Luke 7:36-50

One of the Pharisees asked Jesus to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee’s house and took his place at the table. And a woman in the city, who was a sinner, having learned that he was eating in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster jar of ointment. She stood behind him at his feet, weeping, and began to bathe his feet with her tears and to dry them with her hair. Then she continued kissing his feet and anointing them with the ointment. Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw it, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what kind of woman this is who is touching him—that she is a sinner.” Jesus spoke up and said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” “Teacher,” he replied, “speak.” “A certain creditor had two debtors; one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. When they could not pay, he canceled the debts for both of them. Now which of them will love him more?” Simon answered, “I suppose the one for whom he canceled the greater debt.” And Jesus said to him, “You have judged rightly.” Then turning toward the woman, he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has bathed my feet with her tears and dried them with her hair. You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. Therefore, I tell you, her sins, which were many, have been forgiven; hence she has shown great love. But the one to whom little is forgiven, loves little.” Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” But those who were at the table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this who even forgives sins?” And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

HOLY WEEK

Holy is the week...

Holy, consecrated, belonging to God...

We move from hosannas to horror 

     with the predictable ease 

          of those who know not what they do.

Our hosannas sung, 

     our palms waved, 

let us go with passion into this week.

It is a time to curse fig trees that do not yield fruit.

It is a time to cleanse the temples of any blasphemy.

It is a time to greet Jesus as the Lord's Anointed One,  

    to lavishly break our alabaster 

    and pour perfume out for him 

          without counting the cost.

It is a time for preparation...

The time to give thanks and break bread is upon us.

The time to give thanks and drink of the cup is imminent.

Eat, drink, remember:

On this night of nights, each one must ask, 

     as we dip our bread in the wine, 

          "Is it I?"

And on that darkest of days, each of us must stand 

    beneath the tree 

and watch the dying 

     if we are to be there 

when the stone is rolled away.

The only road to Easter morning 

     is through the unrelenting shadows of that Friday. 

Only then will the alleluias be sung;  

     only then will the dancing begin.

                                                 by Ann Weems, Kneeling in Jerusalem

Matthew 21

When they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus gave two disciples a task. He said to them, “Go into the village over there. As soon as you enter, you will find a donkey tied up and a colt with it. Untie them and bring them to me. If anybody says anything to you, say that the Lord needs it.” He sent them off right away. Now this happened to fulfill what the prophet said, Say to Daughter Zion, “Look, your king is coming to you, humble and riding on a donkey, and on a colt the donkey’s offspring.” The disciples went and did just as Jesus had ordered them. They brought the donkey and the colt and laid their clothes on them. Then he sat on them.

Now a large crowd spread their clothes on the road. Others cut palm branches off the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds in front of him and behind him shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessings on the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!” And when Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred up. “Who is this?” they asked. The crowds answered, “It’s the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.”

Calls For Allegiance John van de Laar

Lord Jesus Christ, whose greatest moments of triumph happen on the back of a donkey's foal and nailed to a bloody cross, We gather to prepare the way for You in our lives and in our world. There are so many people and things that call for our allegiance so many kings seeking to rule over us. But, You ride into our experience as another kind of King a serving, humble and challenging King who calls us not to slavery, but friendship. There are so many things that seek our energy and resources         for their own sakes so many Kingdoms seeking our souls for their own glory. But, You ride into our experience heralding another kind of Kingdom a Kingdom where the least are the greatest, where the meek inherit the earth and where children are the best example of citizenship. a Kingdom which seeks to bring life, not drain it. There are so many things that draw our attention. So many realities that seek our faith and assent. But, You ride into our experience revealing another kind of reality a reality where death does not have the last word. a reality where pride, selfishness and evil are defeated by love and self-giving. a reality which does not parade itself for all to see, but fills every moment, every situation and every thing with life, while waiting for us to discover it. And so, we cry, from our hearts Hosanna, Save us. Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord. Amen.

March 30, 2015

Dr. Paul Chilcote

So if anyone is in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see, everything has become new!                         (2 Corinthians 5:17) 

God illuminates the soul with the gift of faith. God restores sight to the blind and rescues those who dwell in darkness. Those who entrust their lives to God through Christ by faith pray for all the fullness of God in their lives. The stanza below from one of Charles Wesley’s “redemption hymns” celebrates this portrait of life in Christ and draws us ever upward to the amazing gift of faith working through love. Through the gift of faith, God establishes a new creation.

