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Posts Tagged ‘Jesus’

Pilate Satisfied the Crowd

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , , on April 7, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Mark 15:14-15
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

In the end, Pilate satisfied the crowd because it was easier. He had no fear of Jesus. He discounted the warnings of his wife. He viewed the whole matter as an inconvenience. He made a few lame attempts at releasing Jesus instead of Barabbas. And I’m sure he even knew it was the priests who were driving the crowd. But most of all, he knew Jesus was innocent. He took the path of least resistance. Truth was not essential.

Today, I read in Luke 21:34… “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life…” where Jesus warned the people that these things will prevent a person from recognizing the truth of events unfolding in the end times. A dissipated heart could be interpreted as a heart wasted away by misuse, drunkenness as “self-medication” and anxiety as fear of self-control (for in the end, anxiety occurs when we can’t control our circumstances). All of these prevent us from seeing the truth. And so, we take the easier path, just like Pilate. We have lost the ability to feel the pain of others, we run from our own pain, and we build walls around our world to keep out the messiness of life.

Today, I will seek courage for seeing truth and choosing the way of it. Today, I will exercise my heart, my mind, and my soul for the sake of Christ.

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Peter Wept

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , , , , on April 6, 2009| 1 Comment »

Matthew 26:74-75
Then he began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

In Matthew’s version of this story, Peter is confronted with the truth of himself and weeps; a few lines later, Judas confronts himself and commits suicide. Both men felt remorse. Both were overwhelmed by their actions but only one survives. Peter is not mentioned again individually by Matthew, except as within the group of eleven disciples who return to Galilee to see Jesus ascend. But in Luke’s gospel, we see Peter among the gathered disciples and then he rushes to the empty tomb to see it for himself.

Here’s my point: Peter wept when he saw himself in stark reality. Both Luke and Matthew say he wept bitterly which implies how difficult it was for him to accept the truth. But Peter’s response, his next step, was to return to community instead of isolating himself.

When we see the truth of ourselves, our first tendency is to hide and go it alone. But that is not the best way. Isolation is just the beginning of a downward spiral into depression and hopelessness. Nothing we have done or said is beyond surrender to God. Forgiveness is made real by sharing that painful confession with other believers. It is the body of Christ that puts hands and feet on forgiveness and renewal.

I am working my way back into community, into koinonia. Will there be open arms?

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A Rabbi’s Yoke

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , , , on April 4, 2009| 3 Comments »

Matthew 11:28-30
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

I am reading a fascinating book called Velvet Elvis: Repainting the Christian Faith by Rob Bell. I have always been interested in language and the meaning/interpretation of words. So often, we take the most common words for granted. This kind of questioning started back in my theatre days when we were challenged to investigate, “what does this phrase or word really mean?” The Bible is full of words that are loaded: love, grace, sin, hope, faith, truth… that’s just a few for starters!

Anyway, Rob Bell speaks of this meaning and interpretation of words as one of the responsibilities of a Rabbi. And those disciples who studied under a rabbi understood that he was the one, after much study and prayer, who would make the final determination/interpretation. For instance, if the law said that no work could be done on the Sabbath, it was the Rabbi who interpreted what “work” might mean. Different Rabbis had different interpretations. One might say that walking 3 miles was permissible but walking more was work. While another might say 2 miles, etc. As a result, people would choose or align themselves with a rabbi whose set of interpretations they would follow. This set of interpretations was called the Rabbi’s Yoke!

Of course, you can see where I’m going here: Jesus, the Rabbi, brought a new yoke to the people. He even announced it and invited others to follow because His yoke was easy! This is the way of Jesus even today.

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He Was Condemned

Posted in Lent, tagged , , on April 3, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Matthew 26:64-66
“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: In the future you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.

It was all pre-meditated. The Sanhedrin knew that Jesus would be there that night; that they were to gather and condemn him, one way or another. To them, it was necessary. And so, in the end, it wouldn’t have mattered what Jesus said … or didn’t say. Their minds were made up ahead of time. They had their expectations and they merely waited to hear something… anything, that would confirm their suspicions.

