March 2009
The First Sunday in Lent
TEST TIME!
Readings: Genesis 22:1-18 and Mark 1:9-15
The day for the big test had come. The students filed into the room ready to write the test of their young lives. The Scholastic Aptitude Test was being administered that day. The test would determine whether those taking it would be accepted into the college of their choice. The test began. Weeks after the test, the sighs of relief came from those who'd been accepted to the college of their choice. The others sighed because they'd have to attend a college of lesser choice.
Abraham had a test. God tested him to see if he would sacrifice his only son, his only hope to see God's promise realized. Abraham would have sacrificed Isaac. God stopped him as he had his knife drawn to kill Isaac. There was no need of human sacrifice that day. A ram, caught in the thicket nearby, would be acceptable.
Jesus also passed a great test. Satan tested Him in the desert. Ancient people thought Satan lived in the desert. We only hear Jesus was tempted in Mark. We also heat angels attended Him. God also sent His heavenly messengers to be with Jesus and to help Him.
We often undergo tests in our lives. We call them temptations. In the Gospels of Matthew and Luke, Jesus is shown our greatest temptations: Status, wealth, and testing God. He passes all three! Our temptations often come when we least expect them. Sometimes it's hard to see them coming. Sometimes we yield to temptation without even knowing we've been tempted.
Do we always pass the tests? No. When we don't pass the test, we can go to Jesus, Who always passed the test. He kept God's Law perfectly. He removed the need for us to worry about the curse of the Law, death. Jesus died so we could have the times we yield to temptation erased forever. He rose so we know we also will rise and go to heaven. In heaven, we will see no more sin. Its effects will cease forever. Temptation will also cease forever.
Prayer. Lord, You died so we can ask forgiveness for the times we fail to pass the temptation test. Help us to always look to You forgiveness so we can live with You forever in heaven. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 2, 2009
SEEING THE LIGHT!
Readings: Job 33:19-34:9 and John 11:1-1
It was a dark and dreary night. The storm raged on outside. The thunder and lightning played in the sky. Timmy was scared. This storm seemed really horrible to him. Suddenly, Timmy knew he had to go to the restroom. He turned on the light in his room. Just as suddenly, the light flickered and went out. The wind from the storm had downed the power and the phone lines leading to Timmy's house. He could barely see. How would he make it to the restroom?
Every person on earth has a problem similar to Timmy's problem. Their problem comes because they are sinners. They have sinned and have lost the light of God's Law to show them the way. They have lost the light of the Gospel to show them Jesus so they can receive forgiveness.
Job had lost the light! He kept trying to challenge God according to his own goodness. He kept trying to find God unfair in giving him all the problems he faced. He failed to see his sin.
His friends also lacked the light. They failed to see God's forgiving love. All they saw was judgment, in spite of the fact that Job believed in God. All the Law they spoke was Law for the wrong purpose-to scare Job back to "faith".
Jesus disciples also lacked the light. They still didn't realize Jesus could raise the dead. They still didn't realize things happen so God can be glorified, not so people can be pleased. Jesus came to Bethany because Mary and Martha had sent word Lazarus, their brother, had died. Jesus went back into very hostile territory to raise Lazarus. The people were looking to stone Him! But, He went. He showed His love for Lazarus.
Jesus came to enlighten us about God. He also came to suffer, die, and to rise again so we can share God's light forever in heaven. That's what the light in the Bible is all about. It shines on Jesus so we can see Him fully and brightly. It shines on Jesus so we know we can go to God for forgiveness when we challenge God about trouble or when we do what God doesn't want us to do. We shine our lights when we tell others about Jesus and what He has done for us.
Prayer. Jesus, You are the Light of the world. Shine on us so we can shine to others and show Your hope to them. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 3, 2009
KNOWING THE WHOLE STORY
Readings: Job 34:10-33 and John 11:17-37
The radio commentator Paul Harvey and his son, Paul, Jr. have an interesting radio program highlighting headlines not usually found in the news. They cover stories about famous and not-so-famous people. They call it, "The Rest of the Story."
The disciples, Mary and Martha needed to know the rest of the story as to Jesus' coming to Bethany. Mary and Martha assumed, as did many Jews of their day, that Lazarus would rise with the righteous on the Last Day. The disciples didn't know what to make of this coming four days after Lazarus' death. The Jews just sat and scoffed.
Jesus had actually waited the four days simply to prove Lazarus' death. Jewish Law said that a person wasn't legally dead until they'd been in the tomb four days. They buried their dead immediately after death. In order to silence the critics' comments about smoke and mirrors, Jesus stayed away four days.
Jesus wept for the unbelief and the misguided belief He saw. After all His teaching and preaching, even the disciples still didn't know the whole story.
The issue with Elihu is also not knowing the whole story. All Elihu sees is a need for repentance. All he sees is the sin and a sinner needing to make Himself righteous before God by His own words and actions. How sad. He's of now help to Job.
We have the whole story of Jesus. We know the story about Jesus' suffering for us. We know He died so our sins could be forgiven. We know He rose so we also have an absolute hope of our own resurrection and seeing God forever when Jesus returns.
We don't have to listen to people telling us to make ourselves right with God. Jesus already did that. We can always go to God for forgiveness because Jesus paid the whole price for our sins.
Prayer. God, send us Your Holy Spirit so we can always know and tell the whole story of our salvation in Jesus Christ. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 5, 2009
GOD RETURNS OUR CHALLENGES
Readings: Job 38:1-39:30 and John 12:20-36a
Job has spent a great deal of time challenging God. He has kept asking God how a righteous man can be so misjudged and mistreated. He has asked God to defend His ways.
Job's friends have berated him for his lack of faith. They simply don't get the idea Thomas Merton, the monk, made so clear, "The Dark Night of the Soul." They just don't understand the soul's pining after justice on our terms when God's terms are so much more fair and equitable.
