TUESDAY, DAY 30 OF LENT 2025

Today's reading brings me to John 15, beginning at verse 9:

Jesus words shared here are, "As the Father has loved me, I have also loved you. Remain in my love."

I am caught there momentarily. God loved His Son so much that He sent Jesus to the cross to die for us. It immediately makes me think of Christians who suffer 'for the Gospel' and causes my mind to wonder about times of deep suffering that people often have to endure in their faith journey...and sometimes because of their faith journey! I know that when we remain in the center of God's will nothing can touch us without God's permission. I know that whatever comes into our path is in God's knowing even if we are Jesus' followers but aren't exactly in the center of God's will in that moment. I know that God appears to use suffering and challenge as a way to nudge His people back to the right path. And I know that sometimes there is no apparent reason for suffering, it just happens. 

I believe that God can use all situations for His ultimate glory, because what I have ascertained is that when people are faithful in the midst of challenge and great difficulty it speaks volumes to others, and when our human condition - whatever that brings - is brought under God's sovereignty God can turn ashes to beauty. It is during those times that most assuredly we must 'keep on keeping on', take one step at a time, combat the darkness with God's truth that He does all things well, He is the potter and I am the clay, and though I can't see an end in sight, He and He alone knows. 

I read those words again and am compelled to see that no matter what the circumstances are that assail me my marching orders are to remain in His love. What if God sends me into difficulty or allows difficulty for a greater purpose? What if it is part of His love for me that will allow me to be more compassionate and understanding so I can reflect his love to others. What if my response to suffering somehow is designed to show his love for others? Today is a grappling day!

Verse 10 says, "If you keep my commands you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father's commands and remain in his love." 

And verse 12 defines what that command is: "This is my command: Love one another as I have loved you." And verse 13 adds: "No one has greater love than this: to lay down his life for his friends."

Am I willing to lay down my life, my needs, my wants, my desires, my view, for others? Grappling again!

In the subsequent verses Jesus shares with his closest followers that he has chosen them - and that he has appointed them to go and produce fruit, and he reiterates in verse 17, 

"This is what I command you: Love one another." 

It becomes our life challenge to learn how that love is demonstrated as we attempt to follow the Holy Spirit's leading. It is clear the path will not always be smooth or easy, that there will be rough times that are inserted into our journey, but equally clear that even in the rough patches God is with us, is faithful, and will sustain us. After all, we are His vineyard!

TUESDAY, DAY 24 OF LENT 2025 (Also April Fools' Day this year)

We begin with John 13:21 today, but in my reading I cannot help that notice a sub-theme: Jesus knew! Jesus knew (13:1) his hour had come. Jesus knew (13:18-27) that Judas was going to betray him. Jesus knew (13:38) that Peter would deny him.

He also knew that Judas, who was obsessed with money, would be paid 30 pieces of silver and then take his own life. And, in stark contrast, that Peter would come back to absolute faith and belief in his Savior, and dedicate his life to serving the Lord, and ultimately die a cruel death. 

Jesus knows. He knows the challenges we will face - and that in facing challenges we can actually become stronger than we ever thought possible. We have a choice. When we falter or fail, we can either give up permanently, or we can run back to Jesus' loving arms, ask and receive his forgiveness, and become encouragers to others who are struggling. 

In John 13:34 Jesus gives his disciples - and by extension, us - a new command:

"...Love one another. Just as I have loved you, you are also to love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

I am aware that there are multiple words that were translated "love" and I was curious to know which one this is. In the process I found yet another word! And I learned that even my basic understanding of various words that are translated as "love" are based on Greek, not Hebrew. 

I love to learn new things! Because the word in Hebrew is written in figures instead of using a familiar-looking alphabet, the word will be written in English differently depending on who the interpreter is, but on Bible Hub, the spelling used is 'agapate', translated "you should love." This type of love is a moral mandate to care for each other. It is action, not emotion. It is putting others needs on the same level as our own, looking out for others' interests, not just our own. Seeing a need, filling that need. 

Needs are not merely financial, though too  often we equate need with financial struggle, but someone can be wealthy and have emotional, physical, or spiritual needs, and 'need' to have others come alongside. Being sensitive to when that is the case is an alert provided by the Holy Spirit. Love one another! It doesn't sound optional, does it? 

Jesus needed that love from Peter, but in Jesus' deepest pain, Peter denied and deserted him. Thank God that is not the end of Peter's story - and thank God, that when I have failed miserably, it was not the end of my story either. Thank you, Lord, for your amazing grace!

 

 

DAY 7 - COUNTING TO ASCENSION

DAY 6: POST RESURRECTION

BACKTRACKING TO ‘GOOD’ FRIDAY:  LESSON 4

(6 p m ‘Thursday’ to 6 p m Friday)
Jesus’ new command & Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

Reading for today:
John 13:33-35
Matthew 26:33-35
Mark 14:29-31
Luke 22:33-34
John 13:36-38


In yesterday’s recounting of the events surrounding Jesus’ final Passover on earth we reclined at the Passover table with the disciples during the foot-washing – and later witnessed Judas’ leaving to ‘go do quickly what he was about to do.’ We know that by then in their evening it was night – dark night, and by their timeline several hours into Friday. 

