One of my all-time favorite moments during a Children’s Sermon in worship came when I asked the children what they thought heaven was like. A little three-year-old boy sat thoughtfully by my side as the other children yelled out answers that included clouds, gold roads, blue skies, and the like. Finally he raised his chubby little hand and waited for me to call on him. “Well, Alex, what do you think heaven is like?” I asked. “Miss Betsy, I think heaven is a place where you don’t have to worry about going tee-tee in your pants.”
Oh, my goodness.
Yes, indeed, little person! Heaven is exactly like that. A place of no worries, no tears, no troubles … and certainly no potty-training.
Our Scripture today gives us a startling and heavy-laden vision of heaven from John, as he wrote from exile on the Island of Patmos. Like Jesus’ parables, John’s visions were highly symbolic, reminding us that we will never completely understand what heaven is like until we get there. But one thing is sure: The reality of heaven will far surpass everyone’s idea or vision of it. We can’t possibly imagine what that Glory will be like.
Revelation 4 (Common English Bible)
6 Something like a glass sea, like crystal, was in front of the throne.
In the center, by the throne, were four living creatures encircling the throne. These creatures were covered with eyes on the front and on the back. 7 The first living creature was like a lion. The second living creature was like an ox. The third living creature had a face like a human being. And the fourth living creature was like an eagle in flight. 8 Each of the four living creatures had six wings, and each was covered all around and on the inside with eyes. They never rest day or night, but keep on saying,
“Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is coming.”
John’s four creatures are reminiscent of Ezekiel’s visions of cherubim. (See Ezekiel 1:4-14.) They lived to worship a holy and mighty Lord, and their worship continued day and night. The symbols of lion, ox, human, and eagle might mean anything from representing an arrangement of four gathered tribes of Israel around the throne, to the four Gospels, to Jesus himself, but we should focus on the non-stop worship they offered. This is a reminder to us that worship should be practiced every day, not just on Sunday. What practice of worship do you incorporate into your daily routine?
9 Whenever the living creatures give glory, honor, and thanks to the one seated on the throne, who lives forever and always, 10 the twenty-four elders fall before the one seated on the throne. They worship the one who lives forever and always. They throw down their crowns before the throne and say,
11 “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, because you created all things. It is by your will that they existed and were created.”
And just as we can’t fathom the meaning of the four creatures, we couldn’t possibly ascertain what these twenty-four elders are meant to represent. So, let’s focus on their casting their crowns before the throne. Surely this humble act of obeisance was their way of rendering honor to the true King on the throne, who was worthy to receive all honor, glory, and power as the One who created all things. This is a challenge to us to be sure we too are willing to cast our crowns before God, relying on him for everything and removing any obstacle that might prevent us from true worship.
Are there things that get in your way from honoring God night and day? Do you try to act out of your own power rather than defer to God’s will? Are you holding on to your crown too tightly?
May God give us a taste of heaven on earth and help us learn how to worship in ways that please him.
Probably not. Diocletian was a Roman Emperor from 284-305 AD. He was born in humble circumstances and joined the Roman army, quickly rising through the ranks. He became an army commander in the northern Balkan province and was part of the imperial bodyguard for the Roman emperor Carus. Upon Carus’ death, the troops proclaimed Diocletian the new emperor.
Soon after his election, he began the Great Persecution of Christians, burning churches and sacred texts, stripping Christians of their rights, and enslaving and slaughtering hundreds of them. He fancied himself a god, and since the Christians and Jews of Rome refused to bow down to him, he systematically eliminated them. He celebrated his successful persecution with two monuments to himself which proclaimed that he had “everywhere abolished the superstition of Christ” and “extinguished the name of Christians who brought the republic to ruin.”
And yet, here we are. Unless you are a history scholar, you are much more likely to remember the name Christians and the name Christ over the name Diocletian. God laughs at such foolishness of the earth’s rulers, who think that by their schemes they can control the world.
Psalm 2(Common English Bible)
2 Why do the nations rant? Why do the peoples rave uselessly? 2 The earth’s rulers take their stand; the leaders scheme together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 3 “Come!” they say. “We will tear off their ropes and throw off their chains!” 4 The one who rules in heaven laughs; my Lord makes fun of them. 5 But then God speaks to them angrily; then he terrifies them with his fury: 6 “I hereby appoint my king on Zion, my holy mountain!”
7 I will announce the Lord’s decision: He said to me, “You are my son, today I have become your father. 8 Just ask me, and I will make the nations your possession; the far corners of the earth will be your property. 9 You will smash them with an iron rod; you will shatter them like a pottery jar.”
