Well here we are. A time and a place none of us wants to be, celebrating and remembering a wonderful woman that everyone of us wishes was alive and healthy. A person that I would dare say every single one of us gathered here and countless others prayed for a miracle and prayed for a cure. But we didn’t get the answer we wanted. We got healing but not a cure. What do I mean by that?
Dr. Carl Hammerschlag-“Healing is having the courage to see ourselves just as we are, and to find a way to come to every day with anticipation and joy.” That’s what Laura did, she lived every day with anticipation and joy.
We prayed for a cure, but God brought healing. And we did get a miracle, just not the one we wanted. Laura lived a year with almost no side effects. She took some of the most intense treatments available and there were only a few days she missed because of sickness. Doctors were always commenting-you shouldn’t be feeling this good. She was a miracle.
As I knew Laura and heard so many people share their memories of her people would mention different scriptures. I mean as I read these doesn’t a memory or a vision of Laura come to mind?
*Philippians 4: 4
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
*Hebrews 10: 23
23 Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.
Isaiah 41: 10
10 So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
2 Corinthians 1: 21-22
21 Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, 22 set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.
Philippians 4:13
13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
And did she not live out faithfully the greatest commandment?
30 Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’[
I could go on and on…literally, but as much as I tried to find another scripture one passage kept coming up in my mind. Every story that was shared would remind me of another element of this particular passage-I didn’t want to use it, but some things just can’t be ignored. And is there a better model for a woman of God to strive for than Proverbs 31?
Proverbs 31
10 A wife of noble character who can find?
She is worth far more than rubies.
Laura was truly a blessing and worth far more than rubies.
Her grandfather knew it too and when Laura started dating Peter her grandfather did some checking into the Jensen’s. He wanted to make sure Peter was ok for Laura to date. He called a lawyer friend-Mr. Bass, who just happened to be good friends with the Jensen’s. So in kind the Jensen’s checked up on Laura’s family. I guess everybody checked out ok.
Another story about her character was the first time she met Peter’s parents. They went to a steakhouse. Peter’s dad wanted to check her out in his own way being a cattleman. Laura ordered her steak Med rare-passed test #1; steaksauce? Nope just the steak-passed #2-she was a keeper
But Peter had to work at it. They met on a Blind date for a sorority party-first had to go to Putt putt. He got to go and he in turn took her to his fraternity party soon after.
As they began to hang out, Laura actually had a boyfriend still-he would drop her off at the front door and Peter would pick her up at the back door. She would tell Peter what time her boyfriend would be dropping her off. He liked to take her for coke dates to Guthrie and Perkins because they would be in the car a long time.
And like I said, Peter had to work at it, she dumped Peter over the summer because her old boyfriend had a lake house at Grand Lake. But the summer ended and she realized that Peter was the one for her.
11 Her husband has full confidence in her
and lacks nothing of value.
12 She brings him good, not harm,
all the days of her life.
It was no secret, how much Laura loved Peter. Except maybe the time she had a fever and Peter took her in to the hospital. She told one of her friends who came by to see her-don’t say one nice thing about Peter.
She did enjoy traveling with her family: Disney World, Padre Island, cruises, and of course camping. And not just RV camping, but primitive tent camping as in hole in the ground, no running water camping. She even wanted to do that for their anniversaries.
Laura always made time for family-OSU and the lake and never over committed herself. Everything she did revolved around 2 things-God and her family.
14 She is like the merchant ships,
bringing her food from afar.
15 She gets up while it is still night;
she provides food for her family.
If you were fortunate enough you had the opportunity to experience Laura’s cooking. I count myself among those lucky enough. When her sister-in law asked her the secret she said a whole stick of butter makes every recipe good.
I’ve heard she was known for her Potato Leak Soup.
Some of the family favorites were Italian dishes: sausage spaghetti, Stromboli, and lasagna and of course fried chicken when they went to the lake
Favorite deserts were bread pudding; cheese cake; cakes every week
I’m still upset with Jami for getting that chocolate cheesecake at the auction. It looked amazing. When I asked Laura if it was any good she said I don’t know, it’s my first time to make it.
Cooking was her therapy as she called it, and she had a weakness for one particular kind of food. Loved fair food-Jack 2 weeks old
17 She sets about her work vigorously;
her arms are strong for her tasks.
18 She sees that her trading is profitable,
and her lamp does not go out at night.
We all know Laura was tough, but it seems she’s always been tough.
She was 22 when she & Peter got married
Moved from Tulsa where she grew up laying out at the Country Club-drinking lemon waters by the pool every day in high school
From that to El Reno to be a rancher’s wife where she didn’t know anyone. And she would take the other women under her wing when they came into the family.
25 She is clothed with strength and dignity;
she can laugh at the days to come.
Laura was known as being warm, hospitable and extremely personable. She was described as Jesus’ love is bubbling over. Which is interesting because that was one of the things she prayed for-that the Holy Spirit would overflow from her onto others around her.
She never met anyone she couldn’t like-unless she was in the hospital and then she met lots of people she had a really hard time liking:
It was no secret how much she hated being in the hospital.
We remember when she pulled the covers over head and called one doctor the devil.
Or the Truck driver nurse who asked are you getting your yearly exams? To which Laura responded-Well no.
Something else Laura did not like was surprises
16 surprise party she was so upset she went in the other room
I think that there was even a subconscious part of her that would not allow others to be surprised. Pregnant with Jack-her dad wanted to be surprised of the gender-went to Tulsa for a visit when she was about 6 mos pregnant-“want to feel your grandson kicking?” “Oh I’m so sorry.”
26 She speaks with wisdom,
and faithful instruction is on her tongue.
Her church was important-loved FCC-she had found a home-and built her love for God into her own home.
She was a natural teacher-Sunday School and women’s bible studies
Grew fast spiritually-always doing bible studies-as Elizabeth pointed out she did them early in the morning-730am
I know that lots of people will miss her amazing advice. Whether it was telling Steve to ask Ellen out, telling her sister-in-law to throw away those baby books and listen to what Dr. Laura Jensen says, or helping her friends, Laura gave a lot of advice to people. I haven’t met anyone yet that she didn’t impart some wisdom too. Seriously, someone will share a story, and then say you know what she told me?
Mostly the stories seem to revolve around parenting and being married. And she was a good role model for both.
Naturally gifted for parenting-she had an openness and understanding
Gave some of the same advice that her grandmother gave her-you may hate your husband for 1-2 years, but stay with him. Laura shared this story with me that a long time ago her and Peter were fighting a lot and she said we’re not getting divorced and Peter said I know. Then why are we fighting? And from then on everything was ok.
When her sister-in-law called her and said that her husband was feeding the baby all wrong-let him do it and don’t say a word, the same with changing a diaper-he’s not going to kill the baby, if you get onto him he’ll never do it again.
27 She watches over the affairs of her household
and does not eat the bread of idleness.
She was a great decorator and everyone knew it was Laura’s house. Even the nephews and nieces referred to it as Aunt Laura’s house-Peter was the sidekick.
She kept things in order. She did her “once over “ cleaning up the house every day before Peter got home-put on lipstick-she didn’t want Peter to stress
28 Her children arise and call her blessed;
Good mother
Stern with her kids-expectations are high I think because she remembered how she was when she was younger-her dad shared a story with me
14 or 15 years old she would sneak out her father’s sports car-RX-7
Ride around while she was watching her sister
Never got caught in fact she just confessed about a year ago-I heard the look on her dad’s face was priceless
But her kids know how much she loved them:
Sack lunches for Jack every day from 7th-9th grades often bringing him hot lunches to school
Purred vegetables for Elizabeth so she would eat them
If I had to guess I bet the only reason she was the lunch lady at Sacred Heart was for her children. It’s funny too I heard that the lunch count went way up while she worked there-teachers, and even the priest and other church employees would come and eat.
Peter shared her journal with me-there’s just a few entries and her #1 worry was not her, but Peter, Jack, and Elizabeth. She was worried about you all. If you haven’t read it-there’s a page in there for you 3-March 22-when you are ready.
her husband also, and he praises her:
29 “Many women do noble things,
but you surpass them all.”
30 Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.
31 Honor her for all that her hands have done,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
You know we always talk about how we would live life differently if we knew we only had a short time to live. We talk about the trips we would take and the way we would live life differently. But Laura lived this last year just like every year before that…loving God and loving family.
And there is no doubt for me as to where Laura will spend eternity-in heaven with her heavenly father.
Laura didn’t want to be defined by cancer or the focus to be on her or the cancer. Her prayer is that people would see God in her. I know I did. I saw it in her love for God and the way her life exemplified scripture.
And her love for God and love for family is what I will remember and cherish from her life.
I thought I would finish up with words from Laura’s journal she wrote in March.
“I’m not sure because I tried not to hear, but I think I should be dead by now. I can tell you I don’t feel dead-I have never felt more alive really.
I just read Eph 1-“When I believed I was marked in him with a seal.”
Signed Sealed Delivered I’m Yours-those song lyrics just popped into my mind. I am God’s possession to the praise of his glory. I am his and he will not carelessly cast me off like an old pair of shoes. He is everything Good, true, and right that we are not. He will take better care of me than anyone here on earth. I am so thankful for all of the blessings I have.
Friday, June 3, 2011
Storms of Life
May 29
What's So Peaceful About a River?
Excerpts taken from articles on Relevant.com
Intro
Due to recent events I thought we might take a break from our Resurrection Stories Series. We will start back up next week with Derek Holland sharing his Resurrection story.
Because of the impact of the storms in Joplin and in Oklahoma over the last week and a half we thought maybe we should talk a little about the “storms” of life and their impact on our faith. As I reflected on the recent events I had several observations:
1) Having a church home is important for lots of reasons-when people ask why should I go to church?-the response from church families this week is a great answer to that question. I can’t tell you how many calls we have gotten from church members and church organizations with offers to help.
And during the storms of life it’s also a place to be honest.
Church isn’t meant to be people who mask our brokenness with good acts. Church isn't meant to be about perfect people but about confessed people. We should be able to say these things, our secrets, our sins, our mistakes, our frustrations, and receive love and acceptance from Jesus (and church people) when we do.
Think for a moment about Jesus. About all of the confessions, secrets, mistakes and hopes He must have heard. Think for a moment of the woman caught in adultery who Jesus met from John 8:2-11. She was about to be stoned for sleeping with a man who was not her husband. Into the fray came Jesus. He came to not only save the woman from her sin but to save all the men holding stones from their hypocritical lives. Jesus came with love, tenderness and tact. He did not scream and shout – He quieted them with His love.
2) Importance of who suffers with us-Jesus Will Let You Suffer
John 11: 33-35
"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 'Where have you laid him?' he asked. 'Come and see, Lord,' they replied. Jesus wept."
Ever since the apple incident, we are born into a state of sin, a state of living in opposition to God, a state of making decisions that can cause suffering. Remember, none of this was God's original design. He created a peaceful, perfect world. We were the ones who tainted it with our desire for independence. Remember, as Shana pointed out 2 weeks ago, nowhere in the Bible does it say “everything happens for a reason.”
Suffering becomes inevitable in a world where imperfect people aren't robots. And while I don't pretend to know the answer for every evil under the sun, I do know that God sees our suffering.
Jesus wept.
There is no suffering in which Jesus will not walk and weep with you. There is no hurt the power of God can't bring new life to. In the proper time Jesus will make His way to your tomb, roll the stone away, and bring life to the dead. And the tears formed from mourning and doubt will flow with joy and gratitude.
3) At times like these it causes us to evaluate what is really important.
When we were heading for our neighbor’s shelter as the tornado sirens were going off, I was only concerned for the safety of Shana and Max. And as I looked back at the house I thought of only a handful of things I would want if our house was destroyed-nothing of real value-all sentimental items-jewelry that belonged to my mom, pictures, scrapbooks... We have a house full of stuff and what I was most concerned about I could carry in one load.
Everywhere we go these days, big is in. My combo meal is super-sized, SUV’s have a third row, and the TV of my dreams is 62-inch plasma. We Americans are big eaters, big spenders, and big wasters. Even our churches are into big, owning big malls and even bigger coliseums in order to accommodate big crowds and enable big growth. Like the population at large, we Christians seem to have a growing acceptance of the saying “bigger is better”.
But all this growth might be creating some big problems.
Our society and our systems seem unable to handle the never-ceasing expansion of want and need. Our souls are groaning and the planet is buckling beneath the collateral damage of growth. Landfills are full, the air is thick, and we cannot drink from many of our streams.
In light of our growing problems, maybe we and the church should give small a chance. So maybe we should start moving toward living lives that are less hectic, less cluttered, less selfish, and less toxic. And maybe instead of a big ad campaign advertising "LESS!" we should start living with less ourselves. Instead of me shouting from the pulpit, maybe some small, personal choices would help slow down the growth, bring some sanity to our lives, and make the world more livable.
Give less a chance.
4) The importance of peace
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 TNIV
What kind of peace is this? The world has a definition of peace-no war, or like in our household with Max-keeping the peace-no conflict. Some might argue peace is the assurance or control we feel over our lives. But if Christ came to give us peace in that sense, why do we fear for our lives, health, finances and security?
In a moment we’ll sing “Peace like a river.” I like that the writer of the hymn used that word to describe the peace we have in Christ. After all, what's peaceful about rivers? This isn't a creek trickling through the land I grew up on. Imagine rafting through the Colorado as it cuts through the Grand Canyon or remember the mighty Mississippi and all the lives that she's claimed. These are unpredictable waters that destroy homes with floods and take lives with their undercurrents; there is nothing peaceful about a river.
So why would the writer use such an ironic metaphor? Maybe the writer understood that this life and this walk with Christ would be filled with painful, unpredictable and sometimes crushing experiences and maybe it is in this truth that they wrote those words.
I do not think that Jesus came to give us peace in the world's terms. No, instead I think Jesus came to give us something totally different; an inward peace – a hope in a promise of restoration. And that is something to sing about.
Conclusion
So, after a week like this, as the storms of life blow, may we reflect on what really matters, remember the importance of a church family, know that Jesus suffers with us, and that no matter what happens we can find peace in God.
What's So Peaceful About a River?
Excerpts taken from articles on Relevant.com
Intro
Due to recent events I thought we might take a break from our Resurrection Stories Series. We will start back up next week with Derek Holland sharing his Resurrection story.
Because of the impact of the storms in Joplin and in Oklahoma over the last week and a half we thought maybe we should talk a little about the “storms” of life and their impact on our faith. As I reflected on the recent events I had several observations:
1) Having a church home is important for lots of reasons-when people ask why should I go to church?-the response from church families this week is a great answer to that question. I can’t tell you how many calls we have gotten from church members and church organizations with offers to help.
And during the storms of life it’s also a place to be honest.
Church isn’t meant to be people who mask our brokenness with good acts. Church isn't meant to be about perfect people but about confessed people. We should be able to say these things, our secrets, our sins, our mistakes, our frustrations, and receive love and acceptance from Jesus (and church people) when we do.
Think for a moment about Jesus. About all of the confessions, secrets, mistakes and hopes He must have heard. Think for a moment of the woman caught in adultery who Jesus met from John 8:2-11. She was about to be stoned for sleeping with a man who was not her husband. Into the fray came Jesus. He came to not only save the woman from her sin but to save all the men holding stones from their hypocritical lives. Jesus came with love, tenderness and tact. He did not scream and shout – He quieted them with His love.
