Our Savior's Lutheran Church, San Clemente

All Good Things.....

2012-01-17T11:54:00.000-08:00

Baha'i temple and gardens in Haifa

We weren't allowed on the steps because
of the rain...quite beautiful

The Temple is actually a tomb of the
founder of Baha'i

From the top of the Gardens looking down toward
Haifa

A great view out to the Mediterranean Sea

All good things must come to an end and so it is with this adventure into the Holy Land. We left Tiberias under cloudy skies which quickly turned to rain. The drive west toward the Mediterranean was still beautiful with lots of green fields and interesting sites to see from the windows of the bus. We traveled to the third largest city in Israel Haifa, which is a port city with lots of industrial muscle.

The cave of Elijah, with church built around it. Of all
people Napoleon was here and lost many men to the
Ottoman Turks.

Just because you don't
often see a Joseph with
child. Here's to all the
Dads!

The Bible tells us that Ravens came and brought Elijah
food....here is one of their descendants!

Our first stop was the Baha’i Temple and gardens. An offshoot of Islam, here at the Temple in Haifa there founder is buried and you find the world headquarters.

From there we went on to Mount Carmel where we not only stopped at the church built upon the cave that Elijah the prophet hid in to escape the wrath of King Ahab and Queen Jezebel; but then went to the top of the mountain to the site of his famous ‘contest’ with himself and the prophets of Baal. It was a beautiful trip up Mount Carmel even in the rainy weather. We had lunch at a little ‘falafel’ stand where the owner treated us to some music from an Iranian inspired 11 string guitar.

a little lunch time music

Aqueduct from 1st century AD
or earlier! Caesarea Maritima

Orinaal seats and theater from King Herod's Theater
built around 12 BC it sits 4000 people

Hippodrome...ready for the Horse Races, again built
by King Herod in 12 BC... original seats!

famous inscription
by Pontus Pilate

Kelly amongst the ruins of Caesarea Maritima

From there we traveled to Caesarea Maritima which is quite the ancient city. Still standing are the Roman aqua ducts, beautiful theater and even a hippodrome for horse racing. What makes this site so important is that it was the first place that we discovered archaeological evidence of Pontius Pilate.

Old City of Jaffa

final dinner together

View from the Renaissance hotel room. Yes, those
are the breakers of the Mediterranean you see!

Our day, and really our trip, ended with a wonderful dinner in Jaffa, the old city of Tel Aviv. Here is where Cornelius had sent for Peter, Peter saw his vision of all things being clean to eat, and Dorcas or Tabitha was mourned for her great gifts of charity to the early church. It is also from where Jonah took off in his ship to flee God and the city to which the mighty cedars of Lebanon came floating down to supply Solomon and the building of the temple. For us it was a place for dinner, laughter and preparing for goodbyes.

After a nice rest in the Hotel Renaissance (it’s perfect John and no problems checking in!) we’ll head for the airport, stand in lines, wait in layovers in Istanbul and New York and finally some time Thursday morning find ourselves back in California. I think it will take several days, weeks, maybe even months to digest everything we’ve seen and done.

What I didn’t blog about was the conflict between peoples, politics, land and religion. Suffice it to say there are many Palestinian Christians here who have a very hard time, they are discriminated against on both sides. Often they are the ones that we forget about. There is an ugly wall that encircles Bethlehem and lots of young people carrying weapons. But there were also lots of children, laughing, playing and bouncing about; they just might be the best prospect for peace. We’ll pray that they will be able to accomplish what their fathers and mothers couldn’t….peace in the Holy Land for Palestinian Christian, Arab and Jew.

Following Jesus and the Church he loves....

2012-01-16T12:40:00.000-08:00

Inside the Church of the
Beatitudes

Outside the Church of The Beatitudes. Here
is where the sermon on the mount was given

Kelly on the grounds of the
church of the Beatitudes

Kelly sailing on the Galilee

Wine from Cana, bread from Tiberias, Holy
Communion on the Sea of Galilee

Passing another boat, ours
looks different!

View from Communion, up to the church of the
Beatitudes and of the Primacy of Peter on
the shore. Perfect setting for the meal.

Sailing back

We woke up to partly cloudy but nice whether here in Tiberias which is on the southern shores of the seas of Galilee. We headed out for the mount of Beatitudes and the church that is built on the site. In Matthew's Gospel beginning with chapter 5, Jesus begins his famous sermon on the mount and tradition with a little archaeology has located the general area where the church is built and a thriving Christian community of sisters still live. It is a beautiful, green, garden like setting that you can just imagine with your minds eye Jesus standing in the midst of folks preaching and sharing those beatitudes of Matthew 5...Blessed are the poor in spirit...

