The Mountain of the Lord’s House

He shall judge between the nations, and shall decide disputes for many peoples; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.

~ Isaiah 2:4

Imagine you are climbing up the mountain of the Lord. As you start the path is wide with beautiful trees and flowers along the way. You fill your lungs with the cool, clean air. As you continue you notice the path is becoming narrow and steep. There seem to be more rocks sticking up from the ground. You find yourself a little out of breath as the air becomes thinner the higher you climb. You decide to rest on a large rock to catch your breath. You look up the path to see how much more you need to climb. You see someone in the distance. He’s looking at you. It looks like his hand is waving for you to come. Though you are alone, you are not afraid. In fact, you feel a pull, a desire to go this person.

You are standing in front of him. He is dressed in long robes that are moving gently in the mountain air. He smiles at you and asks, “What are you seeking on this path?” What do you say to him? What are you seeking?

“I am the prophet, Isaiah. This is the mountain of the Lord. It is rich with life and dreams. What dreams do you bring to this place?” What are the dreams you bring to this mountain? What are your dreams that you want to share with the Lord?

Isaiah looks at you with eyes that know how to dream. “My dreams beat swords into plowshares. They are dreams of peace, of life, of hope.” What are the swords in your heart that need to be changed? What are the swords that wound you and hold you back from dreaming and from climbing the mountain of the Lord? Give those swords to Isaiah, the prophet, the dreamer. Ask him to help you change them into something life-giving.

“I will change your swords into plowshares so you can till the soil of your soul and know that God is with you. Are you ready for this dream to be real?” You look into the eyes of this dreamer, Isaiah, and you say, Yes. Yes, I am ready. Isaiah smiles at you and takes your hand in his. He looks at you with eyes filled deep with hope and life. He understands you. “Come,” he says, “let us walk in the light of the Lord!”

Lord, let me find the swords in my heart and bring them to you, to be reshaped. Amen.

How Much Forgiveness?

When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee’s house, she brought an alabaster jar of perfume, and as she stood behind him at his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears…Jesus said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

~ Luke 7:37, 50

The Pharisee in this story did not appreciate realize that Jesus knew who the woman was, and discounted Him because of it. He thought to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is.” Luke 7:39

But Jesus knew both what kind of woman she was, and the thoughts of the Pharisee. Imagine the Pharisee’s surprise when Jesus responded to his unspoken thought with a parable about two men who were forgiven a debt. Who would appreciate it more – the man who owed a little or the man who owed a lot? “The one who had the bigger debt canceled” the Pharisee answered. Jesus then humbled this self-righteous man by pointing out that the sinful woman was more righteous and reverent than the hypocritical Pharisee – “She wet my feet with he tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss.” Luke 7:44-45. Jesus then forgave the woman’s many sins.

“Who is this who even forgives sins?” asked the angry crowd. “Jesus said to the woman, ‘Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:50.

The woman was not saved through devout adherence to the law of the Pharisees. She was notoriously sinful, probably a harlot. But she was wise enough and humble enough to abase herself before her Lord and to seek his mercy, which he freely gave. Salvation by grace through faith was not an invention of Paul’s – Christ both states and demonstrates it here succinctly.

Too many of us feel that we have been forgiven only a little, and thus we are only a little grateful. Others of us feel that sin is immaterial and without consequence, but this story doesn’t allow for that attitude. Jesus’ grace was notable because it was so very necessary.

I pray that we in his church would have eyes to see that we have all been forgiven much and that we’d have the gratitude to match.

Lord, let me remember the fullness of my forgiveness, always. Amen.

What Comes In, Comes Out

Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.

~ Philippians 4:8-9

My son, when he is near certain people, for a length of time, begins to pick of the accent of the person, to whom he is speaking. If he is with southerners, suddenly he is speaking with a southern accent. If he is with Midwesterners, he begins to have that accent. My eyes open with wonder, when he does this, and he is totally oblivious of his accent changing.

It is easy to begin to emulate whatever is filling our minds. It’s easy to pick up foul words, when we are constantly surrounded by that. It’s easy to act judgmental when the newscasters we watch daily are judgmental. It’s easy to gripe and complain when we are surrounded by these attitudes. It’s easy to start gossiping when we are surrounded by gossip. It’s easy to seek revenge, just like in the movies, or books we read. We pick up these actions, and sometimes are totally unaware of what we are doing.

When we are in Christ, we are a new creation. We, on our daily Christian walk, are adjusting our attitudes and actions to imitate our Heavenly Father, though Jesus Christ. It’s a daily battle of ridding ourselves of selfish desires, to filling ourselves with the love of Christ. Jesus came as the Prince of Peace, and we likewise, are to be an example of Him. When we look at these scriptures in Philippians, we see a focus shift that should become a dominant factor as we work on our salvation. Salvation is a gift, free and clear, but walking in that salvation takes work on our part.

Our growth is helped along, by what we fill our minds with, daily. If we take into ourselves things that are true, honorable, just, pure, pleasing, excellent, and praise worthy, we will be more likely to emit the fruits of the spirit that are mentioned in Galatians 5: 22-23. “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against such things.”

What does our fruit look like? Is it nice and ripe, and pleasing to the eye, or is it a little less than desirable? Sometimes we just need to reevaluate what we are filling our minds with, and do a little adjustment. We must remember, what comes in, will certainly come out.

Dear Lord, Thank you for setting an example of good things, though your Son, Jesus Christ. Help us to fill our minds with things that will make us more like Him. In Christ I pray. Amen

Political Speech

You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.

~ Acts 23:5

So many Christians and so many churches love to ignore this very straightforward commandment. I’m not sure I have ever heard a sermon about it. Yet, it appears without any qualification in both the Old and New Testaments, and it could not be any clearer. God has commanded us not to say insulting things about the leadership of the country in which we happen to find ourselves.

This is a bitter pill for anyone who, while professing faith in Christ, seeks salvation in human politics. A person of strong political opinions will, roughly half the time, be heatedly opposed to the President, Prime Minister, King, Emperor, High Priest, or whatever other title is given to the paramount leader of his or her nation. Moreover, we have lesser officials to whom this stricture also seems to apply.

The broader principle is better known: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.” (Romans 13:1) The most powerful demonstration of this principle in the Bible, and perhaps all of history, was given to us by Christ. There are many dimensions, and more important ones, to the passion of Christ. But part of His story involves subjecting Himself to the authority of both Rome and the Sanhedrin, to the point of allowing them to execute Him, unfairly and contrary to their own laws.

To subject oneself to the secular state means simply this: They have no power over us. They can take our property, take our physical freedom, punish us and even kill us, but they cannot hurt us. If we “hate” the things of this world and love God, if we serve God and not Mammon, we demonstrate that our soul is more important than our body. (Matthew 6:24.) We show ourselves, and the world, that our treasure lies in heaven and that we have absolute confidence in our resurrection and redemption.

If we were not so thick-headed, these specific admonitions would be unnecessary, for the Bible tells us repeatedly to imitate Christ in our lives. E.g., 1 John 2:6: “Whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.” Most Christians know the great irony of Palm Sunday. The Jews expected a King on a great white horse who would take up the sword, sit on the throne of government, and impose the morality of the Law of Moses on his subjects. Instead, it got a King on a donkey, who hung on a cross and wore a crown of thorns, and who pointedly refused to participate in political rebellion against either Rome or the Jewish power structure. He subjected Himself to them, “even unto death.” When Jesus thought a crowd wanted to make Him a political king, he fled. (John 6:15)

With the resurrection and ascension of Christ, the temple of God became the body of Christ; and the body of Christ includes all people who confess His name. “God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands.” (Acts 17:24) “Do you not know that you (plural) are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Cor. 3:16)

Our citizenship is in Heaven, not a nation of earth. (Phil. 3:20) You cannot serve two Masters. (Luke 16:13) Politics is a means by which we seek to compel others to do what we want. It bespeaks a love of the world and, thus, service to Mammon, no matter how praiseworthy we believe that the law we seek to compel others to follow might be.

There is no surer way to drive others away from Christ, than to mix Him together with a political party. “[W]hat fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?” (2 Corinthians 6:14)

And so, the Bible commands us simply to live within the laws of whatever city and nation we live in, to pay whatever taxes they demand, and not to curse the government. Entangling ourselves in political controversy undermines our Great Commission, to bring Christ to all people and all nations.

