“Now That You Know, What’s Next?” (Easter)

Scripture: Luke 24:13-35

It had all happened so suddenly – first, that strange Passover Seder, then Judas’ abrupt departure from the meal, then the trip up to Gethsemane, with that great horde of temple guards and priests, the arrest, and then the unthinkable – Jesus, their Rabbi, their LORD – tried and convicted and beaten and crucified. And to think that it had only been a week since that grand day when the people greeted them with Hosannas and palms!
It had been too much for most of them, and they had gone into hiding. Some retreated to the Upper Room where they had spent those last few hours with Jesus, while others immediately left Jerusalem to find some quiet, out of the way place to hide. And then, to compound the issue even further, the women had found his final resting place empty this morning! What could possible happen next?

Read Luke 24:13-19a

These two men – Cleopas and his unnamed friend – had decided that the streets of Jerusalem were just too hot for them, so they headed out of town. Emmaus would be about a one day walk, so that would be their destination for the night. After that, who knows? Tomorrow would tell.
The topic of conversation, possibly for many on that same road, turned to the events of the past few days. But there was one man who seemed oblivious to the times, and asked them what they were talking about.

For just a moment, put yourself in Cleopas’ sandals, and consider how you would answer the question – “What things?” Where do you begin? Do you tell this ignorant man who Jesus was, what he taught, what he came to mean for your life? Or do you take a more cautious approach, realizing that this might be a hit man for the Pharisees, looking for anyone who acted as though they were disciples of the now dead Rabbi. They were already scared stiff, so their answer would be a little cautious.

Read Luke 24:19b-24

“We had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel”, but apparently he wasn’t, because now he is dead, and his body is missing. They take a risk, though, and let the stranger know that they had hoped that this was Messiah, the long awaited one that the Prophets had spoken about; but they also let it be known that they now see that they had been mistaken. The two had heard Jesus’ teaching many times, but now they were doubting the truth of his words. They had walked with him, sat with him, ate with him, listened to him, believing that he was the One. But now they weren’t so sure – the final act of this play didn’t work out the way they expected that it would.
Do you hear the dejection, the utter hopelessness in their words? Not only is their teacher dead, but his body is missing! It was not only sacrilege, but it was the one final act that made their loss complete. Its over! Our mission is done! Our life has been wasted, and we have nothing to show for it.
When life no longer has purpose, what’s left? Jesus had been their life for quite some time, but the tragic end of his ministry left them wondering how they could ever begin again. Loneliness, depression, anger, fear – they were being flooded with emotions that they never knew they had, and now had no control over, and they were just sick about it.
"How could you not know about this marvelous man?” Or did he?

Read Luke 24:25-29

The prophets had foretold everything about Jesus, and yet, so few could see the prophesy in him. (e.g. Isaiah 9, Isaiah 53, Zechariah 3:1-7, 12:10-13, Malachi 2:17-3:5, etc.) They had to begin wondering just who this stranger was, and how he had become so knowledgeable about Messiah. What a rabbi this man was, and how blessed they were to have met him that day. And during the hours and the miles that they walked together, they were treated to a discourse on Messianic prophesy. And it had to be wonderful!
Just think – getting to spend hours with the Lord as he related every word of scripture that had ever been written about him - about his mission to the people of earth, about his great promise in life for them! And even with all of that, it still hadn’t hit them that this was Jesus Himself, but they seemed to want to hear more. And as they reached the village, they invited the man to join them for the night. And, surprisingly, he did.

Read Luke 24:30-35

This stranger was such a learned man that the two readily gave him the seat of honor at table, and he proceeded to give the blessing on their meal. And in the breaking of the bread, they came to know who this really was.

The Lord had been revealed to them – not as a spirit, but as a living man. They knew, without a doubt, that he had been murdered, they knew, without a doubt, that he had been sealed in that dark tomb, they knew, without a doubt, that his body had disappeared, they knew, without a doubt, that this man was special, but they never put it all together until that moment at the table.

Jesus was alive. Jesus was alive! JESUS WAS ALIVE!!! And then he was gone again. But this time, his disappearance was different. He had risen to new life from the darkness and finality of the tomb, and life for these two men gained a whole new purpose that they had never felt before! The joy returned, the hope returned, the sense of ministry returned with an intensity that they couldn’t even begin to describe!

They now knew, without a doubt, that Jesus Christ was the Living Messiah, the Incarnate God, the Eternal Hope for their lives, and suddenly, the despair that had plagued them for the last few days was lifted, and life just glistened with the possibilities.
They look at each other across the table, speechless for a moment, and then the dam broke. “What do we do now? We have to tell someone! The disciples! The other believers! Everyone! We have to let them all know!”
It was getting late at night, and the road back to Jerusalem was long and rough and uphill all the way. Nighttime travel, for the hardy, or perhaps foolish, few who would venture out on those roads in the dark, was dangerous. Not only was the road narrow and rocky, but there were thieves and murderers at every bend in the way. But now, none of that mattered. They knew that the Lord was alive, and they just had to tell everyone. They told the people in the inn, they told the people in the village streets, they told every person they met on the road, and as they retraced their seven miles of steps, I like to believe that the Glory of God surrounded them, and lighted their every step, and was so brilliant, that not a single thief dared to accost them.
They flew “on wings like eagles”, as Isaiah 40:28-31 puts it, and there was strength and power in every step they took. Weariness? They were tired when they sat down for the evening meal, but it had left them long ago. Uphill? It didn’t matter! Seven miles? Who’s counting! They now knew, and they had a singular vision. They had to let the other believers know that they had seen Jesus, and he was alive!