David wrote this psalm with prophetic illusions to the coming anointed one, who God will claim as his son. Only this anointed One will possess the nations from the far corners of the earth. Psalm 2 is referenced in Hebrews as proof of Christ’s divinity:
Hebrews 1:5(Common English Bible)
5 After all, when did God ever say to any of the angels:You are my Son. Today I have become your Father?Or, even,I will be his Father, and he will be my Son?
God laughs, but then acts with mercy, offering the kings of earth a warning. If they serve his son reverently and with trembling, they will be truly happy. God will not suffer the arrogance of rulers who try to put themselves on the throne in his place. Like Diocletian, they will all simply die and be forgotten.
10 So kings, wise up! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! 11 Serve the Lord reverently— trembling, 12 kiss his feet or else he will become angry, and your way will be destroyed because his anger ignites in an instant.
We may not be kings of the earth, but the same warning applies to us when subvert his authority in our lives and attempt to take matters into our own hands. God will not suffer us putting anything else on his throne, whether it be our distractions, our worship of secular things, our apostasy, or our neglect in worshipping him and him alone. And he certainly will not accept it if we worship the kings of earth. But take heart: if you make God your refuge, you will find happiness.
But all who take refuge in the Lord are truly happy!
God laughs, but God loves. God laughs, but God forgives. God laughs, but God protects those who love him and serve him. Thanks be to God.
Do any of you remember the old television series Dynasty from the 1980’s? Like Dallas and Falcon Crest, it was one of the successful night-time soap operas of that era. It’s lavish sets, impeccable cast costuming (The power suits! The sparkly heels!) and classic story lines of greed, deception, intrigue, family feuds, corruption, and excessive wealth were fun and addictive to watch. Set in beautiful Denver, Colorado, we entered a world of the Carringtons verses Colbys, who fought for prominence in oil industry, on the social ladder, and in the amount of make-up and plastic surgery one could acquire. And that was just the men! It was campy and fun to watch the antics of the older family members in their struggles to maintain their elitism in an increasingly younger world. Does anyone remember the Alexis verses Krystal catfight in the koi pond? Even their enormous shoulder pads couldn’t save them from that one.
A dynasty is a system of passing down wealth and status from parent to child. In the Old Testament, this always meant father to son. It ensured that position and prestige will remain in the family for generations.
In our passage from 2 Samuel today, we see God establishing his dynasty in Israel. Nathan gave this amazing prophecy to David:
2 Samuel 7:11-16(Common English Bible)
11 when I appointed leaders over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies.
And the Lord declares to you that the Lord will make a dynasty for you.12 When the time comes for you to die and you lie down with your ancestors, I will raise up your descendant—one of your very own children—to succeed you, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He will build a temple for my name, and I will establish his royal throne forever. 14 I will be a father to him, and he will be a son to me. Whenever he does wrong, I will discipline him with a human rod, with blows from human beings. 15 But I will never take my faithful love away from him like I took it away from Saul, whom I set aside in favor of you. 16 Your dynasty and your kingdom will be secured forever before me. Your throne will be established forever.
There is such good news for us in this passage. God indeed established David as king over Israel, and his son Solomon succeeded him and built the Temple. Jeremiah 33:17 tells us that God promised that “David will never fail to have a man to sit on the throne of the house of Israel,” thus ensuring that this dynasty will reign forever. Even though David’s family only ruled Israel for four centuries before so much evil took over that God ended their reign, David’s line continued through Obed and Ruth of Boaz to Jesse, whom Isaiah prophesized would produce a “stump” that would grow a messiah:
Isaiah 11 (Common English Bible) A shoot will grow up from the stump of Jesse; a branch will sprout from his roots. 2 The Lord’s spirit will rest upon him, a spirit of wisdom and understanding, a spirit of planning and strength, a spirit of knowledge and fear of the Lord.
This stump appeared in the flesh and his name was Jesus:
Luke 1: 31-33
31 Look! You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32 He will be great and he will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father. 33 He will rule over Jacob’s house forever, and there will be no end to his kingdom.” Do you know that you belong to a dynasty? You are an inheritor of the Kingdom. What has been passed down to you is a legacy of peace, hope, the assurance of salvation, the forgiveness of sins, and the guarantee of eternal life. Your adoption into the family of God has made you royalty. How does that feel? What will you do today to ensure that those around you are part of God’s dynasty, too?
