Journey to the Cross 2017, for Day 31 (April 5)

Wednesday, DAY 31                                                    April 5                    
Reading for today:
Luke 21:7-38
Luke’s record of Jesus’ teaching on the Mount of Olives

My heart is heavy this morning. As I lay awake earlier longing for more sleep my brain wouldn’t allow me to sink back into slumber. The weight of what Jesus was experiencing nearly 2000 years ago is living with me. In truth, I find it hard to add my bit of humor at the end of each day’s entry. I have never walked this journey so specifically with Him, leading me to his death and resurrection. Oh, sure, there have been moments in other years that had such an impact that my heart was crushed beneath the weight – but this year it is a daily walk – and I feel like I am on a tightwire between the daily reality of trying to maintain living with joy in my salvation, and the crushing weight of what Jesus was experiencing.

A few weeks ago – just after I started this spiritual journey and writing about it – I did some research online trying to find out what history discloses about a proposed date for Jesus’ death. The internet is really amazing for doing research!

Sir Isaac Newton, who lived 1643 - 1747 was one of the greatest scientists who ever lived – and he was passionate about studying the Bible. His careful research in his era led him to the conclusion that Jesus died April 3, 33 A D. Whether or not that is fact, it resonates for my spiritual journey, and somehow makes me more poignantly aware each day how compelling the journey for Jesus was. Well – at least it gives me a glimpse. In reality, I couldn’t handle the full weight of what He felt. Just the glimpse is crushing.

As for the disciples, they really are trying to understand, but it is so hard. Their script for what they thought Messiah was going to do had Him riding in as the champion on the white horse, vanquishing foes, ridding them of Roman rule, becoming a powerful political leader while simultaneously bringing the kingdom of God to earth. And what does their Messiah tell them? Not what their ears are aching to hear, certainly! He tells them, in fact, that things are going to get bad – and then get worse. Again, we have the layers – and there is no distinct delineation between what would happen to Jerusalem in 70 AD and what was predicted to happen at the end of time.

All three of the Synoptic Gospels faithfully record Jesus’ description of what must be before the end: wars, revolutions, nation rising against nation, signs in the skies, tossing of the sea, earthquakes, famines, pestilences. Deceivers, adversaries, betrayers (even family). Wrath against the Jewish people.

Certainly all of it has been happening and will continue to ramp up according to the Bible.  The signs of our times seem to be propelling us to the End at warp speed. This year? 20 years? 50 years? When? We don’t know. But we know what Jesus promises – at every level – is true. Then – and now.

What I want to highlight briefly today is the positive that comes out of persecution. Verse 13 says, “This will result in your being witnesses....” That means being faithful in spite of circumstances. Telling the good news no matter how bad things get.  Lifting up Jesus and the Gospel along the journey, whatever the journey is.  Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. What was lost was an intimate relationship with God.  Jesus is already forewarning them about the scattering that will result from persecution. But – as they run from their enemies, they will also share the truth of the gospel. Beauty from ashes.

Humor for today:
From Bulletin Bloopers (actual notices collected from actual bulletins):
The sermon this morning: “Jesus Walks on Water”
The sermon this evening: “Searching for Jesus”

Journey to the Cross 2017, Fifth Sunday of Easter (April 2)

The Fifth Sunday of Easter                                    April 2

Reading for today:
Matthew 24:1-2
Mark 13:1-2
Luke 21:5-6

I am grateful for just a few verses today – but I note that what these few verses really introduce is the Olivet Discourse – Jesus last discourse of length before His death. That will be addressed tomorrow according to my reading plan.

What I note most poignantly is that the same Jesus who prophesied his own death and resurrection – multiple times – now predicts the destruction of the temple in Jerusalem. We can’t help but know what happens, no matter how hard I want to try to experience the journey as it occurred.

What Jesus predicts – for Himself and for the temple:  both come true. To Him in very short order. To the temple in A D 70 – only 37 years after Jesus’ death and resurrection, when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem.

