Wednesday

Wednesday Mark 14:1-11

NLT Mark 14:1 It was now two days before the Passover celebration and the Festival of Unleavened Bread. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law were still looking for an opportunity to capture Jesus secretly and put him to death.

2 "But not during the Passover," they agreed, "or there will be a riot."

3 Meanwhile, Jesus was in Bethany at the home of Simon, a man who had leprosy. During supper, a woman came in with a beautiful jar of expensive perfume. She broke the seal and poured the perfume over his head.

4 Some of those at the table were indignant. "Why was this expensive perfume wasted?" they asked.

5 "She could have sold it for a small fortune and given the money to the poor!" And they scolded her harshly.

6 But Jesus replied, "Leave her alone. Why berate her for doing such a good thing to me?

7 You will always have the poor among you, and you can help them whenever you want to. But I will not be here with you much longer.

8 She has done what she could and has anointed my body for burial ahead of time.

9 I assure you, wherever the Good News is preached throughout the world, this woman's deed will be talked about in her memory."

10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests to arrange to betray Jesus to them.

11 The leading priests were delighted when they heard why he had come, and they promised him a reward. So he began looking for the right time and place to betray Jesus.

After the long day of Tuesday and all that happened, Wednesday is quite short. The start of the passage reminds that readers that this is occurring during the Passover and the festival of the Unleavened Bread. It is at this holy time that the chief priests and the scribes are looking to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him. They are afraid because of the crowds. How often rather than being open and above board in the way we treat others, we too do things by stealth whether that is gossip or ridicule or even by discrimination? Caiaphas, in the gospel of John, stated better one man die for Israel than a nation. The irony is that is true. Better that Jesus die for our salvation rather than depend on a nation.

The anointing of Jesus reminds us of the various anointing’s of kings in the Hebrew scriptures. Indeed Jesus is the King of kings but this anointing was also to prepare him for death. Nard was a very expensive ointment from the Himalayan Mountains. When the disciples object because the money could have been used to help the poor, Jesus responds with “For you always have the poor with you, and you can show kindness to them whenever you wish; but you will not always have me. (14:7 NRSV)” Jesus was not saying that we should not care for the poor for he has commanded us to do so. Rather we need to honor the sacrifice that Jesus made on our behalf. Often we struggle with taking care of ourselves and the willingness to care for others. Churches face this struggle in how to respond to the generosity of the members. To what extant should the money be spent on the church and how much should go to mission work? Jesus is this passage may be suggested it is not an either/or but and/both. We need to support the ministries of the church as well as the church facilities.

Wednesday ends with Judas agreeing to betray Jesus for money. I know that there are times the lure of money to do something that is wrong is tempting. We read every day about scandals involving politicians, pastors, business owners who will violate their ethical decisions based on some sort of monetary donation. So Judas’ decision to betray the trust of Jesus continues today when those in power betray the trust of those that they are supposed to care for. You might want to read Ezekiel 34:1-24. The prophet is talking about the shepherds who were supposed to care for the sheep and ended up exploiting them by not feeding, healing, and not sought the lost. When we think only of ourselves we too are betraying Jesus, whether or not we receive some sort of monetary recompense.

Holy Week Tuesday

Tuesday Mark 11:20-13:37

20 The next morning as they passed by the fig tree he had cursed, the disciples noticed it was withered from the roots.

21 Peter remembered what Jesus had said to the tree on the previous day and exclaimed, "Look, Teacher! The fig tree you cursed has withered!"

22 Then Jesus said to the disciples, "Have faith in God.

23 I assure you that you can say to this mountain, 'May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and your command will be obeyed. All that's required is that you really believe and do not doubt in your heart.

24 Listen to me! You can pray for anything, and if you believe, you will have it.

25 But when you are praying, first forgive anyone you are holding a grudge against, so that your Father in heaven will forgive your sins, too. "

26

27 By this time they had arrived in Jerusalem again. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the other leaders came up to him. They demanded,

28 "By whose authority did you drive out the merchants from the Temple? Who gave you such authority?"

29 "I'll tell who gave me authority to do these things if you answer one question," Jesus replied.

30 "Did John's baptism come from heaven or was it merely human? Answer me!"

31 They talked it over among themselves. "If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn't believe him.

32 But do we dare say it was merely human?" For they were afraid that the people would start a riot, since everyone thought that John was a prophet.