Revelation 22:16 (Common English Bible)
“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to bear witness to all of you about these things for the churches. I’m the root and descendant of David, the bright morning star.
When Jesus returns, every knee will bow, and every heart will confess. How can you be his bright morning star today?
A recent sermon led me to the wonderfully epic story of the Israelite’s escape from slavery in Egypt. You remember that story: Moses was empowered by God to lead his children to the Promised Land, which meant a long and dangerous journey out of Egypt into the unknown wilderness. Things seemed to be going all right until suddenly, they realized they were being pursued.
Chapter 14 of Exodus describes the Egyptian army and chariots charging after the Jews. Pharoah had changed his mind and wanted them back. He missed all that free labor, you know. The struggling, straggling, fugitive Hebrews were on the move. They were bounded by the desert, the sea, and the enemy. In effect, they were “sitting ducks” and the enemy was bearing down upon them at full speed. They were breathing down their necks, so close that the rumble of chariots and the shouts of the soldiers could be heard. Most of them must have already lost heart. But not Moses.
Listen to how he responds to them:
Exodus 14 (New Revised Standard Version)
13 But Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid, stand firm, and see the deliverance that the Lord will accomplish for you today, for the Egyptians whom you see today you shall never see again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to keep still.”
Who needed to hear that word today? Do not be afraid. Stand firm. Keep still. Oh, how we try to take matters into our own hands, doing so at our peril, when God is telling us to be still and let him fight for us.
Psalm 46 reminds us:
10 “Be still and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!”
11 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
“Be still. Be still and know that I am God.” When the enemy is closing in, be still. When the manna is running low, be still. When the cancer diagnosis comes, when your spouse leaves, when your rebellious child suddenly moves away, when you lose your job, when addiction rears its ugly head, BE STILL. Stand firm, and do not be afraid.
Moses was about the only one who didn’t lose his head or his faith. As God directed, Moses held his rod out, and God sent a strong east wind. The waters parted, and the nation of the Jews crossed over on dry ground. When that was accomplished, Moses raised his rod again and the waters rushed back, trapping Pharaoh’s army in muck and mire.
Is God telling you to stand down today? Is he telling you to stand still and watch him fight for you? Sometimes it is better to take a step back and wait. As hard as that is, remember that God will always go before you … and always has your back.
Ages ago, I was a volunteer children’s choir director in my church. My youngest daughter helped me lead music for the 3rd-5th graders. We loved it. That age group is so open and honest … even brutally so, which made me make sure I had combed my hair and considered my clothing at every practice. They will tell you exactly what they think!
One year the music director gave us a score for a song that spelled out P E N T E C O S T. The verses explained what happened at Pentecost and the kids thought that celebrating the birthday of the church meant cupcakes and ice cream. Which we did provide, by the way. For me, I have always been grateful for that song, because I remember how to spell Pentecost simply by hearing the music in my head.
This Sunday is Pentecost. It might be celebrated in your churches with lots of red (to symbolize the flames), the Scripture read in different languages (ASL is my favorite), fans and balloons (to remind us of the mighty wind that took over Jerusalem), and fiery preaching (if you have a fiery preacher). It should also include cupcakes and ice cream, as Pentecost marks the official birth of the modern church.
If you don’t get cupcakes and ice cream this Sunday, file a complaint against the management.
Acts 2 (Common English Bible)
2 When Pentecost Day arrived, they were all together in one place.2 Suddenly a sound from heaven like the howling of a fierce wind filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 They saw what seemed to be individual flames of fire alighting on each one of them. 4 They were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other languages as the Spirit enabled them to speak.
5 There were pious Jews from every nation under heaven living in Jerusalem.6 When they heard this sound, a crowd gathered. They were mystified because everyone heard them speaking in their native languages. 7 They were surprised and amazed, saying, “Look, aren’t all the people who are speaking Galileans, every one of them? 8 How then can each of us hear them speaking in our native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, and Elamites; as well as residents of Mesopotamia, Judea, and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia,10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the regions of Libya bordering Cyrene; and visitors from Rome (both Jews and converts to Judaism), 11 Cretans and Arabs—we hear them declaring the mighty works of God in our own languages!” 12 They were all surprised and bewildered. Some asked each other, “What does this mean?”
What, indeed, does it mean?
First, the confusion of language at the Tower of Babel in Genesis 11 was reversed, and everyone could speak and hear in each other’s tongues. The picture of diversity in the Body of Christ cannot be overlooked here. God’s spirit was poured out on everyone … even the Cretans and Arabs.