Have you met the Living Lord as you have been traveling through this life? What was it like? Was your despair lifted? Was your hopelessness wiped away? Were you given a new outlook on life that was unlike anything that you had ever known? It certainly was for Cleopas and his companion, and it must be for you, too. If the experience was only “so-so”, then I suggest that you go back and meet him all over again.
The two men felt the presence of Jesus when he was opening the scriptures to them, and they came to understand him like they never had before. This wasn’t a simple relating of scripture, but a revealing of the Word. Is the Word revealed to you when you read scripture? If not, change your time of reading, to that of studying.
When the men experienced Jesus, they invited him to join them for the night. They thought that it would be a normal evening meal and overnight stay, but it turned out to be far more than that. Have you invited Jesus to join you in the simple and routine things of your everyday life, and not for just for an hour (or so!) on Sunday morning? If not, give it a try.
For these two men, the fullest realization of Jesus came when they received the broken bread at his table. We receive the “Broken Bread” all the time in Holy Communion – do you see Jesus then? If not, why not?
These men, even though the hour was late, even though they were tired from their day’s journey, even though the way back to Jerusalem would be filled with perils beyond their imagination, they had to go! They knew the truth, and they knew what they had to do with it. Are you prepared to take a risk to let others know that Jesus is the living Lord, that he rose from the grave to bring new life to their lives, that in his great and fulfilling love, they, too, can live with a purpose that is beyond anything that they could ever create for themselves?
He lives for you, you know. Do you know that now? What will you do about it? Will you live for him?

“See! Go! Tell!” (Easter Sunrise)

Scripture: Mark 16:1-8

This is our last Lenten message from Mark’s Gospel, but it is one that is just as important, and maybe even more important, than the previous 9. The series that we have studied from Mark has been about living a life in Christ. This lesson is about leading others into that same life.

Read Mark 16:1-8

This is the story of every Christian’s life. It begins with uncertainty. We believe,we try to follow, but what’s it all about? How will it all come together? How are we going to do this?
The women were full of uncertainty that first Easter morning. Was this all a dream, or was our Lord really crucified? What will come next? Will we be next? Will they let us into the tomb to finish the burial anointing? The soldiers put that huge stone in front of the tomb’s entrance and there is a guard there –will they even let us in?
Life had been going so well with Jesus, and now this. What will we ever do without him?

But the questions – all of them – would soon be answered.

they wold idscover that the stone had been moved, the soldiers were gone, and they could enter the tomb without any opposition. They were even greeted by a beautiful young man who told them that fear no longer belonged in their lives. And he began to tell them that not only would death never be able to hold God, not only had he reclaimed his life, but that life for them had taken on an entirely new purpose. And he told them that this new life that they had received in Christ would now require three things of them – they were to SEE, they were to GO, and they were to TELL.

“SEE the place where they laid him.” The “place”, of course, was empty, but that is exactly what they were to see – not the stone shelf, but the EMPTY stone. The body hasn’t been stolen, it hasn’t been moved, this isn’t an allusion – Jesus is alive!
This is pure evidence for the women. And the witness of centuries of faith tells us the same thing. Jesus is alive! But what will the women, and what will we, do about this unexpected life?

“But GO, tell his disciples and Peter.” You have seen the truth – now get out of here! This place of death is no place for the living, and you have this wonderful new life. Live it! Don’t just wait here until someone else comes along, don’t think that this place is all there is, don’t expect that mourning and sorrow is your last act of faith. Get out of here - there is so much more for you to do!

“TELL them.” Let the others know that death has been jilted, that it no longer is in control, and that the life that has been resurrected in their Lord is now their life, too. You have been given a message that is so important and so vital for the lives of the people that you cannot keep it to yourselves!

And the women are told that they will not be alone. “You will see the Lord again, just as he said you would.” You will never have to see life with the same myopic eyes again, you will never have to decide where you should go next, you will never have to figure out what to say to those you meet. Jesus will be yours though it all – he will be going ahead of you, he will be preparing the way for you, he will be leading you in his path, he will be giving you the words to share with others. This is to be a partnership in faith – you, the Lord, and other believers.

But we also read that the women were terrified by this message, and ran for their lives. They were so scared that they couldn’t utter a word of this experience to anyone. And that is part of the Christian life, too. For far too many, the realization of salvation, the truth of Christ in our own life, is so overwhelming that we are afraid to share it with anyone! What will they think of me? What will to say to me? How can I ever make it meaningful to them? And we keep the most glorious, most significant, most vital message of all time to ourselves.

“See! Go! Tell!” wasn’t just a message for the women who came to perform a most difficult task that Sunday morning. It is the message that the Church has been given throughout the ages. It is the message that makes us Easter people, it is the message that Easter people must carry to the world, it is the Easter message that God has won for earth –

Read John 14:15-21 - Did you catch that? “The world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live.”
What a marvelous opportunity the Church has to let others know that in the Life of Christ, we, too, will live forever. And we can never keep it to ourselves!

Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! HE LIVES!

“Journey to the Cross: Condemned”

Scripture: Mark 14: 43-65

The Passover Seder has been celebrated, the feet have been washed, Judas has left to begin the fulfillment of prophesy(Isaiah 53:7-12), prayers have been lifted, and Jesus is prepared for what must come next. The journey has been a long and tiring one, but the most difficult is rapidly approaching.
The hard part isn’t that lies will be told about him, or the false judgment against him, or even the excruciating pain and death that will soon be his. It will be the desertion by his closest friends that will cause the greatest pain. It will be his betrayal into evil hands, by one who knew him best, that will pierce his heart. It will be the denial by those who had followed him faithfully for 3 years that will bring the most torment to his soul. It will be their condemnation that will break his heart, not the judgment of the world.

Read Mark 14:43-52

Judas was one of the “inner twelve” – those who were privy to the truth behind Lord’s teaching. He had been given great trust as the group’s treasurer; he had been given the third seat – the seat of honor – at the Passover meal; he had even betrayed his Lord with the kiss of friendship. He was, without question, a friend of Jesus’, but his actions would be closer to those of a conspirator. Had he even been listening to Jesus’ teaching? Did he know the Lord at all?

And with that, Jesus surrenders to captivity by the world. And why not? Didn’t he come specifically for them? Wasn’t this day and this event God’s intention from before time began? The guards treat him as though he were a dangerous criminal, but he reminds the authorities that he has never avoided them in the past, and that he has no desire to avoid them now. “Why didn’t you arrest me yesterday, or the day before that? I’ve always been around you. Why now? Why like this?” And suddenly, Jesus, the Lord God Almighty, is left alone with his accusers.

