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.

Saturday

Scripture  Matthew 5:43-48

“Perfection  During Lent, remember that we are made perfect in Christ.  This can only happen through him.”

How often we struggle with the concept of being perfect.  This scripture passage talks about love and especially loving our enemies.  If perfection means that I have to love those who hurt and demean me, how can I do that.  Is that what we are talking about and how does that fit with Lent?  This week has focused on our need to repent, judge not, forgive, humble ourselves, pray, and stop holding grudges.  Maybe that is the focus we should be aiming for in our lives.

I know in my life the difficulty one can have in doing the above.  I need to keep in mind it can only happen if I let Christ in my life, my mind, and my heart.  I believe that is what perfection is about.  Not that I can be perfect without fault or sin, but Christ and the Holy Spirit can enable to be more mature in what I do and how I relate to others.  It means to see people as creations of God and that God is the final judge not me.  Rick Warren in his book, The Purpose Driven Life, starts by reminding us “It is not about you.  It is about God.”  There was only one perfect human that was Jesus.  The more we emulate him, the more we become like him.

Thursday and Friday

Ever have one of those weeks where you plan and then life happens that causes your plans to change unexpectedly.  This week has been one of those weeks.  Two funerals within 5 days of one another and one 10 days ago.  On top of hospital visits and other activities, I did not have time to do my blog.  So today I am catching up.  Please bear with me.

Thursday Scripture Matthew 7:7-12

“Just Ask! Prayer is at the heart of our Lenten journey.  God wants to hear our prayers.”

What is your prayer life like?  Is it daily?  What is it that you pray about?  Anne Lamott wrote a book on prayer titled, Help, Thanks, Wow!.  I know in my life sometimes it is easy to only pray for help when I am in trouble or having a difficult time.  Yet, how many times do we pray prayers of thanksgiving?  Lent may be a time to remember to pray our thanks for a Savior who out of love choose to climb upon the cross for us.  At the same time to express Wow that such love given to us who are the least deserving.  Our God is love.  This Lent take time to remember to thank God and be wowed by His mercy and love.

Friday Scripture Matthew 5:20-26

“Holding Grudges. Open your heart to reconciliation, seeking ways to settle old disagreements.”

I know the difficulty it is to let go of grudges and past hurts.  There have been many times in my life that I have felt hurt by others or taken advantage of or been the subject of hate and lies.  I have guilty that I couldn’t just forgive right away and carried the anger and grudge with me to the point it began to affect my important relationships with those around me that loved me.  I knew I had to do something different or if I kept those grudges I was doing harm to myself spiritually and even physically.

Carrying around that pain did not change anything and never does.  Dealing with the pain and hurt is the only way to reach a point of forgiveness.  In my life I have found forgiveness, really letting go and letting God handle things, was a process.  The adage Forgive and Forget is wrong.  We are called to forgive and need to take the time to understand the hurt and allow God into the process of healing.  But there are some things we need to learn from which means not forgetting but not allowing the past to dictate the present or the future.  What makes the difference is knowing the pain and hurt and coming to terms with it and allowing God to put people into your life that can surround you with love and mercy as He has for you.

Wednesday

Scripture Jonah 3:1-10

“Even the mighty need to humble themselves to do God’s will.”

There is something about the story of Jonah that has always spoke to me.  First Jonah tries to run away from the call of God.  In some respects, it reminds me of my call story.  I was told when I was 15 that God may be calling me.  For the next 35 years, I ran away from that call.  But as we read today God called a second time and I answered maybe not to go to Nineveh home of my enemies but to enter into the ministry willing to go wherever God directed.  It meant letting go of some things and opening up to others.  The following is the scripture from the NLT.

NLT Jonah 3:1 Then the LORD spoke to Jonah a second time:
2 "Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message of judgment I have given you."
3 This time Jonah obeyed the LORD's command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all.
4 On the day Jonah entered the city, he shouted to the crowds: "Forty days from now Nineveh will be destroyed!"
5 The people of Nineveh believed God's message, and from the greatest to the least, they decided to go without food and wear sackcloth to show their sorrow.
6 When the king of Nineveh heard what Jonah was saying, he stepped down from his throne and took off his royal robes. He dressed himself in sackcloth and sat on a heap of ashes.
7 Then the king and his nobles sent this decree throughout the city: "No one, not even the animals, may eat or drink anything at all.
8 Everyone is required to wear sackcloth and pray earnestly to God. Everyone must turn from their evil ways and stop all their violence.
9 Who can tell? Perhaps even yet God will have pity on us and hold back his fierce anger from destroying us."
10 When God saw that they had put a stop to their evil ways, he had mercy on them and didn't carry out the destruction he had threatened.

Much like Jonah, I have learned that if we really are ready to repent, humble ourselves, and seek God, God will have pity on us and hold back His judgment toward us.  Let us pray earnestly and to seek to change our ways.  This season of Lent be for us one of prayer, repentance, and seeking the will of God in our lives.