Second, Jesus fulfilled his promise in this event to empower his followers to take the Gospel to the four corners of the earth. The power of the Holy Spirit came in a remarkable way, and it comes to us today with the same strength … if we will receive it.
Third, nobody was left out. This is a great reminder for us as we celebrate the church’s birthday. Who are we leaving out? Who needs an invitation to the party? After all, everyone likes cupcakes and ice cream.
May we celebrate a holy Pentecost! And may we arise as Pentecost people, ready to do God’s work in the world.
I gave my four-year-old grandson a bath last week and watched as he happily played with his Little People bath toys. I noticed that he was stuffing them all in the rinsing cup until it was full. “Why are all the Little People in the cup?” I asked. “Oh,” he replied. “They’re in cup jail.” “Good heavens!” I said. “What did they do to be put in cup jail?” I asked. He looked me straight in the eye. “They made baaaad choices,” he responded solemnly.
Well, you just can’t argue with that.
My daughters are constantly advising their children to make good choices. When a bad choice seems to be asserting itself, they caution them to “make a better choice.” Even the four-year-old understands the consequences of bad choices.
In Paul’s letter to the church in Galatia, he gave the same parenting advice. Remember how much Paul loved his churches, and truly felt a parental responsibility for each one of them. Listen to what he says in this well-known warning about reaping and sowing.
Galatians 6:7-8(Common English Bible)
7 Make no mistake, God is not mocked. A person will harvest what they plant. 8 Those who plant only for their own benefit will harvest devastation from their selfishness, but those who plant for the benefit of the Spirit will harvest eternal life from the Spirit.
God pays attention to everything we say and do, and when those choices don’t fall in line with his word and his will for our lives, you can be sure there will be ramifications. I have a friend who spent a year denouncing an organization that she belonged to and basically burned every bridge on her way out. She returned to that organization recently and was hurt when someone asked her in surprise why she had come to the meeting. Reaping and sowing are basic to life. When you sow discord and rejection, you risk reaping discord and rejection.
Think for a moment about how you treat others. When you sow anger, discrimination, harsh words, and carelessness, these things will come back to you tenfold. Overindulgence in consuming things that are ultimately harmful to your body will result in actual harm to your body. Lying, cheating, and gossip often backfire and expose you to ridicule and alienation. Are these things worth the temporary pleasure?
A better choice is to sow the seeds of love and acceptance. A better choice is to choose healthy things for your body ,mind, and soul. A better choice is to plant seeds for the benefit of God’s kingdom. That will result in a harvest of eternal life and help you to avoid cup jail.
And trust me, you don’t want to end up in cup jail.
We had a death in our extended family that caught us completely off guard. The last ten days have been a topsy-turvy whirlwind of grief, memories, a celebration of life, plans made, changed, re-made … death left a small tsunami in its wake, but we will be okay.
I was drawn to these words from Isaiah in the lectionary this week. They were spoken in a time of great trial for Israel, yet they lead the hearer to look forward and not dwell in the immediate or the past. As you know, the best way to drive a car is to focus looking out the windshield, not the rear view mirror.
Isaiah 25 (New International Version) On this mountain the Lord Almighty will prepare a feast of rich food for all peoples, a banquet of aged wine— the best of meats and the finest of wines. 7 On this mountain he will destroy the shroud that enfolds all peoples, the sheet that covers all nations; 8 he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth. The Lord has spoken.
Something called the Marriage Supper of the Lamb occurs a few times in the Bible (see Revelation 19:9) which is a great feast that takes place at the end of days. This passage suggests that it will take place on earth, not in heaven. It will be resplendent with fine wines and fat meats, but the best part is that it will be a feast for all peoples.
Just last week we studied the Last Supper in Matthew 26. If you attended a Maundy Thursday service, you probably heard this Scripture read aloud. Do you remember when Jesus said, “I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom”? I wonder if it is this Marriage Supper of the Lamb, held on a beautiful high mountain with all people, where we will take our first communion with the Risen Lord when he returns to redeem his people. I don’t know about you, but I’m looking forward to that.
9 In that day they will say,
“Surely this is our God; we trusted in him, and he saved us. This is the Lord, we trusted in him; let us rejoice and be glad in his salvation.”
I don’t know what you’re going through right now but take heart. There will come a day when every tear is dried, every groan is silenced, every bad thing gone from your life, and we will sup and commune with our Sacrificial Lamb, who indeed came to save us. You can trust this, because God is trustworthy.