The gift unspeakable impart,

Command the light of faith to shine,

To shine in my dark drooping heart,

And fill me with the life divine;

Now bid the new creation be,

O God, let there be faith in me!

Wesley paints masterful word pictures and draws out the connection between redemption and creation in the biblical narrative, playing with the image of light. In creation, God sings, “Let there be light.” In redemption, God commands “the light of faith to shine.” In the great drama of redemption, creation and new creation are intimately connected with each other. Each of us prays: “Now bid the new creation be, O God, let there be faith in me!”

Because of the redemptive work of the Triune God, grace flows to all people, in the same way that light shines on everyone. God excludes no one from this offer of relationship. God’s grace, therefore, is “for me.” Because Jesus died for all, he died for me! But St. Paul’s words to the Corinthians mitigate against any exclusively subjective, individualistic, or sentimental view of redemption. Anticipating more recent English translations of the Bible, Wesley’s lyrical paraphrase suggests “If anyone is in Christ—new creation!” Through cross and resurrection, God births a whole new cosmic order that revolves around his pre-eminent act of love in Christ.

Prayer: Creating God, shine the light of faith into my heart, recreate me, and restore in me the image of your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

March 29, 2015

by Lorri Givens

John 12:12-16

The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. So they took branches of palm trees and went out to meet him, shouting,

“Hosanna!
Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord—
    the King of Israel!”

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

“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion.
Look, your king is coming,
    sitting on a donkey’s colt!”

His disciples did not understand these things at first; but when Jesus was glorified, then they remembered that these things had been written of him and had been done to him.

In January of 2009, I was blessed to be able to travel to the Holy Land with my father.  What an amazing trip it was to walk where Jesus walked and see so many historic sites mentioned in the Bible.  The scripture above speaks of the events on Palm Sunday.  Even today, thousands of people from all over the world flock to the Holy Land to celebrate in this tremendous spiritual experience. 

More than 150,000 Christian pilgrims from many denominations, cultures and countries all unite to recall that first Palm Sunday.  This celebration begins with prayer services at Bethpage and continues the tremendously hilly journey across the Mount of Olives, down through the Garden of Gethsemane, passing through the Kedron Valley and through the old walled city of Jerusalem. The walk concludes at the Pool of Bethesda.  Visualize thousands of people dressed in their native dress, waving palm branches all singing their faith to the same melody, but in many different languages!

Jesus knew that this day was just a prelude of what was to come.  Within a matter of days the crowd went from “Hosanna, blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!” to “Crucify Him!” 

Our heavenly Father gave his only Son to die for us for our sins.  It really makes me stop and wonder what a tremendous sacrifice that was!  This Easter season, let’s stop and be grateful for our gift of life.  God has given us the ability to go and share with others his news, the Good News!  Go forth and share the love of Christ to others in everything we do.  Now that is worth shouting Hosanna!

March 27, 2015

Rev. Lindsay Collins

Mark 14:12-25

 On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb is sacrificed, his disciples said to him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?’ So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you; follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the owner of the house, “The Teacher asks, Where is my guest room where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large room upstairs, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there.’ So the disciples set out and went to the city, and found everything as he had told them; and they prepared the Passover meal.

When it was evening, he came with the twelve. And when they had taken their places and were eating, Jesus said, ‘Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.’ They began to be distressed and to say to him one after another, ‘Surely, not I?’ He said to them, ‘It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping bread into the bowl with me. For the Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.’

     The sharing of our meals is important in our faith tradition as Christians.  The last 24 hours of Jesus’ life begins with a meal.  A Passover meal to be exact.  And the Passover is the retelling of the story of God delivering his people from slavery in Egypt as told in the book of Exodus in our Bibles.  It is a celebratory meal of what God has done.

     But here is the thing that I think we should really notice here -- despite acknowledging the betrayal of one of his disciples, Jesus takes the bread from the dinner table and blesses it for his friends.  Jesus doesn’t exclude anybody from the table for their sins – actual or presumed.

     I don’t believe that it is a small thing that Jesus chose to spend his last night with his disciples sharing a meal.   And I don’t believe that it is a small thing that Jesus chose to help us remember our salvation story with the gift of the meal we call Holy Communion.  I believe that food and more importantly the sharing of food is an intertwined part of our faith – just think about the pages and pages of the Old Testament dedicated to food and keeping kosher or the feeding of the 5,000 in the New Testament.  In fact, I ‘ve seen it listed that there are over 50 references to food in the Bible. 