Now, God returns the challenges. From Job 38:1-41:34, God issues one challenge after another to Job's cries for justice. Oh, that Job has only cried for mercy. That God would have given. But, justice was asked. Justice will now be given. All of the questions God asks have the word, "No," as their expected answer.
Jesus answers some Greeks and some Jews questioning Him about his ministry. Jesus merely tells them He's come to glorify His Father's name. The judgment comes because the Jews and the Greeks never hear the positive answer to Jesus' prayer for God's name to be glorified. They merely hear thunder. Yet, the voice was for their benefit so they would not be judged as unbelieving.
Jesus tells His hearers about His suffering, death, and resurrection. He also tells them about believers being drawn to Him by God the Father through the work of the Holy Spirit after His ascension. We can only come to know Jesus by faith as the Holy Spirit draws us to Him by the Bible, Holy Baptism and Holy Communion. The light the three so-called, "Means of Grace," shed on Jesus helps us to know Him as our Lord and Savior and to receive the faith necessary to know Him and to have life forever with God. Jesus is God's return for all our challenges.
Prayer. God, Father of All, You glorified Your name in the work of Jesus. Help us to glorify Your name in all we say and do . In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 5, 2009
GOD SHOWS US THE RIGHT WAY Readings: Job 37:1-24 and John 12:1-19 Job and his friends have spent a lot of time trying to sort out the right idea about suffering. Job thinks he is righteous and doesn't deserve, "God's punishment for his sins." He has wailed. Moaned, and challenged God's justice. Now, God answers him. God answers Job in questions expecting a negative answer. Of course, Job wasn't around to advise God how to create the world. Of course, Job isn't eternal. And the beat goes on ... God wants Job to realize his sin and to repent so God can bless him and restore him to a better life on earth than he'd enjoyed before Satan tried to wrest him from God's hands. Jesus does the same thing in John 12. First, we see His feet anointed by Mary of Bethany. The disciples don't like the waste of money. Jesus shows them their challenge is wrong-headed by telling them she is preparing Him for His burial. As for the poor, the disciples' recipients of the money, they'll always be here. Jesus comes first. He will be buried shortly. Then this gift will make great sense to the disciples. The truth will be especially poignant because there will be scarcely enough time to bury Jesus before the Passover Sabbath begins. The Pharisees see the crowd gathering and plot to kill Lazarus as well as Jesus. The truth also becomes clearer in Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem. This portion of Holy Scripture is read as the Gospel Lesson of the Palm Sunday Procession with Palms. The story tells of a great crowd of worshippers for the Passover Feast came out to welcome Jesus. They shouted a prayer for salvation, "Hosanna!" and a blessing shouted at the entry to the temple for the festival, as Psalm 118 is part of the Haggadah (liturgy) for Passover. They also proclaim Him, "King of Israel." All this shows the truth about Jesus. It also shows the truth most alarming to the Pharisees. The more the followers of Jesus, the more likely the Romans will come into Jerusalem and take away their temple and their city. Jesus fulfills Zechariah's prophecy about the coming of the Messiah to Jerusalem. The donkey had been King David's royal animal. We see Jesus as the "Son of David." Little by little we're getting the correct picture of Jesus as the Suffering Servant-King of David's line. The disciples still needed the Holy Spirit to explain the actions and words of Jesus. This is God's right way to salvation. Prayer. God, You sent Jesus to die for our sins and to bring us back to You. . Show us always this right way to salvation. In Jesus' name. Amen. March 7, 2009 POOR, UNWORTHY SINNERS Readings: Job 40:1-24 and John 12:36b-50 Job has finally begun to realize his position against God won't stand. He declares his unworthiness. God still needs to bring around to see the need to repent so he can be forgiven and restored to God's family again. Jesus has a similar problems dealing with the Jews of His time. They wouldn't confess Jesus because they wanted praise from their peers rather than praise from God. They fulfilled the prophecies of the unbelief of God's people in His Messiah. They were more interested in making themselves righteous before God by obeying the Laws people made than they were of truly worshipping God by honoring His Messiah. They judged themselves. God pronounced the final judgment on such forms of belief so we would know not to follow its vain and damning course. But, we also challenge God. Sometimes God has to remind us we are, "Poor, miserable sinners." We need the reminder because we begin to think of ourselves as pretty good. We ask God why we need to suffer or be ill. We blame God for His ways. We're just like Job and the Jews of Jesus' day. God challenges us to come through the testing, which is often of our own doing, and to once again join His family. He shows the Jesus' cross and asks us why we want to think we're better than Jesus. He shows us the baptismal font as asks us to wash ourselves clean of our sin. He brings us to confession each week at the beginning of worship so we can come before Him, confess our times of failure, and receive His full and free forgiveness, given in the cross of Jesus Christ. We don't have to challenge God about our goodness in times of trouble. We merely need to pray to Him and trust in Him to do what's best for us. That's the lesson Job took a long time to learn. It's the same lesson we need to re-learn each day as we pray and confess our sins to God, asking His mercy and provision for our lives. Prayer. God, we come before You as poor, miserable sinners. Forgive us our sins and show us Your way for our lives In Jesus' name. Amen. March 9, 2009 TWO MEN WHO WENT IN OPPOSITE DIRECTIONS Readings: Job 42:1-17 and John 13:21-38 Two men lived many years apart. They lived in countries many miles apart. They went in two directions with their faith in God. Job, the first man, knew God and was faithful to God. Job has many problems. He lost all he had, even his family. He became ill with boils. His life was a living hell. But, in the end, he was faithful to God. He went through times when he questioned God, as we all do when we have troubles and pains. He tried to argue with God. All of his human musings were to no avail. His illness stayed and his family and wealth were not restored to him. He repented when God challenged him to tell truly powerful and wise he was. God forgave Job and restored double his wealth to him. He had the most beautiful daughters in the world. He lived to see four more generations of family after his problems were over. He died a grand old man. The second man, Judas Iscariot, went the opposite direction. He felt Jesus had the wrong idea of how the Messiah should save Israel. He thought the best way to correct the situation was to go to, the authorities and to turn Jesus in. He took the sup the night Jesus had His last Seder with His disciples. He then snuck to the authorities and told them where Jesus and His disciples were that night. Judas accompanied the arresting party in Gethsemane. He even had the audacity to use a kiss, a sign of friendship and greeting, as the sign to the soldiers and the authorities who they should arrest. For all his labors, Judas received a mere thirty pieces of silver, about twelve dollars today. That's