One of the most famous mosaic floors in the Christian world.
Tabgha, or the church of the multiplication of the loaves is
built on several older churches. This floor is from the 300's
AD when Helen came to determine Christian sites.

This mosaic not as old as the other
but beautiful and probably done
by an Egyptian craftsman

The front of Tabgha church looking past the baptismal font to the
altar where the mosaics are located

Kelly by an ancient Olive
press for getting Olive
Oil.

From The Mount of Beatitudes we went down to a kibbutz and got on a replica of a 1st century fishing boat (modeled after one that was found in 1976 here at this site) and sailed on the Sea of Galilee. After sailing for a while the boat was stopped, the engine cut and we just floated on the waters with the mount of Beatitude in the background we had Holy Communion together--a truly moving part of our trip. Here on the waters that Jesus traveled so often, stilling the storm, walking on water, healing and teaching, here we sat to hear the word and receive the gift of his body and blood. A blessed moment.

The church of the Primacy of Peter
built where the resurrected Jesus
cooked breakfast for the disciples
in John's Gospel and reinstated Peter

Here the ancient steps cut into the rock that pilgrims once
used to commemorate the spot of Jesus' fire on
the beach

Here the rock where very early on
1st century AD Christians came
to remember this event. The rock
was where the fire was for
breakfast

Still fishing the Galilee

Kelly sitting next to the sea of Galilee, near the place of Jesus
resurrection appearance.

From the boat we went to the famous Tabgha--church of the multiplication--where Jesus feed the 5000 with only two fish and five loaves. The church hosts a 3rd century mosaic on the floor which speaks to this being an ancient site for Christian pilgrims.

From there we traveled just a bit to the church of the Primacy of Peter. This church commemorates the Resurrection appearance to Peter on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus making breakfast for the disciples asks Peter three times if he loves him, each time telling Peter to feed his sheep or tend his (Jesus') lambs.   It is an old site, where one can see that pilgrims have been coming to venerate and commemorate the place early in the life of the church,,,some say even in the 1st century AD. It is a wonderful place.

Next we come to Jesus' adopted hometown of Capernaum. What a beautiful place. Birds chirping, lots of flowering trees and Bogavias surround the ruins. Chief of which are a church built over the ruins of a first century house which is said to be that of Simon Peter. It is an old site, where pilgrims from the first century seem to have preserved it.   Nearby are the ruins of other homes and then a beautiful synagogue which is built later, but on the ruins of the 1st century synagogue. So that means that right here in this place Jesus taught and healed.   Here is where Jairus came to beg for his daughter's life and where the women with the unstoppable flow of blood reached out in faith and touched Jesus cloak. Capernaum is where the disciples were called away from their fishing nets and where Peter's mother-in-law was healed of her fever. Capernaum was where....... and her we stand, right here in the place. Not once upon a time in a far away land...but right here, right in this place Jesus walked and taught and called folks to follow him.

This church is built over Peter's house in Capernaum

The ruins of what has been
enshrined as Peter's house

The church above with glass floor to look down into
Peter's house

Sign identifying this as a 4th
century Synagogue; but built on the
same location as Jesus' synagogue

Kelly and I in the
the Synagogue of
Capernaum

Ruins of the houses in Jesus day.

Kelly between an old doorway
in Capernaum

From Capernaum we headed just a bit north to eat lunch on the Galilee....and what did we have? St. Peter's fish of course! Caught this morning and served up for us this afternoon. Here is a picture of the real deal! I admit, I ordered mine as a fillet....no head or tail for me....or bones! It was delicious.

Catch of the day! Actually very tasty! St. Peter's Fish

Light breaking through on the Galilee

Tomorrow we head toward the Mediterranean Sea and to Ceaserea Maritima, home of Pontus Pilate when not in Jerusalem, then a final dinner as our friends fly home and we spent one last night in Tel Aviv before our flight leaves the next morning (Thank you John and Rachel!). Quite a journey.

Following Jesus in the Galilee

2012-01-15T13:25:00.000-08:00

some of our Nigerian friends

Did I mention that there are about 300 Nigerian pilgrims here in the hotel with us! Very fun. Today, one of their evangelists made sure that we all loved Jesus, treated us to a little sermon/testimony and then prayed for us. I'm not sure about all his theology but he said that 2012 would be a good year. One can only say Amen to that!