If you are involved in politics, and especially if you think you or your church are doing a “Christian” act by supporting one political figure and opposing another, you are rationalizing an entirely anti-Biblical activity. And this goes double for all the anti-Trump and then anti-Biden invective we have heard come out of Christian churches. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.” (Psalm 146:3)

One final word on this, from Richard Baxter: “Is it not enough that all the world is against us, but we must also be against one another? O happy days of persecution, which drove us together in love, whom the sunshine of liberty and prosperity crumbles into dust by our contentions!”

Lord, give me the wisdom to be at peace with an evil world, that I may serve you better. Amen.

The Light in the Darkness

By faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverence prepared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and became an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

~ Hebrews 11:7

The most difficult kind of faith is believing that everything will be alright, that God will reveal his best when things are so bad at the moment. If you’ve ever been in a spot where you’ve lost your job and you’re facing the prospect of not being able to cover food and either rent or a mortgage, you know what I mean. Jesus’ promise that our heavenly Father knows about our needs isn’t much comfort when you are afraid, in a panic, and wondering what will happen next.

If you’ve been in a spot where your husband or wife has left you for someone else, you also know what I mean. Desperately wanting to believe that it’s a nightmare and you’ll eventually wake up doesn’t change the present reality and the pain, and the prospect that the person you thought you’d grow old with is not coming back.

In both of these examples, your security has been ripped away from you, and you are dealing with pain, worry, and an uncertain future. You are left with one hope that, at the moment, seems only barely possible. One prayer.

That God will take care of you and, in the end, give you much more than the thing you have lost if you will simply trust and obey him.

I have been at low points, thinking, this is the worst thing I have ever gone through. Each time, I had the choice to trust God or try to manage my way through it on my own strength. To either put it in his hands or find another way to ease my pain and anxiety. If you go the latter route, you can end up in worse shape than when you started.

Noah—I don’t have to say much about him because we all know the story. But imagine the laughing stock he was in his time. Building a huge barge, four stories tall, occupying the span of two football fields. He built it in the desert, 500 miles from the sea, in a land that had never seen it rain—ever. He built it based on someone’s promise, a word spoken to him. A word was given to him by his God. That word was more real to him than the present reality because the one who gave it to him was trustworthy.

Noah trusted God because God had proven himself, over and over. The same way he later proved himself to Abraham, over and over. Each challenge in life, each step of faith, revealed more of God’s love and faithfulness. If you trust him, the next time things go wrong, it is easier to believe that he will come through. Eventually, you are a person of faith, like the people described in Hebrews 11.

God has never let me down. Not one time. The most important thing I can do, when my world is crumbling, is to look back at all the times he was faithful. The way he brought me through some of these times was difficult, but in the end, he was there, waiting for me. He was the light in the darkness (Isa 42:16). All I had to do was continue walking toward him and not look back.

Follow his example. In the end, you, like Noah, will become an heir of the righteousness that comes by faith. God will not let you down. On the day that all this world offers is gone, he will be there waiting for you.

Give us the strength to see you and follow you through whatever life throws at us, Lord. Reveal your power and love in the middle of the darkness. Amen.

"Living The Promise."

John 21:1-19

The text last week ended with a promise: “Behold, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20)  I’d like to pick up with that promise this morning and ask: What does it take to live in the company of Jesus?  What’s required of us?  The answer is found in the 21st chapter of John’s gospel.  It has to do with living the promise.

Here’s what happened: Following the resurrection, the disciples went back to Galilee.  That’s where Jesus said he’d meet them.  He told the women who’d come to the tomb,

“Don’t be afraid.

Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee,

and there they will see me.” (Matthew. 28:10)

So, they went.  And they waited. And, while we don’t know how long they waited, it could’ve been a long time.  All John tells us is, “After these things, Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples at the sea of Tiberias”(John 21:1)

After these things.  That’s pretty vague.  My hunch is it was a long time … long enough to get discouraged … long enough to give up hope they’d ever see him again.

So, Peter told the others, “I’m going fishing,” which can be taken to mean, “I’m going back to fishing … back to my old way of life.”  The others were quick to respond, “We’ll go with you.”  Where did it get them?  John says,

“They immediately went out, and entered into the boat.

That night, they caught nothing” (John 21:3)

When it comes to living the promise, this is LESSON NUMBER ONE: Seek God’s will for your life; otherwise, you’re sure to come up empty-handed.

I got a call out of the blue this week.  It was from a seminary classmate.  I hadn’t heard from him since the early 70s.  We started seminary at the same time and both served as student pastors.  Long story short, he left the ministry early on and went into business for himself.  Now, after all these years, he called to tell me that he was serving a little country church and couldn’t be happier – that he’d finally come back to where God had called him to be in the first place.

The Psalmist writes, “Unless (God) builds the house, they labor in vain who build it.” (Psalm 127:1)  Here’s the deal: You can spend a lot of time and money and effort chasing rainbows and doing your own thing, but it’s all for naught unless it’s what God is calling you to do.

It has to do with surrender.  Surrender your will to God’s will for your life and you’ll discover your true destiny … which may not be a life of riches and glory … in fact, it may be a life of hardship and suffering … but all that’s secondary; what’s important is that you’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that you accomplished what you were put on this earth to accomplish.

What is God’s will for your life?  What’s the plan God had in store for you before you were ever conceived?  That’s the question, and only you can say.  Understand, the answer is not in the back of the book, but you can find it, if you ask.  Pray about it.  Listen for the voice of God.  Follow the leading of the Spirit, and God will show you the way.  That’s the first step in living the promise.

John goes on to say, “But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach, yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.”  (John 21:4)  This is what we call grace: Jesus came to the disciples when they weren’t looking.

When my boys were young, I made a neat discovery.  Whenever they asked me to get them something––which was every time I turned around––instead of saying, “No,” I’d say, “Sure, I’ll get that for you when you least expect it.”  In no time, they’d forget about what they wanted, and I’d be off the hook.

Patrick was the first to catch on.  One day he asked for something, and I told him I’d get for him when he least expected it, and he said, “But Dad, I’m least expecting it right now!”

Jesus appeared to the disciples when they were least expecting to see him.  He asked them if they’d caught any fish, and, of course, they said no.  He told them to cast their nets on the other side of the boat – as if that would do any good! – and they did, and – just like that – their nets were filled with fish. (John 21:5-6)

When it comes to living the promise, here’s LESSON NUMBER TWO: When the Lord tells you to do something, do it.  Don’t question, don’t rationalize, don’t procrastinate, and don’t make excuses … just do it.  When you do, the most amazing things happen.

Craig and Susan adopted Caroline when she was one week old.  That was almost twenty-two years ago.  They met her birth mother last month.  Here’s her story: Melanie was a senior year in high school when she found out that she was pregnant.  She weighed her options, ruled out abortion from the start, knew she wasn’t mature enough to raise a child and didn’t want to put the burden on her parents.  Reluctantly, she looked into adoption.  She and her mother took a tour of The Gladney Center in Fort Worth.  It left her with a lot of indecision and mixed emotions.

As they got on the plane to go home, she said an attractive, 35-year old woman dressed in a business suit took the empty seat next to her.  “What brings you to the Dallas-Fort Worth area?” she asked.  Melanie really didn’t want to talk, but what else could she do?  She spilled the beans.  She said the woman hung on her every word.  When she finished, the woman said, “This is amazing.  I placed a baby for adoption at Gladney when I was your age.”  They bonded immediately.

She said she had no doubt but that God had sent this woman as a messenger to direct her path.  She got home, applied to Gladney, and moved into the dorm for unwed mothers.  She spent her senior year there going to school, making new friends and caring for herself and the baby in her womb.

She told Caroline, “I rocked and cuddled you and sang to you before you were born.  I loved you so much.”

When Caroline was born she said she held her in her arms and wanted more than anything to keep her and raise her as her own, but she knew that wouldn’t be fair to either of them.  So, with every ounce of courage she could muster, she said she kissed her goodbye and handed her to the caseworker, then sobbed her heart out.

Within minutes, Craig and Susan got the call they had been praying for, for so long.  Within hours, they arrived at Gladney to shower their new little daughter with love and kisses of their own.