33 So they finally replied, "We don't know." And Jesus responded, "Then I won't answer your question either."

NLT Mark 12:1 Then Jesus began telling them stories: "A man planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.

2 At grape-picking time he sent one of his servants to collect his share of the crop.

3 But the farmers grabbed the servant, beat him up, and sent him back empty-handed.

4 "The owner then sent another servant, but they beat him over the head and treated him shamefully.

5 The next servant he sent was killed. Others who were sent were either beaten or killed,

6 until there was only one left-- his son whom he loved dearly. The owner finally sent him, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.'

7 "But the farmers said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!'

8 So they grabbed him and murdered him and threw his body out of the vineyard.

9 "What do you suppose the owner of the vineyard will do?" Jesus asked. "I'll tell you-- he will come and kill them all and lease the vineyard to others.

10 Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? 'The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone.

11 This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous to see.' "

12 The Jewish leaders wanted to arrest him for using this illustration because they realized he was pointing at them-- they were the wicked farmers in his story. But they were afraid to touch him because of the crowds. So they left him and went away.

13 The leaders sent some Pharisees and supporters of Herod to try to trap Jesus into saying something for which he could be arrested.

14 "Teacher," these men said, "we know how honest you are. You are impartial and don't play favorites. You sincerely teach the ways of God. Now tell us-- is it right to pay taxes to the Roman government or not?

15 Should we pay them, or should we not?" Jesus saw through their hypocrisy and said, "Whom are you trying to fool with your trick questions? Show me a Roman coin, and I'll tell you."

16 When they handed it to him, he asked, "Whose picture and title are stamped on it?" "Caesar's," they replied.

17 "Well, then," Jesus said, "give to Caesar what belongs to him. But everything that belongs to God must be given to God." This reply completely amazed them.

18 Then the Sadducees stepped forward-- a group of Jews who say there is no resurrection after death. They posed this question:

19 "Teacher, Moses gave us a law that if a man dies, leaving a wife without children, his brother should marry the widow and have a child who will be the brother's heir.

20 Well, there were seven brothers. The oldest of them married and then died without children.

21 So the second brother married the widow, but soon he too died and left no children. Then the next brother married her and died without children.

22 This continued until all the brothers had married her and died, and still there were no children. Last of all, the woman died, too.

23 So tell us, whose wife will she be in the resurrection? For all seven were married to her."

24 Jesus replied, "Your problem is that you don't know the Scriptures, and you don't know the power of God.

25 For when the dead rise, they won't be married. They will be like the angels in heaven.

26 But now, as to whether the dead will be raised-- haven't you ever read about this in the writings of Moses, in the story of the burning bush? Long after Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob had died, God said to Moses, 'I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.'

27 So he is the God of the living, not the dead. You have made a serious error."

28 One of the teachers of religious law was standing there listening to the discussion. He realized that Jesus had answered well, so he asked, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"

29 Jesus replied, "The most important commandment is this: 'Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is the one and only Lord.

30 And you must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your mind, and all your strength.'

31 The second is equally important: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' No other commandment is greater than these."

32 The teacher of religious law replied, "Well said, Teacher. You have spoken the truth by saying that there is only one God and no other.

33 And I know it is important to love him with all my heart and all my understanding and all my strength, and to love my neighbors as myself. This is more important than to offer all of the burnt offerings and sacrifices required in the law."

34 Realizing this man's understanding, Jesus said to him, "You are not far from the Kingdom of God." And after that, no one dared to ask him any more questions.

35 Later, as Jesus was teaching the people in the Temple, he asked, "Why do the teachers of religious law claim that the Messiah will be the son of David?

36 For David himself, speaking under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, said, 'The LORD said to my Lord, Sit in honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies beneath your feet.'

37 Since David himself called him Lord, how can he be his son at the same time?" And the crowd listened to him with great interest.

38 Here are some of the other things he taught them at this time: "Beware of these teachers of religious law! For they love to parade in flowing robes and to have everyone bow to them as they walk in the marketplaces.

39 And how they love the seats of honor in the synagogues and at banquets.

40 But they shamelessly cheat widows out of their property, and then, to cover up the kind of people they really are, they make long prayers in public. Because of this, their punishment will be the greater."

