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Posts Tagged ‘Jesus’

What Is Lawful?

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , on March 16, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Mark 3:4-5
Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent. He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored.

It struck me this morning Mark reports that Jesus was angry. These glimpses at His emotional life are important and are telling. For me, his angry was fueled by the narrowness of the Pharisees. They had an agenda and no matter what happened around them or before them, they only knew one thing, Jesus was “breaking” a law that was foundational to their beliefs. I think the 21st century church shows signs of the same narrowness at times. Many have taken political and moral stands on various controversies from abortion to homosexuality to music and art or even the environment and made these the litmus tests for identifying a “real” Christian…. a “Bible-believing” Christian. Would Jesus be angry with us? In this story, there is no joy for the healed man? He was insignificant in the face of the law. Let us remember the person today… the sacred soul made and loved by God.

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Justice, Mercy & Faithfulness

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , , on March 10, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Matthew 23:23b
…But you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness….

What an interesting combination of words. Here is justice, which has many definitions, but most frequently, I believe we think of it as “the administration of deserved punishment” or “rightfulness and fairness.” However, the power of mercy is to do the opposite, to forgive the deserved punishment with tolerance and compassion. And lastly, faithfulness (or adherence to truth, steadiness, and a standard) is like an umbrella over them both.

There are many paradoxes in the Bible and it is only with a wide-open mind and heart can be incorporate them into our walk. It is because there is justice that there can be mercy. And praise be to God, He is faithful in extending both.

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Will the Crowd Persuade?

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , on March 5, 2009| Leave a Comment »

Matthew 27:20
“But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.”

My prayer, “Lord, don’t let the crowd sway me!” It so hard to go against the crowd. Generally, I confess, when the crowd is going one way (in conversation), if it’s uncomfortable, I will choose silence. It could be worse, I think. But then, I ponder those of us who were silent on the day Pilate brought Jesus out to be judged by the crowd, we might as well have cried out, “Crucify Him.” We did no better in our silence. Well, to stand, then, has some merit. But to speak would be better.

But… how do I stand, speak against the crowd, and still be humble? I don’t know. I really don’t know how to do that.

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Fat Tuesday

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , on February 24, 2009| Leave a Comment »

OK… this is it. No more diet cokes (or sodas) after tonight. Does that sound like a little thing to you? Not me. If it’s true that we are to “add” a prayer for each time we “give up” something for Christ during the Lenten season… I will be quite prayed up.

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday… let us begin a short journey into the Word … may He anoint my writing for the sake of the Body…

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Woman, behold your son

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , , on February 25, 2008| Leave a Comment »

It’s John 19:26… and although I know the context here is of Jesus “presenting” his mother to John, his beloved disciple (this is made clear by the next line where he presents John to his mother)… this phrase brings some other thoughts to mind…

1) Where were Jesus’ “half” brothers and why wouldn’t they care for her? For me, it’s a reminder that sometimes, family by blood is not as close as family by Christ or experience … friends who have “been there” for you can often be more significant and reliable.

2) A part of me wonders if this phrase doesn’t have a double meaning – saying to his earthly mother, “Here, look at your son now on this cross. It has all happened as it was foretold. It is a reality. Look at me. Accept the truth of what must be.”

3) How ironic it is to me that all the new translations and online translations are quick to say that the word “woman” used in this phrase is a term of “endearment and respect.” That may be true, all the same, He did not call her mother. There are many who would disagree with me, but some part of me believes that Jesus had long since stopped seeing her as His “mother” – but only as a dear disciple. (Also supported by Mark 3:31-35) Pastor Craig might disagree as well since he based his sermon on this phrase saying it shows Jesus’ concern for family even to the end of his life. That may well be true. But there is still a mystery in his choice of words.

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Sensing Jesus

Posted in Lent, tagged , , , , on February 6, 2008| Leave a Comment »

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched–this we proclaim concerning the Word of life.” I John 1:1

Can you imagine what it would have been like… to hear, see and touch the man, Jesus? But I ask you… Would His voice remain in the aural memory? Or, like a loved one, long dead, would the voice go lost? Would his face always be emblazoned on the retina? Or, like friends we haven’t seen for a long time, become a mushy blur? Would the feel of his skin … or his scent … or his gait … would any of these remain? Unfortunately, though God He was, we would probably forget the details. No, our faith in Him would not make a sharper image. Our faith allows Him to be all things… to be in all and through all. It gives Him a multi-dimensionality. Personally, I never heard, saw or touched Jesus… and yet, in my spirit, when I am truly focused on Him… I think I do… see, hear & touch… it’s better than a memory.

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