2) Importance of who suffers with us-Jesus Will Let You Suffer
John 11: 33-35
"When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 'Where have you laid him?' he asked. 'Come and see, Lord,' they replied. Jesus wept."
Ever since the apple incident, we are born into a state of sin, a state of living in opposition to God, a state of making decisions that can cause suffering. Remember, none of this was God's original design. He created a peaceful, perfect world. We were the ones who tainted it with our desire for independence. Remember, as Shana pointed out 2 weeks ago, nowhere in the Bible does it say “everything happens for a reason.”
Suffering becomes inevitable in a world where imperfect people aren't robots. And while I don't pretend to know the answer for every evil under the sun, I do know that God sees our suffering.
Jesus wept.
There is no suffering in which Jesus will not walk and weep with you. There is no hurt the power of God can't bring new life to. In the proper time Jesus will make His way to your tomb, roll the stone away, and bring life to the dead. And the tears formed from mourning and doubt will flow with joy and gratitude.
3) At times like these it causes us to evaluate what is really important.
When we were heading for our neighbor’s shelter as the tornado sirens were going off, I was only concerned for the safety of Shana and Max. And as I looked back at the house I thought of only a handful of things I would want if our house was destroyed-nothing of real value-all sentimental items-jewelry that belonged to my mom, pictures, scrapbooks... We have a house full of stuff and what I was most concerned about I could carry in one load.
Everywhere we go these days, big is in. My combo meal is super-sized, SUV’s have a third row, and the TV of my dreams is 62-inch plasma. We Americans are big eaters, big spenders, and big wasters. Even our churches are into big, owning big malls and even bigger coliseums in order to accommodate big crowds and enable big growth. Like the population at large, we Christians seem to have a growing acceptance of the saying “bigger is better”.
But all this growth might be creating some big problems.
Our society and our systems seem unable to handle the never-ceasing expansion of want and need. Our souls are groaning and the planet is buckling beneath the collateral damage of growth. Landfills are full, the air is thick, and we cannot drink from many of our streams.
In light of our growing problems, maybe we and the church should give small a chance. So maybe we should start moving toward living lives that are less hectic, less cluttered, less selfish, and less toxic. And maybe instead of a big ad campaign advertising "LESS!" we should start living with less ourselves. Instead of me shouting from the pulpit, maybe some small, personal choices would help slow down the growth, bring some sanity to our lives, and make the world more livable.
Give less a chance.
4) The importance of peace
"And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7 TNIV
What kind of peace is this? The world has a definition of peace-no war, or like in our household with Max-keeping the peace-no conflict. Some might argue peace is the assurance or control we feel over our lives. But if Christ came to give us peace in that sense, why do we fear for our lives, health, finances and security?
In a moment we’ll sing “Peace like a river.” I like that the writer of the hymn used that word to describe the peace we have in Christ. After all, what's peaceful about rivers? This isn't a creek trickling through the land I grew up on. Imagine rafting through the Colorado as it cuts through the Grand Canyon or remember the mighty Mississippi and all the lives that she's claimed. These are unpredictable waters that destroy homes with floods and take lives with their undercurrents; there is nothing peaceful about a river.
So why would the writer use such an ironic metaphor? Maybe the writer understood that this life and this walk with Christ would be filled with painful, unpredictable and sometimes crushing experiences and maybe it is in this truth that they wrote those words.
I do not think that Jesus came to give us peace in the world's terms. No, instead I think Jesus came to give us something totally different; an inward peace – a hope in a promise of restoration. And that is something to sing about.
Conclusion
So, after a week like this, as the storms of life blow, may we reflect on what really matters, remember the importance of a church family, know that Jesus suffers with us, and that no matter what happens we can find peace in God.
Resurrection - mother's day
May 8
Mother’s Day
Resurrection Stories
Exodus 2: 1-10
Intro
Here we are week #2 of Resurrection Stories. Again I want to address the question-Why are we doing this series? Is it to elevate certain people up, show them off, exploit them, nope. Sharing Resurrection stories or testimonies, as some people call them, is something that has been done for thousands of years. These stories are meant to inspire, to encourage, to help all of us in our walks with God.
On Easter we ended with our responsibility to tell the story of Jesus’ resurrection-the greatest story ever. And we recognize that there are other stories of ongoing resurrection, stories of continued faithfulness, stories of people encountering the risen Christ, those times when our faith is real, God is real, those times we remember that God is here.
We recognize that Resurrection continues to happen every day.
This morning we are going to share in a resurrection story of parenthood through the faith and life of Deangelo and Lynette Jenkins. But first let’s take a look at our scripture.
Exodus 2: 1-10
The Birth of Moses
1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
And now Deangelo and Lynette’s story:
Deangelo-high school student in our youth ministry and now teaches for Head Start.
Lynette worked in our nursery for over 3 years and also teaches at Head Start.
They have been married almost 7 years
As with most couples they wanted to have children but soon discovered they were unable.
Invitro was too much and so they waited and prayed.
In 2007 they decided to do Foster Care-
1st child in November-Kaylea
Told themselves early on that they didn’t want any contact with birth family-so who do you think was there when they went to pick up Kaylea? The Mother and grandmother
The DHS worker wasn’t there yet-2 hrs late-can you say awkward?
God works in mysterious ways though because it ended up being a blessing-built a bond with the family
And that experience was a good starting point as Kaylea was with them from Nov-March
They said this, “Even though we knew she was going back it was still hard. We were supportive of the mom and encouraged her to fulfill her obligations so she could get Kaylea back. But still part of us that wanted to be able to keep Kaylea.”
When DHS called with the 2nd child, Isaac, they asked if they would have a chance to keep him. Kaylea was so hard to give up. Isaac had several broken bones, and so DHS told Deangelo and Lynette they were working to terminate family rights and he would be going up for adoption.
After a few weeks they were told that the rights were terminated and asked if they wanted to adopt him-yes of course-next week received a call that they were picking him up and going to give Isaac over to his grandparents.
They worked really hard with Isaac to bring him along developmentally as he was really behind his normal milestones and after they took Isaac they closed their house off to foster kids.
Then Deangelo and Lynette shared this:
After we lost him-asked Why?
They went back to the doctor for more testing and still nothing.
And then everyone who asks makes it worse. Well meaning people, but it’s still hard.
Still questioning-Why? It’s not fair. We don’t understand. Why are these kids getting pregnant who can’t take care of babies? You watch the news and people are killing or abusing their children.
But God has a different path for each of us. It’s easy to understand now because we can see God working.
As time passed, other people approached Deangelo and Lynette who wanted to give up their baby for adoption-get hopes up. They would decide to keep it or have it terminated.
And so they began to ask God, “What are we supposed to do? Keep trying? Foster/adoption?”
And then Lynette shared this…
19: 55-20:20-Why take it out of God’s hands when there are millions of kids who need homes.
So in October they decided to enter into foster care.
Friday DHS, 3:45 had to call another lady and by that time it was 5pm on Friday-God thing
Hadn’t talked to Deangelo, next week got the paper work, turned it in, then did the home study, and then there was a problem with Deangelo’s fingerprints-which is another God thing.
The guy working there Deangelo knew in high school and went to church with so he took care of them.
They ended up with Tabitha-which is another God story-the mom was a neighbor of a church member for a number of years. Deangelo and Lanette were highly recommended, but still wanted to know more about them. As they were visiting this lady mentioned the name of a church member. She goes to church with us. And it really helped the mom feel comfortable giving the child to them. Other interesting coincidences-Her case was a foster case and not an adoption case-“if we didn’t know Marsha, it never would have happened, if they hadn’t started when they did wouldn’t have been ready,
And they have been blessed to be a part of Isabelle’s life pretty much since day 1.
Isn’t that a beautiful resurrection story?
Now back to the scripture-Why this scripture? I think there is some parallels…
If you love something, sometimes you have to let it go. Deangelo and Lynette had and still have a vision of having their own children, but in some respects they had to let go of that and embrace a new plan.
Secondly, there’s some evidence that Pharaoh’s daughter was unable to have children and thus would have considered Moses a gift from God. Isabelle truly is a gift from God in the lives of Deangelo and Lynette.
Finally, these are both beautiful stories about God’s love and protection. In both stories the mother was no longer able to care for the child to keep it safe. But someone else was able to care for and protect the child. Everyone was open and trusting to God’s plan, although not always easy.
What do we learn?
Prepared:
37:00-
Through it all they never lost faith-got frustrated-never lost faith
And to finish off I want to share with you their answers to the question of what you might want to share with mom’s, since it is Mother’s Day.
Don’t stress out about it.
Don’t lose your faith.
There’s a plan-might not be the plan you wanted
You don’t understand-but there’s a plan-you might not know it.
Beautiful stories of resurrection.
Mother’s Day
Resurrection Stories
Exodus 2: 1-10
Intro
Here we are week #2 of Resurrection Stories. Again I want to address the question-Why are we doing this series? Is it to elevate certain people up, show them off, exploit them, nope. Sharing Resurrection stories or testimonies, as some people call them, is something that has been done for thousands of years. These stories are meant to inspire, to encourage, to help all of us in our walks with God.
On Easter we ended with our responsibility to tell the story of Jesus’ resurrection-the greatest story ever. And we recognize that there are other stories of ongoing resurrection, stories of continued faithfulness, stories of people encountering the risen Christ, those times when our faith is real, God is real, those times we remember that God is here.
We recognize that Resurrection continues to happen every day.
This morning we are going to share in a resurrection story of parenthood through the faith and life of Deangelo and Lynette Jenkins. But first let’s take a look at our scripture.
Exodus 2: 1-10
The Birth of Moses
1 Now a man of the tribe of Levi married a Levite woman, 2 and she became pregnant and gave birth to a son. When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months. 3 But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile. 4 His sister stood at a distance to see what would happen to him.
5 Then Pharaoh’s daughter went down to the Nile to bathe, and her attendants were walking along the riverbank. She saw the basket among the reeds and sent her female slave to get it. 6 She opened it and saw the baby. He was crying, and she felt sorry for him. “This is one of the Hebrew babies,” she said.
7 Then his sister asked Pharaoh’s daughter, “Shall I go and get one of the Hebrew women to nurse the baby for you?”
8 “Yes, go,” she answered. So the girl went and got the baby’s mother. 9 Pharaoh’s daughter said to her, “Take this baby and nurse him for me, and I will pay you.” So the woman took the baby and nursed him. 10 When the child grew older, she took him to Pharaoh’s daughter and he became her son. She named him Moses, saying, “I drew him out of the water.”
And now Deangelo and Lynette’s story:
Deangelo-high school student in our youth ministry and now teaches for Head Start.
Lynette worked in our nursery for over 3 years and also teaches at Head Start.
They have been married almost 7 years
As with most couples they wanted to have children but soon discovered they were unable.
Invitro was too much and so they waited and prayed.
In 2007 they decided to do Foster Care-
1st child in November-Kaylea
Told themselves early on that they didn’t want any contact with birth family-so who do you think was there when they went to pick up Kaylea? The Mother and grandmother
The DHS worker wasn’t there yet-2 hrs late-can you say awkward?
God works in mysterious ways though because it ended up being a blessing-built a bond with the family
And that experience was a good starting point as Kaylea was with them from Nov-March
They said this, “Even though we knew she was going back it was still hard. We were supportive of the mom and encouraged her to fulfill her obligations so she could get Kaylea back. But still part of us that wanted to be able to keep Kaylea.”
When DHS called with the 2nd child, Isaac, they asked if they would have a chance to keep him. Kaylea was so hard to give up. Isaac had several broken bones, and so DHS told Deangelo and Lynette they were working to terminate family rights and he would be going up for adoption.
After a few weeks they were told that the rights were terminated and asked if they wanted to adopt him-yes of course-next week received a call that they were picking him up and going to give Isaac over to his grandparents.
They worked really hard with Isaac to bring him along developmentally as he was really behind his normal milestones and after they took Isaac they closed their house off to foster kids.
Then Deangelo and Lynette shared this:
After we lost him-asked Why?
They went back to the doctor for more testing and still nothing.
And then everyone who asks makes it worse. Well meaning people, but it’s still hard.
Still questioning-Why? It’s not fair. We don’t understand. Why are these kids getting pregnant who can’t take care of babies? You watch the news and people are killing or abusing their children.
But God has a different path for each of us. It’s easy to understand now because we can see God working.
As time passed, other people approached Deangelo and Lynette who wanted to give up their baby for adoption-get hopes up. They would decide to keep it or have it terminated.
And so they began to ask God, “What are we supposed to do? Keep trying? Foster/adoption?”
And then Lynette shared this…
19: 55-20:20-Why take it out of God’s hands when there are millions of kids who need homes.
So in October they decided to enter into foster care.
Friday DHS, 3:45 had to call another lady and by that time it was 5pm on Friday-God thing
Hadn’t talked to Deangelo, next week got the paper work, turned it in, then did the home study, and then there was a problem with Deangelo’s fingerprints-which is another God thing.
The guy working there Deangelo knew in high school and went to church with so he took care of them.
They ended up with Tabitha-which is another God story-the mom was a neighbor of a church member for a number of years. Deangelo and Lanette were highly recommended, but still wanted to know more about them. As they were visiting this lady mentioned the name of a church member. She goes to church with us. And it really helped the mom feel comfortable giving the child to them. Other interesting coincidences-Her case was a foster case and not an adoption case-“if we didn’t know Marsha, it never would have happened, if they hadn’t started when they did wouldn’t have been ready,
And they have been blessed to be a part of Isabelle’s life pretty much since day 1.
Isn’t that a beautiful resurrection story?
Now back to the scripture-Why this scripture? I think there is some parallels…
If you love something, sometimes you have to let it go. Deangelo and Lynette had and still have a vision of having their own children, but in some respects they had to let go of that and embrace a new plan.
Secondly, there’s some evidence that Pharaoh’s daughter was unable to have children and thus would have considered Moses a gift from God. Isabelle truly is a gift from God in the lives of Deangelo and Lynette.
Finally, these are both beautiful stories about God’s love and protection. In both stories the mother was no longer able to care for the child to keep it safe. But someone else was able to care for and protect the child. Everyone was open and trusting to God’s plan, although not always easy.
What do we learn?
Prepared:
37:00-
Through it all they never lost faith-got frustrated-never lost faith
And to finish off I want to share with you their answers to the question of what you might want to share with mom’s, since it is Mother’s Day.
Don’t stress out about it.
Don’t lose your faith.
There’s a plan-might not be the plan you wanted
You don’t understand-but there’s a plan-you might not know it.
Beautiful stories of resurrection.
Resurrection Stories - post Easter
Last week-ended with our responsibility to tell the story of Jesus’ resurrection-the greatest story ever. But there are other stories that are a close second-stories of ongoing resurrection, stories of continued faithfulness, stories of people encountering the risen Christ, those times when our faith is real and we know it’s not just smoke and mirrors or the mind of the weak, but God is real, God is here.
We recognize that Resurrection continues to happen
Continue to come to church
Mending our brokenness
Because we know there’s something more
This morning I want to share a resurrection story of lifelong members Bill & June Hutson. But first let’s take a look at our scripture.
John 21: 15-19
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
We are all extremely familiar with this story. We have heard it preached countless times, I myself have preached on this text just a year ago. And this is a great story.