When you listen for the voice of God and let the Spirit direct your path – no matter how difficult or painful it may be – blessings abound … not only for you, but for everyone involved.

John goes on to say that when the disciples came to shore Jesus was cooking fish over a charcoal fire.  He offered them fish and bread.  Sound familiar?  Five loaves and two fish?  He was all about feeding hungry people.  He said, “Come and eat breakfast.” (John 21:12)

Now, you know that the word, breakfast, is the combination of two words – break and fast – and that’s literally what it means – to break the fast.  To fast is to go without food, and to break the fast is, well, to eat.  Literally, you break the fast every time you get up from a good night’s sleep and have your morning coffee and cereal or toast and jam.

But fasting can also be taken figuratively.  In this case, the disciples had gone a long time without spiritual nourishment.  They’d been living on the junk food of everyday life.  Their bellies may have been full, but their spirits were running on empty.

We all know what that’s like, don’t we?  We get so caught up in the busy-ness of life that we lose sight of what it’s all about.  We find ourselves going in circles, but not getting anywhere.  That’s what Isaiah was talking about when he said,

“Why do you spend money for that which is not bread?

And your labor for that which doesn’t satisfy?

Listen diligently to me, and eat you that which is good,

and let your soul delight itself in fatness” (Isaiah 55:2)

Harry Emerson Fosdick hit the nail on the head when he prayed:

“Cure Thy children’s warring madness,

Bend our pride to Thy control;

Shame our wanton, selfish gladness,

Rich in things and poor in soul.”

When it comes to living the promise, here’s LESSON NUMBER THREE: Watch what you eat.  Don’t fill up on junk food, such as the mindless drivel you see on TV.  Have a discriminating palate. Choose your music and art and books and movies wisely.  Be careful what you put into your system.  By all means, feast on the Word of God.  Read a few verses of scripture every day.  And let Christ reign in your heart.  Remember how he said,

“I am the bread of life; he who comes to me will not hunger,

and he who believes in me will never thirst.” (John 6:35)

Watch what you eat.  That’s Lesson Number Three, and LESSON NUMBER FOUR is this: Live out your faith; don’t just talk about it.

After Jesus fed the disciples, he turned to Peter and asked him a pointed question: “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love me more than these?” (John 21:15)  Three times he asked, and three times Peter responded, “Yes, Lord, you know that I have affection for you.”  Each time, Jesus said, “(Then) feed my lambs, tend my sheep.”  Don’t just say you love me, in other words, show that you love me by loving others in my name.

This is spelled out time and again in the New Testament.  For example,

• 1 John 3:18 – “… let’s not love in word only, neither with the tongue only, but in deed and truth.”

• James 1:22 – “But be doers of the word, and not only hearers.”

• Matthew 5:16 – “let your light shine before men; that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Words of endearment don’t mean much unless they’re reinforced by deeds of loving kindness.

I’ve had the privilege of knowing a lot of saints over the years.  None of them wore halos.  Many had calloused hands.  All had generous hearts.

One in particular was a woman in Odessa.  I’d guess she was in her 70s at the time, though she was anything but retiring.  She drove an old Mercedes, and I’d see it parked all over town.  If there was an illness in the congregation, she’d take over a bouquet of flowers fresh picked from her garden.  If there’d been a death, she’d bring a casserole or fresh-baked pie.  If there wasn’t a special need, she’d call on someone she thought might be lonely and in need of a visit.

When it came to befriending those less fortunate, she was color blind.  For example, her yard man got laid up with gout.  She paid him just the same, week after week, until he got back on his feet.  Her cleaning lady’s son graduated from high school, and she made it possible for him to go to college.  When there was a special offering at the church or mission effort, she was among the first to contribute.

In the six years I served as her pastor, she never boasted or complained.  But when it came to bearing witness to Jesus Christ, she spoke volumes––not in words, but in deeds of self-sacrifice and service to others.

Truth to tell, she reminds me of many of you.  Saints, you are, and I commend you for that.  Keep it up.  Let your voice be heard.  Practice the rule of St. Francis, who said, “Preach always; if necessary, use words.”

Let’s wrap it up.  Jesus promised to be with us to the close of the age.  Living the promise is up to us.  So, can you remember the four steps?  If so, take them home with you:

• ONE, seek God’s will for your life, rather than trying to chart your own course;

• TWO, listen for the voice of God and trust the Spirit to direct your path;

• THREE, watch what you eat.  Don’t let the junk food of this world spoil your appetite for what’s wholesome and good; and

• FOUR, live out your faith, don’t just talk about it; let your good deeds speak of your love and devotion to Jesus Christ.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

"Is Your God Too Small?"

Exodus 20:1-17 & John 20:13-22

Gods come in different sizes.

Lent is a good time to consider

the size of the God we are here to serve.

In the name of this God:

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We are wrong if we see our time

as one with a shortage of belief.

There is no shortage today.

There is considerable belief,

today as always,

in gods that are no gods,

in gods that are too small.

These small gods are potent, however;

they reduce the stature

of whoever worships them.

The Ten Commandments,

those laws God gives to Israel through Moses,

constitute a series of warnings

against the most popular of the small gods.

For example,

the Sabbath commandment warns us

against the small god of Work,

whose worshipers–

and they are numerous–

resort to frenetic activity

in order to feel they have a right to exist.

• The commandment against murder warns us

against making our enemy into a small god,

for strangely enough,

that is what happens

when hate comes to run our life,

and our opponent becomes our obsession.

• The commandment against coveting

warns us, on the other hand,

against making our neighbor into a small god,

for that is what happens

when we regard our neighbor’s possession,

our neighbor’s lifestyle,

as somehow indispensable for our existence.

The Ten Commandments

are not simply law in the conventional sense,

concerned with what is right and wrong.

These commandments are about loyalty,

our loyalty to the one true God,

rather than to small gods of our own devising.

None of the small gods can give us life.

All they do is imprison us.

What the commandments warn us against–

hatred and lust and falsehood and all the rest–

are the traps

set for us by these small gods.

It is from these traps

that the one true God ventures

to set us free!

He rescued his people from slavery in Egypt

in the time of Moses.

He raised up Jesus from the grip of death

on the first Easter morning.

And this same God strives

to deliver you and me

from the narrow prison-house,

the hell on earth that happens,

when we stumble into the trap of some strange god.

Yes, the Lord has come.

God has come to set us free!

We see this liberation take place

when Jesus provokes an uproar

in the temple at Jerusalem.

In he goes one day

brandishing a handmade whip,

and he starts making trouble!

Noisy, stampeding animals;

angry, shouting merchants;

tables overturned and coins rolling away

in every direction.

That area of the vast temple complex

is usually a bustling place,

but the outrageous actions of Jesus

reduce it to mayhem.

For weeks afterward

they keep talking about it

at meetings of the Jerusalem Chamber of Commerce.

The uproar Jesus causes that day

does not make him popular

with the powers that be.

It may even help to get him killed.

What do you think it is that prompts him?

It’s not that he opposes trade in the temple.

These dealers perform a necessary service.

They provide worshippers arriving from far away

with appropriate sacrificial animals

and the right kinds of coins to use for donations.

They help the temple to function smoothly

as a center for sacrifice and a house of prayer.

What Jesus rejects

is the excessive profit these dealers make,

and the way their trade obscures the temple’s purpose

as a place where people of every sort can offer worship.

Once the means to a legitimate end,

this trade has become its own justification,

so that profit has strangled devotion.

The temple of the God of Israel,

the Liberator of his people from Egypt,

has become a place to serve

the small gods of greed and arrogance,

gods who reduce the stature

of whoever worships them.

No wonder the anger of Jesus

causes him to tear the place apart!

Jesus stands today

at the entrance of our hearts.

He knows that

“We have no power in ourselves to help ourselves.”

He knows we cannot keep from falling short

of the commandments.

Yet he is ready to cleanse our hearts and lives

of gods that are too small.

The process is not an easy one.

Moments come

when we are reduced to chaos and confusion,

when animals stampede and merchants shout,

when tables are overturned

and what seems valuable ends up lost.

Yet in this way

Jesus turns our hearts into a true temple.

He delivers us from the tyranny of small gods

that we may grow in every way into his likeness.

Through the language of Scripture,

through the eucharistic feast,

through our gathering together as a Christian assembly,

Jesus appears among us this morning,

eager to reconsecrate the temples of our hearts

so that we may offer true worship

during the days to come.

