Journey to the Cross 2017, Sixth Sunday of Easter

The Sixth Sunday of Easter:  PALM SUNDAY

The Beginning of Holy Week                    

Countdown to Resurrection – 7 days

Reading for today:
Matthew 21:1-11, 17
Mark 11:1-11
Luke 19:28-44
John 12:12-19
Zechariah 9:9
Psalm 118:25-26

Today begins Holy Week.  We know exactly where Jesus was on this particular Sunday. He left Bethany, heading toward Bethphage – and ultimately to Jerusalem. On His way, He sent His disciples ahead to the small village of Bethphage to keep a divine appointment with a donkey’s colt.

Zechariah prophesied this event 500 years before Jesus rode into Jerusalem from Bethphage. His prophecy was one of the reasons the Jewish people were looking for their Messiah. And by Jesus’ fulfillment of that prophecy, He was visibly and boldly proclaiming that He was the One who was prophesied to come – and for that moment many believed Him!

The crowd was undoubtedly comprised of many who had heard of the miracle of Lazarus’ being raised from the dead. Their promised King had come. Their response was to wave palm branches, and lay their coats down as a sign of homage and shout: “Hosanna! (Save us!) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David! Blessed is the King of Israel. Hosanna in the highest. Peace in heaven and glory in the highest.”

He was lauded at his birth when the shepherds heard a myriad of angels sing  – and now he is lauded again – this time by men.

I love Zechariah’s prophecy: “Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt the foal of a donkey.”

I love clue hunts. They had all the clues – and for a moment many believed, exalted Him, and gave Him the praise and honor He was due. But just as certainly as that opportunity was present, the Pharisees could think of nothing but destroying Him. Those who were the most religious were the most blind.

Unfortunately, they had a script in their heads precisely prescribing what the Messiah was going to do as King – and Jesus didn’t fit their script. Not then. That part is yet to be fulfilled.

Because they didn’t recognize Him for who He is they wanted Jesus to stop His disciples from declaring His praises, and Jesus replied, “I tell you, if they keep quiet the stones will cry out.” The very earth agonized at what was to come and praise was a prerequisite.

As Jesus approached Jerusalem with his adoring entourage, he wept over the city. I can hear the grief in His voice as I read what Luke records Him saying, “If you...had only known on this day what would bring you peace  – but now it is hidden from your eyes. The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

WOW!

Mark tells us that Jesus went to the temple – but it was late, so he returned to Bethany with his 12 disciples. That makes me pay attention. It reminds me that Judas was with him, hearing all of the clamor – and the discontent of the Pharisees – so close, yet so far....

It had been quite a day. Jesus’ focus was on the purpose for which He was born. Satan had tempted Him with political power after his 40 days in the desert just prior to his earthly ministry. We are not given any indication that He had any temptation here – but we do know He was fully human as well as fully God – and that he experienced all of the same emotions we do. Thankfully for us, His will was set to do the Father’s will – but it sure could have been appealing to respond to the adulation and become the savior they wanted instead of the Savior they needed!

On the Jewish calendar the day was Nisan 10. History recounts that this was the day pilgrims presented their Passover lamb for inspection. The lamb had to be perfect: spotless, with no defect. They would live with the lamb in their careful care until they killed it to bear their sins just a few days hence.

Our Perfect Lamb presented himself as well that day. Jesus had waited to come up to Jerusalem until just the right time. He had stayed away, avoiding confrontation until precisely the right moment. Now the time had come. What John the Baptist proclaimed when he saw Jesus three years earlier was being fulfilled. When John saw Jesus coming toward him near Bethany where he was baptizing at the River Jordan, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!”

Today in Jesus’ journey we too proclaim, “Look, the Lamb of God....” The perfect Lamb.

Humor for today: More bulletin bloopers:
Miss Charlene Mason sang, “I will not pass this way again,” giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.

Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.

The Rector will preach his final message after which the choir will sing, “Break forth into Joy.”

A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.

At the evening service tonight the sermon topic will be “What is Hell?” Come early and listen to our choir practice.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Journey to the Cross 2017, Day 11

Disclaimer for today's post.  I wrote this 7 years ago for my 2010 Lent Blog Spiritual Journey, but have found myself in a similar situation recently, so it is amazing to me that the timing of this particular post speaks volumes to me in terms of speaking up when God asks me to.  

Monday, Day 11:  Matthew 12                    

Once more I find I am incredulous at just how much Matthew congests into one chapter. We are reminded that our Christian walk is a matter of the heart  – not of doing – and that what God yearns for from us is mercy, which is only achieved in relationship . . . .