We like this story, this story resonates within us-why? Because it’s about restoration and resurrection. Jesus resurrects a dead disciple. That’s one of the many things that Jesus does for us-restores us when we have fallen away, denied him, ignored him.
We commit ourselves and fall short and we need renewing again. And we want to be like Peter in that once he is restored he is never the same. Peter follows Jesus passionately until his death. In fact, tradition has it that Peter was crucified upside-down, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same position as his Lord.
But today I bring a different spin on this story.
Who is not the focus of this story? Who does Jesus not restore? Why not? Because they haven’t denied Jesus, so there’s no need for restoration. Some never fell away and are faithful, constant, steady, dependable Disciples.
Resurrection doesn’t happen once every so often, but it happens for us every day. We live in a constant awareness of resurrection. That’s the resurrection story I want to share with you today, through the story of Bill & June.
And this is a definite reality for them. In Bill’s own words…(video)
35: 20- 35: 30 For some reason I just never felt like he wasn’t there all the time.
Resurrection is very real. And to understand just how much of an impact God has had, I want to share some of their background story. Everyone has a story.
June-Father committed suicide at 11, mother died 2 ½ years later, moved in with her mother’s sister-not treated well and the court awarded guardianship to Bill Hutson’s parents. They later married after Bill got out of the service and now have 2 children and lost one child in still birth
Bill-normal childhood and ran a service station for 25 years.
They actually met at church and continued to serve the church actively until their health prevented further service just 3 years ago.
As we sat and visited, I asked them why they were so active and they said “We went because we wanted to. Being around the people that we loved so much.” Seeing so many people that…loved them and the Hutson’s loved them right back.
Church is at its best when it’s caring for each other. We see it because of people like Bonnie, the Snyders, if they’re cooking at the church we usually get some of it. We did it in our time and now people are doing it for us.
Our church has always been about family. We’re not perfect, but we definitely try.
June acknowledges how difficult the last few years have been-“it does seem strange to not be involved with the church. I just can’t think of not being involved in the church-I can’t imagine.”
Even their history with the church has its interesting points. Bill is probably the youngest board chair-early 20’s, a young elder, served through a church split and a minister being asked to leave-both very taxing ordeals to lead through. Those things have sucked the spiritual life right out of people, but not them.
Swimming parties, meals, mobile meals, CWF-family dinners, funeral services, every committee, made funeral calls, visitations, evangelism calls, and have always had strong relationships with the ministers
That’s a lot, so I asked, what kept you going?
11:00-12: 10-lady dying-died the next day…little things like that…serving communion…hold him up…such things as that…this is what kept me there.
I finished off asking them what they hoped for the future of the church…
Wishes the spirit of giving would continue. Back then we fought it all the time. The church didn’t do a lot of outside giving back in my day.
For the love to continue within the church like they have experienced. And another hope is that people would feel the love that they felt through LOGOS. We need to realize you get out what you put in.
Conclusion
Why do I tell this story? To brag on the Hutsons? To lift them up above the rest of the faithful? No. To simply share their story of how important their faith has been, how important this church has been, and hopefully to inspire and motivate all of us.
They are willing to share their stories of resurrection, those times when their faith is real, for the good of the body, to spur others towards a deeper disicpleship. Are you willing to share? What’s your resurrection story? Won’t you share it so that others might also find inspiration and motivation in your story as well?
We recognize that Resurrection continues to happen
Continue to come to church
Mending our brokenness
Because we know there’s something more
This morning I want to share a resurrection story of lifelong members Bill & June Hutson. But first let’s take a look at our scripture.
John 21: 15-19
15 When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”
“Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”
16 Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”
17 The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. 18 Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”
19 Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”
We are all extremely familiar with this story. We have heard it preached countless times, I myself have preached on this text just a year ago. And this is a great story.
We like this story, this story resonates within us-why? Because it’s about restoration and resurrection. Jesus resurrects a dead disciple. That’s one of the many things that Jesus does for us-restores us when we have fallen away, denied him, ignored him.
We commit ourselves and fall short and we need renewing again. And we want to be like Peter in that once he is restored he is never the same. Peter follows Jesus passionately until his death. In fact, tradition has it that Peter was crucified upside-down, because he said he was unworthy to be crucified in the same position as his Lord.
But today I bring a different spin on this story.
Who is not the focus of this story? Who does Jesus not restore? Why not? Because they haven’t denied Jesus, so there’s no need for restoration. Some never fell away and are faithful, constant, steady, dependable Disciples.
Resurrection doesn’t happen once every so often, but it happens for us every day. We live in a constant awareness of resurrection. That’s the resurrection story I want to share with you today, through the story of Bill & June.
And this is a definite reality for them. In Bill’s own words…(video)
35: 20- 35: 30 For some reason I just never felt like he wasn’t there all the time.
Resurrection is very real. And to understand just how much of an impact God has had, I want to share some of their background story. Everyone has a story.
June-Father committed suicide at 11, mother died 2 ½ years later, moved in with her mother’s sister-not treated well and the court awarded guardianship to Bill Hutson’s parents. They later married after Bill got out of the service and now have 2 children and lost one child in still birth
Bill-normal childhood and ran a service station for 25 years.
They actually met at church and continued to serve the church actively until their health prevented further service just 3 years ago.
As we sat and visited, I asked them why they were so active and they said “We went because we wanted to. Being around the people that we loved so much.” Seeing so many people that…loved them and the Hutson’s loved them right back.
Church is at its best when it’s caring for each other. We see it because of people like Bonnie, the Snyders, if they’re cooking at the church we usually get some of it. We did it in our time and now people are doing it for us.
Our church has always been about family. We’re not perfect, but we definitely try.
June acknowledges how difficult the last few years have been-“it does seem strange to not be involved with the church. I just can’t think of not being involved in the church-I can’t imagine.”
Even their history with the church has its interesting points. Bill is probably the youngest board chair-early 20’s, a young elder, served through a church split and a minister being asked to leave-both very taxing ordeals to lead through. Those things have sucked the spiritual life right out of people, but not them.
Swimming parties, meals, mobile meals, CWF-family dinners, funeral services, every committee, made funeral calls, visitations, evangelism calls, and have always had strong relationships with the ministers
That’s a lot, so I asked, what kept you going?
11:00-12: 10-lady dying-died the next day…little things like that…serving communion…hold him up…such things as that…this is what kept me there.
I finished off asking them what they hoped for the future of the church…
Wishes the spirit of giving would continue. Back then we fought it all the time. The church didn’t do a lot of outside giving back in my day.
For the love to continue within the church like they have experienced. And another hope is that people would feel the love that they felt through LOGOS. We need to realize you get out what you put in.
Conclusion
Why do I tell this story? To brag on the Hutsons? To lift them up above the rest of the faithful? No. To simply share their story of how important their faith has been, how important this church has been, and hopefully to inspire and motivate all of us.
They are willing to share their stories of resurrection, those times when their faith is real, for the good of the body, to spur others towards a deeper disicpleship. Are you willing to share? What’s your resurrection story? Won’t you share it so that others might also find inspiration and motivation in your story as well?
Lent: Easter Sunday
April 24
Easter Sunday
Resurrection Sunday
When is the End of the story not the end?
Mark 16: 1-8
Intro
Again, I hope that this Lent season has helped you grow in your relationship with God. I hope that by going through each day you have a better understanding of the final week of Christ’s life and maybe even see more of his purpose and thus our purpose as His followers.
So, here we are. A long journey, but we made it. Let’s celebrate the greatest story ever told. But to know how great our story is, let’s take a look at some other great stories that have been told…(watch video). All great stories, but I hope we can all agree that the one we remember today, is far better than any of those.
As we look at the resurrection we’ll be looking at Mark’s gospel. And his gospel is an interesting one. As with most things in the Bible we tend to read all 4 gospels together in order to get the most complete picture. But today I want all of us to consider Mark as an independent gospel from the rest. Why?
Mark has a few unique characteristics:
Mark’s gospel records the shortest resurrection only 8 verses. Mark does not record an appearance of the risen Jesus. Appearance stories are found only in the other gospels. And Mark ends abruptly.
So let’s take a look.
Mark 16: 1-8
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
What does your Bible say after v. 8?
[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]
What does 9-20 talk about? Predominantly nothing that we would have a problem with, but there is a couple of things that are let’s just say are interesting.
How many of you are familiar with the churches that handle snakes? There are actually about 40 congregations in the US that practice this. Does anyone know where they get the idea they can handle snakes and drink poison and not be harmed? Mark 16: 9-20-specifically v. 17-18
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: drive out demons; speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all.”
Does that sound like Jesus?
So why was the extra ending added? What is wrong with ending at v. 8?
To figure this out, let’s dig a little deeper into the story.
How does Mark’s gospel end if we only read through v. 8?
Ends with the women too scared, the disciples having fled and no one is telling anyone about the resurrection.
Do you remember Mark’s overall theme? Jesus’ followers dissipate over time, then the disciples, then the women. But, the reader is along for the entire journey. Everyone else has fallen away. So who is left to tell the story?
We as the reader is all that is left to tell the story. No other gospel ends this way. And I believe Mark has the extra ending because earlier Christians didn’t like it-looks like a mistake. Maybe they were uncomfortable with the responsibility that was being placed on them to tell the story? Mark leaves the story open-ended.
Everyone in the narrative has failed, but the story is not over. He had not written ‘The End” but “To be continued.” If the story is to continue, the reader has a decision to make. Are you uncomfortable or scared to tell others that Jesus is alive, the tomb is empty?
Let’s ask this, are the gospels meant to be more historical or evangelical documents? The stories of witnessing and telling are persuasive so that you the reader will go and tell the story.
And what exactly are we responsible for? Telling the story. Telling the stories of how Jesus makes a difference for us day in and day out. Showing others that Jesus is alive. That Jesus lives is the greatest story ever told. Do you believe it?
The other part of Mark’s resurrection story tells us that Jesus is going ahead of us-which already anticipates the post-Easter reality. The risen Christ is already “out there” in the world, ahead of the disciples, ahead of us.
In other words we aren’t bringing people to Jesus, Jesus has already started working. We are here to help others realize that Jesus is alive. The tomb truly is empty. Our faith is more than to keep us from going to hell. It is meant to give us hope today and every day.
It’s meant to show us that even when we feel as though we have blown it, Jesus is there to restore. Who does Jesus tell the women to tell? Go and tell Peter-mentions his name specifically. Why? Good News-even though Peter denies he is restored and forgiven.
Remember the movie clips we saw earlier and all the other great books and movies that have been made, imagine if those stories had never been told. How incomplete would our lives be? How much more important is the resurrection story?
I’ll end with this. What does Easter mean to you? Does it need to be ended like the other gospels-nice and neat with no responsibility on us as Jesus’ followers? This idea that Jesus is doing all the work, so we don’t have to? Or do you realize the urgency for us to tell the story? We have to assume that no one else is telling the story-everyone else has fallen away. Will you tell the story?
In these next few weeks I am opening up the floor to those willing to share their stories of resurrection. Those times when you encountered the risen Christ, those times when you knew he was real.
If you have a testimony you would like to share, please let me know. Imagine what these next few weeks will be like if you come forward and tell your resurrection story. And just like in Mark’s gospel, everyone else is too scared to tell their story. So if you don’t, who will?
Easter Sunday
Resurrection Sunday
When is the End of the story not the end?
Mark 16: 1-8
Intro
Again, I hope that this Lent season has helped you grow in your relationship with God. I hope that by going through each day you have a better understanding of the final week of Christ’s life and maybe even see more of his purpose and thus our purpose as His followers.
So, here we are. A long journey, but we made it. Let’s celebrate the greatest story ever told. But to know how great our story is, let’s take a look at some other great stories that have been told…(watch video). All great stories, but I hope we can all agree that the one we remember today, is far better than any of those.
As we look at the resurrection we’ll be looking at Mark’s gospel. And his gospel is an interesting one. As with most things in the Bible we tend to read all 4 gospels together in order to get the most complete picture. But today I want all of us to consider Mark as an independent gospel from the rest. Why?
Mark has a few unique characteristics:
Mark’s gospel records the shortest resurrection only 8 verses. Mark does not record an appearance of the risen Jesus. Appearance stories are found only in the other gospels. And Mark ends abruptly.
So let’s take a look.
Mark 16: 1-8
1 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. 2 Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb 3 and they asked each other, “Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?”
4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
8 Trembling and bewildered, the women went out and fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
What does your Bible say after v. 8?
[The earliest manuscripts and some other ancient witnesses do not have verses 9–20.]
What does 9-20 talk about? Predominantly nothing that we would have a problem with, but there is a couple of things that are let’s just say are interesting.
How many of you are familiar with the churches that handle snakes? There are actually about 40 congregations in the US that practice this. Does anyone know where they get the idea they can handle snakes and drink poison and not be harmed? Mark 16: 9-20-specifically v. 17-18
17 And these signs will accompany those who believe: drive out demons; speak in new tongues; 18 they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all.”
Does that sound like Jesus?
So why was the extra ending added? What is wrong with ending at v. 8?
To figure this out, let’s dig a little deeper into the story.
How does Mark’s gospel end if we only read through v. 8?
Ends with the women too scared, the disciples having fled and no one is telling anyone about the resurrection.
Do you remember Mark’s overall theme? Jesus’ followers dissipate over time, then the disciples, then the women. But, the reader is along for the entire journey. Everyone else has fallen away. So who is left to tell the story?
We as the reader is all that is left to tell the story. No other gospel ends this way. And I believe Mark has the extra ending because earlier Christians didn’t like it-looks like a mistake. Maybe they were uncomfortable with the responsibility that was being placed on them to tell the story? Mark leaves the story open-ended.
Everyone in the narrative has failed, but the story is not over. He had not written ‘The End” but “To be continued.” If the story is to continue, the reader has a decision to make. Are you uncomfortable or scared to tell others that Jesus is alive, the tomb is empty?
Let’s ask this, are the gospels meant to be more historical or evangelical documents? The stories of witnessing and telling are persuasive so that you the reader will go and tell the story.
And what exactly are we responsible for? Telling the story. Telling the stories of how Jesus makes a difference for us day in and day out. Showing others that Jesus is alive. That Jesus lives is the greatest story ever told. Do you believe it?
The other part of Mark’s resurrection story tells us that Jesus is going ahead of us-which already anticipates the post-Easter reality. The risen Christ is already “out there” in the world, ahead of the disciples, ahead of us.
In other words we aren’t bringing people to Jesus, Jesus has already started working. We are here to help others realize that Jesus is alive. The tomb truly is empty. Our faith is more than to keep us from going to hell. It is meant to give us hope today and every day.
It’s meant to show us that even when we feel as though we have blown it, Jesus is there to restore. Who does Jesus tell the women to tell? Go and tell Peter-mentions his name specifically. Why? Good News-even though Peter denies he is restored and forgiven.
Remember the movie clips we saw earlier and all the other great books and movies that have been made, imagine if those stories had never been told. How incomplete would our lives be? How much more important is the resurrection story?
I’ll end with this. What does Easter mean to you? Does it need to be ended like the other gospels-nice and neat with no responsibility on us as Jesus’ followers? This idea that Jesus is doing all the work, so we don’t have to? Or do you realize the urgency for us to tell the story? We have to assume that no one else is telling the story-everyone else has fallen away. Will you tell the story?
In these next few weeks I am opening up the floor to those willing to share their stories of resurrection. Those times when you encountered the risen Christ, those times when you knew he was real.