18 Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.
2-4 Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. Jesus, knowing by now everything that was imploding on him, went out and met them. He said, “Who are you after?”
They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
5-6 He said, “That’s me.” The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.
7 Jesus asked again, “Who are you after?”
They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”
8-9 “I told you,” said Jesus, “that’s me. I’m the one. So if it’s me you’re after, let these others go.” (This validated the words in his prayer, “I didn’t lose one of those you gave.”)
10 Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant’s name.
11 Jesus ordered Peter, “Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I’m not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?”
12-14 Then the Roman soldiers under their commander, joined by the Jewish police, seized Jesus and tied him up. They took him first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Chief Priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.
15-16 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and so he went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in.
17 The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?”
He said, “No, I’m not.”
18 The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.
The Interrogation
19-21 Annas interrogated Jesus regarding his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered, “I’ve spoken openly in public. I’ve taught regularly in meeting places and the Temple, where the Jews all come together. Everything has been out in the open. I’ve said nothing in secret. So why are you treating me like a traitor? Question those who have been listening to me. They know well what I have said. My teachings have all been aboveboard.”
22 When he said this, one of the policemen standing there slapped Jesus across the face, saying, “How dare you speak to the Chief Priest like that!”
23 Jesus replied, “If I’ve said something wrong, prove it. But if I’ve spoken the plain truth, why this slapping around?”
24 Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to the Chief Priest Caiaphas.
25 Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?”
He denied it, “Not me.”
26 One of the Chief Priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”
27 Again, Peter denied it. Just then a rooster crowed.
The King of the Jews
28-29 They led Jesus then from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s palace. It was early morning. They themselves didn’t enter the palace because they didn’t want to be disqualified from eating the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and spoke. “What charge do you bring against this man?”
30 They said, “If he hadn’t been doing something evil, do you think we’d be here bothering you?”
31-32 Pilate said, “You take him. Judge him by your law.”
The Jews said, “We’re not allowed to kill anyone.” (This would confirm Jesus’ word indicating the way he would die.)
33 Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”
34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”
35 Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”
36 “My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”
37 Then Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”
Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”
38-39 Pilate said, “What is truth?”
Then he went back out to the Jews and told them, “I find nothing wrong in this man. It’s your custom that I pardon one prisoner at Passover. Do you want me to pardon the ‘King of the Jews’?”
40 They shouted back, “Not this one, but Barabbas!” Barabbas was a Jewish freedom fighter.
The Thorn Crown of the King
19 1-3 So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.
4-5 Pilate went back out again and said to them, “I present him to you, but I want you to know that I do not find him guilty of any crime.” Just then Jesus came out wearing the thorn crown and purple robe.
Pilate announced, “Here he is: the Man.”
6 When the high priests and police saw him, they shouted in a frenzy, “Crucify! Crucify!”
Pilate told them, “You take him. You crucify him. I find nothing wrong with him.”
7 The Jews answered, “We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.”
8-9 When Pilate heard this, he became even more scared. He went back into the palace and said to Jesus, “Where did you come from?”
Jesus gave no answer.
10 Pilate said, “You won’t talk? Don’t you know that I have the authority to pardon you, and the authority to—crucify you?”
11 Jesus said, “You haven’t a shred of authority over me except what has been given you from heaven. That’s why the one who betrayed me to you has committed a far greater fault.”
12 At this, Pilate tried his best to pardon him, but the Jews shouted him down: “If you pardon this man, you’re no friend of Caesar’s. Anyone setting himself up as ‘king’ defies Caesar.”
13-14 When Pilate heard those words, he led Jesus outside. He sat down at the judgment seat in the area designated Stone Court (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was the preparation day for Passover. The hour was noon. Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king.”
15 They shouted back, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!”
Pilate said, “I am to crucify your king?”
The high priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.”
16-19 Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.
The Crucifixion
They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read:
jesus the nazarene the king of the jews.
20-21 Many of the Jews read the sign because the place where Jesus was crucified was right next to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The Jewish high priests objected. “Don’t write,” they said to Pilate, “‘The King of the Jews.’ Make it, ‘This man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”
23-24 When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes and divided them up four ways, to each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, so they said to each other, “Let’s not tear it up. Let’s throw dice to see who gets it.” This confirmed the Scripture that said, “They divided up my clothes among them and threw dice for my coat.” (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!)
24-27 While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother.
28 Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, “I’m thirsty.”