Read Mark 14:53-61a

Peter had, somehow, found the courage to follow this band at a distance, and in John’s gospel, we read that John was with him and even went inside to listen to the proceedings. (John 18:15-16) But Peter’s courage wouldn’t last, and he, too, would soon condemn Jesus to the court’s pleasure so that his flesh might remain intact.
And over and over, one witness after another, they came to testify to the heresy that Jesus had committed. But even though they had rehearsed their stories, and coordinated the words that would be spoken, none of it was in agreement. It was all lies, and the court kept after the Lord to explain his actions. But how can anyone defend themselves against false claims? We might try by saying that we had never uttered those words, or that our statements had been taken out of context, but Jesus remained silent.

Why wouldn’t he at least attempt to defend himself? Why wouldn’t he say that the claims were false? The truth is that he knew what was in the minds of these men – that they already knew that the claims against him were lies, they knew that, regardless of what Jesus might say in response, his words would be ignored, they knew that the outcome of this mock trial was a foregone conclusion, and Jesus also knew that they had heard his teaching and had already decided to disregard it. What good could more words do at this point in time?

Read Mark 14:61b-65

The only question that he would respond to was “Are you the Christ?”, and the answer was “I am, and one day you will have to accept that.” But this was not that day, so he said nothing more.

And he was condemned to death for heresy. But this was part of God’s plan, as much as it was the world’s! But the court’s judgment came out of hatred and ignorance – while God’s was out of love and forgiveness.

So, was this all due to the “wise” judgment of the court? Was it due to the judgment that came from human sin? Was it due to God’s wisdom? Something had to be done, and it had to be effective.
Israel had tried animal sacrifice for centuries, and it never satisfied – it had to be offered over and over, for each and every specific sin, for each and every time violations of God’s law was committed. Animal sacrifice was never going to work. An animal’s death, at best, provided food – not forgiveness.
Some might even ask why not require the person who had committed the sin to be the sacrifice. After all, the sin was their responsibility – why not expect them to satisfy the penalty? But a human death on account of human failure can’t bring forgiveness, either – it can only be seen as penalty for our collapse in faith, not as restitution to God’s grace.
One thing that both Jesus and the Pharisees agreed upon, though, was that only God can forgive sin. Our failure to follow God’s teaching can only be overturned by God Himself – by a merciful act of the Divine Judge. And so, God must be the blood sacrifice that overturns the verdict against human sin – only the blood of Jesus Christ can wash our sin slate clean.

Condemned – by the very created people he came to save. Hardly seems right, doesn’t it? But it was by Jesus’ own choice to give his all, that we might receive all through him. His is a God-given gift of forgiveness and life that must now be claimed by all who would live in him.

“I am the Way, and the Truth and the Life.” (John 14:6-7) Have you accepted the gift of Eternal Life that Jesus is for you?

“Journey to the Cross: A View from the Top”

Scripture: Mark 13:3-23

Jesus has traveled all the way from Galilee to Jerusalem. It’s been a long 3 years, with people constantly clamoring to reach him. Some come for healing; some come to hear his teaching and to learn about this new way; some come out of curiosity; and some come to find fault and to condemn him. He has given the best that God has to give, but for some, it still isn’t enough. But the time is at hand when he will not only give the world his best, but will give them his all.
He approaches the city, and once again, the clamor rises up.

Read Luke 19:38-44

Some will think that the Lord’s tears are for the trials that he is facing, or over the pending destruction of this holy city of his people. But the truth is that the tears are not for himself, and they are for not just for Israel – they are for the world. “If you, even you had only known on this day what would bring you peace – but now it is hidden from your eyes … because you did not recognize the time of God‘s coming to you.”
Jesus is about to bring glory into the lives of the world, but only those who will believe in him will get to experience it. For many, they will be deceived into believing that Jesus was a lie – that he was heresy – that his words carried nothing of importance - and for these, it will be too late. And God’s sorrow over their failure to accept him breaks his heart.
The coming week will continue to get stranger and stranger, to say the least. The praises of this day will become the condemnation of tomorrow. The wonderful teaching that had amazed so many will become dark and foreboding and barely comprehensible. Some will continue their journey with him, but most will not.

Jesus had been at the temple, teaching the people and confronting the defenders of Orthodox Judaism. He had taught about the power of faithful prayer; he had overturned the tables of the dishonest merchants in the temple courts; he had answered questions; he told parables; he had spoken of the day of resurrection and the effects of following the false teachers. And as he left the temple grounds this day, he turned to the east, crossed the Kidron Valley, and proceeded to walk up the steep slope that lead him to the Mount of Olives.
He had spent a lot of time here in meditation, in reflection, and in prayer, and now he would spend some time teaching his friends about the things to come. But the tone of the teaching has changed. Instead of teaching as a great and inspired Rabbi, he now teaches only what God can know, and in a way that only God can.

Read Mark 13:3-8

Jesus had told the disciples that all the great buildings in Jerusalem would be torn down and not one stone would stand on another. And they asked Jesus what signs would precede this great catastrophe, so they could be prepared. Jesus then begins to tell them what will come.
For many, this dissertation is about the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70AD, but I believe that it is about the destruction of false faith – it is about the end times. And this first Divine teaching is about deception. He tells them “Many will claim that they are me, and others will claim to have the answers, but don’t fall for any of it!”. And as he tells them about the deception that will run rampant in the world, he also tells them that while it is a sign of his return, it is not his return itself.
These are only the beginning of birth pains. Now I will be the first to admit that I have no firsthand knowledge of this subject, even though I was with Diane at the beginning of the birth of both of our sons. I know that the pain is extreme and unique, but I have never felt it. But when these first pangs of birth hit us, I will begin to understand. Jesus wants us to know that it isn’t something to fear – it is something to rejoice over. These pains will be the beginning of something brand new!
But why would anyone want to deceive the world about this great event, to drive us all away from this glorious beginning? It will not only be a time of God’s re-creative work, but, unfortunately, it will also the most active time for Satan. He will be doing his worst to keep any more people from putting their lives in Christ, and he will do everything he can to deceive the world into believing that he is their only hope.
But this is just the beginning.