If you have a testimony you would like to share, please let me know. Imagine what these next few weeks will be like if you come forward and tell your resurrection story. And just like in Mark’s gospel, everyone else is too scared to tell their story. So if you don’t, who will?
Lent: Friday
April 17
Friday
Mark 15: 1-47
Intro
Lent-one week to get ready-one week to go from no cokes, or sugar or chocolate. But prayerfully we’ll be more excited that Easter is here rather than getting to enjoy our favorite snack.
Happy Palm Sunday! Now let’s talk about the death of Jesus…kind of hard to do both.
We are going to be looking at Friday or Good Friday.
Doesn’t the designation of this dreadful day as ‘good” strike us as strange. Even the sky turns dark showing the cosmos itself joins in mourning what is happening. Reasons: Christians for centuries have affirmed that on this day, despite its horror, the redemption of the world was accomplished.
We won’t take a look at the whole day just one part of it, but it is interesting to note that Mark tells the story of Good Friday in precisely indicated three-hour intervals: from dawn to 9am, from 9am to noon, from noon to 3pm and from 3pm to evening.
Mark 15: 1-15
1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Doesn’t it seem strange that the ones who want to kill Jesus-the religious leaders take him to Pilate? Why can’t the Jewish leaders just kill Jesus?
Once again our theme of collaboration with the Empire comes out. They can’t kill without the permission of the Roman authority
And can’t you just hear the exchange between Pilate and Jesus-
Are “you” the king of the Jews? As if the man standing before him is unworthy to bear that title.
And Jesus responds-“You say so.” Jesus knowing full well that Pilate is no real king or authority.
3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
In order to have Jesus killed there had to be a reason. The Romans didn’t care about blasphemy. So they told different stories to try to have Jesus killed. Pilate sensing something was awry tries to give Jesus an out, but Jesus says nothing.
To refuse to respond to authority reflects both courage and contempt. Authorities do not like it. Pilate is amazed.
Also in the ancient near east silence is also an admission of guilt. If you didn’t defend yourself they pronounced you guilty-guilty unless proven otherwise. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus doesn’t speak again until his final cry from the cross-My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Can you imagine if one of us was before Pilate facing death. We would be passionately defending ourselves.
It’s hard to follow the Prince of Peace. Being a follower of Jesus is difficult.
6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
There are some things we need to know to better understand what is going on in this story.
Who was Barabbas? The leader of a rebellion
What is significant about Jesus being compared with an insurrectionist? Crucifixion was reserved for those who had rebelled against the Roman Empire.
For what reason would Rome have had to crucify Jesus? Jesus would have to speak out against the empire.
12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.
14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
We need to ask ourselves some questions here as well.
Where exactly was this “trial?”
Who was the crowd? Who are the people shouting crucify him? What happened to those who celebrated at the triumphal entry and marveled at his teaching in the courtyard?
Almost certainly, this is not the same crowd that heard Jesus with delight during the week; Mark gives us no reason to think that crowd has turned against Jesus. Also, it is highly unlikely that the crowds from earlier in the week would have been allowed into Herod’s Palace. Herod’s Palace is where this trial took place.
Plus, what happened the night before? Why were all the people in Jerusalem? Passover-huge meal with wine-Would you be awake at 6am after a night like that? Maybe, but would you be functional at 6am after a night like that?
For the religious leaders, timing was critical. Given enough time the crowds who loved Jesus and hailed him as Messiah would have been on the streets and would have shouted to free Jesus instead of Barabbas.
This crowd had their chance to free him, but they were most likely the followers of Barabbas.
So after hearing this story does this story make us feel ashamed? Do we feel shame when we read it?
Are we any different? We call on Jesus on Sunday, but abandon him throughout the week. We follow, but we don’t.
Another question, for what do we crucify people unjustly?
We crucify people through the media when they don’t live up to our expectations. Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen, Bush, Obama, Rob Bell
Along with that, what higher standard do we expect of others, but aren’t willing to live up to ourselves?
Thank you example from Chris Isaac-every time I expect a thank you and don’t get one I think about all the times I should have thanked God, but didn’t.
Finally, we have to ask why does Jesus die? For the sins of the world or because of them? If we believe in freedom of choice over predestination we have to deal with this question. Otherwise everyone in this story is God’s puppet. In other words, were the system and the people so corrupt they could not handle the challenge that Jesus provided to their corrupt system of collaboration? Was it the sins of Judas, the religious leaders, or his disciples that caused Jesus to go to the cross? Did they have a choice or were they predestined for their “roles?” If they had a choice, then Jesus would die because of their sins. We often say Jesus died for our sins, but we might consider that instead Jesus died because of their sins. That is your question for the week-Why does Jesus die? For the sins of the world or because of them?
As we journey this week through Holy Week-may you remember the journey to the cross we have covered these last few weeks and the lessons Jesus taught each day. We need to be separate from the empire, we need to produce fruit, we need to continue to learn, we need to belong to God, we need to trust, and we need to give. May this holy week journey be something special in your walk of faith.
Friday
Mark 15: 1-47
Intro
Lent-one week to get ready-one week to go from no cokes, or sugar or chocolate. But prayerfully we’ll be more excited that Easter is here rather than getting to enjoy our favorite snack.
Happy Palm Sunday! Now let’s talk about the death of Jesus…kind of hard to do both.
We are going to be looking at Friday or Good Friday.
Doesn’t the designation of this dreadful day as ‘good” strike us as strange. Even the sky turns dark showing the cosmos itself joins in mourning what is happening. Reasons: Christians for centuries have affirmed that on this day, despite its horror, the redemption of the world was accomplished.
We won’t take a look at the whole day just one part of it, but it is interesting to note that Mark tells the story of Good Friday in precisely indicated three-hour intervals: from dawn to 9am, from 9am to noon, from noon to 3pm and from 3pm to evening.
Mark 15: 1-15
1 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate.
“You have said so,” Jesus replied.
Doesn’t it seem strange that the ones who want to kill Jesus-the religious leaders take him to Pilate? Why can’t the Jewish leaders just kill Jesus?
Once again our theme of collaboration with the Empire comes out. They can’t kill without the permission of the Roman authority
And can’t you just hear the exchange between Pilate and Jesus-
Are “you” the king of the Jews? As if the man standing before him is unworthy to bear that title.
And Jesus responds-“You say so.” Jesus knowing full well that Pilate is no real king or authority.
3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.”
5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
In order to have Jesus killed there had to be a reason. The Romans didn’t care about blasphemy. So they told different stories to try to have Jesus killed. Pilate sensing something was awry tries to give Jesus an out, but Jesus says nothing.
To refuse to respond to authority reflects both courage and contempt. Authorities do not like it. Pilate is amazed.
Also in the ancient near east silence is also an admission of guilt. If you didn’t defend yourself they pronounced you guilty-guilty unless proven otherwise. In Mark’s gospel, Jesus doesn’t speak again until his final cry from the cross-My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?
Can you imagine if one of us was before Pilate facing death. We would be passionately defending ourselves.
It’s hard to follow the Prince of Peace. Being a follower of Jesus is difficult.
6 Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.
There are some things we need to know to better understand what is going on in this story.
Who was Barabbas? The leader of a rebellion
What is significant about Jesus being compared with an insurrectionist? Crucifixion was reserved for those who had rebelled against the Roman Empire.
For what reason would Rome have had to crucify Jesus? Jesus would have to speak out against the empire.
12 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.
13 “Crucify him!” they shouted.
14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
15 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
We need to ask ourselves some questions here as well.
Where exactly was this “trial?”
Who was the crowd? Who are the people shouting crucify him? What happened to those who celebrated at the triumphal entry and marveled at his teaching in the courtyard?
Almost certainly, this is not the same crowd that heard Jesus with delight during the week; Mark gives us no reason to think that crowd has turned against Jesus. Also, it is highly unlikely that the crowds from earlier in the week would have been allowed into Herod’s Palace. Herod’s Palace is where this trial took place.
Plus, what happened the night before? Why were all the people in Jerusalem? Passover-huge meal with wine-Would you be awake at 6am after a night like that? Maybe, but would you be functional at 6am after a night like that?
For the religious leaders, timing was critical. Given enough time the crowds who loved Jesus and hailed him as Messiah would have been on the streets and would have shouted to free Jesus instead of Barabbas.
This crowd had their chance to free him, but they were most likely the followers of Barabbas.
So after hearing this story does this story make us feel ashamed? Do we feel shame when we read it?
Are we any different? We call on Jesus on Sunday, but abandon him throughout the week. We follow, but we don’t.
Another question, for what do we crucify people unjustly?
We crucify people through the media when they don’t live up to our expectations. Tiger Woods, Charlie Sheen, Bush, Obama, Rob Bell
Along with that, what higher standard do we expect of others, but aren’t willing to live up to ourselves?
Thank you example from Chris Isaac-every time I expect a thank you and don’t get one I think about all the times I should have thanked God, but didn’t.
Finally, we have to ask why does Jesus die? For the sins of the world or because of them? If we believe in freedom of choice over predestination we have to deal with this question. Otherwise everyone in this story is God’s puppet. In other words, were the system and the people so corrupt they could not handle the challenge that Jesus provided to their corrupt system of collaboration? Was it the sins of Judas, the religious leaders, or his disciples that caused Jesus to go to the cross? Did they have a choice or were they predestined for their “roles?” If they had a choice, then Jesus would die because of their sins. We often say Jesus died for our sins, but we might consider that instead Jesus died because of their sins. That is your question for the week-Why does Jesus die? For the sins of the world or because of them?
As we journey this week through Holy Week-may you remember the journey to the cross we have covered these last few weeks and the lessons Jesus taught each day. We need to be separate from the empire, we need to produce fruit, we need to continue to learn, we need to belong to God, we need to trust, and we need to give. May this holy week journey be something special in your walk of faith.
Lent: Thursday
April 10
Thursday
Mark 14: 12-72
Morning glory
God grew tired of us
Intro
Last week-Judas-we can identify-we have betrayed Jesus for less than 30 pieces of silver.
Thursday lasts from sun up on Thursday to sunrise on Friday.
What story do you think we are going to look at from Thursday? Maundy Thursday-we get that from John’s gospel by the way.
Last Supper As Disciples it’s pretty much a given that if we look at Thursday of the last week we are going to talk about it. Like a bird pooping on your car right after you wash it…it’s almost certain.
We are all familiar with the last supper. We celebrate it each week during worship and almost any time we gather as Disciples of Christ we have communion. During camp we usually have communion every night. There are countless paintings and representations of the last supper. (show pictures-if want in pic)
But today I want to shed some more light on what Jesus was saying. Let’s take a look.
Mark 14: 12-72
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Notice any similarities between this and another story we have already done during this series? Palm Sunday preparation.
Palm Sunday and Passover preparation have some similarities:
Sends 2 of his disciples,
tells them what to look for,
and instructs them what to say.
In the first case, the preplanning was for a public demonstration against an anti-imperial entrance affirming nonviolence. In this case, the preplanning has to do with secrecy. Jesus kept the meeting place secret. Why?
Was it so Judas couldn’t trap him there? This meal-what we call the New Passover-matters, and Judas must not be allowed to interfere with its completion. Why does it matter? What happens that is so significant, so life changing?
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Here we know Jesus reinterprets the symbols of the Passover. Taking the story from Exodus and substituting himself as the Passover lamb. But is there something more?
1) Story parallels feeding of 5000-talk about this in Pastor’s class-took, blessed, broke, and gave.
Shared meals were one of the most distinctive features of Jesus’ public activity. He often taught at meals, banquets were topics of his parables, and his meal practice was often criticized by his opponents.
Food is important. We need it to live. Food can be used as a status symbol can’t it? What do rich people eat? What do poor people eat? Jesus’ emphasis on meals means something more than just the new Passover celebration.
The point of Jesus’ meals is to insist on shared meals as the mandate of divine justice in a world not our own. Jesus does not merely speak of bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood. Rather, he has all of the 12 (including Judas) actually partake of the food and drink. We, like they, are invited to travel with Jesus through execution to resurrection. So first and foremost it is an invitation to discipleship. An invitation to follow Jesus’ path and to live as he lived.
The Last Supper is also about bread for the world, God’s justice against human injustice, a New Passover from bondage to liberation, and participation in the path that leads through death to new life.
Food is God’s justice and just distribution of food. One of the things the Bible talks about in the end times is that everyone will have enough food. It is unjust that people go home hungry every night-right here in our square of earth people go to bed hungry every night. There might even be people in our own church. What is compassion calling us to do? Better yet what is love calling us to do?
What’s interesting is that from this point on it’s not just talk, but actions
In Mark, over half of Thursday is devoted to failed discipleship.
Nature of Jesus and the world divides-the religious leaders talked a good game but weren’t living it.
If you keep reading through Thursday what happens? How many of Jesus’ disciples fail him?
Disciples fall asleep while praying-because no one falls asleep during a prayer-who does that? Judas betrays him, Peter denies Jesus 3 times and you want to read a painful verse read v. 50
50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
Ask yourself this:
If Judas did not kill himself would he have been restored along with Peter and the rest of the disciples?
Neither denials nor even betrayals are the worst sin against Jesus or God. The worst sin is despair. And despair is nothing more than a loss of faith that repentance will always, always obtain forgiveness. Had Judas broken down, wept, and repented, he too would have been forgiven.
We have the same faults as these disciples-we fallen asleep when our friends and family needed us, we’ve betrayed Jesus; we’ve denied knowing him.
But our world tells us it’s ok. We give in to selfishness, it comes easy. We even call it “the me generation.” What can I get? What can I get out of this relationship, friendship, school, car, church, God…
What can I get instead of what can I give? (Question for the week)
And Jesus is anything but selfish-Jesus is all about others and serving them. Jesus doesn’t respond the way we would to the trial and accusations. He doesn’t respond with violence he condemns it. Jesus enters and exits in non-violence.
This trial on Thursday is happening to him, but it’s not about him…it’s about something else. It’s about us, it’s about an end to power and injustice. Jesus is about restoration and reconciliation. Making things right.
Lent is our time to make things right with God. To recognize the times have betrayed Jesus; the times we haven’t listened to God. It is our reminder to ask for forgiveness and to refocus on what is important. As we try to focus on the attitudes of Christ, we can ponder what we can give instead of what we can get this week.
Thursday
Mark 14: 12-72
Morning glory
God grew tired of us
Intro
Last week-Judas-we can identify-we have betrayed Jesus for less than 30 pieces of silver.
Thursday lasts from sun up on Thursday to sunrise on Friday.
What story do you think we are going to look at from Thursday? Maundy Thursday-we get that from John’s gospel by the way.
Last Supper As Disciples it’s pretty much a given that if we look at Thursday of the last week we are going to talk about it. Like a bird pooping on your car right after you wash it…it’s almost certain.
We are all familiar with the last supper. We celebrate it each week during worship and almost any time we gather as Disciples of Christ we have communion. During camp we usually have communion every night. There are countless paintings and representations of the last supper. (show pictures-if want in pic)
But today I want to shed some more light on what Jesus was saying. Let’s take a look.
Mark 14: 12-72
12 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”
13 So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14 Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ 15 He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.”
16 The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
Notice any similarities between this and another story we have already done during this series? Palm Sunday preparation.
Palm Sunday and Passover preparation have some similarities:
Sends 2 of his disciples,
tells them what to look for,
and instructs them what to say.
