Head to Galilee

"Mom can go now?"  The teacher's comment snapped me out of my reverie.  It was my son's first day of kindergarten and I had become lost in thought.  I thought this day was the end of freedom, care free, unstructured days of fun.  Now our calendar would be controlled by the school calendar.    I thought my influence would diminish as teachers   became more a part of his world.  I thought  it was an ending.

I read the last chapter in Mark.  It was days ago but again I've been lost in my thoughts, pondering an ending. 

When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Salome and Mary the mother of James went and purchased embalming supplies.  Early the next morning they headed to  the tomb to finish the final care of Jesus' physical body.  They discussed a obstacle. How were they going to move the huge stone Joseph of Arimethea had rolled across the entrance?

When they arrived they saw that very heavy stone moved away from the entrance!  Inside the tomb a young man clothed in white waited for them.  They were startled.  "Don't be so surprised.  Aren't you looking for Jesus, the Nazarene, who was crucified? He isn't here. He has come back to life!  Look that's where his body was lying.  Now go and give this message to his disciples including Peter.  Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee.  You will see him there just as  he told you before he died!"

Trembling and bewildered the women left, too afraid to say anything. The most reliable and oldest manuscripts end the gospel here.

Talk about a surprise ending!  These women had thought hope had ended, had died.  The changes in the world hadn't quite happened as they expected.  This Good News, this really Great News shocked and bewildered them.

Some thought the book shouldn't end on just a note.  So verses 16: 9-20 were added to serve as quick summary of what happened.  The disciples didn't believe Mary Magdalene when she delivered the message that Jesus was alive.   They didn't believe until he showed up at dinner and rebuked them for lack of faith and stubbornness.  Then He gave them instructions to go and preach to all creation.  He promised they would see amazing proof of belief.  Then He was taken to Heaven and the disciples went and preached everywhere and witnessed amazing signs.

I've never liked endings, especially unhappy endings.  I would have added those verses also.  I always want to end positive.  If something has to end, I want to be looking forward to what comes next.

On the first day of kindergarten, I remembered what my mother said when asked what her favorite age of child rearing.  "Whatever age they were at the time.  I loved them all."    She knew there were more, perhaps different, good memories coming.  She treasured the past memories and anticipated the new memories.

The young man in white gave me the "clue" to handling an ending-- Head toward Galilee!  Why?  Jesus is waiting there.

When change comes the form of an ending, go to

G o on

A s before

L ed by  God

I n faith

L ong for God's comfort

E xpect God's care

E ager to see God's work.

There really are no endings with God, only more beginnings.  Whatever God leads me to, will be my favorite because, well, Jesus is waiting for me!

A sunset may seem like an ending but it's a promise of a new day, another beginning.

The Bookends

"Bookends!"  As I finished  reading Mark 15: 42-47  the word popped into my mind.  This can't be an original thought. Have you noticed that two men named Joseph were called to care for Jesus at His most vulnerable times?

Joseph, the husband of Mary, cared for Jesus at the beginning of His earthly life.  This Joseph was called to be the earthly father of Jesus.  He is the one and only person that we know the name of who was present at Jesus' birth.  We don't know much about Joseph the father.  He was an obedient man.  When the angel gave him instructions about Mary's situation, he obeyed, against social norms of that day. ( see Matthew 1:18-25).  Later when the angel told him that the child was in danger he took his family to Egypt.  After Jesus is 12 and stays in the temple while both His parents were headed home, we don't hear of Joseph the father again.

Joseph of Arimathea cared for Jesus just after He ended His earthly life.  As evening approached on the day Jesus died, this Joseph approached Pilate and asked for Jesus' body.  After the centurion verified His death, Pilate released the body to Joseph.  He bought linen cloth, took down the body, wrapped it in the cloth and laid it in a tomb.  Finally he rolled a stone against the entrance.

These two Josephs have a few attributes in common.  They were

J ust -

O bedient - responded to God's call

S ervant - put Jesus' physical needs before their own

E xpectant - eagerly awaited The Kingdom

P roper - followed the laws of the land

H ad a small but very important role in His mission.

I ponder why these two men were selected and remembered for their common yet vital ministry.

A third Joseph answers my query.  The Joseph in Genesis who experienced betrayal and slavery at the hands of his brothers and rose to power in Egypt reminds me that God is control of the "Big Picture".  "You intended to harm me but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives."  Genesis 50:20

God has The Plan.  God is in control of The Plan.  God calls ordinary people to play a small part in His Plan, even people like the Josephs, you and me.