Read Mark 13:9-13

And he tells us about the struggles that will come in that day. Those who are not deceived, for those who stand firm in Christ, there will be unmitigated persecution. The harassment and hounding that the faithful of today must endure will be nothing compared to what will be handed out in those days. Christians will be hunted down with the same intensity that the early church experienced, and no one will be safe.
But the Lord also says that the proclaiming of the gospel must never be interrupted! Not only will these days be defined by the hatred and deception and persecution of the Church, but it will also be a time of great evangelizing! Many will fall for the lies of worldly forces, but many will also hear of the hope that can only come through the love of Jesus Christ. And the sharing won’t come from only a few. Every believer must be involved in this sharing of Jesus with the world. Don’t worry about what you will say – the Holy Spirit will give you the words.
Think about this – every one of us will be expected to live Jesus to the fullest, and the Spirit will show us just how we are to do that! Does that surprise anyone? Is that something new to anyone? It shouldn’t be! The Spirit has been working in and through the Church since that first day of Christian Pentecost, and he has never stopped working in her! But just as Jesus experienced limitations when the people wouldn’t believe, the same is true of the Spirit. God will never force himself on anyone, but at the same time, will never deprive anyone who seeks his strength. In the 4th chapter of Philippians (4:12-13), Paul writes “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” The Lord doesn’t take us out of our troubles, but he does give us the ability to not only get through them, but to rejoice in the process.
So why wait? Let’s get started now! Give the Spirit a chance to begin preparing us for those times, by seeking his power and strength and wisdom today! Give 1, or 2, or 3 more people the hope of eternity today, and don’t make them wait until tomorrow!

Read Mark 13:14-23

And he tells us about the urgency of faith. The question that many have is concerned with the words “the abomination that causes desolation” when it is seen where it does not belong. What or who is this abomination? Some commentaries will imply that it may be referring to the statue of Caligula that was placed in the temple – an abomination that was standing where it did not belong. Others will give other opinions as to who it is referring to. For me, the abomination is Satan’s presence, those times when that overpowering darkness is felt in our lives. He does not belong here, and he wants to be the disgrace of our lives. And Jesus’ recommendation when it happens? Flee! Run for the hills! Get as far away from him as you possibly can!
Good advice, especially for today. When we feel the tempter’s presence, we can’t stay where we are, or keep doing what we are doing. Let it go! Get away fast!

And again, the Lord warns us of the terrible days that will be coming when the Satan appears to do his dirty work – not to frighten us, but to prepare us; not to cause us harm, but to put us on our guard. And he reminds us that, for our benefit, he has told us everything ahead of time. No one can offer the excuse that they didn’t know.

Palm Sunday was the day when Jesus made that grand entry into Jerusalem, and everyone thought that this was the beginning of the end to Roman oppression. Jesus would be seen as the mighty king that God had sent to free them; he would be the warrior who could not be defeated; he would be the one who would restore the kingdom of Israel to its former glory.
Little did they know that while their words would have a ring of truth to them, their intent and expectations were nowhere near to Jesus’ true purpose. He is the King who Almighty God has sent to free us – not from the world, though, but from our sin. He is the Warrior around who the battles for salvation will whirl. He is the one who will bring glory to his new Kingdom, and power to those who choose to follow him. And there will be a war unlike any other, but also unlike others, the outcome has already been decided. Jesus will be the Victor, and the Satan will be the defeated.

After all these warnings, are you still walking with Jesus on his journey to the cross? The road is getting narrower and rougher and steeper, and it is leading to a time of great struggles. The deceivers have begun their hateful work, the struggles are getting harder and harder to endure, and the time of urgency is upon us all. But our journey with the Lord will make a huge difference in our lives - it will bring us the ability to survive the struggle, while others will not.

The cross is coming into view now, and we can see that it not only has Jesus’ name on it, ours is on it, too. It is an ugly picture, to be sure. It is one of brutality and hatefulness, and is filled with betrayal and abandonment. But on the other side of the trials, we can see that new joy and new glory and new life and new purpose await us.

One day at a time, one step at a time, one breath at a time, remembering all the way that the Holy Spirit is with us – giving words of encouragement, giving us words of witness, providing the strength to stand tall and firm, walking with us every moment of every day. And reminding us that Jesus’ day of glory is on its way! Praise the Lord! Hallelujah! Hosanna to the King of kings!

“Journey to the Cross: Love”

Scripture: Mark 12:28-34

During Lent, we have been considering a number of lessons that Jesus taught the world during his ministry. Sometimes the people listened, sometimes they didn’t. But the interesting point isn’t how much people have learned from Jesus – the amazing thing is that the lessons have actually survived for 2,000 years. The things that he taught are valuable and eternal in the living of our lives, and even if we don’t learn them and live them perfectly, we need to live them as well as we possibly can.

A pastor stepped into the pulpit and began “This morning, I'm going to speak on the relationship between fact and faith. It is a fact that you are sitting here in the sanctuary. It is also a fact that I am standing here speaking. But it is faith and faith alone that makes me believe that you just might be listening to what I have to say.”
- Homiletics Online

The lesson here may actually be about optimism, and all Christians need a lot of that! It is our choice to listen to the lessons or not. The resultant outcome of our lives hangs in the balance, and we all need to believe that people will still listen.

Read Mark 12:28-31

This lesson appears in 3 of the Gospel accounts, but each has a little different emphasis. In Matthew’s writing (22:34-40), it is a simple relating of the passages from Deuteronomy and Leviticus. In Luke’s Gospel (10:25-37), it is the lead in for the Lord’s telling of the Parable of the Good Samaritan, and in Mark’s passage, Jesus adds a bit of teaching to his reciting of scripture.
Today, we consider the teaching that Jesus offers in Mark’s gospel, and what these 2 commandments mean for our lives.