In the first case, the preplanning was for a public demonstration against an anti-imperial entrance affirming nonviolence. In this case, the preplanning has to do with secrecy. Jesus kept the meeting place secret. Why?
Was it so Judas couldn’t trap him there? This meal-what we call the New Passover-matters, and Judas must not be allowed to interfere with its completion. Why does it matter? What happens that is so significant, so life changing?
22 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take it; this is my body.”
23 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it.
24 “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. 25 “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.”
Here we know Jesus reinterprets the symbols of the Passover. Taking the story from Exodus and substituting himself as the Passover lamb. But is there something more?
1) Story parallels feeding of 5000-talk about this in Pastor’s class-took, blessed, broke, and gave.
Shared meals were one of the most distinctive features of Jesus’ public activity. He often taught at meals, banquets were topics of his parables, and his meal practice was often criticized by his opponents.
Food is important. We need it to live. Food can be used as a status symbol can’t it? What do rich people eat? What do poor people eat? Jesus’ emphasis on meals means something more than just the new Passover celebration.
The point of Jesus’ meals is to insist on shared meals as the mandate of divine justice in a world not our own. Jesus does not merely speak of bread and wine as symbols of his body and blood. Rather, he has all of the 12 (including Judas) actually partake of the food and drink. We, like they, are invited to travel with Jesus through execution to resurrection. So first and foremost it is an invitation to discipleship. An invitation to follow Jesus’ path and to live as he lived.
The Last Supper is also about bread for the world, God’s justice against human injustice, a New Passover from bondage to liberation, and participation in the path that leads through death to new life.
Food is God’s justice and just distribution of food. One of the things the Bible talks about in the end times is that everyone will have enough food. It is unjust that people go home hungry every night-right here in our square of earth people go to bed hungry every night. There might even be people in our own church. What is compassion calling us to do? Better yet what is love calling us to do?
What’s interesting is that from this point on it’s not just talk, but actions
In Mark, over half of Thursday is devoted to failed discipleship.
Nature of Jesus and the world divides-the religious leaders talked a good game but weren’t living it.
If you keep reading through Thursday what happens? How many of Jesus’ disciples fail him?
Disciples fall asleep while praying-because no one falls asleep during a prayer-who does that? Judas betrays him, Peter denies Jesus 3 times and you want to read a painful verse read v. 50
50 Then everyone deserted him and fled.
Ask yourself this:
If Judas did not kill himself would he have been restored along with Peter and the rest of the disciples?
Neither denials nor even betrayals are the worst sin against Jesus or God. The worst sin is despair. And despair is nothing more than a loss of faith that repentance will always, always obtain forgiveness. Had Judas broken down, wept, and repented, he too would have been forgiven.
We have the same faults as these disciples-we fallen asleep when our friends and family needed us, we’ve betrayed Jesus; we’ve denied knowing him.
But our world tells us it’s ok. We give in to selfishness, it comes easy. We even call it “the me generation.” What can I get? What can I get out of this relationship, friendship, school, car, church, God…
What can I get instead of what can I give? (Question for the week)
And Jesus is anything but selfish-Jesus is all about others and serving them. Jesus doesn’t respond the way we would to the trial and accusations. He doesn’t respond with violence he condemns it. Jesus enters and exits in non-violence.
This trial on Thursday is happening to him, but it’s not about him…it’s about something else. It’s about us, it’s about an end to power and injustice. Jesus is about restoration and reconciliation. Making things right.
Lent is our time to make things right with God. To recognize the times have betrayed Jesus; the times we haven’t listened to God. It is our reminder to ask for forgiveness and to refocus on what is important. As we try to focus on the attitudes of Christ, we can ponder what we can give instead of what we can get this week.
Lent: Wednesday
April 3
Wednesday
Mark 14: 1-11
Intro
Lent-last week Tuesday-importance of learning-focused on one story-money-collaboration with the empire-are you starting to see the pattern? Today is no different.
Let’s take a look:
Mark 14: 1-11
1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
Markean Frame:
Need for a traitor-what would the frame end with? The provision of a traitor. So the story in between is some how related.
At this point to it’s important to note that the people still love Jesus. This is Wednesdday. How does Jesus go from being so loved on Wednesday to the point that the chief priests and teachers are afraid the crowd will riot to shouting crucify him on Friday? Have you given any thought to this?
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
And here we are 2,000 years later reading and sharing this story, in memory of her. Why? What is so special about this woman that Jesus calls her to our attention? She is the first Christian-the first one who understands that he will die-Immense faith of the woman.
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
A little about this story in other gospels:
Matthew & Mark place this event just before the Last Supper, John a week before the triumphal entry and in John Judas is the naysayer, and Luke records a similar story early in his gospel. Mark uses this story to give us another frame-we talked about the Markean frame with the fig tree. The idea that Mark groups similar stories together with bookends. Here you have the need for a traitor, story of the unnamed woman, the advent of a traitor.
Several different theories exist as to why Judas betrays Jesus as a result of this story. I’m only going to touch on two
One side, which we can easily relate to, says:
The simple extravagant act of anointing Jesus, though wasting a year’s wages worth of perfume, resulted in a lasting legacy. Like our permanent fund and the other funds that have been left to the church and other organizations. A lasting legacy has been left from that person’s life. Their generous gift continues to further the work of ministries like Mobile Meals, Habitat, and First Christian El Reno. Everyone sitting in this room has benefitted from those generous and lasting donations.
Judas was particularly irritated with Miriam’s anointing act. Jesus’ response irritated him even more. To Judas, the notion of Jesus going off to find martyrdom was no different than the wasted perfume. Wasted opportunity. Wasted resources. Three years of his own life wasted following a would-be Messiah, who given the opportunity to really accomplish something, was about to throw it all away.
Unable to endure such foolishness any longer, Judas goes to the Temple authorities and arranges to betray Jesus into their hands.
This makes sense. When we feel our time has been wasted, when we feel betrayed and used we can easily turn on our so called friends. And according to the Bible and many scholars, Judas wasn’t exactly the best of guys any way. So why would we expect anything less than betrayal? This is one side of the argument. What about the other?
Well, I’m what you might call a Judas sympathizer. I really think that Judas has gotten the bum wrap in the scriptures and commentaries of the years. That’s why I’d like to offer another possibility.
Consider this:
Mark never mentions Judas’ motives, but identifies him as Judas-one of the twelve. Judas doesn’t ask for money, they promise to give it to him. And if you are skimming off the top as pointed out in John 12, why would you want to mess up a good thing? 30 pieces of silver wasn’t very much money-approx $15 according to one source. We even remember that Judas tries to give the money back. And then what happens to Judas? Hangs himself. Are those the actions of a man with no regret?
What if we thought about Judas’ actions this way? Judas’ betrayal is simply the worst example of how those closest to Jesus failed him dismally in Jerusalem. The traitor has entered into an agreement with those who collaborate with imperial rule.
Maybe Judas was simply tired of hearing Jesus talk about dying and Judas was trying to force Jesus’ hand to be the conquering Messiah that was promised, not the suffering and dying one Jesus kept talking about.
Or what what if it just got too hard for Judas? What if being a follower of Jesus as the sacrificial Messiah was more than Judas could bear?
I think Judas thought that path was going to be hard for him. I think this is nothing more than ultimate failing. As we continue our Lenten journey, ask yourself-how willing are you to follow Jesus-will you quit when the going gets tough? Maybe a better way to ask-for what have you betrayed Jesus? We have all been Judas in some way-betraying Jesus. Maybe that’s why I’m a Judas sympathizer.
Haven’t you felt that way? That life was more than you could handle? Maybe it was a job, an illness, or school, or a relationship, or a death. It all just got too hard and so you quit. I know that when I watch the Olympics and the amazing things they do-I think how do they do that? How does Michael Phelps win 14 gold medals-8 in one Olympics. That’s impossible.
I found a clip to help illustrate a possible answer-it’s from A League of their Own-a movie about the female baseball league that started during WWII.
And that’s the difference. Michael Phelps and other people like him didn’t quit. They kept going. And so now I sit at home and watch them compete at the Olympics believing it to be impossible.
We would like to avoid the implications of this journey with Jesus. We would like its Holy Week conclusion to be about the interior rather than the exterior life, about heaven rather than earth, about the future rather than the present and about religion safely and securely quarantined form politics.
We want our experience of Jesus to be untainted by the outside world and be a more internal spiritual encounter. The temptation is clinging to a faith that doesn’t make waves. WE want to celebrate our spiritual life away from our normal life. But we can’t.
Our faith and our life cannot be split apart. Jesus is what gets inside you, it’s what lights you up. If being a follower of Jesus was easy everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.
Wednesday
Mark 14: 1-11
Intro
Lent-last week Tuesday-importance of learning-focused on one story-money-collaboration with the empire-are you starting to see the pattern? Today is no different.
Let’s take a look:
Mark 14: 1-11
1 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
Markean Frame:
Need for a traitor-what would the frame end with? The provision of a traitor. So the story in between is some how related.
At this point to it’s important to note that the people still love Jesus. This is Wednesdday. How does Jesus go from being so loved on Wednesday to the point that the chief priests and teachers are afraid the crowd will riot to shouting crucify him on Friday? Have you given any thought to this?
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
And here we are 2,000 years later reading and sharing this story, in memory of her. Why? What is so special about this woman that Jesus calls her to our attention? She is the first Christian-the first one who understands that he will die-Immense faith of the woman.
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
A little about this story in other gospels:
Matthew & Mark place this event just before the Last Supper, John a week before the triumphal entry and in John Judas is the naysayer, and Luke records a similar story early in his gospel. Mark uses this story to give us another frame-we talked about the Markean frame with the fig tree. The idea that Mark groups similar stories together with bookends. Here you have the need for a traitor, story of the unnamed woman, the advent of a traitor.
Several different theories exist as to why Judas betrays Jesus as a result of this story. I’m only going to touch on two
One side, which we can easily relate to, says:
The simple extravagant act of anointing Jesus, though wasting a year’s wages worth of perfume, resulted in a lasting legacy. Like our permanent fund and the other funds that have been left to the church and other organizations. A lasting legacy has been left from that person’s life. Their generous gift continues to further the work of ministries like Mobile Meals, Habitat, and First Christian El Reno. Everyone sitting in this room has benefitted from those generous and lasting donations.
Judas was particularly irritated with Miriam’s anointing act. Jesus’ response irritated him even more. To Judas, the notion of Jesus going off to find martyrdom was no different than the wasted perfume. Wasted opportunity. Wasted resources. Three years of his own life wasted following a would-be Messiah, who given the opportunity to really accomplish something, was about to throw it all away.
Unable to endure such foolishness any longer, Judas goes to the Temple authorities and arranges to betray Jesus into their hands.
This makes sense. When we feel our time has been wasted, when we feel betrayed and used we can easily turn on our so called friends. And according to the Bible and many scholars, Judas wasn’t exactly the best of guys any way. So why would we expect anything less than betrayal? This is one side of the argument. What about the other?
Well, I’m what you might call a Judas sympathizer. I really think that Judas has gotten the bum wrap in the scriptures and commentaries of the years. That’s why I’d like to offer another possibility.
Consider this:
Mark never mentions Judas’ motives, but identifies him as Judas-one of the twelve. Judas doesn’t ask for money, they promise to give it to him. And if you are skimming off the top as pointed out in John 12, why would you want to mess up a good thing? 30 pieces of silver wasn’t very much money-approx $15 according to one source. We even remember that Judas tries to give the money back. And then what happens to Judas? Hangs himself. Are those the actions of a man with no regret?
What if we thought about Judas’ actions this way? Judas’ betrayal is simply the worst example of how those closest to Jesus failed him dismally in Jerusalem. The traitor has entered into an agreement with those who collaborate with imperial rule.
Maybe Judas was simply tired of hearing Jesus talk about dying and Judas was trying to force Jesus’ hand to be the conquering Messiah that was promised, not the suffering and dying one Jesus kept talking about.
Or what what if it just got too hard for Judas? What if being a follower of Jesus as the sacrificial Messiah was more than Judas could bear?
I think Judas thought that path was going to be hard for him. I think this is nothing more than ultimate failing. As we continue our Lenten journey, ask yourself-how willing are you to follow Jesus-will you quit when the going gets tough? Maybe a better way to ask-for what have you betrayed Jesus? We have all been Judas in some way-betraying Jesus. Maybe that’s why I’m a Judas sympathizer.
Haven’t you felt that way? That life was more than you could handle? Maybe it was a job, an illness, or school, or a relationship, or a death. It all just got too hard and so you quit. I know that when I watch the Olympics and the amazing things they do-I think how do they do that? How does Michael Phelps win 14 gold medals-8 in one Olympics. That’s impossible.
I found a clip to help illustrate a possible answer-it’s from A League of their Own-a movie about the female baseball league that started during WWII.
And that’s the difference. Michael Phelps and other people like him didn’t quit. They kept going. And so now I sit at home and watch them compete at the Olympics believing it to be impossible.
We would like to avoid the implications of this journey with Jesus. We would like its Holy Week conclusion to be about the interior rather than the exterior life, about heaven rather than earth, about the future rather than the present and about religion safely and securely quarantined form politics.
We want our experience of Jesus to be untainted by the outside world and be a more internal spiritual encounter. The temptation is clinging to a faith that doesn’t make waves. WE want to celebrate our spiritual life away from our normal life. But we can’t.
Our faith and our life cannot be split apart. Jesus is what gets inside you, it’s what lights you up. If being a follower of Jesus was easy everyone would do it. It’s the hard that makes it great.
Lent: Tuesday
March 27
Tuesday-“The Coin”
Mark 11: 20-Mark 13: 37
Send home devotional
You were created in God’s image. Do you belong to God?
Intro
Lent-Sunday & Monday which means we are on…Tuesday.
Longest Day and most active day-115 verses.
We have a lot of ground to cover and only a couple of hours to get it in, so let’s get started.
2/3 consists of conflict with the temple authorities and their associates.
Using these stories to continue the illustration of the temple the day before-in the end they don’t get it.
The remaining third warns of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and speaks of the coming of the Son of Man, all in the near future.
This last week has a lot of teaching it. Why is this noteworthy especially as we journey through Lent. After we self examine we need to continue to learn
Empty yourself out in self examination and it needs to be replaced
The teaching day (models of teaching)-teaches in ways that people learn best
Parables
Examples
Greatest commandments
Law interpretation
Focus on a story that is one of my favorites:
Point counterpoint-Jesus has the habit of turning their questions against them. This story is no different.
Mark 12: 13-17
13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[b] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
And they were amazed at him.
We’ve heard this story a thousand times-hang with me you might learn something new.
What was this about? What is the debate?
Multiple levels:
Let’s talk about the people who confronted Jesus:
Pharisees and Harrods did not get along-Pharisees resented the Romans oppressors and the Herod’s liked the system because they were getting rich-alliance of convenience.
Pharisees and Harrods make an odd combination. The Pharisees were the religious fundamentalists of their day. The Harrods were the assimilated and secular liberals of their day. Ordinarily the two groups would have nothing at all in common. However, it is their opposing worldviews that turns the question they pose to Jesus into a trap-enemy of one of the groups.