God is faithful from beginning to end.  I have couple of other bookends that remind me of His control and His faithfulness.  The sun comes up every single day and sets every single day.   His faithfulness will continue until the very end of time.  The bookends remind me.

I've been Showed

"I never would have been able to understand.  I had to see it to comprehend."  My friend had given  me the written instructions to make a pillowcase.  But it must have been in a language I didn't read since I could not understand the written instructions.  So she had a demonstration of the layering technique.  It's amazing!  I understand and have now made dozens of pillowcases!

I come from Missouri, "The Show Me State".  Too often I have to see it to believe it and comprehend it!  After I read Mark 15: 1-42 I realized I'd been showed about Jesus.  Jesus showed "His Alls".

Mark relates the events of Jesus' last day.  After a night before the Jewish   Supreme Court  (as The Living Bible describes the gathering of the religious leaders), Jesus was handed over to Pontius Pilate.  Again, Jesus only answered the direct question of "Are you the King of the Jews?"  Jesus replied, "Yes, it is as  you say."  He did not respond to Pilate's query on why He didn't answer the accusations.

It was a custom to release a prisoner during the Feast.  Pilate offered to release Jesus but the religious leaders had stirred up the crowd so that they demanded the release of an insurrectionist named Barabbas.  When Pilate asked "what about Jesus?"  The crowd answered with "Crucify Him."  The soldiers led Jesus away to be mocked and crucified.

Today as I read the familiar account of Jesus' crucifixion I realized Jesus showed me some of His "ALL" attributes.  Jesus is

1.         ALL Knowing.  Jesus foreknew the sequence of events exactly as they happened.  He knew each tiny event must happen just as  it did so prophecy from hundreds of years would be fulfilled and so His mission to love and save would be completed.

2.         ALL Powerful.  Jesus is the master of time.  The gospel writer Mark was careful to mark the time of day so we could have a frame of reference.  "It was the third hour when they crucified Him." .  "At the 6th hour darkness came..." (about noon)   "...at the ninth hour Jesus cried out..."  (about 3 pm).  In our world there are dozens of methods for managing our time.  But Jesus invented time, is beyond time and controls time.  He chose the exact moment for His death.  Verse 37, "With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His  last."

3.         ALL Loving.  So many people surrounded the Cross that day.  The women who had followed Jesus and cared for His earthly needs.  The religious leaders.  His disciples who knew Him better  than most.  The Roman soldiers.  If I had to pick the one to make the proclamation which would echo through eternity, "Surely this man was The Son of God!", I would not have selected a Roman soldier.  The centurion standing in front of Jesus, at the worst he could have participated in crucifying Jesus and at the least   he served with those soldiers who mocked and killed.  Jesus' love for ALL people was obvious to this soldier because Jesus came to save and love us ALL, good, bad and guilty.

There are so many more ALLS of Jesus.  Today I am reminded He is ALL I need because  He is THE ALL of ALL.

From Not Me to I am

"Not Me" is an invisible urchin allegedly responsible for havoc in the cartoon household of "Family  Circus."  If you do an internet search for "Family Circus Not Me"  you will see his portrait and antics.  Not Me is blamed by all the children so they don't claim responsibility for their actions. "Who broke the vase?"  "Not Me."

I thought of  this cartoon as I read Mark 14:43-72.  At the end of the passage  Peter  proclaims three times "Not Me" when asked if he was a follower of Jesus.  I didn't find a translation that actually used those two words but in my mind, Peter was declaiming any responsibility or association just like the children in the cartoons.

Peter's "Not Me" stands in stark contrast to Jesus' single reply of "I AM..." in verse 62.  Jesus had been brought before the Jewish Supreme Court (as the Living Bible relates).  False witnesses told their lies.  Jesus said nothing.   The liars contradicted themselves but still Jesus remained silent.  Jesus even refused to answer the question of why He refused to answer the charges.

However, when the High Priest asked Him directly "Are you the Messiah, the Son of God?"  He spoke.  "I AM, and you will see  me sitting at the right hand of God and returning to earth in the clouds of heaven."  That got them all riled up.  They called for the death sentence, spit at Jesus, blindfolded him and hit Him with  their fists.

Meanwhile Peter is hanging out in the courtyard trying to maintain a low profile.  An observant maid, recognizes him as a follower of Jesus.  Peter denied it and moved away.  The maid began calling attention to Peter and telling the others he was a disciple of Jesus.  Peter denied it again.  A bit later, the others in the courtyard said, "You are too one of those from Galilee." For the third time Peter denied knowing Jesus.  The rooster crowed the second time, just as Jesus had foretold, three denials, two crows.