I am a rule follower. That is a statement of fact. It’s just always been a part of who I am. I believe we are to render to Caesar that which is Caesar’s and to God that which is God’s. I believe God calls Christians to be above reproach in every way possible. I believe that even in the New Testament, where mercy is proclaimed over and over again, there is still evidence of acute consequences for not being obedient where God calls us to be. That said, I also know God pleads for us to have mercy – and lately I seem to be getting lots of opportunities to practice that. I know I haven’t perfected the trait yet – but God is working with me on it. It is a challenge to find a balance between being a loving ‘prophet’ (speaking truth when God calls me to) and extending loving mercy once I have said what I felt compelled to pass along. I have decided I am accountable to God for the part He asks of me in the process, but I am not responsible for the outcome. Sometimes the required result is walking away; sometimes it is just to smile and extend mercy. The solution is a close walk with the Lord, so it is Him doing the leading, not me.

Daily walking close to Thee. Grant it, Jesus, is my plea…. The lyrics of the song lilt through my brain.

Verse 13 brings us to the ‘beginning of the end’ for Jesus’ life on this earth. He healed a man’s withered hand – and the Pharisees’ reaction was to begin plotting to find a way to kill him. What a reality check for me. I know my own heart – and know my intentions – and want too often to defend myself when I am misunderstood, maligned and misrepresented – but what a model Jesus is. This chapter points out some of the ways in which He was misunderstood, maligned and misrepresented, yet his response was to minister . . . to meet people at the level of their need.

We pray to be like Him but when things get tough for us – as they did for Him – we don’t get it that going through the tough stuff (with Him by our side, and in His grace) is part of being like Him as well . . . . I frankly want to opt out for that part.

I love the quote from Isaiah. Jesus had his affirmation – not from the religious leaders of his day – but from men of God who preceded Him, as recorded in scripture: “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations . . . In his name the nations will put their hope.”

I love those words! I would love to hear them spoken to me: one I love, in whom I delight. Oh, to live so God would be delighted with me! I know He is when we follow Him, because He sees us through the filter of His Son –  yet know I have a long way to go to reach that goal! Lord, my hope is in You! I’m reminded again of the athletes who train for years for their few minutes of actually racing. That is something worth paying attention to: we are in a race – but we are also in training . . . and sometimes we place people in positions prematurely, setting them up for failure. They need their training time . . . .  Definite bunny trail, there . . . .

Leaping forward to verse 30, “He who is not with me is against me, and He who does not gather with me scatters.” That’s straightforward, and compelling.

And then we learn from Jesus himself precisely which sin is unforgivable: blasphemy of the Holy Spirit. When I was one of the Youth Advisors for Monte Pres back in the late 80’s, I wrote a song for the kids for one of our Youth Group services that addressed the issue of God’s name being so popular on the street, in the movies, at the bars – with a refrain that asked, “Why are you so popular when they don’t even know who you are?” It was when I wrote that song that I realized very clearly, it is no accident that the name of the Holy Spirit is not one of the curse words used in the everyday vernacular of the world. They curse God, Jesus, Judas’ priest; call several things holy that aren’t and send a lot of things to hell – but they don’t swear against the Holy Spirit. Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is not accidental. It is very intentional. People can even be very angry at God and walk away from Him – and it isn’t unforgivable. But for those who absolutely intentionally turn their back on God’s precious Holy Spirit – knowing what they are walking away from – there is some point that there rejection is irreversible.

Man’s greatest arrogance, of course, is thinking that he doesn’t need God – but blasphemy is far more than just that. A lot of pre-Christians don’t know they need God – and only need an opportunity to hear the truth about the One who is Truth – God incarnate / Jesus Christ – and once they hear, they come running to Him in response to the nudging of the Holy Spirit. It’s a miracle every time it happens.

Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks . . . soooooooooo true.  There is so much to consider.

I have to tell you this: I am loving this process. I find I look at the passage ever so much more carefully, knowing I am going to choose something that jumps out at me to write about. To those who are joining in – thank you.

Humor for today:
A priest and a pastor from the nearby town are standing by the side of the road holding up signs that read, “THE END IS NEAR” and ‘TURN BACK BEFORE IT’S TOO LATE!”

“Leave us alone, you religious nuts!” yelled the first driver as he sped by.

From around the curve, they heard screeching tires and a big splash. “Do you think,” said one clergyman to the other, “we should just hold up a sign that says ‘Bridge Out’ instead?”