41 Jesus went over to the collection box in the Temple and sat and watched as the crowds dropped in their money. Many rich people put in large amounts.

42 Then a poor widow came and dropped in two pennies.

43 He called his disciples to him and said, "I assure you, this poor widow has given more than all the others have given.

44 For they gave a tiny part of their surplus, but she, poor as she is, has given everything she has."

NLT Mark 13:1 As Jesus was leaving the Temple that day, one of his disciples said, "Teacher, look at these tremendous buildings! Look at the massive stones in the walls!"

2 Jesus replied, "These magnificent buildings will be so completely demolished that not one stone will be left on top of another."

3 Later, Jesus sat on the slopes of the Mount of Olives across the valley from the Temple. Peter, James, John, and Andrew came to him privately and asked him,

4 "When will all this take place? And will there be any sign ahead of time to show us when all this will be fulfilled?"

5 Jesus replied, "Don't let anyone mislead you,

6 because many will come in my name, claiming to be the Messiah. They will lead many astray.

7 And wars will break out near and far, but don't panic. Yes, these things must come, but the end won't follow immediately.

8 Nations and kingdoms will proclaim war against each other, and there will be earthquakes in many parts of the world, and famines. But all this will be only the beginning of the horrors to come.

9 But when these things begin to happen, watch out! You will be handed over to the courts and beaten in the synagogues. You will be accused before governors and kings of being my followers. This will be your opportunity to tell them about me.

10 And the Good News must first be preached to every nation.

11 But when you are arrested and stand trial, don't worry about what to say in your defense. Just say what God tells you to. Then it is not you who will be speaking, but the Holy Spirit.

12 "Brother will betray brother to death, fathers will betray their own children, and children will rise against their parents and cause them to be killed.

13 And everyone will hate you because of your allegiance to me. But those who endure to the end will be saved.

14 "The time will come when you will see the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing where it should not be"-- reader, pay attention! "Then those in Judea must flee to the hills.

15 A person outside the house must not go back into the house to pack.

16 A person in the field must not return even to get a coat.

17 How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for mothers nursing their babies in those days.

18 And pray that your flight will not be in winter.

19 For those will be days of greater horror than at any time since God created the world. And it will never happen again.

20 In fact, unless the Lord shortens that time of calamity, the entire human race will be destroyed. But for the sake of his chosen ones he has shortened those days.

21 "And then if anyone tells you, 'Look, here is the Messiah,' or, 'There he is,' don't pay any attention.

22 For false messiahs and false prophets will rise up and perform miraculous signs and wonders so as to deceive, if possible, even God's chosen ones.

23 Watch out! I have warned you!

24 "At that time, after those horrible days end, the sun will be darkened, the moon will not give light,

25 the stars will fall from the sky, and the powers of heaven will be shaken.

26 Then everyone will see the Son of Man arrive on the clouds with great power and glory.

27 And he will send forth his angels to gather together his chosen ones from all over the world-- from the farthest ends of the earth and heaven.

28 "Now, learn a lesson from the fig tree. When its buds become tender and its leaves begin to sprout, you know without being told that summer is near.

29 Just so, when you see the events I've described beginning to happen, you can be sure that his return is very near, right at the door.

30 I assure you, this generation will not pass from the scene until all these events have taken place.

31 Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will remain forever.

32 "However, no one knows the day or hour when these things will happen, not even the angels in heaven or the Son himself. Only the Father knows.

33 And since you don't know when they will happen, stay alert and keep watch.

34 "The coming of the Son of Man can be compared with that of a man who left home to go on a trip. He gave each of his employees instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return.

35 So keep a sharp lookout! For you do not know when the homeowner will return-- at evening, midnight, early dawn, or late daybreak.

36 Don't let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning.

37 What I say to you I say to everyone: Watch for his return!" (NLT)

Tuesday of Holy Week is found in the above scriptures. By far the longest day beyond Good Friday. A lot happens during this day that continues to increase the tension between Jesus and the leaders of Jerusalem. It begins with the disciples noticing that the fig tree that Jesus cursed is now withered. Another example of God’s displeasure with Israel that did not produce fruit worthy of God. Lest not read into this a condemnation of Jews but of the Temple elite who have been exploiting the poor. When Peter remarks on this, Jesus states “Have faith in God.” When you are able to have faith, you can find yourself doing remarkable things and producing fruit that is worthy of God.