hardly a fortune! Judas wasn't like Job. He saw the error of his ways. But, Judas went and hanged himself instead of repenting and asking Jesus for forgiveness. Job knew God was a forgiving God. Judas was worried about making up for his deed on his own. He died in despair. Forgiveness restores us to God's family again. God takes sins we commit and erases them from His memory. Jesus suffered, died, and rose again so forgiveness can be ours. God moves us to repent, then forgives us. We can be like Job. We needn't be like Judas. Prayer. Forgiving Father, we repent of all the sins we've committed today. We ask Your forgiveness, knowing Jesus' death and resurrection have made us forgiven in Your sight.. In Jesus' name. Amen. March 9, 2009 THREE MIRACLES SHOWING GOD CARES Readings: Genesis 21:1-21 and Mark 6:35-56 Once there lived ad old man named Abraham. He lived in the desert with his wife Sarah. They were barren. They were also 98 years old. Their age put them a bit past the age to have children. One day, three men arrived a Abraham's tent. Abraham was hospitable to them. They told him his wife Sarah would have a baby at the same time the next year. Abraham and Sarah both thought the whole rather humorous. But, the nest year, the baby was born. They followed what they'd been told and named the baby, "Isaac," "He laughs." Miracle #1 made the birth of the Israelite nation possible. It also fulfilled a promise God had made to Abraham. God cared about Abraham. Jesus had a long sermon that day. In fact, He'd been in the same location all day. There were about 12,000 people at the location. Supper time came. The ma and pa groceries in the area were already closed. What to do? Jesus took a little boy's lunch, five barley loaves and two fish, and fed the whole group, he began with prayer. Then he had everyone sit down. There was enough food to fill every belly present and twelve baskets more. God cared for 12,000 people through a miracle of Jesus. The night after the big feed was a long one. Jesus went off by Himself to rest and to pray. Preaching takes a lot out a man, you know. Early in the morning, the disciples had rowed themselves to the middle of the lake. All of a sudden, a human figure came walking towards them on the water. Jesus spoke, "Don't be afraid. It's Me." The disciples let Him up into the boat. Another caring miracle bringing Jesus to the disciples. How many caring acts can you count in your life today? How many miracles have you seen that show God's care for someone? How many times hasn't a potential disaster worked out well for you? That's all God. He's showing His love and care for you. Prayer. Caring Father, Help us to see the many ways you care for us in our lives. Make us thankful for Your care so we seek it always. In Jesus' name. Amen. March 15, 2009 Third Sunday in Lent. THE TEMPLE AND THE LAW REPLACED! Readings: Exodus 20:1-17 and John 2:13-25 God had used the common form of treaty to tell Israel about their relationship. It began with God telling them He was their God who had brought them from slavery in Egypt. He gave them a preamble to the Law in Exodus 19. The commandments themselves are one of three orders of the commandments in the Old Testament. They weren't meant to be picky little laws to be further picked apart and used to justify individuals. They were meant to define the relationship between God and Israel, then to define the relationships within Israel's society under God. The religious leaders of the Jews had turned them into a law code in human terms with the idea of protecting them from human corruption. Along came Jesus one day. The "law" and tradition of the elders was in full force. Jesus performed an audacious act. He cleansed the temple. The corruption that had come under the chief priests needed to be purged. Money changers weren't totally honest. There was a need to change money so offerings could be ritually pure. So, the money changers set the rates of exchange from outside money to temple currency. Sellers of animals weren't much better! Jesus formed a whip from cords and gave these people a well-deserved spanking while ridding the temple of their false and dishonest system. The leaders of the system weren't happy! They questioned Jesus about why He did this. The disciples remembered a Psalm 69:9. The zeal here was for a holy house of God. Jesus also told the leaders He would replace this temple with Himself. They would then destroy the temple (His body) and He would raise it in three days. They looked at the buildings and couldn't see how He could even attempt to do such a thing. Herod's temple had already been under construction for 46 years and still wasn't complete! Yet, Jesus did exactly as He said He'd do. He didn't destroy Herod's temple. His body was destroyed when He suffered and died for our sins. He replaced the temple by becoming the once-for-all sacrifice for our sins. After His sacrifice, no further sacrifice of any kinds was ever needed. God made certain we know this fact when He gave His final and eternal, :"Yes," to Jesus' sacrifice in Jesus' resurrection on the third day. We call the third day, "Easter Sunday." Because Jesus has replaced the temple and the Law, we only need live as His people as a "Thank You" for what He did for us. Prayer. Jesus, You replaced both the temple and the Law with Yourself. We thank You for suffering, dying, and rising again. Give us Your Holy Spirit and show us the way to live our lives as a "thank You" to You. In Jesus' name. Amen. March 16, 2009 FINDING THE TRUE TEACHER Readings: Job 12:1-6; 12-25 and John 5:30-47 In Jesus' day, many people sought the true teacher from among many rabbis and other people. Today, ;people still seek the true teacher from the likes of Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism, and many other faiths. They look to gurus and other types of teachers to tell them the truth about matters of life and eternity. Job also looked to a teacher. He looked to God. He told his friendly detractors God was the ultimate Judge of all. Jesus tells of His own true teaching. He tells the Jewish religious leaders about His Father authenticating His message. He tells them He gets no glory except the Father gives it to Him. On the other side, are the false teachers of the Jewish leaders. They don't know God's Word. They have no idea of what God really says because their own laws have become all-important. Even their greatest prophet, Moses, accused them of false teaching. He also looked toward Jesus as the Messiah and the Son of God. We can spend many years looking for a human teacher. All human teachers get something wrong somewhere. They are not the Son of God. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus' teaching comes from God Himself. Jesus is the true teacher because He has all knowledge and wisdom residing in Him. He gave Himself for his students on the cross so they could be children of His Father again. He rose from death so we can be assured of life when our life here on earth ends. Job knew God was the true teacher. Zophar didn't know what he was talking about. Jesus is our true teacher. He shows us God and brings us to Him by His own work. We now have the Holy Spirit to teach us and to lead us to Jesus. Let's all sit in class with Jesus. Prayer.Father of Teaching, You sent Jesus to teach us about You and to bring us back to You. Give us Your Holy Spirit to lead us to Jesus. In Jesus' name. Amen
March 17, 2009
SIN'S CONDEMNATION REMOVED
Readings: Ezekiel 39:1-10. 17-29 and Romans 7:21-8:17
The evil done by Israel had been forgiven. Now they could go back to the Holy Land in peace and joy. Their enemies, here Gog and Magog, were defeated. All is re-established.