Inside the church at Cana

Outside the courtyard in Cana

The Happy Couple

We started today with a great surprise. We went to Cana where Jesus performed his first miracle at the wedding there. It was actually the feast day of this event and the church was all decked out for a special mass and celebration. The bells were ringing almost non stop. I'll post a video of our guide trying to talk over the bells. We also renewed our wedding vows---I know how sweet. But what a cool place to do this on the feast day itself.

Courtyard of the Church of the
Annunciation in Nazareth

Kelly looking into Mary's house

Chapel that takes in Mary's house in Nazareth

Door leading into the church
of the Annunciation

Facade of the Annunciation Church

Bummer, all the way to Nazareth to be called a 'loser.'

Mt Tabor or Transfiguration

View going up Mt. Tabor

The Church of the Transfiguration

From Cana we moved to Nazareth--Jesus' home tome. It is a big city which is an Israeli Arab city, about half the folks are Muslim and half Christian. I'll post a picture of a warning to half the population. We visited the church of the Annunciation which is built over a house that is said to be that of Mary and where the angel Gabriel came to speak to her. Is it really? Who knows, but it is a very old site with many churches and chapel predating the current one. It is a beautiful church and whether or not it is Mary's house below (visible by the way from excavation) it is a wonderful place to remember, pray and hope to become as obedient in faith as the Mother of our Lord.

From there we headed up Mt. Tabor, the mountain of Transfiguration. Where Moses and Elijah appeared with Jesus in the presence of Peter, James and John. Really a wonderful spot, with beautiful views and a car ride to the top, not for the weak of heart!

Ruins of Roman Theater built in 1st Century AD
Time of Jesus. This is one of the Decapolis cities

Walking down one of the
main streets. Still beautiful
mosaics on the floors of shops

Broken columns of marble once mighty city now in ruins
almost forgotten. 30,000 people lived here in 500 A D

We then traveled past such places as Nain, where Jesus raised the widows son from the dead. To be honest every time you turn around you are passing a place of some importance. We traveled next to Bet Shean, which is one of the decapolis cities (Greek Cities) mentioned by the Gospels and a place that Jesus would have certainly visited. This is a gem. An archaeological park that preserves Roman roads, columns, shops and mosaics and a great Theater built in the 1st Century AD (time of Jesus). It is also famous in the old testament as the place where the Philistines hung the body of Saul and his sons (The first king of Israel) on the city gates.

You climb the "tel" to reach the oldest ruins and great view

Looking down

Egyptian Hieroglyphics found here from when
the Egyptians used this as a way to control Palestine

Up top ruins from 5000 BC! Egyptian occupation, King David

and Solomon. Amazing History in one place

When you climb the 'tel' or mountain you also get a glimpse of the famous history here. You see remnants of a 4th to 5th Millennium settlement (That's 4000 to 5000 BC). Ruins of King Davids and Solomon's fortress, and most surprisingly ruins of an Egyptian fortress which had a continued presence there early on, and again after the death of the Israelites in the 8th century BC. What a place.

Finally from there we went to the River Jordon. Right were it leaves the Galilee we had an affirmation of our Baptism, sung "Shall we Gather at the River" and just enjoyed. Everywhere you go you can hear the voices of history, speaking out quietly, sometimes with more intensity, but always there.

Here's how close to Jordan we are. Their flag on the hill

Baptism spot on Jordan River

Why I prefer baptismal founts... muskrats in the river

Kelly and I at the Jordan River

Tomorrow more of the Galilee!

Masada and floating in the Dead Sea

2012-01-14T21:40:00.000-08:00

Judean wilderness with Dead Sea in background

Salt deposits in Dead Sea

Today has been a bit of a 'repositioning' day as we hit two of the sites south of Jericho and then traveled up the Israel HWY 90 to Tiberias where we are staying tonight. By the way, there are also 300 Nigerian pilgrims here as well! How splendid and diverse are the people of God.

You take a cable care up to the Fortress

Below the black line is original from King Herod

looking out a window to the Dead Sea below

The Flag of Israel flying over Masada. You can
see the dead sea mineral deposits in
the background.

We left Jericho to travel south toward the Dead Sea. We saw herds of sheep, goats, camels---yes camels being herded by some friendly teenagers and his their dog. We passed by the Biblical site of Ein Gede where David snuck up behind Saul while Sauh was going to bathroom and cut off a piece of his robe. All in an attmep to make sure that Saul knew that David was not looking to kill him. We passed Ein Gede and ended up at Masada.