Jesus ends this by reminding us that we are to forgive if you have anything against anyone; so that God can forgive your trespasses. Every Sunday we say the Lord’s Prayer asking for God’s forgiveness of our sins. Yet, Jesus reminds us that for us to forgive we must be willing to forgive others. How many times do we hold on to past hurts and grudges? How would it be for us if we would let go of those? We would be healthier and be more at peace if we can.

When they arrive in Jerusalem, they are confronted by the temple priests, scribes, and elders who question Jesus’ authority to disrupt the business of the temple. Jesus does not offer a direct answer but like a good diplomat answers the question with a question. He then shares a parable of a vineyard that has tenants to care for it. This is like Isaiah 5:1-7 about God’s vineyard. The tenants are those who have been questioning his authority. The tenants kill the messengers and finally sent his beloved son who also is killed. Certainly speaking of himself and the prophets that had been sent before him. God will then destroy the tenants and give the vineyard to others. Jesus predicting the coming crisis (or actually following the destruction of the temple) and of his own death.

There are number of attempts to discredit Jesus by trying to trap him in saying things that would get him arrested by the Romans. I am reminded of the discourses of people today who spend more time trying to discredit others rather than engage in civil discourse. I wonder if at times we even in the church spend more time much like the Sadducees and Pharisees arguing over non-essentials and overlook what God is doing in our lives. Re-read verses 12:38-40. Jesus also points out it is not how much you have or the status you have that makes you special. Rather it is like the poor widow who was willing to give everything she had to the Lord.

Chapter 13 speaks of the end times. How often we spend an inordinate amount of time and effort and even money on trying to figure out when the end time will come? Jesus tells us that, “But about that day or hour no one knows, neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father (13:32).” His charge to us is to stay awake for we do not know when. I would even suggest that not to worry about the when but live faithfully today. At the beginning of the gospel Jesus states that we are to repent for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand. It is not some future event but is now. It is not to be figured out but it is to be lived out. Be disciplined by prayer, reading scriptures, believing in Christ, and living out what Jesus says.

Monday

Monday Mark 11:12-19

12 The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus felt hungry.

13 He noticed a fig tree a little way off that was in full leaf, so he went over to see if he could find any figs on it. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit.

14 Then Jesus said to the tree, "May no one ever eat your fruit again!" And the disciples heard him say it.

15 When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the merchants and their customers. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the stalls of those selling doves,

16 and he stopped everyone from bringing in merchandise.

17 He taught them, "The Scriptures declare, 'My Temple will be called a place of prayer for all nations,' but you have turned it into a den of thieves."

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

19 That evening Jesus and the disciples left the city. (NLT)

Again Mark begins to Holy Week with two images that speak to the challenging of the leaders of the Temple. Mark uses framing of scripture to make a prophetic statement. The cursing of the fig tree is an example of this framing. We will see this on Tuesday of Holy Week. Jesus goes to the fig tree which is in leaf but has no fruit. Even though the author points out that it is too early for it to bear fruit Jesus curses it. This is a symbolic statement against the Israelite tradition which is not bearing fruit. It is a statement that underlies what follows in the cleansing of the Temple.

The Temple was dependent on the temple taxes and tithes of the people to support the priesthood and had become the central religious and economic institution of the Jerusalem state. It had been rebuilt the ruling families and by King Herod. It had become one of the wonders of the Roman imperial world.

What was happening is that in order to follow the Torah, people would make pilgrimages to the Temple at least five times a year if possible. In order to bring sacrifices that were acceptable, many would have to buy animals or grain in Jerusalem as they could not travel with their own animals. Also when giving monetary gifts people could not use Roman coinage as it bore the image of Caesar and they would have to exchange for money appropriate for the Temple. So what had started as a means for the people to worship now became a business enterprise. Often business owners would pay the priests a fee for their ability to have the best locations for their merchandise.

This greatly affected the poor who had no other ability but to pay what the sellers would quote. Those who were in business would make a profit from their wares and soon both Judeans and non-Jews would trade in the large court of the Gentiles, the principle public space in Jerusalem. One can only imagine what that would be like to come to worship and offer your sacrifices amongst the crying out of the merchants.