We also have a life history a lot like Israel's. We also sin and do wrong against God. The sin and wrong bring God's condemnation upon us as He must condemn evil.
Enter Jesus Christ. He took away the condemnation we had standing against us for sin. He now stands, as it were, before God's judgment seat in heaven as our Defense Attorney. Satan stands as our Prosecuting Attorney. God asks for the charges against us. Satan reads them. Jesus tells God He died for those sins. God immediately removes the condemnation and the charges. We are now totally innocent and righteous in God's ;presence. This we call forensic justification.
Jesus fulfilled all of the Law perfectly for us. In fulfilling the Law, Jesus removed our need to fulfill the Law to gain God's favor. He'd already done that! Jesus suffering and death finished the job. His resurrection put God's eternal stamp of approval on Jesus' work.
God now gives us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit lives in us. He guides and leads us through our lives. He reminds us of our baptism so we remember we are God's children. He brings us to fellowship with other Christians in church. He keeps us God's through the Bible and Holy Communion. He even prays for us so we pray to God as we ought.
Sin's condemnation has been removed. We now can live as God's children with the Holy Spirit leading us. Evil will eventually be defeated as Jesus returns to take us to our eternal home.
Prayer. Lord, give us Your Holy Spirit so our condemnation may continue to be removed and we can be led by Him to pray as we ought. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 18, 2009
WHEN TO SEPARATE FROM SOMEONE
Readings: Genesis 37:1-36 and Mark 10:1-12
Joseph and his amazing techincolor dream coat were the result of favoritism on Jacob's part. Joseph also had dreams, given by God, in which he could see the future. He saw himself ruling over his brothers. The brothers felt they had to get rid of this pompous little twit. The dreams were bad enough. But, dad giving him that coat, well, that was the last straw. The brothers obeyed the letter of Reuben's order. They didn't shed Joseph's blood. They did sell him to some wandering Midianites as a slave. This wasn't the time or the way to separate from him.
Jesus, His disciples, and the Pharisees, all talk of marital separation. The Pharisees, of course, used the Law as the Fathers of Judaism had defined it. Jesus returns them to Moses. Moses had allowed a husband to give a wife a "Bill of Divorce" to separate from her. Jesus notes this was because Israel had a hard heart? Is that anything we don't see in today's marital law? Note also that a wife had no rights here. She was property. Now that is different from today. Jesus quotes several Biblical passages we still use in our wedding ceremonies today. The clincher comes in the words, "What God has joined together, let not man put asunder." That's tough stuff. Seems God allows no room for divorce at all.
God does allow not room for divorce-in the Law. Marriage is to be for life. The wedding ceremony states, "For richer, for poorer. In sickness and in health ..." You see, the circumstances of problems don't enter into the picture. You face the problems together.
Jesus gives the final answer to the disciples. Simply put, if you divorce, you must be single for life. That's perfection. Few can do that. Remarriage is adultery. Again, perfection. That's why the talk about the hardness of heart. We can't be perfect. We are sinners. We live in a world of sinners where divorce is not only allowed, it is used as a solution to marital problems. In most cases, divorce really stirs up more problems than it solves. In both divorce cases we saw today, reconciliation would have been far superior to divorce.
When should one separate from a martial partner or a sibling? Never! In the case of marriage, God has created it so. It's also true in the case of a sibling.
Prayer. God, give us always a sprit of reconciliation. Help us to see the value of keeping the family together, both in a marriage and with our siblings. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 19, 2009
WEALTH, PRESTIGE, AND GOD'S KINGDOM
Readings: Genesis 39:1-23 and Mark 10:13-31
Two of the things most people today seek are wealth and prestige. They want to make a great deal of money so they can have all they want. They want prestige so everybody sees how high a position they hold in business or in the community.
Joseph sought neither of wealth nor prestige. He did his work at Potiphar's house well and Poitphar saw a man he needed to run his affairs.
His wife wanted a different kind of affair with him. She wanted him to have an extramarital affair with her. He told her he wouldn't. She finally grabbed his garment one day. He left a portion of the garment with her when it tore as he escaped her clutches. She used the portion of the garment to have Joseph thrown in prison on false pretenses. But, Joseph would rise again from prison.