As soon as Judas leaves, Jesus tells them, “Now is the Son of Man glorified….” Wow! Things had been irreversibly set in motion….it was truly the beginning of the apparent end. He didn’t wait until he was on the cross to declare that he was glorified – it began now….

This is when He shares one of the most significant expressions of the New Covenant:  “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”

Then he showed them throughout the remaining hours of that 24-hour period just what love demands.

This is not just warm, fuzzy love. This includes the “I don’t want to do this – but I must to be faithful to the call on my life” love. It is not love founded in feeling, but in faithfulness. And it isn’t optional. It is a command. It takes absolute submission to God to live out this kind of love. We can’t do it on our own – but Christ, who lives in us, the one in whom we place our trust, helps us through the power of the Holy Spirit…. Oops. Even that is jumping ahead! The Comforter cannot come until Jesus ascends…. And that is a story for another day….

In our linear sequential storyline, we come to Peter. Another glimpse. Another layer. Peter who walked on water to meet Jesus. Peter who has been Jesus’ sidekick for a significant part of the past 3 years. Peter who determinedly declares his undying devotion, and willingness even to go to prison and to die with Jesus. And all of the others agree, following his lead. And what does Jesus tell him? That before the rooster crows in the morning, Peter will disown Jesus 3 times – not just once but 3 times. I think that must have been really hard to hear – and Peter, with all he was worth, probably determined not to let it come true.

Judas will betray Jesus by intentionally giving Jesus up to the authorities. Peter will betray Jesus by claiming he never knew him. One betrays out of bad motives; one betrays out of fear. One will repent and hang himself; one will repent and become bold in proclaiming the message of the Gospel. Both sinned – but the outcome was vastly different.

When I think of denials I think of the reported 26 people who die as martyrs for their faith every hour. Of churches filled with parishioners bolted shut and burned. Of people rounded up and slaughtered execution style. It’s easy ensconced in my comfy chair at the computer in the relative safety of my home to think I could be noble and stand firmly for my faith if terrorists were to come into my church and say they’d kill all who didn’t deny their faith. Yet I know that kind of resolve can only come through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It is portrayed in smaller doses in standing up for truth and justice – when it would be much easier to embrace a philosophical attitude toward sin or rationalize wrong thinking – because standing up for what is right risks severing ties I’d like not to be severed.  We live in the reality of a world that does not have a God-informed worldview. 

It is a daily walk. But this day is going to be a tough one – for Jesus, certainly, but for his disciples as well. It hurts to fail. But how tender that Jesus warns Peter – that He knows human frailty and still demonstrates His love. That he is about to die, with this group of followers as his ‘firstfruits,’ all the while knowing they will run away in fear, and desert him in his hour of deepest need – and He loves them anyway.

One final poem to share:
A LAST GOODBYE
by Lola Cain 1/9/2007

If I’d had time to say goodbye
I’d have held you close and told you
That I’ve loved you every moment
With all of my heart
Through good times and bad
‘Til death do us part
With the love that we promised
Way back at the start.
I’d have affirmed my love is enduring
And that my love for you has grown
To envelop me and help mold who I am….
If I’d had time to say goodbye.

If I’d been able to say goodbye
I’d have held you close
And told you not to cry too long,
But to live life
With the same exuberance
We’ve shared
I’d tell you that you are the love of my life
And that because I love you
I want you to live to love again,
Though not too soon…
I’d say that loving honors love lived
If I’d been able to say goodbye.

If I could have said goodbye
I wouldn’t have wasted time with regrets
But with remembered joys.
I’d have told you how I’ve loved
Waking up before you, lying beside you
Absorbing the sound of your breathing,
Watching you sleep.
I’d tell you how I’ve thrilled
To your slightest touch
Even though I sometimes didn’t affirm it;
I’d have told you now.
If I could have said goodbye.

If I had the chance to say goodbye
I’d ask you to tell the kids
how much I love them.
No matter how many times I said it
It was never enough
To cover the coming hours and days of silence.
And then, before I finally had to go
I’d hold you one last time in my embrace,
Feel the warmth of your body,
Your breath against my neck,
and tell you one more time I love you…
…If I had the chance to say goodbye.


This poem was inspired by the thought of life that ends abruptly with no chance to say goodbye. Life lost by inches is terribly painful, but those who take advantage of that time get to say their last goodbyes. This poem speaks for those who did not get that opportunity.

I was reading poetry by the then-current (2007) poet laureate, Donald Hall, in preparation for leading the discussion on our book group’s author for April. He writes prolifically in “free verse” and his experience of recording the process of the loss of his wife, Jane Kenyon, made me think about those who lose someone suddenly, unexpectedly. I know that even “knowing” the loss is to occur does not prepare us for the reality – when we are blindsided by an emotional onslaught we had no way of anticipating – but it does give us a chance to say some of the things we want to say. This was written at a time when our family was grieving for a loss that soon would be reality (while poignantly aware of friends experiencing similar loss.)