80-90% of population was barely making it-Taxed-Caesar, Herod, Temple-most people are struggling to get by
Upper City group of Jews in partnership with Pilot-control Temple area-getting rich off of people’s offering to God-people would give offerings to God and other people would pocket it and live really well-totally different than television today, it’s what is so exciting about living in today we’ve come so far. $5k bottle of wine-unbelievable wealth-among religious rulers supposed to be leading people closer to God-were in fact profiting mass amounts of money and wealth from the people.
Money and possessions are huge-greed can completely consume you-casino story-as we journey through Lent-does money or possessions stand in the way of your relationship with God? How generous you are with your time and money is a great determinate in how integral your faith is with your life. How you handle your money shows the maturity of your faith.
What was the money they were talking about?
Romans collected a tribute-after all it was an honor to be in the Roman empire-head tax on Jewish males-but the amount was much more than just a per person tax. It wasn’t collected by the Roman authorities, but rather the local Jewish authorities.
How did you pay?
Coin-Commandments-1st Commandment-no other Gods, 2nd make no graven images-a coin had a what?
In the Jewish homeland in the first century, there were two types of coins. One type, because of the 2nd commandment, had no human or animal images. The 2nd type (including Roman coinage) had images. Many Jews would not carry or use coins of the 2nd type.
Back to the story:
So the Harrods and the Pharisees come to Jesus and ask.
Jesus responds show me.
Which means he’s not carrying a what?
Religious leaders who are trying to trap him are carrying a what?
To which Jesus responds…
Trying to trap him-Jesus is like hmm…I don’t seem to have a coin-oh I do…
Brilliant you ought to think about following him.
The coin they produced had Caesar’s image along with the standard and idolatrous inscription heralding Caesar as divine and Son of God. They are exposed as part of the politics of collaboration.
The problem is not whether to pay Caesar’s taxes, but whether to carry Caesar’s coins. And Jesus has already decided on that point. It is unfortunate that we have for centuries misunderstood Jesus’ meaning and no longer hear his laughter or that of his companions as they walked away from the trap.
The Pharisees and Harrods saw only 2 responses-
don’t pay taxes which would be sedition-turn him over to the Romans
Pay taxes-risked discrediting himself with the crowd, who for both economic and religious reasons resented Roman rule and taxation. They wanted to lead him into an unpopular response. But Jesus, of course, doesn’t fall into the trap.
The first half of the answer is really a nonanswer. Doesn’t say to or not to.
We know the answer to the 2nd half-what belongs to God? Everything so if everything belongs to God what belongs to Caesar.
You were created in God’s image. Do you belong to God?
Tuesday-“The Coin”
Mark 11: 20-Mark 13: 37
Send home devotional
You were created in God’s image. Do you belong to God?
Intro
Lent-Sunday & Monday which means we are on…Tuesday.
Longest Day and most active day-115 verses.
We have a lot of ground to cover and only a couple of hours to get it in, so let’s get started.
2/3 consists of conflict with the temple authorities and their associates.
Using these stories to continue the illustration of the temple the day before-in the end they don’t get it.
The remaining third warns of the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple and speaks of the coming of the Son of Man, all in the near future.
This last week has a lot of teaching it. Why is this noteworthy especially as we journey through Lent. After we self examine we need to continue to learn
Empty yourself out in self examination and it needs to be replaced
The teaching day (models of teaching)-teaches in ways that people learn best
Parables
Examples
Greatest commandments
Law interpretation
Focus on a story that is one of my favorites:
Point counterpoint-Jesus has the habit of turning their questions against them. This story is no different.
Mark 12: 13-17
13 Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch him in his words. 14 They came to him and said, “Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax[b] to Caesar or not? 15 Should we pay or shouldn’t we?”
But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. “Why are you trying to trap me?” he asked. “Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.” 16 They brought the coin, and he asked them, “Whose image is this? And whose inscription?”
“Caesar’s,” they replied.
17 Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.”
And they were amazed at him.
We’ve heard this story a thousand times-hang with me you might learn something new.
What was this about? What is the debate?
Multiple levels:
Let’s talk about the people who confronted Jesus:
Pharisees and Harrods did not get along-Pharisees resented the Romans oppressors and the Herod’s liked the system because they were getting rich-alliance of convenience.
Pharisees and Harrods make an odd combination. The Pharisees were the religious fundamentalists of their day. The Harrods were the assimilated and secular liberals of their day. Ordinarily the two groups would have nothing at all in common. However, it is their opposing worldviews that turns the question they pose to Jesus into a trap-enemy of one of the groups.
80-90% of population was barely making it-Taxed-Caesar, Herod, Temple-most people are struggling to get by
Upper City group of Jews in partnership with Pilot-control Temple area-getting rich off of people’s offering to God-people would give offerings to God and other people would pocket it and live really well-totally different than television today, it’s what is so exciting about living in today we’ve come so far. $5k bottle of wine-unbelievable wealth-among religious rulers supposed to be leading people closer to God-were in fact profiting mass amounts of money and wealth from the people.
Money and possessions are huge-greed can completely consume you-casino story-as we journey through Lent-does money or possessions stand in the way of your relationship with God? How generous you are with your time and money is a great determinate in how integral your faith is with your life. How you handle your money shows the maturity of your faith.
What was the money they were talking about?
Romans collected a tribute-after all it was an honor to be in the Roman empire-head tax on Jewish males-but the amount was much more than just a per person tax. It wasn’t collected by the Roman authorities, but rather the local Jewish authorities.
How did you pay?
Coin-Commandments-1st Commandment-no other Gods, 2nd make no graven images-a coin had a what?
In the Jewish homeland in the first century, there were two types of coins. One type, because of the 2nd commandment, had no human or animal images. The 2nd type (including Roman coinage) had images. Many Jews would not carry or use coins of the 2nd type.
Back to the story:
So the Harrods and the Pharisees come to Jesus and ask.
Jesus responds show me.
Which means he’s not carrying a what?
Religious leaders who are trying to trap him are carrying a what?
To which Jesus responds…
Trying to trap him-Jesus is like hmm…I don’t seem to have a coin-oh I do…
Brilliant you ought to think about following him.
The coin they produced had Caesar’s image along with the standard and idolatrous inscription heralding Caesar as divine and Son of God. They are exposed as part of the politics of collaboration.
The problem is not whether to pay Caesar’s taxes, but whether to carry Caesar’s coins. And Jesus has already decided on that point. It is unfortunate that we have for centuries misunderstood Jesus’ meaning and no longer hear his laughter or that of his companions as they walked away from the trap.
The Pharisees and Harrods saw only 2 responses-
don’t pay taxes which would be sedition-turn him over to the Romans
Pay taxes-risked discrediting himself with the crowd, who for both economic and religious reasons resented Roman rule and taxation. They wanted to lead him into an unpopular response. But Jesus, of course, doesn’t fall into the trap.
The first half of the answer is really a nonanswer. Doesn’t say to or not to.
We know the answer to the 2nd half-what belongs to God? Everything so if everything belongs to God what belongs to Caesar.
You were created in God’s image. Do you belong to God?
Lent: Monday
March 20
Monday
“Den of Robbers”
Mark 11: 12-19
Intro
Lent
Preparation so that we can celebrate
Last week-palm Sunday-2 kingdoms-which one do you serve
This week we’re going to look at what happens on Monday.
Mark 11: 12-19
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
First let’s talk about the fig tree story-you do need to know that the next day the tree is dead. We get the rest of the story on Tuesday. How many of you have ever read this story before? How many of you have a hard time understanding it? I mean, is it a story about Jesus’ hunger pains? In that he gets so hungry that he curses a tree that shouldn’t have fruit on it anyway? Does this make sense in all that you know about Jesus? Of course not, so there must be something more.
Markean frames-puts stories together with a similar meaning because they should be considered together. Mark uses frames or what I would call bookends to show you where they are located. Does that make sense?
Explain the figs-not in season
So how does the fig tree relate to the scene in the Temple?
Lack of fruit
The fig tree showed promise of fruit, but it produced none. Jesus was showing his anger at religious life without substance. If you, claim to have faith without putting it to work in your life, you are like the barren fig tree. Question for the week-your life shows promise, but does it show fruit?
Moving on to the Temple scene.
Matthew includes this story as happening on Sunday night.
Remember what happened at the end of Sunday. V. 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Which causes me to ask, was Jesus setting up his plan? Is everything in this last week planned? It seems that he is waiting for a better time-the morning was the best times for a demonstration
And what was he upset about? Was it just people being taken advantage of? Or was there something more something deeper?
What is the sin in the Temple?
Let’s break it down.
What is a den?
“Den” is where robbers flee to once they have done their robbing.
Jesus is saying, You are giving crooks a safe place to do business and worst of all it’s the church… How dare you turn my Temple into a safe house for injustice. These robbers come and hold the church and worship hostage-using it for their own good instead of the good of all, the good of the body.…people should be safe when they come to the church.
SuperBowl v. regular game
People take advantage of travelers and big holidays
Profiteering
During Passover may have done the same
Who sat at the tables? Who was getting rich? Religious leaders
The empire had infiltrated the church.
What is involved for Jesus is an absolute criticism not only of violent domination, but of any religious collaboration with it. In that criticism, of course, he stands with the prophets of Israel such as Zechariah and Jeremiah, but also stands against those forms of Christianity that were used throughout the centuries to support imperial violence and injustice.
Temple had lost it’s voice and thus the people had lost the value of why they came
The money exchange system was preventing people from encountering the sacred
It had become a place of profit and convenience
Worship isn’t a substitute for justice.
What does this mean for us? A couple of things-1) The temple showed promise of fruit, but was not producing fruit.
2)we need to ask ourselves, in what ways have we made the church a refuge for ourselves to seek forgiveness, but not repentance or transformation?
Is the gospel of Christ working in you and through you or is it on your to do list?
Den of Robbers-go to the temple and do their sacrifices-cheap grace-if I just show up to church I’m good for another week-instead of making it the fabric of everything I do.
As if the church is the only Holy Ground-God is everywhere.
Finally, what does v. 18 say? The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
I believe this is the precipitating event that led to Jesus’ crucifixion. We have to ask ourselves, what did Jesus do here that caused them to want to kill him? He’s standing up and speaking out against them-challenging their power, their greed, their corruption. These religious leaders have the promise of fruit, but aren’t producing any and worse than that they are preventing others from producing fruit.
The framing fig tree warns us that the framed temple is not being cleansed, but symbolically destroyed and that, in both cases, the problem is a lack of the “fruit” that Jesus expected to be present. Does your life produce fruit or only promise fruit?
Monday
“Den of Robbers”
Mark 11: 12-19
Intro
Lent
Preparation so that we can celebrate
Last week-palm Sunday-2 kingdoms-which one do you serve
This week we’re going to look at what happens on Monday.
Mark 11: 12-19
12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”
18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
First let’s talk about the fig tree story-you do need to know that the next day the tree is dead. We get the rest of the story on Tuesday. How many of you have ever read this story before? How many of you have a hard time understanding it? I mean, is it a story about Jesus’ hunger pains? In that he gets so hungry that he curses a tree that shouldn’t have fruit on it anyway? Does this make sense in all that you know about Jesus? Of course not, so there must be something more.
Markean frames-puts stories together with a similar meaning because they should be considered together. Mark uses frames or what I would call bookends to show you where they are located. Does that make sense?
Explain the figs-not in season
So how does the fig tree relate to the scene in the Temple?
Lack of fruit
The fig tree showed promise of fruit, but it produced none. Jesus was showing his anger at religious life without substance. If you, claim to have faith without putting it to work in your life, you are like the barren fig tree. Question for the week-your life shows promise, but does it show fruit?
Moving on to the Temple scene.
Matthew includes this story as happening on Sunday night.
Remember what happened at the end of Sunday. V. 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
Which causes me to ask, was Jesus setting up his plan? Is everything in this last week planned? It seems that he is waiting for a better time-the morning was the best times for a demonstration
And what was he upset about? Was it just people being taken advantage of? Or was there something more something deeper?
What is the sin in the Temple?
Let’s break it down.
What is a den?
“Den” is where robbers flee to once they have done their robbing.
Jesus is saying, You are giving crooks a safe place to do business and worst of all it’s the church… How dare you turn my Temple into a safe house for injustice. These robbers come and hold the church and worship hostage-using it for their own good instead of the good of all, the good of the body.…people should be safe when they come to the church.
SuperBowl v. regular game
People take advantage of travelers and big holidays
Profiteering
During Passover may have done the same
Who sat at the tables? Who was getting rich? Religious leaders
The empire had infiltrated the church.
What is involved for Jesus is an absolute criticism not only of violent domination, but of any religious collaboration with it. In that criticism, of course, he stands with the prophets of Israel such as Zechariah and Jeremiah, but also stands against those forms of Christianity that were used throughout the centuries to support imperial violence and injustice.
Temple had lost it’s voice and thus the people had lost the value of why they came
The money exchange system was preventing people from encountering the sacred
It had become a place of profit and convenience
Worship isn’t a substitute for justice.
What does this mean for us? A couple of things-1) The temple showed promise of fruit, but was not producing fruit.
2)we need to ask ourselves, in what ways have we made the church a refuge for ourselves to seek forgiveness, but not repentance or transformation?
Is the gospel of Christ working in you and through you or is it on your to do list?
Den of Robbers-go to the temple and do their sacrifices-cheap grace-if I just show up to church I’m good for another week-instead of making it the fabric of everything I do.
As if the church is the only Holy Ground-God is everywhere.
Finally, what does v. 18 say? The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
I believe this is the precipitating event that led to Jesus’ crucifixion. We have to ask ourselves, what did Jesus do here that caused them to want to kill him? He’s standing up and speaking out against them-challenging their power, their greed, their corruption. These religious leaders have the promise of fruit, but aren’t producing any and worse than that they are preventing others from producing fruit.
The framing fig tree warns us that the framed temple is not being cleansed, but symbolically destroyed and that, in both cases, the problem is a lack of the “fruit” that Jesus expected to be present. Does your life produce fruit or only promise fruit?
Lent: Palm Sunday
March 13
Palm Sunday
Mark 11: 1-11
Intro
Lent
What is Lent? 40 days to prepare
This year’s Lenten series-last week of Jesus’ life. You have an extra hand out. Add one question-why do you think Jesus goes into the temple courts the night before?
So what is the first day of the last week?
Mark 11: 1-11
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
As we get started I need to give some background to what is going on during this story.
Who is in charge? Roman empire-how it’s governed-Emperor-emperor appointed governors
What’s going on in Jerusalem this last week? Passover celebration-some estimates say 200,000
What is Passover? What does it celebrate?
Israelites celebrate the fact that their God is the God who hears the cry of those who are oppressed. At a specific point in their history the God of the oppressed had heard their cry and rescued them from a foreign oppressor. So you have 200,000 Israelites singing and praising God, celebrating with wine God overcoming a foreign oppressor-all week long.
If you are Pilate how excited are you about this celebrating?
If you’re job is to keep the peace, how excited are you about this gathering?
What if they start talking about me? What if enough of them get together and have enough wine and sing enough songs and they start thinking…
You do not want them to-think about their history too long,
Job security is keeping these people well behaved.
How do you send a message-don’t think about it…do not mess with me?
Once a year-Pilate leaves Caesarea and marches to Jerusalem from the West. “Pilate enters from the West” And do it in such a way that says Rome is in control.
Eagle, What is an eagle? Matthew 8: 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Fox was a rabbinic reference to describe corrupt Jewish kings who lived in palaces and fed off the poor-
My movement is different, my movement is not about power.