Why do we try to be secret followers of Jesus, just like Peter?  Perhaps we fear ridicule, ignorance or injury.  Apparently we don't fear disappointing Jesus, failure of our mission or missing an opportunity to point another toward the Kingdom.

I know, that's harsh.  It makes us feel guilty and worthless.  These verses remind me that I too often act just like Peter and try to say "Not Me".

However, today these verses remind me of

Amazing,

Unmerited,

Freely Given Grace. 

Jesus knew Peter would fail in this situation. He loved Peter anyway.  He willingly died for Peter's sin and failure that day and everyday in Peter's past and future.

In contrast to  Peter's list of "Not Me" denials, Jesus proclaims a single "I AM".  Jesus' proclamation and resulting sacrifice gave us the privilege to be delivered from the life of a list of "Not Me" denials to the wonderful amazing world of I am...

I am loved

I am rescued

I am forgiven

I am chosen

I am...

The list is limitless just as Jesus' love is unlimited and is continually lavished on us in spite of our human inclination to deny any affiliation.

Jesus' love has placed the mark of "I am" on my life.  I may try to deny it but the Great I AM has continually changed my life forever by His great love.

Jesus, thanks for delivering me from a life  of "Not me" and giving me the privilege of being an "I am".

Watch and Learn

"Honey, I'm in trouble you need to get me something to drink."  I realized I was about to pass out with dehydration.  We were at the Iowa State Fair. It was hot and humid.  I'd insisted on sitting in the sun at the 1:30 show assuming shade would be coming.  Stubbornly I'd refused to move.  I bought a lemonade as soon as the show ended and didn't stop leading our group from attraction to attraction.

Just as I finished dinner I knew my stubbornness would result in an unwanted consequence.  So as my husband went for fluids, I headed for a piece of the floor.  Soon a couple of restaurant employees were dispensing ice packs, cool cloths and Gatorade.  It worked.  I was renewed and finished the night with the concert.

I remembered that as I was getting ready for the day I thought "I should hydrate up before I go.  It's going to be a  hot sweaty day."  I knew I should be prepared and consciously choose not to drink extra fluids because, well, it would be inconvenient.

When I read Mark 14:32-42, I pondered how I neglect the advance effect of prayer to deal with the happenings of  life.

Jesus knew the extreme personal challenge he would soon face.  He'd led His disciples to a place to pray.  He told them to sit and watch while He prayed. He told them He was overwhelmed with sorrow. Mark summarizes His prayers. Jesus tells the Father of His faith that all things are possible, His choice would be to have the "cup" taken from Him and regardless He would do the Father's will.

Jesus came back to His disciples and found them sleeping, not once but twice.  They knew He was disappointed. Mark makes an attempt at an explanatory defense, their eyes were heavy.  They didn't know what to say to Jesus when He caught them sleeping instead of watching with Him.

Jesus told His sleepy disciples, "the spirit is willing enough but the body is weak."  I considered how often I too missed the opportunity to pray in advance of a happening.  Jesus gives us a demonstration of praying before the situation rather than after the event has unfolded.

I hate umbrellas.  It's a character flaw.  I'd rather get wet than carry the awkward thing.  Perhaps I neglect advance prayer because it's inconvenient?  Yet Jesus shows us prayer is not to inform and alert God. He already knows!  Rather prayer is time to get us in the proper attitude before the circumstance. 

Prayer gets our spirit ready for coming events.  God knows what will happen.  I'm the one who too often is unprepared. I set the table before my dinner guests arrive.  I'm prepared for the event.  So why do I  allow myself to be unprepared to face the coming crisis' of life?

Today I realize that Jesus was setting an example for the disciples and me in Gethsemane.  He knew what was about to happen so He showed us how to be prepared.  Pray it forward to get the spirit ready.

 I am to

W ith

A nticipation

T rust

C hrist in the

H appenings of Life.

So advance prayer will prepare me for the

C oming

U nplanned

P roblems of Life

The Other Side of Failure

"I thought he was with you!"  We were at the Minnesota State Fair.  It was very crowded that day.  We'd gone into one of the exhibition buildings together but gotten separated.  I found Dick just outside the building only to find out our son was not with him, as I had assumed.  Dick thought Adam was with me.  We panicked a bit and wondered what to do first.  Fortunately we were with more experienced parents.  Jack said go to the street crossing and wait. Adam won't cross the street.  So we each went to a crossing and waited. 