This coming of Christ

the Liberator of our lives

does not square with

the dominant thought patterns of our age.

It is an insult to every ideology of human composition.

This Christ

who stands at the entrance of our hearts

blinds us with his brightness

for his light is love,

and his love takes the form of a cross.

In this light

the failings of every age

and every school of thought becomes manifest.

For human wisdom, however marvelous,

must yield to the wisdom that is divine,

though divine wisdom appears foolish

by the standards of the world.

In the end, and even this morning,

the weakness that saves us

is stronger than human strength.

It is the downfall of the shrines

of all the false gods,

and the cleansing of every true temple,

the setting straight of our very hearts.

This weakness that saves us

is the orthodoxy of heaven.

Stronger than human wisdom,

it is the foundation

for the praise we offer.

And so,

to the Father,

whose law is perfect and revives the soul;

to the Son,

who cleanses us from every stain;

and to the Holy Spirit,

who fills our hearts and our lives with gratitude;

be ascribed, as is most justly due,

all might, majesty, and dominion,

now and forever.

Amen.

"The Seven Last Words of Christ."

Luke 23, Mark 15, and John 19

THE FIRST WORD:

“Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).

Commentary on the First Word:

Some early manuscripts do not include this prayer, which the NRSV marks with brackets to acknowledge a question of authenticity.  While scholars are divided, many believe the prayer to be authentic, because it fits so well in Luke-Acts.

Jesus taught the disciples to love their enemies and to pray for those who abuse them (6:27-28).  Here he practices what he preaches.

Jesus’ concern for the ignorance of those responsible for his death is much like his concern for the ignorance of the people of Jerusalem (19:41-44).

In Acts 7:59, Luke records Stephen’s prayer, which is modeled on verse 34.

For whom is Jesus praying?  Most likely his prayer includes not only the soldiers who are inflicting his wounds, but also Jewish leaders who instigated the crucifixion, the crowd that demanded it (23:18-25), and the disciples who (except for the women standing at a distance––verse 49) are nowhere to be found––perhaps even for Judas.

Jesus’ prayer does not mean that Israel will not pay a price for their evil deed.  Jesus has already wept over Jerusalem (19:41-44) and has foretold the destruction of the temple (21:5-6) and Jerusalem (21:20-24)––but Jesus’ death is efficacious for Israel just as it is for everyone else.

Meditation on the First Word:

Stop and consider how you would respond if someone were torturing you. Some of us would suffer in silence. Others would cry out in pain. A few might shout defiant oaths at the tormentors.

But on the cross, Jesus didn’t do any of those things. Instead, he prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”

For whom was Jesus praying? Most likely his prayer included not only the soldiers who were inflicting his wounds, but also the Jewish leaders who instigated the crucifixion, the crowd that demanded it (23:18-25), and the disciples who, for the most part, were nowhere to be found.

We shouldn’t be too surprised that Jesus was capable of such a prayer. Earlier he had told his disciples,“Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28). Now he is practicing what he preached. We shouldn’t be surprised about that.

Was Jesus’ prayer answered? It was at least in part. A few weeks after Jesus’ resurrection, the disciples were gathered in Jerusalem for Pentecost. Peter preached a great sermon that day. He told the crowd that “God (had) made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Don’t miss those last words—”this Jesus WHOM YOU CRUCIFIED!”

The people, cut to the heart, responded, “What shall we do?” Peter responded, “Repent, and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”

Three thousand people were baptized that day. There must have been some who had shouted “Crucify him!” only a few weeks earlier. Others had stood by without raising a hand to help Jesus. But Peter said, “Repent, and be baptized…for the forgiveness of sins”—and that’s exactly what happened. Three thousand people were baptized, and God forgave them—just like that!

What about us? What does Jesus’ prayer do FOR us? What does it require FROM us?

Jesus’ prayer does something wonderful FOR us. It assures us that, as terrible as our sins might be, Jesus prays “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” If Jesus could forgive the people who were killing him, how much easier must it be for him to forgive our sins, great or small.

And this prayer requires something great FROM us. It calls us to follow Jesus’ lead. To do that, we need to forgive those who have sinned against us. That will never be easy, but it is the one of the ingredients in Jesus’ recipe for saving the world.

So let’s be thankful that Jesus can forgive us. And let’s follow his lead by forgiving those who have sinned against us.

Consider for a moment who that might be. Who has sinned against you—hurt you—injured you. Who is it that you need to forgive? Bring their face into focus so that you can see them clearly. Then pray, “Lord, help me to forgive.”

Let Jesus suck the poison from your wound and make you whole.

THE SECOND WORD:

“Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:43).

Commentary on the Second Word:

Jesus, as a king, has the power of pardon, and exercises it here.  As so often in Luke’s Gospel, he shows concern for the poor, women, children, the outcast, and the Gentile (4:31-37; 5:12-32; 6:6-11, 20-26; 7:1-17, 36-50; 8:1-3, 26-56, etc.).

This raises several questions:

Does Jesus mean that today he is initiating a salvation that will become effective in the general resurrection––or does he mean that the criminal will wake up in Paradise today?

By “today” does Jesus mean before sunset (the close of day in Israel)––or within 24 hours––or something broader?  We know that Jesus will spend the next three days in the tomb or in “the lower parts of the earth” (Ephesians 4:9), so it would not seem possible for him to meet the criminal in heaven within the next 24 hours.  We know only that this is a promise of some sort of salvation and that some sort of immediacy is involved.

Should we equate Paradise with heaven? Jesus’ contemporaries thought of Paradise (paradeisos) as a well-watered garden like the Garden of Eden.  In 2 Corinthians 12:2-4, Paul equates paradeisos with “the third heaven.” It seems likely that the Paradise that Jesus promises the thief is a place where he can await either:

– Jesus’ ascension to the right hand of God (Acts 2:29-36) or

– The general resurrection at the end of time.

Meditation on the Second Word:

Jesus wasn’t alone at his crucifixion. He was joined by two thieves.

One of those thieves shouted, “IF you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” (Luke 23:39). IF! That was the word the devil used when he tried to tempt Jesus. IF!

• Jesus was hungry, ravenously hungry, after a long fast in the desert wilderness. The devil said, “IF you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread” (Luke 4:3). IF!

• The devil said, “IF you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from (the pinnacle of the temple)” (Luke 4:9-10). IF!

That was the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. Now, at the end of Jesus’ ministry, the devil speaks again—this time through the voice of a thief—”IF you are the Christ, save yourself and us!” IF! Prove yourself, Jesus! Do something! Jesus just ignored him.

But there was a second thief, and that thief answered for Jesus. He asked the first thief, “Don’t you even fear God?” He went on to tell the first thief that the two of them were both guilty, and they deserved the punishment that they were receiving. But he said, “This man has done nothing wrong.” Then he turned to Jesus and said, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

Jesus responded by saying, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise” (Luke 23:39-43).

Some Christians have found that disturbing. After all, this thief had not walked down the aisle to accept Jesus as savior. He hadn’t been baptized. He hadn’t received Holy Communion.

But he did confess his sins. He told the first thief that they were both guilty.

And he asked Jesus to help. He said, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

Jesus responded, “Assuredly I tell you, TODAY you will be with me in Paradise.” Some Christians have worried about that word TODAY. They note that Paul talked about a general resurrection at Jesus’ Second Coming, and wonder how the thief got to heaven that very day. It’s better not to get caught up in that kind of hair-splitting. Let’s just be glad that Jesus saved the second thief—and pray that he will save us too.

Augustine saw that some people were troubled by this story, so he had these words of wisdom. He said:

“There is one case of death bed repentance recorded—

that of the penitent thief, that none should despair;

and only one that none should presume.”

So let none of us despair—and let none of us presume. Let us instead repent and receive forgiveness for our sins.

THE THIRD WORD:

“Therefore when Jesus saw his mother, and the disciple whom he loved standing there, he said to his mother, ‘Woman, behold your son!’ Then he said to the disciple, ‘Behold, your mother!’ From that hour, the disciple took her to his own home” (John 19:26-27).

Commentary on the Third Word:

We first encountered the unnamed “disciple whom (Jesus) loved” at the Last Supper (13:23).  He will be mentioned again on three occasions (20:2; 21:7; 21:20).  He is widely assumed to be the author of this Gospel.