Jesus rebukes the disciples for their attitude towards children. Children were also viewed as property in all three of the world views Jesus dealt with. Jesus would have none of that. He told the disciples and all listening if one doesn't come into God's kingdom as a little child, trusting in God and not in themselves, they can not enter into it.
The rich young man only underscores the point about wealth and prestige. Here was a man, who, by Jewish standards, had done everything right. He also knew and kept the Law as well as a person could. When Jesus asks about the two tables of the Law, the man says he's kept them since he was a child. Jesus loves the man, as misguided as he is.
One cannot keep the Law at all because of sin. We sin far more than we are able to keep the Law, so we lose when the accounting of our goodness comes up before God. The man's wealth and prestige didn't change the fact for him, either.
The problem with riches comes from the fact people think they earned them from their own merit. Wrong! God gave them the riches and the prestige as a gift to manage in a proper way for Him. Jesus' point is simple. He simply states that wealth and prestige are road blocks to faith. A camel can no more pass through a needle's eye than can a rich person, trusting in their riches, enter heaven. One needs to believe in Jesus Christ as their Savior to enter heaven. That is a gift of God given through Baptism and God's Word. God's kingdom goes to those who believe, not to those who can pay the highest price for entry into heaven.
Prayer. God, keep us always trusting in You for all we have and need. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 20, 2009
GOD'S REASONS AND OURS Readings: Genesis 40:1-23 and Mark 10:32-52 Normally, a stint in prison would be a disaster. But, God had reasons for having Joseph suffer in prison for a short while. Two other men were in prison. Both had worked for Pharaoh. Joseph interpreted both of their dreams correctly. God was preparing Joseph to meet Pharaoh and to provide food for the world during a famine. God's reasons were probably not apparent to Joseph at first. The disciples showed again how spiritually blind they were. James and John wanted a special seat in heaven. Jesus told them first they had to endure the death He endured. Both eventually died martyr's deaths. But, they had asked something even He couldn't give. His Father appointed those who sat on special seats in heaven! Jesus knew His mission and granting special favors to certain disciples wasn't part of that mission. Jesus tells them and the rest of the jealous disciples about the upside down greatness in God's kingdom. Anyone wishing to be the greatest must serve everyone else first. God's kingdom is based on being a servant. Jesus showed us the way to be a servant in John 13 as He washed the disciples' feet. He showed us the ultimate way of a servant when He suffered, died on the cross, and was buried for our sins. He served us by taking the punishment to forgive our sins. He tells the disciples about this to begin today's reading. We also meet a man who wasn't great at all by human standards. Blind Barimaeus was thought of as a loser in his day. People probably went by wondering what sin his parents or he committed to cause the blindness. It is Bartimaeus who shows faith in Jesus. He asks for mercy. His first words are the basis of our Kyrie, sung in our worship services. He asks nothing more than to receive his sight. Jesus tells him his faith has made him see again. Mark closes this section of his Gospel as he opened it, with a faith-full blind man. God does, indeed, have reasons for everything happening to us. Faith lets us trust Him and let Him resolve the problem in His own time. Prayer. God, help us to understand that Your reasons aren't always our reasons. Give us the faith to patiently await Your solution to any problem we face. In Jesus' name. Amen. March 21, 2009 A RIDE INTO MISSION Readings: Genesis 41:1-27 and Mark 11:1-19 Joseph and Jesus both had a mission in the world. We haven't yet seen Joseph's mission. At this point in Genesis we see him telling Pharaoh about seven good crop years and seven years of famine about to happen. How had Joseph come to interpret Pharaoh's dreams? One of the men Joseph met in prison remembered him interpreting the dreams of that man and another-accurately. He told Pharaoh. Pharaoh's own interpreters and magicians couldn't make sense of the dreams. Then came Joseph. He told of the good and the famine. His mission lay ahead of him. When Jesus rode into Jerusalem in triumph on Palm Sunday, His mission also lay before Him. His ride told of what was to come. The donkey was both King David's royal animal (Son of David), and a beast of burden. The shouts of the crowd told of Jesus mission. The crowd asked for salvation. Hosanna actually has the idea of, "Save us now." The crowd probably wanted salvation from the Romans. They were correct in asking for salvation. Jesus would bring them salvation that Friday when He died on the cross. The shouts also used a processional Psalm portion used to process into the temple and talked of the kingdom of David. "In the Highest" is probably more like, "O Highest One" proclaiming Jesus king of the line of David. One can imagine why the religious leaders were so ready to arrest and to kill Jesus. The last proclamation of the crowd would have brought their system to a grinding halt at the hands of the Roman army. Caesar didn't brook any rivals. The new king would have to be squashed. Jesus also curses a fig tree. We could see this as mere anger because He got no food from the tree. It is really a symbol of Israel and the fact they are now cursed for having rejected Jesus. Jesus finally shows His mission to replace the temple by cleansing it of its dishonest and corrupt money changing system. This only further infuriated the religious leaders. They now openly try to arrest and to kill Jesus. His day is done. How's your ride into mission? Are you sharing Jesus in every way you can so others might come to know Him? That's your mission. God is always giving us new challenges in our mission. He's giving us new ways to serve others and to serve Him. Take your ride into mission. It will be one you will never forget. Prayer. God, give us a ride into mission so we can see the ways of serving You by serving others. In Jesus' name. Amen. March 22, 2009 Fourth Sunday in Lent SAVED BY AN OBJECT ON A POLE Readings: Numbers 21:4-9 and John 3:14-21 We have today the original "Nic at Night." Nicodemus came to Jesus at night because he'd seen Jesus cleanse the temple. Jesus' action was unprecedented. Nicodemus wanted to find out why Jesus acted as He did and under what authority He'd done the cleansing. Nicodemus was a famous Bible teacher and a Pharisee member of the Sanhedrin. He had to come at night because of his position. Jesus' comments must have