After eagle, Giant Standards, parade of all the things the Roman Empire has done-resistance is futile
What happens to those who resist?
Soldiers, horseman and at the end or beginning would be Pilate on a horse-don’t mess with me.
Praetorium-fortress to remind them-don’t get out of hand-we’re right here
Pilate enters from the west.
Where is Jesus coming from? Bethany or from the East. Jesus enters from the East
How does Jesus enter? With an army? With a show of power?
Lowly and riding on a donkey
Do you understand what is happening? Jesus is having a political rally. Think about it. Do you really think at the end of the week Jesus is crucified for teaching-do the right thing, confess your sins, let God forgive you, trust God so you can go to heaven?
Why would the religious leaders come to the decision to kill him? Save people from their sins? If his message was just try to live a good life, better to give than receive, love your enemy? Love your God and love your neighbor? Blessed are the peacemakers, why does the ruling establishment decide that this man must die? And why didn’t they kill him? Why do they turn him over to someone else to do it? And why does the Roman Empire kill him? There’s something more going on this last week. And I hope to show you as we continue through this series.
Do you see what Jesus is doing?
There’s 2 ways to enter a city from the west or from the east. There are 2 ways to live-2 ways to run your life-2 ways to raise your kids-2 ways to handle conflict, 2 ways to deal with pain, 2 ways to run your house
2 ways to deal with the poor- DFW-shipped their homeless out of town for the SuperBowl
Yukon-dropped them off
2 ways,…from the west and from the east…horses or donkeys?
2 ways-Jesus is asking-my way or the way you’ve seen-the way of violence and power-or humility and sacrifice
Jesus goes to the cross for a better way.
There are 2 kingdoms which one do you serve?
Palm Sunday
Mark 11: 1-11
Intro
Lent
What is Lent? 40 days to prepare
This year’s Lenten series-last week of Jesus’ life. You have an extra hand out. Add one question-why do you think Jesus goes into the temple courts the night before?
So what is the first day of the last week?
Mark 11: 1-11
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
As we get started I need to give some background to what is going on during this story.
Who is in charge? Roman empire-how it’s governed-Emperor-emperor appointed governors
What’s going on in Jerusalem this last week? Passover celebration-some estimates say 200,000
What is Passover? What does it celebrate?
Israelites celebrate the fact that their God is the God who hears the cry of those who are oppressed. At a specific point in their history the God of the oppressed had heard their cry and rescued them from a foreign oppressor. So you have 200,000 Israelites singing and praising God, celebrating with wine God overcoming a foreign oppressor-all week long.
If you are Pilate how excited are you about this celebrating?
If you’re job is to keep the peace, how excited are you about this gathering?
What if they start talking about me? What if enough of them get together and have enough wine and sing enough songs and they start thinking…
You do not want them to-think about their history too long,
Job security is keeping these people well behaved.
How do you send a message-don’t think about it…do not mess with me?
Once a year-Pilate leaves Caesarea and marches to Jerusalem from the West. “Pilate enters from the West” And do it in such a way that says Rome is in control.
Eagle, What is an eagle? Matthew 8: 19 Then a teacher of the law came to him and said, “Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go.” 20Jesus replied, “Foxes have holes and birds have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head.”
Fox was a rabbinic reference to describe corrupt Jewish kings who lived in palaces and fed off the poor-
My movement is different, my movement is not about power.
After eagle, Giant Standards, parade of all the things the Roman Empire has done-resistance is futile
What happens to those who resist?
Soldiers, horseman and at the end or beginning would be Pilate on a horse-don’t mess with me.
Praetorium-fortress to remind them-don’t get out of hand-we’re right here
Pilate enters from the west.
Where is Jesus coming from? Bethany or from the East. Jesus enters from the East
How does Jesus enter? With an army? With a show of power?
Lowly and riding on a donkey
Do you understand what is happening? Jesus is having a political rally. Think about it. Do you really think at the end of the week Jesus is crucified for teaching-do the right thing, confess your sins, let God forgive you, trust God so you can go to heaven?
Why would the religious leaders come to the decision to kill him? Save people from their sins? If his message was just try to live a good life, better to give than receive, love your enemy? Love your God and love your neighbor? Blessed are the peacemakers, why does the ruling establishment decide that this man must die? And why didn’t they kill him? Why do they turn him over to someone else to do it? And why does the Roman Empire kill him? There’s something more going on this last week. And I hope to show you as we continue through this series.
Do you see what Jesus is doing?
There’s 2 ways to enter a city from the west or from the east. There are 2 ways to live-2 ways to run your life-2 ways to raise your kids-2 ways to handle conflict, 2 ways to deal with pain, 2 ways to run your house
2 ways to deal with the poor- DFW-shipped their homeless out of town for the SuperBowl
Yukon-dropped them off
2 ways,…from the west and from the east…horses or donkeys?
2 ways-Jesus is asking-my way or the way you’ve seen-the way of violence and power-or humility and sacrifice
Jesus goes to the cross for a better way.
There are 2 kingdoms which one do you serve?
James on Living
March 6
James on Living
James 4: 13-17
Intro
Well it’s good to be back. I hope you enjoyed Britni and Michael and getting out early. I have some extra minutes today. We wouldn’t want you to feel short changed.
So, after a two Sunday break this will be our last sermon in James series.
Since it has been a couple of weeks let’s have a refresher on all that James has had to say:
Trials-joy
Temptation-always there
Works-faith without works is dead
Tongue-difficult to control
Relationships-dealing with conflict
Prayer-struggled with unanswered prayer
Our scripture this morning continues the great lessons James offers. Let’s take a look.
James 4
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
There’s 2 parts to James’ message in this section:
1) Has to do with our plans.
Did you catch it? Essentially James touches on one of the most amazing doctrines of Scripture. That God, with the infinite universe in His hands, has a definite plan for each of His people.
The problem is that we don’t live in the moment. We live days, weeks, sometimes years ahead…often missing the opportunities God has for us. When people are dying we anticipate it instead of enjoying what time we have left and making the most of it. To a certain extent God calls us to live in the moment. What do I mean by that?
The error is not the quest for material gain, although that may be implied, but rather the presumption that life can be planned apart from God. The evil is not the plan, but the fact that it is a godless plan.
Life is short no matter how many years we live. Don’t be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live for Christ, to enjoy your loved ones, or to do what you know you should. Live for God today. Then, no matter when your life ends you will have fulfilled God’s plan for you.
If we don’t live, what good will the plans do?-as in Jesus’ story about the rich man who built new barns (Luke 12) “Don’t boast about tomorrow, because you don’t know what today may bring forth!”-Proverbs 27: 1
Illustration
The Bucket List-movie (maybe???)
I’m not saying don’t make plans. But don’t make plans without God-My own story-Air Force, DEA…ministry
Vision Planning-if it is not undergirded with prayer and keeping God at the center of our planning everything we do is useless…What future is God pulling us into?
I think sometimes our failure to include God has a deeper root than mere omission of considering God’s plan for us. Most of us who drive realize fuel is an absolute necessity in order for our vehicle to run. We know that when the gas gauge reads "Empty" or when we see that annoying light come on, it's time to pull on in to the gas station and fill it up. But honestly, how many of you have tried to see how far we could get on "Empty"?
The same is true in our spiritual lives. Many times we try to see how far we can get, unintentionally, without spending quality one on one time with God. Our egos get in the way of the ever- present Holy Spirit that is beckoning our attention. Meanwhile, we remain on cruise control for the week. We try to fill our tank with everything but what is necessary to function: fellowship with friends, insightful books, worshipful music and "drive-by" encounters with God are all things. While these are all positive activities, they are not sufficient enough for sustained spiritual growth.
In the book of James, we find where our dependence, our source of strength, should come from. We need to be completely, solely dependent upon Him. He is our strength, our fuel. Subjugating ourselves to Him, our motives and our desires to His, leaves us full and confident to continue our journey.
2) The second lesson James is teaching here deals with not doing what God asks of us.
We tend to think that doing wrong is sin. But James tells us that sin is also not doing what is right. If God is leading you to something or someone-follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Anyone who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it is committing a sin of omission far more serious than the sin of those who are uninformed-as is clear from scriptures like Lk 12: 47-48,
47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
2 Peter 2: 21.
21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
In this specific situation in James the sin is to announce plans as if we could control all the circumstances, failing to acknowledge that God is in charge and our plans depend on God’s will.
Essentially the message here is “You have now been informed; ignorance is no excuse. To act otherwise is sin without excuse.”
James gives us lots of good advice and recommendations on living a life pleasing to God. He begs us to give our days to God, and spend time talking and listening to God, so we know what He wants us to do – how to spend the time He gives us. Do you feel like you waste time? A song Max has learned this year is a great way to start the day, consider it as you start your days this week. “Good morning God, this is your day, I am your child. Show me your way.”
James on Living
James 4: 13-17
Intro
Well it’s good to be back. I hope you enjoyed Britni and Michael and getting out early. I have some extra minutes today. We wouldn’t want you to feel short changed.
So, after a two Sunday break this will be our last sermon in James series.
Since it has been a couple of weeks let’s have a refresher on all that James has had to say:
Trials-joy
Temptation-always there
Works-faith without works is dead
Tongue-difficult to control
Relationships-dealing with conflict
Prayer-struggled with unanswered prayer
Our scripture this morning continues the great lessons James offers. Let’s take a look.
James 4
13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.
There’s 2 parts to James’ message in this section:
1) Has to do with our plans.
Did you catch it? Essentially James touches on one of the most amazing doctrines of Scripture. That God, with the infinite universe in His hands, has a definite plan for each of His people.
The problem is that we don’t live in the moment. We live days, weeks, sometimes years ahead…often missing the opportunities God has for us. When people are dying we anticipate it instead of enjoying what time we have left and making the most of it. To a certain extent God calls us to live in the moment. What do I mean by that?
The error is not the quest for material gain, although that may be implied, but rather the presumption that life can be planned apart from God. The evil is not the plan, but the fact that it is a godless plan.
Life is short no matter how many years we live. Don’t be deceived into thinking that you have lots of remaining time to live for Christ, to enjoy your loved ones, or to do what you know you should. Live for God today. Then, no matter when your life ends you will have fulfilled God’s plan for you.
If we don’t live, what good will the plans do?-as in Jesus’ story about the rich man who built new barns (Luke 12) “Don’t boast about tomorrow, because you don’t know what today may bring forth!”-Proverbs 27: 1
Illustration
The Bucket List-movie (maybe???)
I’m not saying don’t make plans. But don’t make plans without God-My own story-Air Force, DEA…ministry
Vision Planning-if it is not undergirded with prayer and keeping God at the center of our planning everything we do is useless…What future is God pulling us into?
I think sometimes our failure to include God has a deeper root than mere omission of considering God’s plan for us. Most of us who drive realize fuel is an absolute necessity in order for our vehicle to run. We know that when the gas gauge reads "Empty" or when we see that annoying light come on, it's time to pull on in to the gas station and fill it up. But honestly, how many of you have tried to see how far we could get on "Empty"?
The same is true in our spiritual lives. Many times we try to see how far we can get, unintentionally, without spending quality one on one time with God. Our egos get in the way of the ever- present Holy Spirit that is beckoning our attention. Meanwhile, we remain on cruise control for the week. We try to fill our tank with everything but what is necessary to function: fellowship with friends, insightful books, worshipful music and "drive-by" encounters with God are all things. While these are all positive activities, they are not sufficient enough for sustained spiritual growth.
In the book of James, we find where our dependence, our source of strength, should come from. We need to be completely, solely dependent upon Him. He is our strength, our fuel. Subjugating ourselves to Him, our motives and our desires to His, leaves us full and confident to continue our journey.
2) The second lesson James is teaching here deals with not doing what God asks of us.
We tend to think that doing wrong is sin. But James tells us that sin is also not doing what is right. If God is leading you to something or someone-follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance.
Anyone who knows the right thing to do and fails to do it is committing a sin of omission far more serious than the sin of those who are uninformed-as is clear from scriptures like Lk 12: 47-48,
47 “The servant who knows the master’s will and does not get ready or does not do what the master wants will be beaten with many blows. 48 But the one who does not know and does things deserving punishment will be beaten with few blows. From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.
2 Peter 2: 21.
21 It would have been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than to have known it and then to turn their backs on the sacred command that was passed on to them.
In this specific situation in James the sin is to announce plans as if we could control all the circumstances, failing to acknowledge that God is in charge and our plans depend on God’s will.
Essentially the message here is “You have now been informed; ignorance is no excuse. To act otherwise is sin without excuse.”
James gives us lots of good advice and recommendations on living a life pleasing to God. He begs us to give our days to God, and spend time talking and listening to God, so we know what He wants us to do – how to spend the time He gives us. Do you feel like you waste time? A song Max has learned this year is a great way to start the day, consider it as you start your days this week. “Good morning God, this is your day, I am your child. Show me your way.”
James on Prayer
February 13
James on Prayer
James 5: 13-18
Intro
As we continue our study in James, we’re going to hit a tough topic this morning…
Prayer-essentially exploring the question-why doesn’t God always answer prayer?
From last week-selfish prayer-this we know…what about the other times-healing, protection and safe journeys? Let’s take a look at the passage.
James 5
The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
From Relevant:
You know how it works. Maybe your own health is in peril, or someone you love is suffering. You know God can heal, so you pray. You pray for weeks, you pray alone and in Bible studies, you put your request on prayer chains and prayer lists.
And…Nothing happens.
You’re not alone. All of us, I suspect, have prayed for healing and not heard a response. We’re left with that eternal “why.” The usual answers—God is testing our faith, we don’t have enough faith, we have been healed, but we need to claim it—don’t ring true. Even worse, they put the responsibility (and blame) on us or the person we prayed for.
The prayer offered in faith does not refer to the faith of the sick person, but to the faith of the people praying. God heals, faith doesn’t, and all prayers are subject to God’s will. But our prayers are part of God’s healing process.
What if the issue isn’t our faith, but something else?
Abraham Lincoln quote from the Civil War
Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.
The issue isn’t our faith, but as Lincoln points out it’s about God’s will. Specifically, what if God is doing a different thing—and it has to do with something our suffering can give to the world?
Is our suffering a sickness or strength?
Examples of people using their sickness as a strength
People we know who survive an accident, or a disability, or have a sickness
The Last Lecture guy, guy with AIDS from a blood transfusion, Nick Vujicic-Life Without Limbs
Something about our suffering says-I feel your pain
Suffering awakens empathy within us.
The Lord of life Himself gained empathy from suffering. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,” writes the author of Hebrews (4:15), “but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are.” And what has that suffering brought us? “Mercy and … grace to help us in our time of need” (4:16).
You could argue that the best role models for people who suffer are people who have gained victory over suffering. There’s some truth in that.
We understand that God can work through our pain and suffering, but what about healing? Some get healed while others do not.
Praying for healing: yes, no, or maybe?
The yearning for wholeness is in our nature. God has asked us to cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7), and illness certainly qualifies. There’s no question about it: praying for healing is a good thing.
The fact remains, though, that at times God chooses not to heal, for reasons we rarely understand in full. If that happens to us, and we can find a way to live into it, we might be gentler with ourselves when healing doesn’t come. We might bear more patiently with our own weaknesses and pay deeper attention to the will of God for our unique situation. Who knows? God may use our condition to make the world a better place.