In the midst of his misery, Jesus has the grace to consider his mother’s welfare.  It is likely that she has been widowed for quite some time, because we have heard nothing about Joseph since Jesus’ visit to the temple as a twelve-year-old boy (Luke 2:42 ff. does not mention Joseph by name, but does mention “his parents”––Luke 2:43). If Mary is a middle-aged widow, she is vulnerable.  As Mary’s son, Jesus has an obligation to provide for her, an obligation that he takes seriously even as he dies.  His intent here is to make “the disciple whom he loved” responsible for his mother’s care.

There are a number of references to Jesus’ brothers in the Gospels (Matthew 12:46-47; 13:55; Mark 3:31-32; Luke 8:19-20; John 2:12; 7:3, 10), so it would seem more appropriate for Jesus to ask them to take care of their mother.  However, at this point they do not believe in Jesus (John 7:5), and they might not be in Jerusalem at this time.  To the best of our knowledge, Jesus’ beloved disciple is the only male disciple or kin who is present at the crucifixion.  The other disciples have “left him, and fled” (Matthew 26:56; Mark 14:50).

Meditation on the Third Word:

In the midst of his misery, Jesus dispenses grace on those around him. He has asked forgiveness for his tormentors (the first word). He has assured the second thief that he would find himself in Paradise that very day. Now he turns to those who are closest to him—the disciple whom he loved and his mother.

“The disciple whom (Jesus) loved.” That’s strange! Didn’t Jesus love all his disciples? I’m sure he did—but everyone has favorites. Parents try not to play favorites, but the fact is that most parents, even though they love all their children, love one above all the others. That’s the kind of thing that was going on here. Jesus especially loved this particular disciple. We don’t know who he was. The early Christians thought he was John, the son of Zebedee —one of Jesus’ inner circle—but we don’t know for sure.

When we hear Jesus say to his mother, “Woman, behold your son!”—and to the beloved disciple,“Behold, your mother!”—our first thought is that Jesus is using this last opportunity to provide for his mother—and he was. But he was also using this last opportunity to provide for his beloved friend.

This beloved disciple was hurting too—not as much as Jesus’ mother, but hurting terribly nevertheless. By turning to the beloved disciple—by entrusting him with his mother’s care—Jesus was giving the beloved disciple something to live for—giving him trust beyond trust. How could Jesus have shown more faith in his beloved friend? I can’t think of anything. “Behold your mother!” What a gracious gesture! How ennobling! How life-giving! What a blessing!

But the greater blessing was for Mary, Jesus’ mother. Life had never been easy for Mary—not since the day the angel had visited her, saying, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. Behold, you will conceive in your womb, and give birth to a son, and will call his name ‘Jesus.'” (Luke 1:30-31).

Favor, indeed! Yes, God loved Mary and honored her by choosing her to be the mother of the Savior. But God never made it easy. Mary became pregnant before she was married. She gave birth while traveling, and had to cradle her baby in a feeding trough. She and her little family had to flee to Egypt to escape the murderous Herod. And so on and so forth! Now, at the final chapter, she has to witness her son executed as a criminal in a particularly horrible manner.

Jesus, of course, knew what Mary had suffered. He loved her and wanted to offer her a blessing—but what could he give her. Stripped even of his clothing, he had nothing to offer—nothing at all—except for one thing. He turned to Mary and said, “Woman, behold your son!”

We think that Joseph had died many years earlier, leaving Mary a widow. After all, we have heard nothing of Joseph since Jesus was a boy. A widow was especially vulnerable in that time and place. There wasn’t much she could do to earn money. She needed protection from those who would prey on her. The fortunate widows were those who had sons who would help. Mary had sons (Matthew 12:46-47; 13:55; Mark 3:31-32; Luke 8:19-20; John 2:12; 7:3, 10), but Jesus saw that she needed something more—someone who was trustworthy to the core—so he said, “Woman, behold your son!”

So Jesus gave a double blessing—one to his beloved disciple and the other to his mother.

THE FOURTH WORD:

“‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?'” (Matthew 27:46b; see also Mark 15:34).

Commentary on the Fourth Word:

In Matthew’s Gospel, these are the first words that Jesus has spoken since he answered Pilate’s question in Matthew 27:11.  It shakes us to hear such words of despair from Jesus’ lips.  Does he lose faith during this climactic hour of his ministry?

First, we must acknowledge Jesus’ humanity.  He came to suffer and die, and he is doing that.  He is experiencing human pain––human despair.  He has taken the sins of the world on his shoulders, and feels the crush of their weight. He feels forsaken––abandoned––no longer in touch with the Father. But still he prays, “My God, my God.” Abandoned though he may feel, he comes to “My God” for solace.

Second, we must acknowledge that Psalm 22:1, which Jesus quotes, becomes, in its last half, a celebration of faith––”Yes, from the horns of the wild oxen, you have answered me. I will declare your name to my brothers. In the midst of the assembly, I will praise you” (Psalm 22:21b-22). So Jesus’ cry of abandonment might simply be prelude to a blossoming of faith.

Meditation on the Fourth Word:

It shakes us to hear such words of despair from Jesus’ lips. Does he lose faith during this climactic hour of his ministry?

There is indeed a hint of that—a hint of the loss of faith. Jesus, after all, is fully human, and is experiencing human pain—human despair. Not only is he suffering from his wounds, but he has also taken on the sins of the world.

So Jesus cries, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?—My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

Those words, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” are Aramaic, the common language of Israel in Jesus’ day. “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Those words come from the 22nd Psalm. Listen to the first two verses of that psalm. The Psalmist says:

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from helping me,

and from the words of my groaning?

My God, I cry in the daytime, but you don’t answer.”

Is there anyone here who hasn’t felt like that at some point in your life? Haven’t we all felt God-forsaken at some point! Haven’t we all thought, “My God, I cry…, but you don’t answer!”

One of the most beautiful things about the Bible is its honesty. It deals forthrightly with all sorts of slimy things—from Abraham’s taking of a concubine to David’s taking Uriah’s wife as his mistress. The Bible also deals forthrightly with despair—with Godly people who find themselves praying, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”

“My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” Those words come from Psalm 22, but they are just the first two verses of that psalm. The Psalmist begins in despair, but then he stops to remind himself of the ground on which he stands. He prays, “But you are holy…. Our fathers trust in you. They trusted, and you delivered them” (Psalm 22:4).

The 22nd Psalm has an allusion to the crucifixion. The Psalmist said, “They divide my garments among them. They cast lots for my clothing” (Psalm 22:18). That sounds familiar, doesn’t it! So also the Roman soldiers divided Jesus’ garments and cast lots for them.

But the Psalmist wouldn’t give up. He prayed, “You who fear (God), praise him! …Stand in awe of him, all you descendants of Israel” (Psalm 22:23).

He also prayed, “For (God) has not despised…the affliction of the afflicted, neither has he hidden his face from him; but when he cried to God, he heard” (Psalm 22:24).

Yes, the Psalmist felt despair, but his faith trumped his despair. So it was with Jesus! He certainly felt despair, but he wouldn’t allow his despair to be his final word.

THE FIFTH WORD:

“That the Scripture might be fulfilled, Jesus said, ‘I am thirsty'” (John 19:28).

Commentary on the Fifth Word (John 19:28):

As noted above, this Gospel is concerned about the fulfillment of scripture, and more so as the story unfolds.  The scripture in question here is most likely Psalm 69:21, which says:  “They gave me gall for my food.  In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink.”

This is not to suggest that Jesus is not truly thirsty.  It has been many hours since his arrest.  He has been flogged and beaten, and has walked to the crucifixion site.  Withholding water is a part of the crucifixion process.  It is not difficult to imagine how terrible his thirst would be.  But he surely understands that, when saying that he is thirsty, his words fulfill scripture.

Meditation on the Fifth Word:

Jesus said, “I am thirsty.” Of course he was thirsty. Thirst was part of the genius of crucifixion. The Romans tormented their prisoners, in part, by denying them water. Then they forced the prisoners to carry their heavy crosses quite a distance. Then they hung the prisoners on their crosses to suffer through hot days and cold nights—with no clothing, food, or water. Roman soldiers stood guard to insure that family members couldn’t come forward to help the prisoners.