When Jesus came and saw this, he began to drive out those merchants and prevented anyone from carrying anything through the temple. He quotes Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah’s prophecy against the first Temple. Using Jeremiah, he equated the moneychangers and the merchants as bandits who were exploiting the people and then seek refuge in the blessings of the priests.

It is in this act that the temple priests began to put into action the desire to kill him. They are concerned though that if they would do this publically the people might revolt and cause the Roman army to respond. Today when someone does something that creates problems with the making of money, people continue to respond negatively. It raises the question, I believe for churches as to what should the money we are entrusted with by used for?

Holy Week

I need to apologize about getting so sidetracked on my devotions that I had started.  I was talking to another pastor about Lenten disciplines and we discussed that sometimes it is almost like New Year’s resolutions.  With the number of funerals and weddings and special events, I found myself reading the devotions but not following through on my insights.  Therefore today I want to spend this Holy Week with reading from the Gospel of Mark that describe day by day what happened.  So here we begin on the first day of the week Palm Sunday.

Sunday Mark 11:1-11

Mark 11:1-11The Message (MSG)

Entering Jerusalem on a Colt

11 ^1-3 When they were nearing Jerusalem, at Bethphage and Bethany on Mount Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions: “Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you’ll find a colt tethered, one that has never yet been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone asks, ‘What are you doing?’ say, ‘The Master needs him, and will return him right away.’”

^4-7 They went and found a colt tied to a door at the street corner and untied it. Some of those standing there said, “What are you doing untying that colt?” The disciples replied exactly as Jesus had instructed them, and the people let them alone. They brought the colt to Jesus, spread their coats on it, and he mounted.

^8-10 The people gave him a wonderful welcome, some throwing their coats on the street, others spreading out rushes they had cut in the fields. Running ahead and following after, they were calling out,

Hosanna!
Blessed is he who comes in God’s name!
Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David!
Hosanna in highest heaven!

¹¹ He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in. But by now it was late, so he went back to Bethany with the Twelve.

The Message (MSG)

Copyright © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson

The first day of the week begins with Jesus on the move to Jerusalem. Prior to his arriving we read about his healing a blind man named Bartimaeus found in chapter 10:46-52. I find a number of ironic statements in Mark in that here Jesus is going into Jerusalem to face his passion for those who should know are blind and the blind are made to see. Even the disciples are seemingly blind to who Jesus is and will remain so until after the resurrection. Today we can even think about the ways that we are blind to who Jesus is in our own lives. Do we see Jesus, the Son of David, the Son of God or do we see someone who is convenient and demands little from us?

Jesus entering into Jerusalem does so on a colt. This fulfills the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9-10 that speaks of a peasant king riding on a donkey and not a war chariot. The symbolic laying down their cloaks harkens back to Elisha who anointed Jehu to lead the rebellion against the Omride regime found in 2 Kings 9:1-13. The palm branches remind the readers of the victorious celebration of the independence of Jerusalem and Judea in the Maccabean revolt which can be read in 1 Macc. 13:51. The people are shouting Hosanna, save us. The people are comparing Jesus to David one of the greatest kings of Israel.

The people are looking for a warrior king. One who would lead them to overthrowing the Roman oppression. This Jesus rejected this for himself. In fact he continued to show that it is through non-violent means that the kingdom was to become evident. God’s love and grace comes to us not through conquering armies but through faith. As the week goes and Jesus does not recruit an army, the people may wonder about this king. At the same time it is easier to understand the concerns of the Sanhedrin about the popularity of Jesus and the possibility of leading a revolt.

The passage ends with Jesus looking around and then leaving for the next day. Maybe scouting out the area to determine his course of action as he faces off against the rulers of his day.

Anytime we read the gospels, we need to see the connection to the Hebrew Scriptures.  Especially as we look the ever increasing tension between the temple priests, the Sanhedrin, the Pharisees, and finally the Romans.  It is this tension that leads to the conspiracy to put Jesus to death.

Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday

This past week has been hectic with two out of town trips, funeral, and worship services.  Nothing unusual for a pastor but does eat into my time for doing my blog. So I am now going to get caught up.
Thursday Scripture Jeremiah 17:5-10

“From God.  Blessings will come to those who trust in the Lord. Praise his holy name.”

