3-18-14- A Call to Believe

37Even after Jesus had performed so many signs in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38This was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet:

“Lord, who has believed our message

and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”^h

39For this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere:

40“He has blinded their eyes

and hardened their hearts,

so they can neither see with their eyes,

nor understand with their hearts,

nor turn—and I would heal them.”ⁱ

41Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus’ glory and spoke about him.

42Yet at the same time many even among the leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not openly acknowledge their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43for they loved human praise more than praise from God.

44Then Jesus cried out, “Whoever believes in me does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. 45The one who looks at me is seeing the one who sent me. 46I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. (John 12:37-46)

Thoughts: Believers have a hard time understanding why people refuse to believe.  Unbelievers have a hard time understanding why anyone would want to believe.  This passage describes why there is skepticism.  God opens eyes, and some eyes left unopened are in effect blinded.  Others believe, but are afraid to do so publicly lest they lose some of their earthly power or popularity.  Jesus was inviting all who heard Him to believe, and to believe that seeing Him means seeing God.  That still is hard for some to believe.  It is a choice to believe in Jesus or not to do so.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to believe you rather than the skeptics.  Help m

e to trust in your helpful love than unhelpful skepticism.  

3-17-14- The Voice of Glory

28Father, glorify your name!”

Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.

30Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.

34The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”

35Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.

Thoughts: The Father's voice relating to the Son was heard three times: the baptism at the beginning; the transfiguration when Jesus was getting ready to go to Jerusalem; and now right before his arrest and death.  The Father's name is glorified through the Son.  The willingness of the Son to die, would bear fruit for God.  Jesus is lifted up on the cross and the Father is glorified.  The Father's plan of salvation is amazing and brings worthy of worship. 

Prayer: Lord, you are worthy of worship and glory. 

3-1614 Jesus and the Greeks

20Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.

23Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.25Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life.26Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.

27“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name!” (John 12:20-27)

Thoughts: The festival talked about here was the Passover.  It was the time of sacrifice in which every Jewish family bought or brought a lamb to be sacrificed for them to save them from the angel of death. Greeks, who could have been proselytes or could have been seekers of truth (which the Greeks were known for), asked to see Jesus.  They asked Philip, who had a Greek name.  We too should seek to see Jesus and get to know Him.  

When they approached Jesus, Jesus gave some surprising and memorable words.  He did not just say, "I'll go see them."  He talked about the Son of Man being glorified, dying in order to bear fruit.  Jesus knew that his death was the way to reach the whole world.  He also knew his popularity and the fact that even foreigners were seeking him, meant His conflict with those who wish to kill Him.   Jesus was courageous in facing His enemies and His death.  He knew it was for a great good and He did not retreat.  Neither should we be afraid or shrink back from holding forth the Gospel.  Not in hostility to those who oppose it, but simply as a way to lift high the cross.
     Stories abound of people trying to silence the Christian message as they tried to kill Lazarus for just being raised (12:10).  The Air Force Academy was caught telling a cadet to erase a scripture verse from his dorm room's white board.  Other places are told to take down memorial crosses from public places.  While we do not wish hostility, we should not shrink from being offended at those who are offended at our existence or our message.  Freedom of speech and freedom of religion allow different points of view.  So Jesus said whoever loves their life (their eternal life) will hold loosely to this earthly life.  As we stand up for our faith, no matter the cost, we glorify God.  

Prayer: Lord, help me to speak up for you as you were not ashamed to go to the cross for me. 

3-15-14 The King's Procession

12The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.13They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna! ”“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Blessed is the king of Israel!”

14Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written:

15“Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;

see, your king is coming,

seated on a donkey’s colt.”

16At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him.

17Now the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to spread the word. 18Many people, because they had heard that he had performed this sign, went out to meet him. 19So the Pharisees said to one another, “See, this is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!” (John 12:12-19)

Thoughts: John indicates that a lot of the excitement for Jesus' coming to Jerusalem on Palm Sunday was because word spread because of Lazarus' resurrection.  Other gospels speak of the excitement caused by his "many" miracles (Lk. 19:37).  They called Jesus "King" which was bound to upset both the Romans and the Jewish authorities.  But Jesus was not that kind of king.  He rode a colt- the foal of a donkey into Jerusalem both in fulfillment of Zechariah's prophecy about the Messiah, and as a sign of being a prince of Israel (for the princes rode donkeys- Judges 10:4).  Jesus is the King who saves us (Hosanna means "Lord save.").  He is our Savior, and He came to Jerusalem at Passover to bring the salvation that comes from being the sacrificial "Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world."  He is worthy of our praise. 

Prayer: Lord, you are worthy of our attention and praise.  Thank you for being my Savior and King. 

3-14-14 Jesus anointed by Mary

1Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3Then Mary took about a pint^a of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

4But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected,5“Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.^b ” 6He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

7“Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8You will always have the poor among you,^c but you will not always have me.”

9Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him. (John 12:1-10)

Thoughts: John describes Bethany as "where Lazarus lived" (NIV) or "where Lazaerus was" (KJV).  Matthew's account has Jesus coming the house of Simon the Leper.  Some would just give up and say "scripture contradicts itself."  But if we wrestle with the text we may see that this is recording the same event from two different angles. The resurrection of Lazarus probably menat that the name of Bethany had changed to "the place where Lazarus lived."  Lazarus could have lived with Simon the Leper and we do not need to assume he lived with his sisters.  Regardless, this was in Bethany- a very small town not too far from the Mount of Olives.  Other differences are that Matthew did not name the woman while John names her as Mary.  Both have this event happening at the end of Jesus ministry and indicate this rite was a symbol of Jesus' death.  Mary was no doubt grateful that her brother was raised by Jesus and gave extravagantly to Him.  If we are convinced truly that Jesus gives us life- here and in the life to come- perhaps we will not be so reticent to give to Him, but would be grateful.
     The other really important thing is that Mary's extravagant gift was criticized by Judas (according to John) while Matthew adds other disciples joined in the criticism.  We often do not understand why people give the way they do, but we should reserve judgment.  The Spirit may prompt one to give to missions (and we may not understand that), while another may be prompted to give to buildings. Perhaps another thing to realize is that the Church does not exist solely to help the poor,  There is no doubt the Church is supposed to help the poor and love their neighbor.  But we do not need to forget the other command to love God.  Mary showed love for God by her act of worship.  Jesus was saying there is a time to give like this and perhaps inferring there is a time not to ("To everything there is a season"- Eccles. 3:1).  Jesus was not saying to not give to the poor because it is helpless to do so, but that while He was on earth it would be appropriate for an act of worship. So today there is a place to give to enhance the worship of God as well as helping the poor.  

Prayer: Help me to remember you are worthy of my time and gifts.  All I have is a gift from you- my life here and my life to come.  Help me to balance giving to the needy and giving to you.  

(Below- Mural of Mary's anointing of Jesus in Bethany church, Israel). 

3-13-14 Christ our Sacrifice

45Therefore many of the Jews who had come to visit Mary, and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what Jesus had done. 47Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin.

“What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs.48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”

49Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”

51He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53So from that day on they plotted to take his life.

54Therefore Jesus no longer moved about publicly among the people of Judea. Instead he withdrew to a region near the wilderness, to a village called Ephraim, where he stayed with his disciples. (John 11:45-54)

Thoughts: It is amazing that some could be witnesses to the resurrection, yet still not only be skeptical but help stop the ministry of Jesus to help people.  The Jews were nervous about a rebellion.  There had been at least three rebellions before Jesus, and within a generation the Romans would come and destroy their land.  But the Jews had it wrong.  Jesus did not want to destroy Roman rule, but to bring in the heavenly Kingdom which goes beyond all human rule.  In the end, Jesus would die for all, but in a different way.  The infinite and righteous God died as the Passover Lamb for the sins of all.  The priests meant it for evil or at the least as an escape for them.  But Jesus died voluntarily for our good.  Jesus said himself that He came as a ransom for many (Mk. 10:45). 

Prayer: Lord, thank you that you came as a ransom, a substitutionary sacrifice for me.  May I live a grateful life for you.  

3-12/14- Come Out Lazarus!

38Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance.39“Take away the stone,” he said.

“But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.”

40Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?”

41So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me.42I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.”

43When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

Jesus said to them, “Take off the grave clothes and let him go.” (John 11:38-44)

Thoughts: Jesus wept again.  He commanded that the seal of death be removed.  He proclaimed God's glory and prayed out loud.  Then He commanded the dead to move.  When Jesus prays, the tombs pop open, and the dead move.  Lazarus responded and came out.  He didn't come out singing, preaching, but in silence.  Later Lazarus would preach, then die and be buried in another tomb in Cyprus that we can see today.  But Lazarus was a quiet, living monument to Jesus' power- the power over death.  The power that confirmed his claim to be God.  it was after this great miracle that Jesus rode into Jerusalem with the crowds singing "Hosanna to the King of David!"  This resurrection was confirmed about a week and a half later when Jesus rose from the dead himself when they tried to snuff Him and His message out.  The message of Jesus will not be snuffed out.  We do not need to be ashamed of it- it is the only message of the resurrection and the life.  The world needs us to proclaim the glory of the One who can call us out of our graves. 

Prayer: Lord, help me trust in your ability to save me.  I am as good as dead without you.  When I cannot respond- when I am dead- save me.  May my life be a living monument to your love and power. 

(The author in the tomb of Lazarus in Bethany.  Bethany is a very small town, and it would be unusual if they forgot the spot of this great event).