     Food can be a comfort at times, hence why we call it comfort food.  It’s no accident that when a loved one dies, the family is deluged with food.  The impulse to feed is innate.  Food is the language of care, the thing we do when traditional language fails us, when we don’t know what to say, when there are no words to say. 

     And food is what we offer in celebration – at weddings, at anniversaries, at happy events of every kind.  It’s the thing that connects us, that bears our traditions, our sense of home and family, our deepest memories, and on a practical level, our ability to live and breathe each day.  All food is a gift from God and food matters.  And the sharing of food like you do as part of the Backpack Ministry is important.  It is sharing what God has given us and it is a way of letting folks know that they are loved without even speaking a word.  Food can breakdown barriers that are separated by money, race, and language.  You want someone to know that they are loved by you and by God?  Start by sharing your food.  It’s a important starting place.

     This Lent and Easter Season:  consider sharing a meal with the families of the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) and/or collecting food for the Backpack Ministry.

I share with you one of my favorite prayers from United Methodist Youth Fellowship:

For food in a world where many walk in hunger;

For faith in a world where many walk in fear;

For friends in a world where many walk alone;

We give you thanks, O Lord.

He Is Lord

March 26, 2015

Philippians 2:1-11

Therefore, if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort in love, any sharing in the Spirit, any sympathy, complete my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, being united, and agreeing with each other. Don’t do anything for selfish purposes, but with humility think of others as better than yourselves. Instead of each person watching out for their own good, watch out for what is better for others. Adopt the attitude that was in Christ Jesus:

Though he was in the form of God,
        he did not consider being equal with God something to exploit.
But he emptied himself
        by taking the form of a slave
        and by becoming like human beings.
When he found himself in the form of a human,
        he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death,
        even death on a cross.
Therefore, God highly honored him
        and gave him a name above all names,
    so that at the name of Jesus everyone
        in heaven, on earth, and under the earth might bow
        and every tongue confess that
            Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

3.25.15

Who Introduced You to Jesus?

John 1:35-51

The next day John was standing again with two of his disciples. When he saw Jesus walking along he said, “Look! The Lamb of God!” The two disciples heard what he said, and they followed Jesus.

When Jesus turned and saw them following, he asked, “What are you looking for?”

They said, “Rabbi (which is translated Teacher), where are you staying?”

He replied, “Come and see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o’clock in the afternoon.

One of the two disciples who heard what John said and followed Jesus was Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter. He first found his own brother Simon and said to him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Christ ). He led him to Jesus.

Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon, son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which is translated Peter).

The next day Jesus wanted to go into Galilee, and he found Philip. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” Philip was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter.

Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found the one Moses wrote about in the Law and the Prophets: Jesus, Joseph’s son, from Nazareth.”

Nathanael responded, “Can anything from Nazareth be good?”

Philip said, “Come and see.”

Jesus saw Nathanael coming toward him and said about him, “Here is a genuine Israelite in whom there is no deceit.”

Nathanael asked him, “How do you know me?”

Jesus answered, “Before Philip called you, I saw you under the fig tree.”

Nathanael replied, “Rabbi, you are God’s Son. You are the king of Israel.”

Jesus answered, “Do you believe because I told you that I saw you under the fig tree? You will see greater things than these! I assure you that you will see heaven open and God’s angels going up to heaven and down to earth on the Human One.”

       In the verses preceding this passage, John the Baptist gave testimony that one is coming that is greater than he: one whom “I am not worthy to untie his sandal” (1:27); one “who ranks ahead of me because he was before me” (1:31); one on whom he had seen “the Spirit descend and remain” (1:33).  John declares that Jesus is the one who is the “Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world” (1:29), “the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit” (1:33), “the Son of God” (1:34).

       The next day, Andrew was with John the Baptist when Jesus walked by.  John identified Jesus as the Lamb of God.  Andrew and his friend (probably John, the writer of this Gospel) followed Jesus.  When Jesus saw them following him, he invited them to come see where he was staying and they stayed with him for the rest of the day.   When Andrew left Jesus, he went directly and told his brother, Simon, “We have found the Messiah” and he took his brother to Jesus.  Jesus looked at Simon and renamed him Peter.