5 This is what the LORD says: "Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans and turn their hearts away from the LORD.
6 They are like stunted shrubs in the desert, with no hope for the future. They will live in the barren wilderness, on the salty flats where no one lives.
7 "But blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence.
8 They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green, and they go right on producing delicious fruit.
9 "The human heart is most deceitful and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?
10 But I know! I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve."
11 Like a bird that hatches eggs she has not laid, so are those who get their wealth by unjust means. Sooner or later they will lose their riches and, at the end of their lives, will become poor old fools.
12 But we worship at your throne-- eternal, high, and glorious!
13 O LORD, the hope of Israel, all who turn away from you will be disgraced and shamed. They will be buried in a dry and dusty grave, for they have forsaken the LORD, the fountain of living water.
14 O LORD, you alone can heal me; you alone can save. My praises are for you alone!
Over and over, we hear in scripture about the need for us to trust in the Lord and in the Lord alone.  It strikes me in reading the scripture how often people become swayed not by God but by whatever is popular, easy, focused on getting rich quick, to misrepresenting those who are different, and who seek in their own greed what is best for themselves.  The above comes from the New Living Translation and I particularly am impressed on verse 11. All the pundits, politicians, and publicans, focus so much on themselves and what they can get and claim to be Christians.  I find very little Christianity in their lives and in their voices.
Lent is a time for us to realize that only God can heal and save us.  God’s Word in Jesus is eternal and not subject to the whims and fancies of others.  Let us praise God.
Friday  Scripture Matthew 21:33-43
“Bearing fruit. Bear fruit by spreading the Word of God.  Be bountiful in speaking of him.”
33 "Now listen to this story. A certain landowner planted a vineyard, built a wall around it, dug a pit for pressing out the grape juice, and built a lookout tower. Then he leased the vineyard to tenant farmers and moved to another country.
34 At the time of the grape harvest he sent his servants to collect his share of the crop.
35 But the farmers grabbed his servants, beat one, killed one, and stoned another.
36 So the landowner sent a larger group of his servants to collect for him, but the results were the same.
37 "Finally, the owner sent his son, thinking, 'Surely they will respect my son.'
38 "But when the farmers saw his son coming, they said to one another, 'Here comes the heir to this estate. Come on, let's kill him and get the estate for ourselves!'
39 So they grabbed him, took him out of the vineyard, and murdered him.
40 "When the owner of the vineyard returns," Jesus asked, "what do you think he will do to those farmers?"
41 The religious leaders replied, "He will put the wicked men to a horrible death and lease the vineyard to others who will give him his share of the crop after each harvest."
42 Then Jesus asked them, "Didn't you ever read this in the Scriptures? 'The stone rejected by the builders has now become the cornerstone. This is the Lord's doing, and it is marvelous to see.'
43 What I mean is that the Kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a nation that will produce the proper fruit.

I often wondered about the choices we make as individuals, as churches, and as a nation.  What is the proper fruit we should be doing and making a priority in our lives, the life of the church, and in the nation.  Further in Matthew, Jesus lays out in the final days of judgment what will separate the goats from the sheep.  It can summarized by giving food to the hungry, clothing to the naked, water to the thirsty, caring for those who are sick, lonely, imprisoned, and seeking the lost.
Do we respect God and his Son?  Do we not think that there will be a judgment day?  Jesus stated that many will call out his name and he will respond I do not know you.  Our lack of compassion for the least will weigh heavily upon us.  God, forgive us our lack of respect for your Will, the disregard of our son’s life teachings, his death, and his resurrection.  Make us to understand and open our hearts to hear once again of your love and mercy.  Amen.
Saturday  Scripture Psalm 10:1-4, 9-12

“Mercy and Kindness.  God showers us with undeserved gifts.  Can we return the same?”

NLT Psalm 103:1 A psalm of David. Praise the LORD, I tell myself; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Praise the LORD, I tell myself, and never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
4 He ransoms me from death and surrounds me with love and tender mercies.
9 He will not constantly accuse us, nor remain angry forever.
10 He has not punished us for all our sins, nor does he deal with us as we deserve.
11 For his unfailing love toward those who fear him is as great as the height of the heavens above the earth.
12 He has removed our rebellious acts as far away from us as the east is from the west.

I really don’t have much more to say than David.  I am reminded to show the same kindness to others as what God has shown me.  This Lent I need to remember when I turn to God to confess my sins he has forgiven me and will not deal with me as I deserve.