We need to watch out for preconceived ideas. If we enter a situation or meet a new person with a negative expectation, it’s hard to see or hear with openness. How much better to walk into a room and prepare your heart by expecting the Lord to be near (Phil 4:5). If He is truly near, then there is always someone to meet, something to see, or a moment of value.

If you discover that you are the one who has “pre-judged” someone else, then ask forgiveness… for it is a great sin, not the least of which is pride.

And, at the same time, we must remember that predispositions happen both ways. Someone may have a biased view of YOU! I think, if you become aware of it, keep silent, for there is nothing you can say to change that kind of misconception. If someone wants to find reason to condemn you, they will. Any set of actions can be misinterpreted. If you are innocent under these circumstance, keep silent.

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Jesus Accepted the Pain

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , on March 31, 2009| 2 Comments »

Mark 15:23-24
Then they offered him wine mixed with myrrh, but he did not take it. And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.

Jesus allowed it all to happen. He allowed the mocking, the whipping, the accusations, the abuse, and the horrible, horrible pain. He understood his journey included pain. So many times in our own culture, we do anything and everything we can to mask or hide the pain. I am not saying that’s always bad. In fact, my mantra used to be “avoid pain at all costs.” And I did. I avoided physical pain and I avoided emotional pain. But, when there is no pain, there is a numbness that can cut us off from the reality of our experiences. I am trying to stop running from all the things that hurt.

Some years ago, Philip Yancey and Paul Brand wrote a book called Pain, the Gift that Nobody Wants. Although it is actually the story of Paul Brand’s work with lepers and leprosy (which, by the way, is really a bacteria that causes loss of sensation or feeling… first in the extremities and then other parts). But the book takes us to another other level as well… to remind us of the importance of pain, particularly in our bodies. Pain gives us information about things going wrong. If we always ignore or mask pain, we may miss something important.

Jesus had to feel it all. I don’t really know why, but it was definitely part of the package. It takes courage to face pain and to accept it. I marvel at those who have travailed in truly serious illnesses. They know about that pain. I am humbled in the face of it.

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He is the Christ

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , on March 30, 2009| 1 Comment »

Mark 14:60-62a
Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?”
“I am,” said Jesus.

The use of “the Christ” can also be translated, the “chosen one” or the “anointed.” When the high priest asked Jesus this question, he was also asking if Jesus was the Messiah, the promised and expected deliverer of the Jewish people. He said, “yes.” So, either Jesus was deluded, a liar or… the real thing. This was one question he agreed to answer despite being silent in the face of all the other accusations. In essence, I believe this was the only answer that was needed. If he is who he says he is, then all of the accusations were base and unfounded.

For me, despite all of my mistakes, misunderstandings, sins, bad choices, failures, pride, and fear… I know this, without a doubt, He is the Christ.

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Cornerstone of the Kingdom

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , on March 29, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Luke 20:17b-18
‘The stone the builders rejected has become the capstone’…Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed.

As I meditated on this scripture this morning, I took a long time trying to figure it out. I didn’t even know who might the builders be or what are they building. Then I compared this reading with the Matthew version (Matthew 22:42-44) and it is quite clearly stated: it is the Kingdom of God being built. So, if Jesus is the foundation, the cornerstone, of that Kingdom, then those who fall on Him (trip over Him, ignore Him, try to cover up the reality of Him), will break. Bottom line, the Kingdom of God will not fail. It is not something that can be destroyed. Those who try, will break. And if someone tries to put something else as the foundation, that will be crushed, whether it be person, place, idea, or concept. The Christ is the true foundation whether one accepts/believes/understands Him or not… like gravity, a law.

Matthew 20:43 says, “Therefore I tell you that the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will produce its fruit.” We are the builders. And if we do not build on the cornerstone, we will fail and the kingdom will pass to those who do build upon the Christ. What is this kingdom? Where is this kingdom? It is broad and wide. It is small and deep. It is within. It is without.

We must first place the cornerstone within and from there, the kingdom of God that is uniquely me or you, grows and touches the unique (sacred) buildings of others and eventually, encompasses our world.

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