Also, they had flogged Jesus, laying open the flesh of his back. And they had thrust a spear through his side. Jesus had sustained a great deal of blood loss. Of course he was thirsty.

But we need to hear Jesus’ cry, “I am thirsty,” on a different level, because he was quoting from Psalm 69. In that psalm, the Psalmist said, “My throat is dry. My eyes fail, looking for my God” (Psalm 69:3).

The Psalmist also said, “They also gave me gall for my food. In my thirst, they gave me vinegar to drink” (Psalm 69:21-22).

But that wasn’t the end of that psalm. The Psalmist, who had, indeed, despaired, went on to say, “I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving…. For (God) hears the needy, and doesn’t despise his…people” (69:30, 33).

So we need to hear Jesus’ cry, “I am thirsty,” in part, as the fulfillment of the Old Testament. And we need not to hear it as words of despair.

When Jesus says, “I am thirsty,” it reminds me of what he said about thirst at the very beginning of his ministry. In his Sermon on the Mount, he had said, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled” (Matthew 5:6).

The words “hunger and thirst” mean less to affluent First World Christians today than to the people of Jesus’ time. When we are hungry, we eat. When we are thirsty, we drink.

It was different in Jesus’ day—and it is different in many parts of the world even today. People WERE often hungry—ARE often hungry—sometimes starving. Hunger and thirst are compelling! A hungry person can think of little but food! A thirsty person can think of little but water! To hunger and thirst is to be totally focused.

But Jesus said that those who hunger and thirst for righteousness will be filled—FILLED! They will not find life still empty! They will not be at loose ends! They will not ache for more! “They shall be FILLED!” What a promise!

THE SIXTH WORD:

“When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, ‘It is finished'” (tetelestai— from teleo) (John 19:30a).

Commentary on the Sixth Word (John 19:30a):

Teleo (finished) has shades of meaning, but the most likely meaning for this last word from the cross is that Jesus has accomplished the mission for which he has come to earth.

What a blessing it must have been to know that the Father had assigned Jesus a magnificent work––and that Jesus had fulfilled the Father’s call perfectly.

In one sense, the soldiers, priests, scribes, and Pharisees killed Jesus. In that sense, Jesus was “handed over” or “delivered up to” those who would kill him (Mark 3:19; 9:31; 14:21, 41).

But in a higher sense, Jesus died in accord with the Father’s plan for his life.  He was in control of his life and death.  He was not a victim of treachery, but was instead a willing sacrifice to give life to others.

Meditation on the Sixth Word:

“It is finished!” The Greek word that is translated “finished” was teleo. That isn’t a despairing word. Jesus isn’t saying, “It’s over and done with. I have failed.” To the contrary, he is saying, “My work is complete. I have finished what I came to do. I have lived the life to which I was called, and I have set the stage for the salvation of the world.” That’s what Jesus meant when he said, “It is finished.”

What a blessing it must have been to know that the Father had assigned him a magnificent work—and that he had fulfilled the Father’s hopes perfectly. Jesus could die in peace, knowing that he was in full compliance with the Father’s will—and that he had done the work that he had come to do.

I hope that each of us will be able to die with those words on our lips—“It is finished!”—meaning, “My work is complete. I finished what I came to do. I lived my life in accord with the Father’s will.”

We will all die, of course. We don’t like to think of it. We make jokes about it. We say, “Only two things are certain: Death and taxes.” But when death is imminent, we don’t joke about it. People talk about death as the grim reaper—but death need not be grim. It won’t be grim if we can die knowing that we have finished the work that God called us to do—that we have lived our lives in accord with the Father’s will.

None of us will do that perfectly, of course. In fact, most of us will ask, “How can I ever hope to end my life on such a positive note?” We have sinned. We have fallen short of the glory to which God has called us.

But God has forgiven us. God has brought our lives back into focus. God has helped us to put the pieces back into place. With God’s help, we will be able to say with Jesus, “It is finished. It is complete. I have fulfilled my purpose.”

THE SEVENTH WORD:

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46—quoting from Psalm 31:5).

Commentary on the Seventh Word:

Jesus’ final words in this Gospel are very different from those in Matthew and Mark where Jesus asks why God has forsaken him (Matthew 27:46; Mark 15:34).

Luke reports that Jesus’ last words on the cross were––“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”  That verse goes on to say, “Having said this, he breathed his last.”  In the Bible, that isn’t the usual way to say that someone died.  In fact, none of the Gospel writers say that Jesus died.  Instead, Luke describes Jesus as entrusting himself to the Father’s care.  Jesus’ mood is not despair, but confidence––confidence that the Father who sent him into the world with a mission is now prepared to receive him back again.

I have participated in team-building exercises where participants were encouraged to fall backwards, trusting that other members of the team would catch them.  I didn’t enjoy that exercise.  It required more trust than I really felt.

But when Jesus says, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” I like to think of him as falling back willingly into the Father’s arms––having no misgivings about the Father’s love or ability to protect him.  In these words, Jesus demonstrates faith to the fullest.

Meditation on the Seventh Word:

When Jesus says, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit,” he is quoting from Psalm 31:5.

Jesus said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Luke then tells us, “Having said this, he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46).

Jesus breathed his last breath. Let’s correct that. Jesus breathed his last breath for this particular day—this Good Friday—this Bad Friday—this Hang-God-Out-to-Die-Friday.

But, as we know, it won’t be Jesus’ last breath. On the other side of Easter morn, he will breathe again. In the Gospel of John, we have another story about Jesus breathing—this time on the far side of Easter. On that occasion, the disciples were gathered behind locked doors “for fear of the Jews. Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, “Peace be to you.” Then “he breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit!” (John 20:19-23).

Just as God breathed into Adam the breath of life (Genesis 2:7) Jesus breathed into his disciples the Spirit of life. This gift of the Spirit renewed the life of these disciples just as Godly breath gave new life to dry bones (Ezekiel 37:9). The disciples had been afraid and confused—hidden in a locked room to escape danger. But after Jesus breathes on them, they find strength to stand up, unlock the door, go outside, and begin their proclamation.

But I am getting ahead of the story. That’s the story for Sunday. Today is Friday. Jesus has just said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” and breathed his last breath. It’s a dark day—the darkest day that anyone had ever seen, and the darkest day that anyone will ever see.

But Jesus’ last words were a spear of light that shattered the darkness. He said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” Those aren’t the words of a man who had suffered ultimate defeat. They were the words of a man who was going home—who was putting his spirit in his beloved Father’s hands—who was getting ready to rejoin the Father in the heavenly realm where he had dwelled with the Father from before the beginning of time (John 1).

“Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.” When our time to die comes, I hope that we will remember these words. I hope that we, like Jesus, will be able to let go of this life with the calm assurance that we are going to join the Father and the Son in the heavenly realm.

But we don’t have to wait until our dying day to say those words:

• Let us pray those words whenever we are troubled—whenever worry threatens to consume us. Let us pray, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

• Let us pray them whenever we are faced with problems that defy solution. When caught between a rock and a hard place, let us pray, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

• Let us pray them whenever doubt casts a shadow across our faith—whenever we are tempted to wonder whether God exists—whenever we doubt that God loves us. Let us pray, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

• Let us pray those words today—as we are gathered here to see Christ on the cross—when we find ourselves outraged that anyone would treat Jesus in such a way—when we ask, “Why did he have to die?” Let us pray, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit.”

Because, when we place ourselves in God’s hands, he will hold us—comfort us—strengthen us—lift us up. He will give us life.

The meaning of Good Friday is that, with God’s help, it isn’t over until it’s over. Where there is a cross, we can anticipate that there will also be an open tomb. Where there is darkness, we can anticipate that God will bring us light.

 Amen!

"What Is Truth?"

John 18:28-38

As we explore this question, I hope you’ll benefit in two ways:

• One, that you’ll resolve to be more truth-seeking – digging deeper and getting to the bottom line – not accepting as fact everything you hear on the news or out on the street;

• Two, that you’ll see truth as something more than an objective reality.  In the eyes of faith, truth is a living Word that informs us and inspires us to live as children of God.

First, let’s take a closer look at the text.  Jesus was arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane and taken to Caiaphas’ house.  It was a setup.  The Jewish Council was already assembled and waiting.  They questioned him at length and condemned him for blasphemy.  The next day they sent him to Pontius Pilate on the charge of treason, that he claimed to be King of the Jews.