Jack was right.  Adam found Dick waiting at the street.  Jack had given us hope in our failure as parents.

After the disciples shared their last meal with Jesus and had gone to the Mount of  Olives, Jesus told them they would all fall away from Him.  He told them that was it was written that the Shepherd would be struck down and the sheep scattered.  But He would be waiting for them in Galilee after He had risen.

Peter declared if all the others fell away he would not.  Jesus replied that before the rooster crowed twice even he would disown Him three times.  Peter emphatically  insisted he would never disown Him even if he had to die.  The others  said the same.

Jesus knew they would fail.  These close friends were hours away from betraying Him not by turning Him in to the religious leaders like Judas, but these friends would hide and leave Him to defend Himself and die alone.  Jesus loved them in spite of the coming failure.   He even gave them hope to handle their remorse--He would rise and be waiting for them in Galilee.

These verses make me think of failure, since I know the next events in the gospel of Mark.  But I also see love and hope.  This was it. Jesus was about to accomplish His earthly mission- to be the one and only sufficient sacrifice so we could be in relationship with God.  The ones He had entrusted with the message and mission would soon fail Him.  He knew it ahead of time and He went forward with His journey of love.

 Most times bad news follows the "but" in a sentence.  But this time Jesus gives the disciples good news.  He knew what they were and what they would do but He would be waiting on the other side of their failure.  He will heal their regret.  He will forgive their betrayal.  He will unconditionally love them.

I can think of plenty of times when I have failed as a person and as a follower of Jesus.  Jesus knew I'd be a failure and still loves me.  He is waiting for me to come to Him.

The next time I fall away and fail Jesus, I will remember that there is Hope.  Jesus is waiting for me to fall back to Him.

Fireworks and Communion?

Fireworks?  It was the first Sunday of the month.  I sat in the  pew waiting for the bread to be passed to me like so many first Sundays in   my life.  I noticed the video playing on the sanctuary screens-silent fireworks.  Now that's a unique communion interlude!

The gospel writer Mark in chapter14 verses 12-26 shares the details of the very first communion service.  Jesus' disciples knew it was the first day of Passover and asked Him where He wanted to go for the traditional supper.  "As you walk along, there will be a man coming toward you carrying a pot of water.  Follow him.  When he gets to the house tell the man in charge and he will get the room ready."

Mark relates the familiar sequence of the dinner that is so like our first Sunday.  Jesus passes bread and tells them it's His Body and to eat it.  Then  He took a cup of wine, gives thanks to God and gave it to them to drink.  His blood poured out for many.

Modern communion services include a few moments of personal evaluation.  The first communion service did also.  Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him.  Each disciple wondered if it was himself.

I love firework displays.  I've watched synchronized music and fireworks in stadiums with 40,000 people and I've watched in my driveway alone in a lawn chair.  It's a personal experience for me.  I don't talk about them.  I enjoy being overwhelmed by the surprise, the beauty and the short life of the burst.  I just "oh and ah".  I anticipate the "thwunk"  when the rocket is launched and search the sky for the burst and follow the shimmer as it disappears.

This recent first Sunday made me think that fireworks and communion have more in common than I first thought.

1.  Fireworks and communion celebrate new agreements.  John Adams expressed his enthusiasm for the Declaration of Independence in a letter to his wife, Abigail. He thought the new agreement  of the  patriots should be commemorated with a Day of Devotion.  The Day should include acts of devotion to God, pomp and parade, shews, games, sports, guns, bells, bonfires and illuminations.  Thus he is credited with fireworks on the 4th of July. The Living Bible paraphrases the familiar "new covenant" of Jesus' blood as a new agreement between God and man.

2.  Fireworks and communion cause us to reflect on sacrifice.  The founding patriots worked, planned and shed blood to establish this country.  God, Himself, came to show us His plan to establish a relationship with humans.  Jesus sacrificed His blood so I could experience life worth living.

3.  Fireworks and communion commemorate freedom.  The founding patriots revolted against the ruling government so they could govern their own free country. Jesus was the original revolutionary.  He led us into a life of freedom from the tyranny and bondage of sin.  Through His life and sacrifice I have the privilege to live life with hope.

July 4, 2016 changed my thinking on communion.  My next communion service I am going to  "Oooh and aaah" at the magnitude of Jesus' sacrifice on my behalf and His gift to me of a life of freedom.  Let Real Freedom Ring!