Sunday  Scripture Matthew 9:2-10

‘' God’s Laws.  As you read God’s commands, repent and ask his forgiveness.”

NLT Exodus 20:1 Then God instructed the people as follows:
2 "I am the LORD your God, who rescued you from slavery in Egypt.
3 "Do not worship any other gods besides me.
4 "Do not make idols of any kind, whether in the shape of birds or animals or fish.
5 You must never worship or bow down to them, for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god! I do not leave unpunished the sins of those who hate me, but I punish the children for the sins of their parents to the third and fourth generations.
6 But I lavish my love on those who love me and obey my commands, even for a thousand generations.
7 "Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God. The LORD will not let you go unpunished if you misuse his name.
8 "Remember to observe the Sabbath day by keeping it holy.
9 Six days a week are set apart for your daily duties and regular work,
10 but the seventh day is a day of rest dedicated to the LORD your God. On that day no one in your household may do any kind of work. This includes you, your sons and daughters, your male and female servants, your livestock, and any foreigners living among you.
11 For in six days the LORD made the heavens, the earth, the sea, and everything in them; then he rested on the seventh day. That is why the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and set it apart as holy.
12 "Honor your father and mother. Then you will live a long, full life in the land the LORD your God will give you.
13 "Do not murder.
14 "Do not commit adultery.
15 "Do not steal.
16 "Do not testify falsely against your neighbor.
17 "Do not covet your neighbor's house. Do not covet your neighbor's wife, male or female servant, ox or donkey, or anything else your neighbor owns."

The Ten Commandments have been a foundation to Jewish and Christian beliefs.  Jesus took the ten and summarized them into two, Love God and Love neighbor.  As we read them once again which of the ten are you struggling with.  Is it remembering to honor God and not worship other idols?  Is it not taking a Sabbath to spend with family and friends?  Is it dealing with issues of stealing not just money or material things but also stealing from others through gossip, through lying to others or to agencies such as the IRS?  Or possibly coveting what others have?
Take time to go to God to ask for strength and forgiveness as you deal with your struggle.

Monday  Scripture Luke 4:24-30

“Finding Acceptance.  Think of those you ignore or neglect.  Make a place in your heart for them.”
24 But the truth is, no prophet is accepted in his own hometown.
25 "Certainly there were many widows in Israel who needed help in Elijah's time, when there was no rain for three and a half years and hunger stalked the land.
26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them. He was sent instead to a widow of Zarephath-- a foreigner in the land of Sidon.
27 Or think of the prophet Elisha, who healed Naaman, a Syrian, rather than the many lepers in Israel who needed help."
28 When they heard this, the people in the synagogue were furious.
29 Jumping up, they mobbed him and took him to the edge of the hill on which the city was built. They intended to push him over the cliff,
30 but he slipped away through the crowd and left them.

When reading this passage, I am not struck so much about those we ignore or neglect but how we treat one another when someone will speak words, ideas, or values that we do not want to hear.  When someone talks about going outside our community to seek out others, we often react negatively.  I remember once when talking about doing mission work someone said we should take care of ourselves first spending money for the building. 
God will not wait forever for us to do his will.  He will find others who will proclaim the gospel.  Lent is a journey that we do every year and hear the same scriptures that talk about Jesus and his teachings.  Now is the time to not only listen but to do.

Tuesday and Wednesday

I have been traveling and going to workshops so got behind two days.  In the next two days I will be traveling again and will likely not get back until Friday evening.  So will catch up then.

Tuesday:  Scripture Matthew 23:1-12

“One Master.  When we humble ourselves to serve others, we become models of Jesus’ service to us.”

NLT Matthew 23:1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples,
2 "The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the Scriptures.
3 So practice and obey whatever they say to you, but don't follow their example. For they don't practice what they teach.
4 They crush you with impossible religious demands and never lift a finger to help ease the burden.
5 "Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear extra long tassels on their robes.
6 And how they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the most prominent seats in the synagogue!
7 They enjoy the attention they get on the streets, and they enjoy being called 'Rabbi.'
8 Don't ever let anyone call you 'Rabbi,' for you have only one teacher, and all of you are on the same level as brothers and sisters.
9 And don't address anyone here on earth as 'Father,' for only God in heaven is your spiritual Father.
10 And don't let anyone call you 'Master,' for there is only one master, the Messiah.
11 The greatest among you must be a servant.
12 But those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.