I’ve stood on Mt Scopus and looked down over the place where that temple once stood – and wept over Jerusalem for the pain and sorrow that was and that will be. The spot where the temple once stood has been usurped by ‘The Dome of the Rock.’ I have walked underground and touched the rock that lies beneath where the temple stood. I have stood with the women and prayed in their designated section at the Western Wall, the only part of the temple left standing – and as close as Jews and visitors were allowed to get to the original temple grounds when I went on my first trip to Israel.  [That  changed for my last trip to Israel in 2011 when we were allowed to go to Temple Mount for a brief visit.  That was amazing – including standing inside the sealed-off Eastern Gate where He will one day enter at His Second Coming.] 

It is a site with incredible history leading back to Abraham, for it is where he went to ‘sacrifice’ Isaac – where God tested Abraham’s obedience after promising him Isaac was the son through whom all the world would be blessed (because he would be the one through whom Jesus would ultimately be born.) 1000 years after Abraham, it was the site of the first temple –  Solomon’s temple – and after the destruction of that temple it was the site of the 2nd temple – the one that was last destroyed.

I have walked through the excavation where the stones from the temple are piled. They are gargantuan hewn stones. It is unfathomable how they worked the stones, and how they ever managed to raise them into place. They would have looked like ‘forever’ to the Jewish people living in what we now call 33 A D. It gives me pause.

I, too, can assume certain things are stable, reliable, absolute. Yet, the only reliable forecast for life is change – some good, some not. I am so grateful that no matter what those changes bring, I have Jesus – through the power of the Holy Spirit – to walk beside me.  Everything else changes but Jesus.  Jesus is absolute Truth and he is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Humor for today:
A pastor asked a little boy, “Son do you say your prayers every night?”

“Oh yes, Pastor. I do.”

“And do you say your prayers in the morning, too?” The pastor inquired.

The little boy quickly replied, “No, Pastor, I don’t. I’m not scared in the morning.”

Journey to the Cross 2017, Day 27

Friday, Day 27                                  

Reading for today:
Mark 12:41-44
Luke 21:1-4

What a contrast from what we read yesterday. Yesterday Jesus excoriated the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees, telling us how they put on a show of being religious but devour widow’s houses....

And today he gives us a glimpse into giving all. Only he would have known that what the widow gave was all she had. The lesson in this isn’t about disparaging what the wealthy gave – but the contrast. In reality, if all she had left was a fraction of a penny, she wasn’t going to live long on that anyway –  but what this gift reflects is an attitude and a model for us. Truly all we have is the Lord’s – a gift from His hand. We are stewards. Our resources –  whatever they are – are to be at His disposal – or else we make them our security and our god. It is ‘living on the edge’ when we submit all to Him.

We are saved by grace – but we are saved to do good works. True religion helps orphans and widows in their distress. True religion heals wounds and binds up the broken-hearted. True religion feeds the hungry and clothes the naked. Love is not a suggestion.  It is a command.  Love is an action verb. Love responds to God’s call – whether it is to go or to give. That’s why I prefer Mark 12:30 and Luke 10:27 over Matthew’s quote in Matthew 22:37, as he leaves out the last component. Both Mark and Luke challenge us to love God with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength. The strength part is the action. All the others are internal.

In my 38 years as a Presbyterian, one of the many things I loved was the charge given to us as we were commissioned each year to serve in our various capacities. Our charge and resulting promise was ‘to serve with energy, imagination, intelligence and love.’ It was a wonderful annual reminder that we were about the Father’s business, whatever area we were serving in. 

Jesus was doing precisely that. He is walking toward the cross – and beyond that toward Resurrection – but the reality of what he will have to endure is on his mind. Giving all is on his mind. He could have focused on the reality that if the widow gave her all she would be going home to die. He didn’t. He focused on the gift. The same is true for Him. He could have focused on his death. He didn’t. He focused on the gift and on Easter morning – His story didn’t end with death, but with resurrection.... Ahhhhh...I keep getting ahead of the story.

Humor for today:
The company’s boss was complaining in a staff meeting that he wasn’t being shown proper respect. Later that morning he went to a local sign shop and bought a small sign that read “I’m the boss!” He took it back to his office and taped it to his office door.

Later, when he returned from lunch, he found a note taped to his sign. It stated, “Your wife called. She wants her sign back.”