Pilate was already aware of Jesus and curious to know more.  Luke says,

“Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him.” (Luke 23:8)

Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?” (John 18:33) Jesus asked Pilate, “Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?” (John 18:34) Pilate confessed that this is what he’d been told.  And Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world …” (John 18:36) Pilate seized on this and said, “So you are a king?” (John 18:37)  And Jesus replied,

“You say that I am a king.

For this reason, I have been born,

and for this reason, I have come into the world,

that I should testify to the truth.

Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

(John 18:37)

And Pilate said, “What is truth?” (John 18:38)

Jesus didn’t respond.  His silence implies the answer: “If you have to ask, you wouldn’t understand.”

What is truth?  It’s a good question.  Truth is essential to healthy relationships and strong communities.

I had a couple of friends in seminary who had a falling out.  One said to the other, “I can’t trust you anymore.  You say one thing and do another.  You’re not being honest with me; you only tell me what you think I want to hear.”  They parted friendship and went their separate ways.

The truth lies at the heart of every healthy relationship.  Whether it’s your husband or wife, your business partner or best friend, you have to believe the other person is telling you the truth.  If they ever lie to you or betray your trust, your relationship will never be the same.  You’ll always wonder in the back of your mind, “Is he/she telling the truth?”

This is something Rotarians know all about.  The first question in their “Four-Way Test” is simply: Is it the truth?

Truth is the cornerstone of living in a community with each other.  We have to trust individuals and companies to do what they promise.  When the truth is compromised, the community breaks down.

We see this in the political arena: Politicians have talked out of both sides of their mouths for so long we no longer have confidence in what they say or do.

When he took the oath of office following Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford said, “Truth is the glue that holds government together.”  No doubt about it.  And we could go on to say … “the absence of truth is the solvent that quickly dissolves it.”

Truth is essential to healthy relationships and strong communities.  That’s the first point, and the second is this: Truth is rare.

Ever watch Perry Mason?  The first half of the show was about some crime that’d been committed; the second half was about how it was tried in court, where Perry Mason exposed the culprit and got a guilty verdict or a public confession.  As each witness took the stand, he was asked, “Do you swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you, God?”  The witness solemnly answered, “I do.”  Anything less was inadmissible.

There ought to be some way to apply that oath to everyday life.  While most of us are not guilty of telling outright lies, we’re not altogether honest, either.

I love the story told about Lillian Carter, President Carter’s mother.  When he was running for President, there was a female reporter who was determined to dig up some dirt on the candidate.  So, she dogged Miss Lillian relentlessly for weeks.  Finally, Miss Lillian consented to an interview in her home.  She met the reporter at the door and invited her in.  No sooner than they’d sat down, the reporter asked, “Has your son ever told a lie?”  Miss Lillian bristled and said, “No, never.”  “Never?” the reporter asked. “Never!” Miss Lillian answered.  “Never??” the reporter persisted.  Miss Lillian said, “Well, maybe a little white lie, now and then.”  It was the chink in the armor the reporter was looking for.  “I see,” she said, “and what, pray to tell, is a white lie?”  Miss Lillian smiled and said, “Well, do you remember when I greeted you at the door and said how nice it was to see you?”

We do it all the time.  We tell little white lies: “I’d love to come, but I have a prior commitment … Send me more information, and I’ll get back to you … the check’s in the mail.”

At best, it’s a way of being courteous; at worse, it’s a way of being dishonest.  Truth, pure and simple, is rare.

I told you this story not long ago: A minister friend had a passion for books.  The walls of his study were lined with bookcases, and the bookcases were filled with books from floor to ceiling.  One day a little boy came to the door, saw all the books, and exclaimed, “Golly, look at all those books!  How you read every one of them?”  The minister never missed a beat.  He said, “Some of them I’ve read twice.”

You get the point: We manipulate the truth to serve our purposes, not only by what we say but by what we don’t say.  G. C. Lichtenberg reminds us, “The most dangerous untruths are truths slightly distorted.”

There’s an old adage that goes, “Say what you mean, and mean what you say.”  It’s a takeoff on the scripture, where Jesus told his disciples, “let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No’ be ‘No.’ Whatever is more than these is of the evil one.” (Matthew 5:37)

You’re better off to speak the truth in love and let the chips fall where they may.

Truth is rare.  That’s the second point, and the third is this: No matter how truthful you want to be, your ability, to tell the truth, is limited by your perspective.  I hate to tell you this but there’ll always be more to the truth than you’ll ever know.  Paul said it best when he said,

“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully, even as I was also fully known.” (1 Corinthians 13:12)

Three men were blindfolded and asked to describe an elephant.  One felt of the trunk and described the elephant as a big serpent, something like a Boa Constrictor.  Another felt of the elephant’s front leg and described the elephant as a tall creature with a massive torso.  The third felt of the elephant’s ear and said it must be something like a Manta Ray.  All three were right, as far as they knew, yet none described the elephant completely.

Your ability, to tell the truth, is limited by what you know.  That’s why it’s so important to be circumspect – to be aware that, as obvious as something may be to you – and as firmly as you may believe it – there are other perspectives just as valid as yours to be considered.  Next time you have a difference of opinion with someone, instead of arguing about who’s right, listen carefully to what the other person has to say.  It’ll help you see the bigger picture more clearly.

Your ability to be truthful is limited by your perspective.  Finally, truth, as we know it, is subject to change.

Remember when we thought the world was flat and the earth was the center of the universe?  There was a time when we believed these things were true.  Turns out, we were wrong.  What we accepted as true change.  Which makes you wonder: What are we accepting today as truth that, in years to come, will turn out to be false?

Whom are you going to believe?  What is truth?

As men and women of faith, we can answer that question in a heartbeat.  We believe truth is synonymous with the Word of God.  Jesus made this clear when he prayed for his disciples, “Father … Sanctify them in your truth. Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)

This is the second year for many of us to read through the entire Bible from January to December.  If you’re one of those who are participating, you’ve already found out that a lot of the Bible – particularly, the Old Testament – is tedious and (shall I say?) boooor-ing.   Seriously, who cares how many sheep and goats and bulls and oxen were required for the sacrifice of atonement?

And yet … if you read the Bible carefully … and prayerfully … and in its entirety, you’ll find that it speaks of the sovereignty of a loving God determined to reconcile the world to himself.  It speaks of judgment and promise, forgiveness and love.  It bears witness to a Truth that is universal and unchanging.

The Good News is that God’s Word became flesh and dwelt among us in the person of Jesus Christ.  William How got it right when he penned the words:

“O Word of God incarnate, O Wisdom from on high;

O Truth unchanged, unchanging, O Light of our dark sky.

We praise you for the radiance that, from the hallowed page,

A lantern to our footsteps shines on from age to age.”

By listening to the teachings of Jesus and walking in his footsteps, we’re given the ability to know the truth in the midst of a less-than-truthful world.

Plus, he gives us the power of his Spirit to speak the truth in his name.  If that were not enough, he makes this promise:

“If you remain in my word, then you are truly my disciples.

You will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.”

(John 8:32)

I said at the outset I hoped that, as a result of the sermon today, you’d resolve to be more truth-seeking in your own life and not be swayed by what you hear on the news or out on the street.

At the end of the day, the only way to do that is to know the source of truth, and that’s Jesus Christ.  Honor him as the Lord and Savior of your life.  Then anchor your life in him and weigh what you see and hear by the standard of his righteousness and love.

I also said that I hoped you’d see truth as something more than an objective reality.  In the eyes of faith, truth is dynamic – not something you pen down and defend, but something you live each day, as you seek to live not as a citizen of this world, but as a child of God.

Years ago, a church member asked me if I happened to know a business associate of his.  I said yes, and he proceeded to give me his impressions of this mutual friend of ours.  He described him as impeccably honest and straightforward – in his words, “a consummate businessman and gentleman.”  Then he used a term I’ll always remember: He said, “He’s a straight arrow.”

I don’t know of a better way to answer the question, “What is truth?”  Truth is a straight arrow – perfectly straight and true – not warped or bent in any way by pride, prejudice, or selfish motive.