When I read the scripture there are several points that I ponder.  The first is the need to practice what we profess as our beliefs.  We struggle as a people and as a church with the tension of dogma and doctrine—orthodoxy—and mission work to help others—orthopraxy.  As Wesleyans, we adhere to the dual tension of loving God and loving neighbor.  It is in doing both that we become, as far as I am concerned, the body of Christ.  Our faith saves us if we understand that faith is a verb and not a noun.  Faith leads to servanthood toward others.  This is especially true for those who are more privileged than others.  We need to humble ourselves so that we don’t become the new Pharisees so concerned with law that there is little room for mercy.

Wednesday: Scripture Matthew 20:17-28

“Service. Remember that Lent is a time to serve others as Jesus came to serve us.”

20 Then the mother of James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Jesus with her sons. She knelt respectfully to ask a favor.
21 "What is your request?" he asked. She replied, "In your Kingdom, will you let my two sons sit in places of honor next to you, one at your right and the other at your left?"
22 But Jesus told them, "You don't know what you are asking! Are you able to drink from the bitter cup of sorrow I am about to drink?" "Oh yes," they replied, "we are able!"
23 "You will indeed drink from it," he told them. "But I have no right to say who will sit on the thrones next to mine. My Father has prepared those places for the ones he has chosen."
24 When the ten other disciples heard what James and John had asked, they were indignant.
25 But Jesus called them together and said, "You know that in this world kings are tyrants, and officials lord it over the people beneath them.
26 But among you it should be quite different. Whoever wants to be a leader among you must be your servant,
27 and whoever wants to be first must become your slave.
28 For even I, the Son of Man, came here not to be served but to serve others, and to give my life as a ransom for many."

How often it is when someone receives some beneficial item or notice, that rather than being happy for that person many times we react with jealousy or indignation.  I see this when we talk about issues of immigration, caring for the less fortunate, or for those whose rights have been violated.  Rather than standing with them, we put them down as undeserving despite what Jesus shows us about caring for the orphan, widows, and aliens.  The bible constantly speaks to the need for those who have much to share what they have.  To be less concerned about what is in it for me and be more concerned of how can I help others.

Lent reminds us it is not about my getting the benefits but helping others be able to join with me that we the people can flourish.

Sunday and Monday

Sunday and Monday reflections

Sunday scripture: Matthew 9:2-10

“God has given us his only Son.  Listen to Jesus as he speaks the Word of God.”

Too often in our world, we hear so many competing voices in our lives.  I often wonder whether or not the voice I listen too comes from God.  I am concerned about what I see on television, read in the newspaper, or hear from others about our world that I am not sure what is Godly and what is worldly.  I also struggle with speaking what I believe about my God to others especially if they may hold a different view than mine.

As I reflect on what we read for Sunday, the voice I need to hear is that of Jesus.  For he is the word of God.  Focus on the gospels first to determine what he actually said rather than what I think he said.  There was an occasion in seminary where we were discussing a particular passage from the gospel.  One of the students in the group insisted that Jesus said to the paralyzed man whose friends let him down through the roof to go and sin no more.  He was convinced of this to the point that we read several translations including the King James and finally realized that Jesus did not say that.  How often we assume something that Jesus said that either he did not or it is taken out of context.  The challenge is to make sure to read the scriptures as they are printed and to not add or take away.

Monday scripture: Luke 6:36-38

“How can we show mercy and forgiveness to our enemies? To our loved ones?”

^37-38 “Don’t pick on people, jump on their failures, criticize their faults—unless, of course, you want the same treatment. Don’t condemn those who are down; that hardness can boomerang. Be easy on people; you’ll find life a lot easier. Give away your life; you’ll find life given back, but not merely given back—given back with bonus and blessing. Giving, not getting, is the way. Generosity begets generosity.” (The Message)

The difficulty I face in forgiving others is an economic one at times.  I expect to receive back something for the effort I put into helping others or doing something for them.  At other times I want the other to be first in asking for forgiveness before I forgive them.  Then I realize that this is not God’s way.  It gets back to that judgment thing.  I need to “give away” first.  It is not what I receive that makes the difference but instead is about the mercy I show others will result in the mercy God shows me.