The first, known as the Shema, is from Deuteronomy 6:4-9. When the passage begins with “Hear, O Israel”, it is the same as saying “Listen up! This is important!”, and only after the Lord gets their attention is the unique and special command given. “The Lord our God, the Lord is one.” At this point, we have to understand that polytheism - the worship of more than one god - was the norm in those days. The more gods that you prayed to, sacrificed to, and depended on, the better. The general belief was that the gods had to be specialized because no one being, no matter how great it may be, could handle all of the myriad and complex issues of life. The more focused they were on a single issue, the better it was for you.
So the command to Israel that they were to honor only one God, THE God, had to be emphasized and explained to the people in a way that they would never forget it. For Israel, it would be one of the distinctions of faith. And the command then goes on to explain how we are to relate to this one God, and that is by loving Him with a love that is as complete and total as it possibly can be.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.” Love this one God with your total being by thinking constantly about his commandments, by teaching his commands to our children, and by living each and every day by His guiding and blessed Word. There would be no loopholes, no caveats, no choices, no escape from the call – only commitment to it.
And the people were to keep these words in their hearts, so that every thought and every action would honor the Word of God. And just in case the heart got a little hard in life, they were also to tie them to their wrists and hands and foreheads so that the words were always before them. The Shema was to be the guiding principle for the nation’s life. And Jesus says that this is the most important commandment that Israel will ever receive.

But then we read that there is another that is like it – to love your neighbor as yourself. Leviticus 19:18 is within a list of commandments regarding human life and calls us to live life in a certain way (Leviticus 19). This, too, differs greatly from the way that other nations live. Israel was being called to live a life as those set apart from the rest of the world, and so are we. Others lived lives that reflected their love and dedication to themselves. Jesus is reminding us that this attitude will get us nowhere – that love of God and other people is what will satisfy.
As we read this passage, we discover what it truly means to love our neighbor, and it doesn’t make for an easy life. It is not only about treating others fairly, not about giving them all that they deserve in the eyes of humanity, but rather in giving them more than they deserve, just as God gives to us.

And these two commandments are above all the rest. In essence, Jesus is saying that if you live life according to these, you will be living in all of the rest. Satisfying these will be a huge step in moving toward the glory of God.

Read Mark 12:32-34

Loving God and loving neighbor is more important than all the burnt offerings and sacrifices. And this from a Pharisee’s lips! Did he truly understand what love was all about? Did he really believe that loving in that two dimensional axis – upward and outward – should be replacing sacrifice?
Apparently he did. Jesus saw that “he had answered wisely”. He saw that the man understood the life that scripture was calling him to live. He not only knew the “words” of scripture, but he had learned the “heart” of the word.

A Presbyterian pastor by the name of E. Dixon Junkin, (Associate for Discipleship and Spirituality in the Presbyterian Church (USA)), reminds us that our commitment is not to 'study' Scripture but to 'listen' to it. It is not as if Scripture were a subject like mathematics, a useful tool that we learn, nor is our goal to analyze Scripture as if it were any other piece of literature. We are not out to learn Scripture as we would various historical facts.
The point of our reading is less to master the words of the Bible than to offer ourselves to be mastered by the Word to whom they point.
--As quoted in The Gospel and Our Culture, 5 (June 1993), 7.

If we truly “listen” to the passages for today, we will soon discover that they will take us far beyond the place where routine faith might land us. This is similar teaching to Micah 6:8 – “He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” Not to simply consider the aspects of justice, but to fully live as a just person; not to simply be merciful, but to love the merciful acts that we carry out; not to just follow God’s direction, not to be proud of our faithfulness, but to follow the Lord’s direction as a humble servant, claiming nothing in success for ourselves.
I believe that the “teacher of the law” may have been remembering this commandment when he responded to Jesus’ teaching. Love puts a whole different twist on life – it puts others first, and ourselves last. In 1 Corinthians 13, the chapter that is chosen by more brides for their wedding day than all others combined, we are told that when we allow love into our life, it makes our life complete. (Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-3) Love fulfills. Love gives purpose. Love endures.

This is one more aspect of Jesus’ ministry that teaches us to move further away from the ways of the world, and closer to the ways of God. And as that move begins to separate us more and more from the temporary and hollow pleasures of earth, it takes us closer and closer to the Glory of God and the Cross of Calvary. Remember that Jesus taught, not as a great man, but as the Incarnate God. All too often, we think that Jesus has a whole new approach to humanity, that he is the softer and more lovable side of God. But the truth is that God is God, and there is no separating the 3 Persons. The love of Christ is God’s; the passion of Christ is God’s; the plan and purpose of Christ is God’s; the sacrifice of Christ is God’s. The world may have seen the cross as a means of condemnation and finality, but our Lord uses it to convey the Godly message of compassion and love and life.
Love God and love neighbor – they cannot be separated. Without one, the other is incomplete. Without one, the other is a lie. And when we do love as God first loved, Jesus tells us that we will “not be far from the kingdom of God.” To love God requires that he becomes first in our life. To love neighbor means that achieving their best will take first precedence in our life. Love means that our best, our desires, our needs move from the front of life to the back.

Christ’s Journey to the Cross could never have happened without God’s gift of his love, his commitment, his surrender to the people of earth. Can we give him any less of us?

“Journey to the Cross: Allegiance”

Scripture: Mark 12:13-17

(Note: This message was offered the evening of March 10th at a rotating worship service in Litchfield, PA, that 6 of our churches sponsor during Lent. It is included here as a part of my personal series for Lent.)

There is one thing that you have to say about Pharisees – they’re persistent! Whether in the 1st century or the 21st, they all have a single purpose in life, and that is to never make a mistake. Unfortunately, none of them ever get it right, either. Instead of looking to improve themselves, they just decide that everyone else had better be just like them.
And Jesus is a major stumbling block for them all. He never did it their way, and continues to be that proverbial “thorn in their side” during his entire ministry. But the learned, the intellectuals, never give up in trying to catch Jesus in a mistake, or in an indefensible statement, or at the very least, in a contradiction of faith. But they never could and never will. And why? Because Jesus was all about one message and one focus, and never needed to remember what he had said the previous week.
But the Pharisees never change their tactics or their ideas. This was the way that it has been for centuries, and they will never be about introducing some new thought into the mix.