Here is where Herod would have stayed when at Masada

Cave #4 where some of the
Dead Sea Scrolls were found. At
Qumran

Here is the refectory where folks would have eaten
John the Baptist probably ate here! He was a
part of the Essenes who lived in Qumran

Ritual bath in Qumran

Masada, built by Herod the Great is an amazing fortress. It was built up on a hill to save itself from invaders and boasted a most ingenious system for keeping water cisterns full. Eventually Masada was taken over by Rebels and a Roman legion was called in to roust them out. Before Rome could break in, the leaders of the Masada Rebels agreed to a mutual suicide pact prefering death to slavery.

After leaving Masada we stopped in at the site of Qumran. Home of the Essness (a religious group, of which John the Baptizer may have been a member) and saw where many of the Dead Sea scrolls where found today.

I float! Especially in the Dead Sea 30% salt

Relaxing in the Dead Sea

Caution! in English and Russian

From Qumran it was time for a float on the Dead Sea and mthe trip to Tiberias to get ready for the Gaellee

From Jerusalem to Jericho

2012-01-13T13:32:00.000-08:00

cave marking the birth place of Mary

Pools of Bethesda where Jessa healed

It was the perfect day to remember ones baptism as the rain came down pretty constantly all morning and much of the afternoon. And yet, like any good pilgrim a little rain was just the chance to remember our baptism, not discourage the journey. The morning was dedicated to the Via Dolorosa--the way of the cross. Pilgrims for years have traced Jesus steps as he went from Pilate to Golgotha and was crucified. We actually began by visiting the church of St. Anne which was built by the crusaders to honor the birth of Mary, mother of our Lord. Then we went to the pools of Bethesda where Jesus healed the paralytic man.

Stone from Jesus time at the Soldiers
Headquarter. Notice the graffiti that marks a game they played

Chapel of the Condemnation

The Way of the Cross, through the city.

Kelly at the 7th station of the cross leaning on a pillar that many
think to be part of the old cities gate of Judgment. Leading
Jesus outside the city walls.

We start at what was the site of Pilate's Antonio fortress. Built right next to the temple it most have been an impressive site. Today you can see the original floor, where you even have some graffiti from Roman Soldiers and the walk of the cross begins. (The actual location is now a school, so you begin in a chapel built a little ways away which is the chapel of the flagellation where Jesus was beaten and then to the Chapel of the Condemnation where Pilate condemned him to die.

You then follow various stations of the cross, some are legendary, some mark points that we hear about in the Gospels (seeing the women along the way). The walk itself winds its way through the small alleys of the Old City past vendors and merchants of all kinds. The stations of the cross are either little niches in the alley or sometimes small chapels that you can enter and have a time of prayer. All along you are heading for the church of the Holy Sepulchre which holds both the place of Crucifixion and burial within its walls.

The 11th station where Jesus is nailed
to the cross (Inside the Church of the
Holy Sepulcher

The place of Crucifixion. Kelly is reaching her hand through an opening that allows
you to touch the rock of Golgotha, the place where the cross was placed and
where Jesus died. It is the 12th station.

The dome above the chapel that
marks the tomb of Jesus.

Kelly about to enter the chapel erected over the tomb of Jesus.

Inside the 'tomb' of Jesus

I took this quickly while in the tomb of Jesus, this is the roof.

Entrance to the chapel of the Sepulcher, where one finds the tomb of
Christ.

Let's stop to ask the question: Is this really the place that Jesus was crucified and buried? According to the Oxford Archaeological guide "Quite probably yes." Helen, the mother of Constantine came to the Holy Land in the 300's AD to find sites that were connected to our Lord's life. One of the sites she identified was what is currently the Churh of the Holy Sepulcher. One of the emperors had build a temple on the spot to the goddess Aphrodite in order to squash the Christian use of the site. He did the same in other places as well--thinking that he was destroying the memory of Christ. In hindsight, he was a great blessing, because his temples where a great clue as to where the original Christian sites were and it also preserved some of the earliest artifacts. When Helen came to Jerusalem she was told that the place of the Crucifixion and burial was located at the site of the Aphrodite Temple, so she had it destroyed and indeed found beneath it remnants of the early Christians who had venerated the site as the death and burial place of Jesus.

Many folks don't like the Sepulcher because it has become a big noisy place filled with pushing pilgrims and squabbling religious orders--but it is an amazing place. I believe that you do indeed knell and touch the rock of Golgotha when there and also that you stand in the place where the women found an empty tomb--Alleluia!

The place commemorating our
Lord's body being prepared
for burial

Indide the LUtheran Church of the cross. The ELCA staffs this chuch.
We climed up the bell tower for a great view. Wiped me out!