29-30 A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth. After he took the wine, Jesus said, “It’s done . . . complete.” Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.
31-34 Then the Jews, since it was the day of Sabbath preparation, and so the bodies wouldn’t stay on the crosses over the Sabbath (it was a high holy day that year), petitioned Pilate that their legs be broken to speed death, and the bodies taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man crucified with Jesus, and then the other. When they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers stabbed him in the side with his spear. Blood and water gushed out.
35 The eyewitness to these things has presented an accurate report. He saw it himself and is telling the truth so that you, also, will believe.
36-37 These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, “Not a bone in his body was broken,” and the other Scripture that reads, “They will stare at the one they pierced.”
* * *
38 After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body.
39-42 Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. They took Jesus’ body and, following the Jewish burial custom, wrapped it in linen with the spices. There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it.
Not the trees themselves: Truly, palm trees swaying in the warm breezes on a sunny beach are some of the prettiest things you will ever see. But I don’t like seeing palm trees in the Outer Banks in North Carolina. Florida, yes, Puerto Rico, okay, but Colington Harbour? Nope. God did not design the palm tree to live in the harsh weather conditions of our barrier islands, and so people who plant them in hopes of making our chilly island more “tropical” end up having to create burlap blankets for them to wear all winter long and some don’t survive because they really don’t belong here.
You had no idea that I am so narrow minded, did you??
Palm Sunday is this Sunday, and it is one of my favorite days. While palm trees don’t belong in the Outer Banks, palm branches surely belong in the hands of young children as they parade up and down the aisles of our churches. The sweet smiles, awkward waving, and innocent cries of “ho-thanna” make the celebration complete. Our hearts join in on the declaration that Jesus is our king and deserving of a king’s entrance. We almost have to turn a blind eye to the fact that in less than a week, it will all turn dark. But on Palm Sunday, we rejoice.
Mark 11:1-11 (New International Version)
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”
An unbroken colt fulfilled the prophecy of Zechariah 9:9:
Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.
By choosing an unbroken animal, the Creator God in Jesus established his dominance over all the beasts of the field in one striking visual. Rather than come on a prancing stallion, as an army general might, Jesus sets the scene for the humility and servanthood that his leadership will bring.
4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?” 6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
“Hosanna!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve.
The darkness that is quickly coming is prefigured in this last sentence. Jesus couldn’t stay around to enjoy his parade because “it was already late.” His appointed time was coming, shortening his moment of looking around at everything.
How will we respond to this? I suggest you take a look at your hands. Lay them open in your lap, palms up. In this position, may we ask God to give us every good gift he has planned for us as we seek the coming kingdom of our father David. And remember that in order to open your palms, you have to let go of everything else you are holding on to.
What do you need to let go in order to receive God’s blessing?
We are rounding the corner toward Holy Week, when the events of Jesus’ last days will begin to cascade. I read recently that one third of what we read and know of Jesus’ ministry happens in this one week. It makes your head spin. But for today, as you read the plotting, the scheming, the indignant rebukes of men sitting in judgment, and the final betrayal plan, pay attention to the unnamed woman who speaks not a word, but provides the only moment of pure adoration:
Mark 14:1-11 (New International Version)
14 Now the Passover and the Festival of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were scheming to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. 2 “But not during the festival,” they said, “or the people may riot.”
3 While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
John identifies this woman as Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus. She is not to be confused with the sinful woman who anointed Jesus’ feet with perfume and then wiped her tears from his feet with her hair. (See Luke 7: 37 for that story.) In this Scripture, she is observed by others who are dining at Simon the Leper’s home, and they are highly critical of her actions.
4 Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, “Why this waste of perfume? 5 It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.” And they rebuked her harshly.
Now remember which Mary this is. This is Lazarus’ sister, who observed Jesus’ resurrecting her brother from the dead. This Mary rebuked Jesus for being late when she sent for him to come and heal her ailing brother, arriving after he had died. This Mary put her understanding of Jesus’ power in a very small box, thinking that once her brother was gone, it was over. This Mary then watched as Jesus called Lazarus to come out of the grave, proving that Jesus was the resurrection and the LIFE. So Mary knew what to do. She anointed Jesus’ body for the burial that was impending, in the full hope and expectation of the resurrection that he had promised.
6 “Leave her alone,” said Jesus. “Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7 The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8 She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9 Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”
10 Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11 They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
Mary’s example encourages us to take action. To not waste time planning, talking, arguing, and debating (I’m looking at you, church committees!) but simply to do.
At Water’s Edge 