As the story goes:
One day one of Mahatma Gandhi's disillusioned followers came up to him and said, “You have no integrity. Last week I heard you say one thing, and today you are saying something different. How do you justify such indecisiveness?”
Gandhi quietly replied, “It is simple, really, my son. I have learned something new since last week.”
- Homiletics Online

What would you do if you were in this situation – being accused of “flip-flopping” on some issue? Would you follow Gandhi’s example and readily admit that you have the strength to learn from your mistakes? Or would you prefer to live on in “Pharisaical correctness”?

Read Mark 12:13-15a

Aren’t they smooth? First, butter him up, then lead him quietly down the primrose path, and when he is least expecting it, spring the trap! It’s always worked before, why not with this itinerant rabbi?
But the truth of the matter is that they never did think of Jesus as “a man of integrity”! These great teachers of the law only saw him as a threat to their orthodoxy! But by now, they should have realized just who they were dealing with – that they had never won a debate with him – not in the past, not in the future, and definitely not on that day!

The question that they posed to the Lord wasn’t so much about money as it was about allegiance to the law of the land. Faithfulness, for them, was all about how and what you did. It was about the appearance of faith that others could see. It was about loyalty in substance, but not necessarily in purpose. “Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar?” The question was intended to be the trap that would ensnare Jesus in either a Roman net or a Jewish one. If he said “Yes – pay your taxes”, it would violate Jewish law by acknowledging allegiance to a foreign god. If he said “No, it is wrong to pay money to Rome”, then he would be violating a mandate that the occupying Roman government had imposed on them. If he refused to give any answer, he would be admitting that he didn’t know everything, and he would lose his following.
Any way it landed, Jesus would have to come out on the short end of the stick. It had to be a win-win for the Pharisees, and they couldn’t wait for Jesus to respond.

Read Mark 12:15b-17

And Jesus, in that wonderful style that he always had, turns the tables on them. “Bring me a denarius.” Now a denarius was a Roman coin, and for any self respecting Jew, it was a sin to even possess money from a foreign sovereign. So we have to ask the question, just as Jesus was implying – “Why do you even have one of these coins? Don’t you know that it’s pagan money, and by your own interpretation, to even carry such a coin makes you sinful?”
We have to understand that the major difference between a Roman coin and a Jewish coin is that the Roman coin had a man’s picture on it – Caesar’s. The Jewish coin did not contain a person’s likeness – it would have been showing honor to someone other than God.
The trap was being flipped over on top of the Pharisees, but they would never see it coming until it was too late.

But Jesus wasn’t denouncing the Roman coin – he was denouncing the false attitudes, the shallow faith, that was so pronounced in these learned men. Remember that over and over again, Jesus taught that it wasn’t the things that the people ate or had or did that created the lack of faith in their lives – it was the attitudes of their hearts. And the Pharisees had a huge deficit of heart.

And his answer to the crowd seems quite fitting for us at this time of year – “Give to Caesar what is Caesars’s and to God what is God’s.” He never says that the Roman tax is just, he never endorses the use that the tax money will be put to, he never says love the things of Rome. He says that if the government requires something, submit to their authority. In Romans 13, we read that Governmental authority comes, not from the world, but from God. (Read Romans 13:1-2)

As much as the people of Judah wanted to be set free from the heel of Rome, that was never the Lord’s purpose. Jesus wants us to be freed from the condemnation of earth, not from their rules. Give to Caesar AND give to God. It is only when the two stand in direct conflict that we can defy Caesar. As an example, if government tells us that we are to denounce God, to turn away from Christ, then we are to disobey. But where there is no direct opposition to God’s word, such as paying taxes, even if they will be used in a way that dishonors God, pay them. Paying isn’t the sin – it’s the spending that may be.

Does anyone here doubt that Jesus taught hard lessons? Does anyone think that following Jesus takes us down an easy road? If you do, then we need to talk! The people of the first century wanted the Messiah to be authoritative, and, of course, he was. They wanted him to be a man of great power, and he was that, too. They wanted him to be a king, and while he certainly is, they also wanted him to be a warrior, which he is not – at least, not in their understanding of the word. Jesus was about a new and better way, not just more of the same which would benefit them instead of others!
Jesus wants us to obey him. The third item in the Great Commission (Matthew 28:16-20) tells us to teach others to obey the commands of the Lord – not to rewrite them to our own satisfaction. In James 1:5-8 we discover that a divided loyalty – that is to both God and to the world – will bring us nothing but disaster. In Revelation 3:16, the city of Laodicea is condemned because of their divided and insincere loyalties. Straddling the fence of faith will bring us nothing of value, but keeping both feet firmly planted in the Lord’s path will gain us glory.

Jesus is well on his way to Calvary to gain our salvation, but if our heart isn’t in the right place, if we aren’t willing to give him our honor and our faithfulness, then his sacrifice will do us no heavenly good.

Don’t let the Cross of Jesus become a dead end for you. Follow the Lord all the way to Resurrection.

“Journey to the Cross: Salvation”

Scripture: Mark 10:17-31

If you ask 5 people “What is life all about?”, I’m sure that you would get 5 different answers. Whether the person was 5 years old, or 20 years old, or 50 years old, no two people experience “life” in the same way.
So what is life all about? We all struggle with that question, even the Peanuts gang.

In one strip, Lucy and Charlie Brown (in the “Peanuts” comic strip) are seen engaged in heavy, deep, and real conversation about the meaning of life. Lucy says, “Life is like a deck chair. Some people place it so they can see where they are going. Some people place it so they can see where they have been. And some people place it so they can see where they are now.”
Charlie thinks about Lucy's profound thought, then replies, “I can't even get mine unfolded.”
- Homiletics OnLine

Many people, unfortunately, are Charlie Browns, and Jesus understood that better than anyone ever has. That was why he came to live that precious life with us, and he did his very best to teach us what life is supposed to be about. But most of us still never get it, and our life remains “unfolded”.

Read Mark 10:17-22

The Rich man had gained his wealth by doing the right things in business. This fact hasn’t changed in thousands of years, and it will continue to be true for the rest of time. Decisions must benefit the corporation, and they will never intentionally leave anything to chance. But can this approach be appropriate in faith? What would Jesus want us to do to be “right” in him?
In John 6:25-40, the crowd asks the Lord about this very thing. And this is how the conversation went:

Jesus tells them “Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him, God the Father has placed his seal of approval.”
Then they asked him,(and here’s the all important question!) “What must we do to do the works God requires?”
Jesus answered, “The work of God is this: to believe in the one he has sent.”