       The next day, Jesus saw Philip and called him to follow.   Philip found his friend Nathaniel, and invited him to come to see the one “about whom Moses in the law and also the prophets wrote.”  Nathaniel was skeptical but went to see Jesus and was convinced when Jesus knew him before they met. 

       So Andrew followed Jesus based on the testimony of John, and Philip followed when Jesus invited him.  Both immediately found the person closest to them, and shared the good news that they had found the Messiah, the one written about by the prophets.  Andrew brought his brother to Jesus; Philip brought his friend.  Jesus knew who Simon and Nathaniel were before they were introduced by Andrew or Philip; changed Simon’s name to Peter; and promised Nathaniel that he would see great things.

       As we read these verses, stop to think about two things.  First, Who was Andrew or Philip to you?  Who introduced you to Jesus?   Second, which family member or friend is waiting for you to introduce them to Jesus?

       Sometimes I am amazed how fast news travels!  Bad news or good news – both travel fast!  When I ask, “How do you know?” or “How did you find out?” there are so many answers:  “I saw it on Facebook.”  “(name) texted me.”   “(name) called to tell me.”  “I got an email.”   We are all excited to hear the news when someone we know is getting married or expecting a baby, and want to tell others we know.  Many times the news we share is about the brackets for the basketball tournament, the latest diet, a new exercise plan, the newest electronic gadget, a video game, a new song on the radio, a TV show we like, or a movie that is coming out.

       The disciples and early Christians weren’t confused about what was good news.  When they found out about Jesus, they wanted to share it first with those who were closest to them, then with the rest of the world.   When was the last time we were so excited about the good news of Jesus Christ that we couldn’t wait to share it with someone else?

Prayer:

Jesus, Son of God, as you called Andrew and Philip, you call us to follow you.

Before someone introduced us to you, you knew who we were.

You answer our belief in you with promises of something even greater.

Remind us again of the good news of our salvation, 

and instill in us a burning desire to share the news of your love 

     with those closest to us, and then with others we meet.   Amen.

Let’s Talk About Something Else…

Lance Rogers

Scripture:  John 12:34-50

The crowd answered him, ‘We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains for ever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?’ Jesus said to them, ‘The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light.’

After Jesus had said this, he departed and hid from them. Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. This was to fulfil the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah:

‘Lord, who has believed our message,
    and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’

And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said,

‘He has blinded their eyes
    and hardened their heart,
so that they might not look with their eyes,
    and understand with their heart and turn—
    and I would heal them.’

Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him. Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they did not confess it, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.

Then Jesus cried aloud: ‘Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. I do not judge anyone who hears my words and does not keep them, for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my word has a judge; on the last day the word that I have spoken will serve as judge, for I have not spoken on my own, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment about what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.’

Focus verses:  John 12:42-43   Yet 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; for they loved human glory more than the glory of God.

I love to listen to the Comedy Central station on my phone app or satellite radio, because I just enjoy a good laugh.  One of my favorite comedians is Jim Gaffigan.  One of the bits he does goes something like this:

“I want everyone (the audience) to feel comfortable here tonight…  That’s why I’d like to talk to you about Jesus…  It doesn’t matter if you’re religious or not.  Does anything make you feel more uncomfortable than some stranger saying ‘I’d like to talk to you about Jesus?’”

There’s so much truth to that joke for most of us… I’ll admit it makes me uncomfortable.  It’s engrained in our social norms that talking about politics and religion to strangers is just not socially acceptable.  Talking about politics is one thing, but The Gospel is something completely different… we’re talking about the opportunity to bring people to Christ and a closer relationship to God.  This is the Good News we’re talking about!  There are plenty of stories in the New Testament that indicate the disciples didn’t have any hang-ups about approaching strangers.  So what are we waiting for?

I wouldn’t suggest grabbing a bullhorn and hitting a corner of downtown Durham… I wouldn’t do that either.  In reality, the “socially unacceptable” part of it would drive people away.  But, we should always be ready to share and profess our faith when the opportunity arises… even at the risk of breaching social etiquette.  Whether it’s explaining why you felt compelled to return their lost wallet or encountering someone in great need, opportunities can present themselves in many forms.  So are you willing to overcome a small bit of social awkwardness for the glory of God?

Prayer:

Lord, please help me have the discernment to know when I should mention my faith to others as a chance to share Your love and The Gospel to someone I don’t know, but may need to hear it.