taken Nicodemus by surprise. They not only didn't seem to explain Jesus' behavior in the temple, they were just plain impossible to comprehend by human logic. Then Jesus came up with this stuff about Moses and the snake in the wilderness. The Israelites had grumbled again and had rebelled against God. God sent highly venomous snakes amongst them slo many died. They cried to God. God's answer to snakebite was a bronze snake on a pole. Anyone bitten by a snake who looked at that snake, would live. Jesus compared Himself to that snake. Why? We have a bit of an advantage on Nicodemus. We know how Jesus hung on a cross and died to save us from our sins. We know the famous verse, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish, but have eternal life." That's the shortest Gospel sermon ever given. There's more! Jesus came into the world to save the world from sin. His own name, Jesus, means "Savior." His title, "Christ," connects Him with all the Messianic passages of the Old Testament. How do we get this salvation? It's free! Jesus won it for us. Faith in Jesus gives us the way to grab onto the forgiveness of sins and eternal life Jesus gives us. Better yet, the faith is also a free gift of God because Jesus died for us and also rose again! Both the faith and the salvation can not and will not be won by anything we do. It's all by the free gift of faith, which comes at our baptism. Jesus tells about that earlier in John 3. On this, "Rejoice Sunday" in Lent, let's al; rejoice and give thanks for the free gift of salvation by God's grace through faith in Jesus, given us for Jesus' sake. Prayer. Thank You, God, for the free gift of salvation we are given by grace through faith for Jesus' sake.. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 23, 2009
LOOK OUT WHOM YOU OFFEND
Readings: Genesis 42:1-34, 38 and Mark 12:1-12
There once were some grape growers. They didn't own their land. They were to tend the land, then pay in-kind taxes on the production of the land. The owner of the vineyards sent a servant to collect the taxes. The tenants didn't want to pay the taxes, so they killed the servant. The owner sent two more servants. They also killed the others servants. Finally, the owner sent his son. He thought they'd never kill the son.
But, the tenants saw this as the prime opportunity to seize the vineyard from the owner. If they did away with the heir, when the owner died the vineyard would be theirs. They forgot the owner would be angry and likely kill them. Kill them is what He did. He then gave the vineyard to other tenants.
Joseph's brothers were like the bad tenants. Israel had given Joseph to the older brothers to care for. They had sold Joseph into slavery. They didn't know Joseph had landed as Pharaoh's Right Hand Man in Egypt.
The sons were sent by Israel to buy some grain during the famine Joseph had predicted to Pharaoh. They came to Joseph, but he hid his identity from them. He treated them roughly so they would think they were about to be killed or severely punished for their sins. He demanded one stay in jail while they retrieve the their father's youngest son. The father wanted to say, "No," but needed the food. The youngest son was sent.
The parable of Jesus we used to begin this lesson does apply to Joseph's brothers. But, it also applies to each of us.
How often have we rejected God's gracious attempts to correct our sinful ways? How often have we misused the many gifts (everything we have) God has given to us. God could deal with us as the owner did with the farmers.
But, God sent His Son, Jesus, on a mission to save all people from their sins. Jesus came. He lived a perfect life, so we don't have to. He suffered, died, and rose again so all of us could be God's children, remain in His vineyard, the Church, here on earth, and finally join Him in heaven. Those who wish to reject Jesus, face the death faced by the wicked grape growers in the parable.
Prayer.Owner of All, we ask You for Your Holy Spirit, so that when we offend You, we can ask forgiveness for the sake of Jesus, Your Son. Give us the faith to faithfully use the gifts You give us. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 24, 2009
PASSING TESTS
Readings: Genesis 43:1-28 and Mark 12:13-27
Johnny was really afraid that Friday. His teacher had promised the class a unit test in Religion that day. Johnny had spent hours studying. He didn't feel confident he'd mastered the material well enough to pass the test. Test time came and went. When the tests were returned, Johnny had turned in a perfect paper. He was the only one in his class able to get 100%.
Joseph's brothers passed their first test with Joseph. He was merely trying them to see if they actually recognized him. He was also scaring them a bit about what they'd done to him. The brothers didn't recognize him yet at this point. Still, they knew they had to comply with the man's wishes or starve.
Jesus also passed His tests with the religious leaders. First was a "tax" question. The question was more about false worship and a graven image of Caesar on the coin than about taxes. There were several types of currency in Judah and Galilee at Jesus' time. This one with Caesar's image was required to pay the Roman taxes.
Jesus has a simple answer. He merely asks whose image is on the coin and tells them to pay Caesar what he's due and to pay God His due. The question is answered.
Test question #2 came from the Sadducees. They had adopted the Greek way of thinking and didn't believe in the resurrection. This question has to be a trick! It has to do with the resurrection. Jesus simply tells them they don't know what they're talking about. The woman involved will not be married in the resurrection. He also points out that God is not a God of the dead, but the God of the living. The Sadducees, unlike Jesus, flunk the test of a valid question.
Jesus passed every test put to Him. He is God's Son. He is all-knowing. He passed the test for our salvation on the cross, when He said, "It is finished." At that time, the full price had been, was, and will forever be paid for our sins. God the Father declared all tests passed by raising Jesus from the grave and from death. We can now go to God for Jesus sake and receive a forgiveness of our sins, which make us flunk our life test. Jesus passed His tests. We now can pass ours because of Him.
Prayer. Father, we ask You for Your grace so we have the faith to pass all of the tests we have in our lives. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 25, 2009
LIVING IN GOOD FAITH
Readings: Genesis 45:1-18, 32-34 and Mark 12:38-44
Joseph's brothers had dealt with him in good faith. They did not know his true identity. Joseph was testing them to see if he could trust such shifty characters. He would finally reveal his true identity, but only at the best time for him. He had not dealt with his brothers in good faith since he didn't trust them.