The work that God requires of us will never be about “things” – it will always be about faith and trust. The rich man had it backwards. He was putting the “things” of religion first – obeying the commandments, observing the feast days, tithing, and so on, and from his efforts, he expected that the requirements of faith would be fulfilled.
But Jesus would have us know that it’s the other way around – the first act of faith is to believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, to trust that his way is sure and true, and then in our response to his way, we do those things that he leads us to do. For the rich young man, he loved the wrong things and he trusted the wrong things. He loved his wealth, his success, his properties, and put far too much emphasis on the things of earth and nowhere near enough on his journey of faith.
“If you sell all of this stuff, and give the proceeds to those who really need it, it is then that you will receive true treasure as you begin to follow me.” The man had become encumbered with all that he had accumulated in life, and had no strength or energy or vision left for Christ. Jesus tells him that it all has to change, but the transformation is just too much. The man turns away, and as he leaves the Lord behind, he realizes full well what he has just lost, but his heart refuses to let him do nothing about it.

Read Mark 10:23-26

“Who then can be saved?” The disciples were starting to get the gist of Jesus’ teaching, but they still had a hang up with the importance that works has in faith. They had always been taught that it was vital that they always did everything according to the law and the teaching of the synagogue. Without this, they were told, they would fail in honoring God.
Is it any wonder that Jesus was always at odds with the Pharisees? He was a tremendous threat to their orthodoxy, and they were out to put an end to this “foolishness”. And those folks, unfortunately, are still with us today. There are the Universalists, who will vehemently deny that any will be turned away on Judgment Day. There are the 21st century Pharisees who claim that all must worship in their way, or are baptized in their way, or come to the Lord with their prayer, or serve in their ministries, or – well, you fill in the blank. Unless you are with us, you can never realize the Lord’s salvation. They have the inside track, and outsiders beware! But the truth is that only real hope for salvation is in Jesus’ words - that believing in him as the Way, the Truth and the Life is the only work that is required (John 14:1-14).
And what became of the rich young man? All he had to do is to let go of his dependency, his love, his focus on his wealth and power and prestige, and eternity could have been his. But his heart was centered on this life, and in doing so, he surrendered all hope for the next.
We all have friends or family who have that same affliction –myopic faith. They just can’t seem to see beyond the here and now, and their nearsighted adherence to “works” will only serve them well while they live in this plane of existence – it will bring them nothing - actually less than nothing - in the hereafter. They just can’t grasp the fact that in order to claim the gift of eternal life, they have to let go of their hopes in this one.

Do you know about the American scrub oak? This is the tree that, from the fall until the spring, remains covered with the scruffy, scraggly remains of its previous year's foliage. When all the other trees have lost their leaves, the scrub oak's tatters hang on stubbornly through all the gales of winter.
It is only in the spring, when the sap begins to rise again, that the tree finally relinquishes its hold on last year's crop of leaves. These vestiges of a past life drop off when the signal comes that new life is about to begin.
- Homiletics Online

In John 12:20-26, Jesus tells us that if you love this life, it will never last, but if you see this life for what it truly is, you will keep it for all of eternity. If you have ever seen one of those scrub oaks in winter, you will know how ugly it is, with all of those dead leaves hanging off its branches. But when spring comes, in that time of new life, it loses its past and gains a whole new look.
And so do those who allow Christ to be first their lives. They are the ones who shed the “death” of this world, and eagerly await the Spring of eternity.

Read Mark 10:27-31

Salvation is impossible when we rely solely on our own abilities. That means that our works are useless when it comes to gaining the glory of heaven! Jesus says that salvation will come only as God’s gift, and there is nothing that we can do to claim it except to believe in the one who the Father has sent. And that has to be in complete faith, in total trust, and in our absolute surrender to him. And when we do, Jesus promises that our gain will be in both this world and the next. But isn’t his list of “increases” interesting! Those who leave the world behind for his sake will receive 100 times as much as they surrender, including persecution! The old saying is that “the Lord never promised us a rose garden”, but actually, he did – with all of the beauty, all of the marvel, all of the wonder, and all of the thorns.
But should that discourage us? Not in the least! For when we are in Christ Jesus, the beauty and the marvel and the wonder of this life is enhanced so much that the thorns are hardly noticeable, and at the very least, can be dealt with without hesitation or fear. And Jesus even tells us that when we do experience persecution, when we find ourselves lacking in the things of earth, that we should rejoice! Luke 6:20-26

First in the world? First in heaven? We have to choose, because we can’t have it both ways. Salvation is a precious gift that costs us noting except our allegiance to the One who has taken the entire cost upon himself. And as Jesus continues that journey to Calvary, with each and every step, with each and every challenge, with each and every trial, with each and every thorn, he knew that it would all be worth the effort – because it was to win eternal life for each and every one of us.

Have you “unfolded” your life in Christ? If not, will you?

“Journey to the Cross” Faith”

Scripture: Mark 9:14-29

Last week, in the 7th chapter of Mark’s Gospel, we considered those things that keep us from living a pure and wholesome life. Jesus proclaimed that these issues can only come from an “unclean heart” (Mark 7:17-23). It wasn’t a very pleasant list, and probably touched everyone of us in one way or another. I don’t think Jesus meant it so much as a condemnation on us, as it was to be a challenge, a call, to reevaluate our life’s actions and make some very important corrections.
But I think that Jesus would also want us to know that these changes can never come about by our own volition – that they can only happen through our trust and faith in him.

There’s an old saying – “If we don't change where we're going, we'll end up where we're headed.” Almost sounds like a Yogi Berra-ism, doesn’t it! Regardless, it works for me!! Change will always be a necessity if we intend to walk with Jesus throughout this life.
And even the disciples would eventually discover that there were many things about their lives that had to change.