Jesus Christ is the ultimate example.  Look to him, learn from him, follow his example, and, by God’s grace, you, too, will come to embody the truth and be a living witness to his grace and love.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

"Unity in Christ"

 John 17:20-26

It’s important to note that Jesus’ longest and most fervent prayer was for the unity of the church:

“… that they may all be one; even as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be one in us.” (John 17:21)

Unity in Christ.  That’s what I’d like for us to think about in the sermon this morning.  What is the secret to Christian unity?  What causes churches to become divided; for members to get at odds with each other?  And what effect does the unity of the church – or lack thereof – have on its witness and its ability to make disciples and grow?

Now, relax.  I’m not here to step on your toes.  I don’t have a hidden agenda.  I don’t see you as a conflicted congregation.  Sure, you’ve had your ups and downs and I’m guessing you’ve had your share of disagreements over the years, but that’s natural.  All churches do.

So, listen to the sermon as objectively as you can and consider how it applies to you.  What I want to explore is what scripture teaches us about the dynamics of a healthy family, because, after all, that’s what the church of Jesus Christ is, or ought to be – a family of faith, brothers and sisters in Christ working together for the common good.

The first passage comes from the Apostle Paul in his Letter to the Ephesians.  He says,

“I don’t cease to give thanks for you…. (and I pray that) the Father of glory may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of (Christ Jesus)…. He raised Him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places…. He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the (church), which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all” (Ephesians 1:15-22)

When it comes to unity in Christ, this is Rule Number One: Jesus Christ is the head of the body, not you or me or anybody else.  He alone is head of the household.  When the pastor or individual members of the church violate this rule, you can be sure conflict is on its way.

Truth to tell, most conflict in the church has to do with power struggles and the basic question of who’s going to call the shots.

Jesus Christ is the head of the church.  Never forget that.  When it comes to maintaining unity in the body of Christ, it’s Rule Number One.

Rule Number Two is this: Every member of the body of Christ is important to the well-being of the whole.  Each has a vital role to play.  In a healthy church, there are no peons, and there are no VIPs.  Here’s how Paul described it:

“For as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, being many, are one body; so also is Christ. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether bond or free; and were all given to drink into one Spirit.” (1 Corinthians 12:12-13)

He goes on to say,

“If the foot would say, ‘Because I’m not the hand, I’m not part of the body,’ it is not therefore not part of the body…. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the smelling be? (1 Corinthians 12:15-17)

He says:

“The eye can’t tell the hand, ‘I have no need for you,’ or again the head to the feet, ‘I have no need for you.’ No, much rather, those members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary. Those parts of the body which we think to be less honorable, on those we bestow more abundant honor” (1 Corinthians 12:21-23)

In a healthy church, every member counts.  Every member is valued and loved and treated with respect and given a job to do within the range of his or her ability.  No one is overlooked or taken for granted.

An economics professor greeted his new crop of MBA hopefuls with an announcement.  He said, “We shall begin with a short examination.”  With that, he wrote one question on the board, “What is the cleaning lady’s name?”

The students snickered.  “You’ve got to be kidding.”  Then he said, “If you hope to manage a large corporation one day, first gain the respect of the people who make it successful.  Your success will depend on them more than you will ever know.”  It was a lesson they never forgot.

In the church of Jesus Christ, every member is essential to the well-being of the whole.

Here’s Rule Number Three: Conflict is inevitable.  It’s the natural result of two or more healthy egos working together: You see it one way, I see another.  Unless you’ve got a church full of doormats, you can expect to have a certain amount of conflict.  We will not always agree on all things.  Duh!

The good news is that conflict is not the root of division.  Division occurs when conflict goes unresolved or when it’s resolved in a way that’s hurtful.  Jesus said,

“If therefore you are offering your gift at the altar,

and there remember that your brother has anything against you,

leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way.

First, be reconciled to your brother,

and then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24)

Did you notice who’s supposed to make the first move?  Listen again: If your brother has something against you, you take the initiative. Don’t wait for him to come to you.

And take note of this: As far as Jesus is concerned, reconciliation trumps worship.  Leave your gift and go find your brother.  Talk it over.  Find a way to resolve your differences.  Then go back and make your offering.

There’s also the Matthew 18 approach.  It goes like this:

“If your brother sins against you,

go, show him his fault between you and him alone….

If he listens to you, you have gained back your brother.

But if he doesn’t listen, take one or two more with you,

that at the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the (church).

If he refuses to hear the (church) also,

let him be to you as a Gentile or a tax collector” (Matthew 18:15-17).

So often, when there’s conflict in the church, the one who’s upset tells everyone but the one with whom he or she is upset.  As Dr. Phil would say, “And how is that working for you?”

When you’ve hurt somebody’s feelings – or when somebody hurts your feelings – the hardest thing in the world is to face them, one on one.  You want to avoid them like the plague.  And, make no mistake about it, they want to avoid you, too, as if the less said, the better.

It doesn’t work that way.  Unresolved conflict never goes away.  It just sinks to a deeper level, and if you don’t do something about it, it’ll fester and grow and lead to even worse conflicts in the future.

Conflict is inevitable.  What’s important is how you resolve it.  Ironically, conflict can bring you closer to the other person when you go about resolving it in the right way.  It can actually help you get to know each other more intimately and take each other more seriously.

And, if the conflict is inevitable, so is anger.  That leads to Rule Number Four:  It comes from Paul’s Letter to the Ephesians, where he says,

“Be angry and don’t sin.

Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath.” (Ephesians 4:26)

Listen: Anger is an emotion, nothing more, nothing less.  It can be an intense and powerful emotion – even overwhelming, at times – but it’s still only an emotion.

Like conflict, it’s not anger that’s the problem, but what you do with it.  To hurt someone intentionally because you’re angry is a sin.  To channel your anger in a positive and constructive way is a virtue.

Candy Lightner’s daughter, Cari, was killed by a drunk driver in 1980.  She was thirteen years old.  Candy’s anger was off the charts.  She was livid beyond words.  But instead of attacking the driver who’d had killed her daughter, she attacked the problem of drunk driving.

Well, you know the story.  She founded the organization called MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving.  She didn’t stop drunk driving, but she made a dent in the problem.  And because of her efforts, Cari did not die in vain.  Her death served as the catalyst for change.

Be angry, but do not sin.  That’s the first part of the rule, and the second part is just as important: Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.

We’re all guilty of nursing wounds and holding on to grudges as if we think it’s a way of punishing those who’ve hurt us.  That’s counter-productive.  When you hold on to your hurt or anger, you only punish yourself.

The best thing you can do is to get it out of your system – go to the gym and work out, hit a bag of balls on the driving range, chop firewood, clean the house, weed the flower beds, give the dog a bath – whatever works for you – get it out of your system and let it go.  Unresolved anger is a poison that kills everything in its path.

Let’s wrap it up.  Before leaving this earth, Jesus prayed for the unity of the church that would bear his name.  And for good reason:

• When we live and work together in the name of Jesus Christ, we present a clear witness of faith to the world around us.  Others catch a glimpse of the kingdom of God by the way we love and respect each other, and by how we’re able to confront and forgive each other, speaking the truth in love.  As a result, they’re drawn closer to the throne of God’s grace, and the church prospers and grows.

• Just be aware: The opposite is also true: When we’re divided and at odds with each other, our witness is lost, and the world fails to take our message seriously.

Christian unity is as important as what we profess to believe, the programs we offer, and the good deeds we do for others.

What’s the key?  Four basic rules:

• Rule Number One: Jesus Christ is the head of the church.

• Rule Number Two: Each member is essential to the well-being of the whole.

• Rule Number Three: Conflict is inevitable.  What’s important is how you resolve it.

• Rule Number Four: Be angry, but don’t take your anger out on others; don’t hold on to it overnight.

Oh, I almost forgot: Rule Number Five: When in doubt, refer to Rule Number One––Jesus Christ is the head of the church.

As you know, I often like to end a sermon with a hymn, and I can’t think of one more appropriate to the theme of Christian unity than this:

Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.

Christ, the royal Master, leads against the foe;

Forward into battle see His banners go!

Like a mighty army moves the church of God;

Brothers, (sisters), we are treading where the saints have trod.

We are not divided, all one body we,

One in hope and doctrine, one in charity.

(So) Onward, Christian soldiers, marching as to war,

With the cross of Jesus going on before.