents and the hidden rocks in the water, and they talked about people who had been injured and a couple of people who had drowned in the river. I remember hearing that it was a dangerous place and that the water was powerful.
I also remember visiting the Jordan River in Israel years ago, when I was a young man. It was nothing like the river where I grew up. There were no dangerous rocks. There was no rushing water. As a matter of fact, when I saw it, it looked more like a stream than a river to me. It wasn’t very wide, didn’t look very deep, and there just wasn’t as much water there as I expected to see. Many of the folks in my tour group went down and put their hands in the water. A few of them scooped up some of the water into small jars and put lids on them. There was power in this water, not because it was a mighty rushing river, but because it is thought to be the place where Jesus was baptized by John. That is what made this water powerful.
I also remember that there have been many times when I have been at a church serving as the pastor, and I have taken a drinking glass to a sink in the building and filled it with water from the faucet. Then I have carried the water to the Sanctuary and poured it into a bowl to be used in a worship service for baptism. There were a few times that I used water that a church member had brought from the Jordan River in Israel, but most of the time, I used ordinary water from the faucet at the church. It was ordinary water, but when we prayed during the service as we prepared for a baptism, the water became powerful. God blessed the water, and used it as a sign of God’s love for those who were baptized.
When I think about baptism, I remember that I was baptized as an infant. I don’t literally remember the service, but I can remember through photos, a certificate of my baptism, and through eyewitness testimonies of family members. As I remember my baptism, I try to remember the meaning of baptism. Here is a list of some of the things that baptism means:
- Baptism is a sacrament, that is, something sacred. It is a sign of God’s grace. God declares God’s grace through the church when someone is baptized.
- Baptism means what water means. Water can be used to wash and make clean. It also gives life. Likewise, baptism is a sign that God cleanses us from sin and gives us new life.
- Baptism tells us who we are. When Jesus was baptized, a voice came from heaven and said:”This is my beloved Son.” Baptism reminds us that we are God’s children.
- Baptism is an ordination, a commissioning to be a servant of God. It tells us not only that we are God’s children, but that we should act like God’s children.
Even though I was baptized many years ago, and I don’t remember the service, I can still remember that I was baptized and be thankful for parents who presented me for baptism, for the people of God, the church, that baptized me, and for God, who has claimed me as a child, and calls me to do my very best.
I remember my baptism, and I am thankful.
Matthew 3:13-17
I grew up in Weldon, a small town in northeastern North Carolina. When I lived there, the population was about 3,000 people. Like I said, it was, and still is, a small town. Its claim to fame is that it is “The Rockfish Capital of the World”. Located on the fall line, right next to the Roanoke River, once a year the Rockfish (aka Stripers), make their way up the river to spawn and lay their eggs among the rocks. At the same time, the river is crowded with boats and fishermen, trying to catch the Rockfish.
In the 15 years that I lived near the river, I never got in a boat on the river. No one in my immediate or extended family had a boat, or was interested in fishing. But I do remember hearing warnings from family, neighbors, and strangers about the dangers of the river. They warned about the swift currents and the hidden rocks in the water, and they talked about people who had been injured and a couple of people who had drowned in the river. I remember hearing that it was a dangerous place and that the water was powerful.
I also remember visiting the Jordan River in Israel years ago, when I was a young man. It was nothing like the river where I grew up. There were no dangerous rocks. There was no rushing water. As a matter of fact, when I saw it, it looked more like a stream than a river to me. It wasn’t very wide, didn’t look very deep, and there just wasn’t as much water there as I expected to see. Many of the folks in my tour group went down and put their hands in the water. A few of them scooped up some of the water into small jars and put lids on them. There was power in this water, not because it was a mighty rushing river, but because it is thought to be the place where Jesus was baptized by John. That is what made this water powerful.
I also remember that there have been many times when I have been at a church serving as the pastor, and I have taken a drinking glass to a sink in the building and filled it with water from the faucet. Then I have carried the water to the Sanctuary and poured it into a bowl to be used in a worship service for baptism. There were a few times that I used water that a church member had brought from the Jordan River in Israel, but most of the time, I used ordinary water from the faucet at the church. It was ordinary water, but when we prayed during the service as we prepared for a baptism, the water became powerful. God blessed the water, and used it as a sign of God’s love for those who were baptized.
When I think about baptism, I remember that I was baptized as an infant. I don’t literally remember the service, but I can remember through photos, a certificate of my baptism, and through eyewitness testimonies of family members. As I remember my baptism, I try to remember the meaning of baptism. Here is a list of some of the things that baptism means:
- Baptism is a sacrament, that is, something sacred. It is a sign of God’s grace. God declares God’s grace through the church when someone is baptized.
- Baptism means what water means. Water can be used to wash and make clean. It also gives life. Likewise, baptism is a sign that God cleanses us from sin and gives us new life.
- Baptism tells us who we are. When Jesus was baptized, a voice came from heaven and said:”This is my beloved Son.” Baptism reminds us that we are God’s children.
- Baptism is an ordination, a commissioning to be a servant of God. It tells us not only that we are God’s children, but that we should act like God’s children.
Even though I was baptized many years ago, and I don’t remember the service, I can still remember that I was baptized and be thankful for parents who presented me for baptism, for the people of God, the church, that baptized me, and for God, who has claimed me as a child, and calls me to do my very best.
I remember my baptism, and I am thankful.
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