One thing is certain, however. Whether we are healed or not, we always, everywhere, have the sustaining presence of God to carry us when we can go no further. As Moses said (Deuteronomy 31:6), “Do not be afraid or terrified … for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(((From Relevant:
How do we know where God's voice stops and our own voices begin?
As Christians, communication with God is a part of our daily lives. But there is a big difference between feeling like God is moving you in a particular direction and claiming he is telling you something audibly.
Wouldn't life be easy if God just opened the clouds and told us the answers to these questions every time we were stressed? But most times we don't get an audible answer. Other times we receive the answer we don't want to hear, not through a "word" but through circumstances.
When I think of someone who desperately needed an answer from God, I think of Paul. He had a mysterious thorn in his side, and he pleaded with heaven to take it away. What was the thorn? No one knows for sure. But what if it was loneliness? What if it was fear? What if it was anxiety over a big decision? And what was God's response? My Grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness.))))
So ultimately I have to answer the question Why doesn’t God answer some prayers with “I don’t know.” I’m sure that some of us want a more definitive answer, unfortunately I can’t give you one. Just know that I am in the struggle with you. I’ll end with this quote from Andrew Schwab.
Many times God doesn't give us the clear responses we seek. Why? Because in the process of wrestling with the answers to our questions we can become more like Jesus.
James on Prayer
James 5: 13-18
Intro
As we continue our study in James, we’re going to hit a tough topic this morning…
Prayer-essentially exploring the question-why doesn’t God always answer prayer?
From last week-selfish prayer-this we know…what about the other times-healing, protection and safe journeys? Let’s take a look at the passage.
James 5
The Prayer of Faith
13 Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. 14 Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. 16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
17 Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. 18 Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops.
From Relevant:
You know how it works. Maybe your own health is in peril, or someone you love is suffering. You know God can heal, so you pray. You pray for weeks, you pray alone and in Bible studies, you put your request on prayer chains and prayer lists.
And…Nothing happens.
You’re not alone. All of us, I suspect, have prayed for healing and not heard a response. We’re left with that eternal “why.” The usual answers—God is testing our faith, we don’t have enough faith, we have been healed, but we need to claim it—don’t ring true. Even worse, they put the responsibility (and blame) on us or the person we prayed for.
The prayer offered in faith does not refer to the faith of the sick person, but to the faith of the people praying. God heals, faith doesn’t, and all prayers are subject to God’s will. But our prayers are part of God’s healing process.
What if the issue isn’t our faith, but something else?
Abraham Lincoln quote from the Civil War
Both read the same Bible, and pray to the same God; and each invokes His aid against the other. It may seem strange that any men should dare to ask a just God’s assistance in wringing their bread from the sweat of other men’s faces; but let us judge not, that we be not judged. The prayers of both could not be answered; that of neither has been answered fully. The Almighty has His own purposes.
The issue isn’t our faith, but as Lincoln points out it’s about God’s will. Specifically, what if God is doing a different thing—and it has to do with something our suffering can give to the world?
Is our suffering a sickness or strength?
Examples of people using their sickness as a strength
People we know who survive an accident, or a disability, or have a sickness
The Last Lecture guy, guy with AIDS from a blood transfusion, Nick Vujicic-Life Without Limbs
Something about our suffering says-I feel your pain
Suffering awakens empathy within us.
The Lord of life Himself gained empathy from suffering. “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses,” writes the author of Hebrews (4:15), “but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are.” And what has that suffering brought us? “Mercy and … grace to help us in our time of need” (4:16).
You could argue that the best role models for people who suffer are people who have gained victory over suffering. There’s some truth in that.
We understand that God can work through our pain and suffering, but what about healing? Some get healed while others do not.
Praying for healing: yes, no, or maybe?
The yearning for wholeness is in our nature. God has asked us to cast our cares upon Him (1 Peter 5:7), and illness certainly qualifies. There’s no question about it: praying for healing is a good thing.
The fact remains, though, that at times God chooses not to heal, for reasons we rarely understand in full. If that happens to us, and we can find a way to live into it, we might be gentler with ourselves when healing doesn’t come. We might bear more patiently with our own weaknesses and pay deeper attention to the will of God for our unique situation. Who knows? God may use our condition to make the world a better place.
One thing is certain, however. Whether we are healed or not, we always, everywhere, have the sustaining presence of God to carry us when we can go no further. As Moses said (Deuteronomy 31:6), “Do not be afraid or terrified … for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”
(((From Relevant:
How do we know where God's voice stops and our own voices begin?
As Christians, communication with God is a part of our daily lives. But there is a big difference between feeling like God is moving you in a particular direction and claiming he is telling you something audibly.
Wouldn't life be easy if God just opened the clouds and told us the answers to these questions every time we were stressed? But most times we don't get an audible answer. Other times we receive the answer we don't want to hear, not through a "word" but through circumstances.
When I think of someone who desperately needed an answer from God, I think of Paul. He had a mysterious thorn in his side, and he pleaded with heaven to take it away. What was the thorn? No one knows for sure. But what if it was loneliness? What if it was fear? What if it was anxiety over a big decision? And what was God's response? My Grace is sufficient for you. My power is made perfect in weakness.))))
So ultimately I have to answer the question Why doesn’t God answer some prayers with “I don’t know.” I’m sure that some of us want a more definitive answer, unfortunately I can’t give you one. Just know that I am in the struggle with you. I’ll end with this quote from Andrew Schwab.
Many times God doesn't give us the clear responses we seek. Why? Because in the process of wrestling with the answers to our questions we can become more like Jesus.
James on Relationships
February 6
James on Relationships
James 4: 1-6
Intro
Intro with a story…what story? A story about arguing…
Or Intro of James
James 4
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.
Conflict
Let’s face it, we are going to have conflict. In fact, if there’s no conflict, we will create it. If everything is going well in our marriages, our church, our society, there will be those who will create conflict by finding something to argue about. And conflict, if handled properly, is not unhealthy. Healthy conflict can bring us closer together. (Marriage role example)
2) Conflict can bring about much needed change.
Sometimes there are things that need to be addressed that will cause conflict. When we decided to shut down our pre-school, it was not an easy decision, as I recall it was a very difficult one.
I had conversations with many leaders and church members, including some of the founders of the pre-school. That decision could have easily ripped our church apart, but everyone was able to put aside their personal desires and feelings and together we recognized that as God was pulling us into the future the preschool was no longer part of that. It had met a need in the community, but now with the school system the preschool was no longer a need. We began the CARE Ministry in its place and have helped our community in a new and exciting way.
Continuing with v. 2
You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Unanswered prayers
(((Some prayers go unanswered because they are nothing but requests for the gratification of our worldly desires.)))
There is a feeling among Christians today that feeds off the excessive individualism and greed that runs through our culture, namely that God gives approval to selfish prayer. It says: “you are a child of God. God is a loving Father who would deny his children nothing. Therefore you can pray for anything you want, and God will give it to you. You want a new car? A bigger house? Fancy clothes? Just ask, and it will be given to you.”
Besides misusing Scripture, raising false hopes and making prayer a magic charm indistinct from witchcraft, this teaching ignores a well known fact. Does a truly loving parent give their children whatever they ask for? Of course not, parents know better than their children what they actually need and act accordingly. This verse speaks against this selfish philosophy pretending to be a biblical teaching.
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
5 “Do you suppose the scriptures speak in vain when it says that there is a spirit in us which longs to envy?”
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
There is nothing wrong with wanting a pleasurable life per se. God gives us good gifts that God wants us to enjoy. But having friendship with the world involves seeking pleasure at other’s expense or at the expense of obeying God. Pleasure that keeps us from pleasing God is sinful, pleasure from God’s rich bounty is good.
From a Relevant Article
If we look at God's creation, it is quite obvious that pleasure in itself is not a sin, but rather a wonderful gift. But it is something that has been very deformed and abused by society. In the midst of our sinful nature, it became a god. It became something that we hungrily sought after for fulfillment and contentment rather than seeking God.
In choosing to love pleasure more than (or rather than) God who created it, we have actually cheated ourselves out of enjoying pleasure to the maximum. When this worship of pleasure turns into greed, gluttony, adultery and all kinds of other evils, it only serves to leave us poor and empty, lost and broken, still searching for something that will truly satisfy.
The truth is, the only thing that will ultimately satisfy is an intimate and unhindered relationship with God. Enjoying pleasure is no longer a "problem" but rather an act of worship and adoration for God who created it. When we enjoy pleasure through God, God receives the glory as the Creator.
But we don’t always do this. Often we pick the pleasure or the sin over God. Our unfaithfulness to God and that of Israel is often expressed in terms of adultery. The covenant with the Israelites, Jesus referring to the church as his bride all signs that we are called to be in a committed relationship with God. We shouldn’t cheat on God any more than we would a spouse.
v. 5 is a bit tricky. The interpreter’s have a hard time with this one. The Bible doesn’t actually say this anywhere. Which of course points to the idea that there was more Scripture that James consulted than what we have today or he might be referring to other Israel writings. The other problem is with the actual Greek of the text. There are two ways to translate it. I personally believe it is better interpreted this way because it makes more sense in the context of the scripture. It is because of our wondering eye, our envy of the world, what other people have that we stray from God.
So envy, quest for pleasure, asking for the wrong motives, quarreling all come down to what? What is the cause? What makes us an enemy of God? selfishness-putting myself ahead of what is best for others, putting myself ahead of what is best for God’s Kingdom.
((((The cure for selfishness of course is the opposite, humility. Pride makes us self-centered and leads us to conclude that we deserve all we can see, touch, or imagine. It creates greedy appetites for far more than we need. We can be released from our self-centered desires by humbling ourselves before God, realizing that all we really need is his approval. When the HS fills us we see that this worlds seductive attractions are only cheep substitutes for what God has to offer.))))
Every new year, we have a chance to reflect on what we truly believe – about ourselves and about God. It is an easy thing to get sucked into the mentality of the world. Of getting focused on the “here and now,” and let trivial things become more important than they should. We can think about the things we would like to have or fulfillment of ourselves. Instead, this morning, James challenges us to get re-focused on the eternal, on that which can bring us true joy and lasting value. To enjoy the beauty of nature – the miracles every day that God gives us, more than material things. To give thanks to God and spend time every day worshiping the God who creates and gives life and to share more of what we have with others. To walk humbly and receive grace – and give grace to others… and to thank God for his immeasurable and good grace.
James on Relationships
James 4: 1-6
Intro
Intro with a story…what story? A story about arguing…
Or Intro of James
James 4
1 What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? 2 You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight.
Conflict
Let’s face it, we are going to have conflict. In fact, if there’s no conflict, we will create it. If everything is going well in our marriages, our church, our society, there will be those who will create conflict by finding something to argue about. And conflict, if handled properly, is not unhealthy. Healthy conflict can bring us closer together. (Marriage role example)
2) Conflict can bring about much needed change.
Sometimes there are things that need to be addressed that will cause conflict. When we decided to shut down our pre-school, it was not an easy decision, as I recall it was a very difficult one.
I had conversations with many leaders and church members, including some of the founders of the pre-school. That decision could have easily ripped our church apart, but everyone was able to put aside their personal desires and feelings and together we recognized that as God was pulling us into the future the preschool was no longer part of that. It had met a need in the community, but now with the school system the preschool was no longer a need. We began the CARE Ministry in its place and have helped our community in a new and exciting way.
Continuing with v. 2
You do not have because you do not ask God. 3 When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
Unanswered prayers
(((Some prayers go unanswered because they are nothing but requests for the gratification of our worldly desires.)))
There is a feeling among Christians today that feeds off the excessive individualism and greed that runs through our culture, namely that God gives approval to selfish prayer. It says: “you are a child of God. God is a loving Father who would deny his children nothing. Therefore you can pray for anything you want, and God will give it to you. You want a new car? A bigger house? Fancy clothes? Just ask, and it will be given to you.”
Besides misusing Scripture, raising false hopes and making prayer a magic charm indistinct from witchcraft, this teaching ignores a well known fact. Does a truly loving parent give their children whatever they ask for? Of course not, parents know better than their children what they actually need and act accordingly. This verse speaks against this selfish philosophy pretending to be a biblical teaching.
4 You adulterous people, don’t you know that friendship with the world means enmity against God? Therefore, anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God.
5 “Do you suppose the scriptures speak in vain when it says that there is a spirit in us which longs to envy?”
6 But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
There is nothing wrong with wanting a pleasurable life per se. God gives us good gifts that God wants us to enjoy. But having friendship with the world involves seeking pleasure at other’s expense or at the expense of obeying God. Pleasure that keeps us from pleasing God is sinful, pleasure from God’s rich bounty is good.
From a Relevant Article
If we look at God's creation, it is quite obvious that pleasure in itself is not a sin, but rather a wonderful gift. But it is something that has been very deformed and abused by society. In the midst of our sinful nature, it became a god. It became something that we hungrily sought after for fulfillment and contentment rather than seeking God.
In choosing to love pleasure more than (or rather than) God who created it, we have actually cheated ourselves out of enjoying pleasure to the maximum. When this worship of pleasure turns into greed, gluttony, adultery and all kinds of other evils, it only serves to leave us poor and empty, lost and broken, still searching for something that will truly satisfy.
The truth is, the only thing that will ultimately satisfy is an intimate and unhindered relationship with God. Enjoying pleasure is no longer a "problem" but rather an act of worship and adoration for God who created it. When we enjoy pleasure through God, God receives the glory as the Creator.
But we don’t always do this. Often we pick the pleasure or the sin over God. Our unfaithfulness to God and that of Israel is often expressed in terms of adultery. The covenant with the Israelites, Jesus referring to the church as his bride all signs that we are called to be in a committed relationship with God. We shouldn’t cheat on God any more than we would a spouse.
v. 5 is a bit tricky. The interpreter’s have a hard time with this one. The Bible doesn’t actually say this anywhere. Which of course points to the idea that there was more Scripture that James consulted than what we have today or he might be referring to other Israel writings. The other problem is with the actual Greek of the text. There are two ways to translate it. I personally believe it is better interpreted this way because it makes more sense in the context of the scripture. It is because of our wondering eye, our envy of the world, what other people have that we stray from God.
So envy, quest for pleasure, asking for the wrong motives, quarreling all come down to what? What is the cause? What makes us an enemy of God? selfishness-putting myself ahead of what is best for others, putting myself ahead of what is best for God’s Kingdom.
((((The cure for selfishness of course is the opposite, humility. Pride makes us self-centered and leads us to conclude that we deserve all we can see, touch, or imagine. It creates greedy appetites for far more than we need. We can be released from our self-centered desires by humbling ourselves before God, realizing that all we really need is his approval. When the HS fills us we see that this worlds seductive attractions are only cheep substitutes for what God has to offer.))))
Every new year, we have a chance to reflect on what we truly believe – about ourselves and about God. It is an easy thing to get sucked into the mentality of the world. Of getting focused on the “here and now,” and let trivial things become more important than they should. We can think about the things we would like to have or fulfillment of ourselves. Instead, this morning, James challenges us to get re-focused on the eternal, on that which can bring us true joy and lasting value. To enjoy the beauty of nature – the miracles every day that God gives us, more than material things. To give thanks to God and spend time every day worshiping the God who creates and gives life and to share more of what we have with others. To walk humbly and receive grace – and give grace to others… and to thank God for his immeasurable and good grace.
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