Jesus talks about good faith in our reading from Mark for today. He begins by confronting a teacher of the Law with his own sin. The teacher asks Jesus about the greatest commandment. Jesus answers correctly. Jesus also observes His disciples that this man isn't far from the kingdom of God. Why?
The teacher is still relying on himself for his salvation. No person can ever rely on themselves since no one can keep God's Law perfectly. So, the teacher was close, but not yet in, the kingdom of God.
Jesus also warns against those thinking they should have special positions in God's kingdom and show them on earth. People who want such recognition may get in on earth, but are miles from the kingdom of heaven. Be careful of following them. One never knows what methods they have used to get their position and honor.
The only positive example in our readings is the widow in the temple. Jesus points her out to His disciples for her sacrificial giving. She knows God will provide for her, so she gives all she has to God. Others only gave from their extras.
How are we at living in good faith? God tells us our faith is given by Him to us. He also tells us faith is focused on Jesus' suffering, death, and resurrection, not on us and what we've done. We give God but what He has given us already. He will always provide what we need, so giving sacrificially really presents no problem for us.
Living in good faith also means we always look out for the good of others. Our service to others is also thanking God for His service to us in Jesus.
Prayer. Giver of all good, show us how to live in good faith. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 26, 2009
SIGNS OF THE TIMES
Readings: Genesis 45:1-20, 24-28 and Mark 13:1-23
Joseph knew the signs of his times. God had used all of his interpretations of dreams to save His chosen people from a horrible famine. Joseph didn't hold against them the brothers' action of selling him into slavery, but welcomed his brothers to Egypt. He told them to go and get their father. They would enjoy the best land of Egypt, Goshen. They would enjoy the best of everything Egypt had to offer.
Jesus also speaks of the signs of the times. Mark 13 is often called, "The Little Apocalypse" for its revelations of hidden things only Christians know about.
The horrible things happening in Mark 13 also have an earthly meaning. From A.D. 67-70, the Roman General Titus laid siege to Jerusalem and all of the land Jesus walked. He razed Jerusalem, destroyed Herod's temple, and caused many of the horrors Jesus describes in the verses of Mark 13 to take place. The "Abomination which makes desolate" is the destruction of the temple.
We can also read more into the text of Mark 13 than just the destruction of the land under General Titus. The Last Day will look much like this. The horrors for those who refuse to believe in Jesus will be awful. The time leading up to the end will see horrible things done on earth as have never been done before. Christians will be persecuted as never before. Then will come the end!
The good news is all these signs ne3edn't alarm us. They are only warnings to us of Jesus' return. We make ourselves ready for Jesus' return by serving other people as God has served us in Jesus Christ. We do good and show love to others wherever possible so they can see Jesus through us. We speak as Christians. We preach Jesus in our speech and are always ready to defend our hope of resurrection and eternal life to all who ask us for such a defense.
Jesus gave us our hope because He suffered, died, and rose again. The empty tomb on Easter morning is a sign that we will also rise from death to live with God forever. We can be glad for the signs of the times. They tell us Jesus is about to fulfill His promise to return to earth to take us home to live with God forever.
Prayer. God, show us the signs of the times through the lens of Jesus' suffering and death so we may rejoice in His return to take us home to You. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 27, 2009
THE BLESSINGS OF SONSHIP
Readings: Genesis 47:1-49:28 and Mark 13:24-37
We come near the end of both the story of the Patriarchs and the Book of Genesis. Jacob blessed his sons. Each received a blessing which they would realize then they become a tribe in the nation of Israel in several hundred years. Joseph's sons each received a tribe. Levi, the tribe of priests, received 48 cities in Israel, but no land. Judah, the eldest, received the blessing of the Messiah coming from his tribe. Jacob's sons and his two grandsons by Joseph were blessed.
Jesus paints a different picture of blessings in Mark 13. He tells of some mighty signs in nature. They repeat signs from Joel and other prophets of the Old Testament. People will be afraid because of these signs. No Christian need fear anything. They are merely like the contractions preceding labor pains for women giving birth. They tell of something great coming.
Something great will be coming! Jesus will appear. We are not to worry about this appearance. He is coming as King to read the judgment of God on each person ever alive. We will see the angels with Him. The scene will be a grand one. We only need to heed the signs as the Jews did the sign of the fig tree.
The blessing of being God's sons will be simple. We will be ready because the Holy Spirit will have made us ready through God's Word, our baptism, and Holy Communion. Regular worship attendance will also help, as we will be reminded and helped to know the signs and how to prepare for Jesus' return. We will also receive Holy Communion and reminders of our baptism at worship to help us prepare. Our daily Bible reading, devotions, and meditation will also help us to prepare for Jesus' coming. Bible Class attendance is also important as we prepare.
God blesses His sons as Jacob blessed His sons. The blessings lead to eternal life when Jesus returns.
Prayer. Lord, bless us, keep us, make Your face shine upon us, be gracious to us, lift up Your countenance upon us, and give us peace o we are ready for Your return at all times. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 28, 2009
AN END AND A BEGINNING
Readings: Genesis 49:29-50:26 and Mark 14:1-11
Today we reach the end of the story of the Patriarchs. Joseph finally forgives his brothers for their sins against him. He's pretty much shown them they are forgiven, but, like father Jacob, they aren't really certain. So, they have Jacob, by then dead, plead for their forgiveness. Joseph forgives his brothers and dies. Genesis ends.