Read Mark 9:14-18

The disciples had been with Jesus for some time, and had seen all the things that he had done. In chapter 8 of Mark’s gospel, Jesus takes his band to Caesarea Philippi, a pagan place of worship, and asks them, first, who the world says he is, and second, who they say he is. Peter, the impetus one, replies emphatically that he is the Christ – the Messiah, the anointed one of God. (Mark 8:27-30) For them, there was no question that Jesus was the long awaited gift of God. They had seen the power of faith, in Jew and Gentile alike, that brought about many miraculous healings.
And now, a young boy had a demon that robbed him of his ability to speak, and caused him great physical suffering. Word that the power of Jesus could bring about all sorts of healing had spread far and wide, and people were coming to the Lord all the time. The boy’s father brought him to be touched in this power. But in this particular instance, Jesus and the three disciples were on the Mount of Transfiguration and weren’t available to help. Upon their arrival at the base of the mountain, they discover that the other disciples were engaged in a rousing discussion with, among others, the Pharisees. We don’t know what it was about, but we soon understand that a healing had not been able to occur, and they were almost assuredly being attacked as being powerless.
But why wasn’t the boy healed? Was it because they didn’t have the power to accomplish this? Was the power that was in Jesus yet to come to them? Why was the boy still suffering?

Remember Jesus’ experience in his hometown? Even he was limited to a few minor miracles. It certainly wasn’t because Jesus didn’t have the power or the Godly authority! It was all because the faith of the people was insufficient. (Luke 4:16-30)
How could human faith, or lack thereof, possibly have such a devastating effect on God’s abilities? It would almost imply that our faith can control God! The truth is, though, that while faith doesn’t control God, it does enable God.

God is self limiting in many ways.
First, he allows us to exercise free will. We choose to believe in Christ. We choose to accept God’s saving grace. We choose to live a life of Christian service. It is God’s desire for us, but it is our choice to accept it or not.
Second, Jesus limited himself by taking on, not only the form of a human being, but also the characteristics of humanity. We always talk about the divine nature of Christ, but how often do we consider the human side of Christ? We claim that Jesus was “fully God and fully Man”, but do we realize what that would have meant for him? I believe that the “full humanness” of the Lord meant that while he was truly and “fully God”, he could never be “completely” God – at least not while he was also human. He experienced emotions, including joy, sorrow, struggle, loneliness, and many others. He cried, he bled, and he died. These aren’t Godly characteristics by any measure – they are solely human, and they are limiting.
And third, Jesus never forced himself on anyone. He offered convincing arguments and authoritative teaching. He offered prophecy regarding his mission. He held the highest ground whenever he was attacked by the Pharisees or Sadducees. But when it came to performing miracles, the faith of those around him came into play. God was no longer the only influence.
Could God take absolute control? He certainly could, but as the perfect God, he wants us to be an important part of his presence and purpose on earth. And because of that, the boy’s healing was not yet to be.

Read Mark 9:19-23

And even Jesus doesn’t heal the boy immediately. First, there is one more demonstration of the demon’s tenacity. The evil spirit sees and recognizes Jesus and in response, throws the boy into a terrible convulsive fit. Weak faith has no part in limiting the power of Satan, though, and the evil works its desired effect. Jesus engages in a conversation with the father, which leads to a faith-limited statement by the father. He tells Jesus “If you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.” IF! IF? And Jesus tells him that he can do everything, but that faith must also take a part in the power.

How often have you heard people say “I prayed to God for help, but nothing happened, so I guess God wasn’t listening to me.” or “doesn’t care about me.” or “doesn’t really exist.” They may have faith, but what they truly need is a deep and trusting faith? Are they willing to give their situation completely over to the Lord, or do they try to retain some measure of control over how God is supposed to work in this situation?

“Everything is possible for him who believes.” Remember that “free will” thing? We get to choose just how much we are going to believe and trust! In our Wednesday evening Bible Study, we were talking about the part that our will plays in the receiving of God’s blessings. The statement was made that “we’ve been given the free will to give our will to God”. In other words, even our desires and hopes and plans have to be given over to the Lord!
That is what faith is about.

Read Mark 9:24-29

And the first healing is about to occur – the father exclaims “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!” He doesn’t ask Jesus to forgive his lack of faith – in faith, he asks that his unbelief might be overturned, that it might be taken away! And the absolute and divine power of God is unleashed! Faith was revealed; faith was restored; faith was enabled; faith was healed! And healing would be complete in both the father and his son.
But we still have to ask about the disciples? Why weren’t they able to bring about this healing? They had been able to do it about before (Mark 6:7-13), but this time they couldn’t. When they inquire as to why, Jesus tells them that sometimes prayer is the only way. Why prayer? Why now?

There may be two explanations.
First, even though we don’t actually see Jesus praying in this situation, it may be the boy’s father who prays with the words “help me overcome my unbelief”. And through the power of his prayer, his faith is strengthened and Jesus’ power is allowed to work.
The other possibility is stated back in chapter 6 when Jesus sent the disciples out to teach and heal. They could and did, but now, we see no word from the Lord that they should be about this particular work. Remember that Jesus, Peter, James and John had been up on the mountain, and the others had been left behind in the valley, and it was the crowd that approached them. There was no command from Jesus to do this work, and when we strike out on our own, without the sending and enjoining of the Spirit, we have no authority. Prayer is the only way that we can know God’s will for our lives.

Prayer, in faith, before all things - prayer before mission; prayer before ministry; prayer before study; prayer before counseling; prayer before worship - Prayer before everything! Why? Because prayer is our only basis for knowing and surrendering to God’s will, and in faith, we are able to live and keep God’s will. And when the door to serving and healing and teaching seems to be shut tight, then pray again and find out why.
Faith is trusting God to the degree that we know for certain that Jesus’ words are trustworthy and true – “Everything is possible for him who believes.” Faith in Christ. Faith in the Father. Faith in the Holy Spirit. And the rock solid belief that whatever is asked in Jesus’ Name, which means to have faith in his name, will be granted.

The absolute necessity of faith – one more lesson that Jesus teaches us on his journey to Jerusalem. Have we grasped it yet? Have we claimed it yet? Are we headed in the same direction that Jesus is?