Our beginning happens on Tuesday evening of Holy Week. Jesus is in Bethany at the home of Simon the Leper. Someone poured an expensive jar of perfume over Jesus feet. Some of the guests became very upset and thought this an exercise in extravagance. Jesus told them they could always give to the poor, but He was being prepared for His burial with the perfume.
Judas left to conspire with the chief priests for Jesus' arrest. We begin the story of Jesus' Passion. Judas looked for an opportunity to catch Jesus unawares and arrest Him.
Jesus had come to earth for this specific part of His life. The anointing at Bethany, a town just outside the city walls of Jerusalem, began the whole drama. The perfume was very expensive. Most things dealing with burial then, as they are now, were expensive. The real point of the use of the perfume and of Jesus' mission to suffer, die, be buried, and rise to forgive our sins was missed by these people. They just saw extravagance.
But, this was the beginning. Judas would eventually betray Jesus. He'd go to the Garden of Gethsemane, greet Jesus as a friend with a kiss, and Jesus would be arrested by the police of the chief priests and some others brought to make sure the disciples couldn't raise a fight against them. Jesus would be taken away, tried, denied by Peter, then tried again by Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect. He would be abused by the soldiers and the crowd. He would be crucified to pay the price for our sins. He would be buried. He would rise from death on the third day. Our sins are now forgiven through Him.
One story today ends with forgiveness, then death. We hear of brothers reconciled by forgiveness. The other story tells of death, then forgiveness. It begins today in Bethany and concludes when we are taken to heaven with Jesus at His return. May the second story be the story of our lives.
Prayer. Lord, help us to forgive others as Joseph forgave his brothers. Help us also to come to You for forgiveness because Jesus died for our sins and rose again. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 29, 2009
The Fifth Sunday in Lent
THE WORLD'S WAY UPENDED
Readings: Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Mark 1);32-45
Jesus came into the world to introduce a counterculture. He came to upend the way of the world and to show the world the true way of God. Jeremiah had told of this by saying God would, "Write His Law on people's hearts." In other words, people would have a conscience telling them God's way and urging them to live as God wishes us to live.
The disciples had apparently not attended class the day the God's revelation was written on hearts. They were still prone to argue about who would be #1 in God's kingdom. The right hand always denoted the person nest in authority to a king in the ancient world. James and John wanted the #2 positions.
Jesus had just finished telling them about His mission to suffer, die and rise again. He had taught them in detail about the events. Then came the request from James and John. They were still campaigning for the Roman routing superman Messiah.
Jesus tells them they need to do as He has done to warrant such treatment. They say they can. Jesus says they will, but that the positions in God's kingdom are determined by His Father, not by Him. He began the counterculture lesson immediately after.
Jesus' cultural values place the servant on the highest level. The servant follows his Lord, Jesus, in the way he deals with others. He always seeks a way to serve and to do the best for others, even when it hurts him. He does this to serve God as well. Servant behavior shows the person is part of Jeremiah's New Covenant we heard about in today's first lesson.
Prayer. Lord, Give us Your Holy Spirit so Your love for us and Your Law may be written on our hearts. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 30 2009
GO TO DARK GETHSEMANE
Readings: Exodus 2:1-22 and Mark 14:32-52
Another set of contrasting lessons greets us today. The first lesson sees Moses grow up in the Egyptian court, although he is a Hebrew. He kills an Egyptian because of the brutality felt by the Hebrew at the Egyptian's hand. He flees, goes to Midan, is married, and has a son. Moses took the wrong way to settle a dispute.
Jesus takes the proper way to deal with conflict. Jesus prays about a coming conflict. Jesus' conflict is a part of His mission to save us from our sins and to bring us back to being God's children again. Jesus knows what's about to happen. He asks His Father to remove this mission. He also says the Father's will be done. His disciples sleep. Jesus allows them to sleep although it grieves Him greatly.
Jesus doesn't become angry or impatient when He receives other than the answer He wants. He prays again. He finds the disciples asleep again when He returns to them. This scene is repeated a third time.
The third time, Jesus tells the disciples to get up and be ready to depart. He sees the arresting party coming. He knows the time is near for His suffering to begin. He is arrested by a group of temple police, soldiers, religious leaders, and Judas Iscariot.
How do we react when we are in the midst of conflict? Do we pray? Do we wish to or act out some sort of angry retaliation to those on the other side of the conflict? Jesus gives us the best answer of dealing with conflict. Pray first, then act according to God's answer to your prayer. God's answer may not be the answer you want. God's answer may cause you great difficulty. Think then of Jesus. God's answer to Him in Gethsemane led to His death for our salvation and His rising again from death so we can be sure of our own resurrection.
Prayer. Lord, When we face conflict, take us back to Gethsemane. Remind us to ask Your will, not want You to follow ours. In Jesus' name. Amen.
March 31 2009
COURAGE AND FEAR
Readings: Exodus 2::23-3:22 and Mark 14:53-72
Courage and fear are two sides of a coin. Courage usually belongs to a person on the right side of an issue. He knows he's right and can stand up for it. Fear, on the other hand, generally belongs to one on the wrong side of an issue. Fear keeps that person from stating their point. Fear may, in fact, make them remain totally silent.
Moses and Peter show examples of fear. Moses is afraid to go to Israel because they know he killed the Egyptian. His past, he fears, will interfere with anyone listening to him in the future.
Peter denied he knew Jesus because of his fear. He needed Jesus to forgive him and to restore him breakfast on the beach after Jesus' resurrection. He became one of the leaders of the Christian church in Jerusalem.
Moses needed a burning bush and God's voice to give him the confidence to lead Israel. He also needed constant reminders that God was with him. He became "The Lawgiver" because he went up Mt. Sinai to receive God's Law.
Jesus never wavered from the truth that He was God's Son sent to be the Messiah. He stood silently before the Sanhedrin because no matter what He said was to be used to convict Him of blasphemy and cause Him