Kelly and I were very lucky, we both got to reach our hand down and touch the rock of Golgotha and then when it came time to visit the tomb of Christ, her and I were there together, able to give praise to the risen Lord, but also stand in awe and wonder of all the folks who had raised slavery and death for thousands of years just to stand where we were standing--amazing experience.

Afterwards we went to the Lutheran Church of the cross, which is located right next to the Holy Sepulcher and climbed the tower--winded--for a wonderful view of Jerusalem.

Jericho--Temptation restarunt

Jericho the oldest city on Earth--10,000 BC. Also the lowest at 1300 feet
below sea level,

The monastery marking the place of Temptation
of Jesus by Satan. A monastery marks the spot.

The spot marking the telling of Zaeccheaus being too small so climbing the tree to see Jesus.

Here in old Jericho some towers have dated back over 10,000 BC.

Next we traveled the Jericho road--much safer these days, but indeed passed by the monument commemorating Jesus story of the Good Samaritan. We then descended to the lowest and oldest city in the world--JERICHO! We looked at some of the ruins, saw the place attributed to be where Jesus was tempted by the devil and a Sycamore tree that marks the beloved story of Zachaeus--and yes we did sing the song...."Zacheaus was a wee little man and a wee little man was he, he climbed up in the sycamore tree for the Lord he wanted to see."

Then it was off to our beautiful 4star imperial hotel.

Sights and sounds at the Western wall

2012-01-12T13:41:00.000-08:00

Temple Mount and Bethlehem

2012-01-12T13:12:00.000-08:00

Kelly and I on the Temple Mount, behind us the Dome of the Rock!

Kelly admiring the columns out front.

Here is the Baptistery right next to the Dome of hte Rock. Take a look at the reflection of the door knob.

We woke up this morning to begin our day on the Temple Mount. Quick history: Here is the place that the Jewish temple was built by Solomon, then destroyed and rebuilt, then greatly improved by Herod the Great in Jesus time. It is the holiest site for the Jewish people. It is also the place where Abraham took Isaac up to be sacrificed. The Romans completely destroyed the Temple in 70 AD and it has been gone ever since. Currently two mosques set on the Temple Mount, the Dome of the Rock and the Black mosque. Theses where built in the the 6th century. It is a very peaceful place and the Dome of the Rock Mosque is beautiful. What surprised me was that there is a Crusader period baptistery right next to the Dome of the Rock! Apparently during one of hte crusades the Temple Mount was taken over by the crusaders and the Mosque turned into a church, later when the crusaders where driven out the baptistery remained used for other purposes.

Next we traveled through the streets of the old city. Take a look at the vendors below and imagine all the sights and sounds.

Here are the Merchants in the old city

Can you smell the incense burring.

Here is the famous "wailing" or Western

Prayers are jammed into the little space

Through the old city we came out at the Western or Wailing wall. The only part of Herod's Temple that is still intact. It was a very interesting experience to come to the wall and pray. It was a good place to pray, and it felt good to pray for peace for all the people who share this land. Take a look at all the prayers that are shoved into the seams of the rocks. Also there were lots of celebrations of bat and bar mitzvah here today.

Original stairs cut into bedrock that led up to the Temple
Mount. Jesus would have taught from this place!

Extending down from the Western wall are the Archaeological gardens. Here you can see the excavations of the site, including the very street that Jesus would have walked on to come up to the Temple. We also had a chance to sit on the 'teaching steps' where Jesus would have taught his followers. The steps are cut into the original bedrock--now over all the years the steps are slick with wear but still very impressive.

Rubble thrown on the street from the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD
You can walk on the very stones/street that Jesus must have used.

Church of the Shepherds in the Fields

The small door entrance to
The Church of the Nativity. Why?
So all will bow who enter?

Near the entrance to the 'grotto' of the birth of Jesus.

Kelly touching the place where Jesus is said to be born.

Oriinal mosaic flloor from 4th century church

The Christmas Tree in Bethlehem square was still up!

After a tour of the "Shrine of the Book" where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed we headed to Bethlehem. Lunch and then the Franciscan church of the sthepherds in the fields. A very peaceful place built to commemorate the angels that sang on Christmas morning. We sang "O little Town of Bethlehem" here. Then we were off to the Church of the Nativity. The traditional place where are Lord was born. The church has an interesting history, it was the only Christian church not destroyed by the Persians when they arrived. It seems the mosaic inside showed the magi who were similarly dressed so they kept the church standing. It was founded by Queen Helen, the Mother of Constantine in the 4th Century. You can still see the original floor, even though the church has since had many additions and repairs.

Tomorrow, the way of the cross, Holy Sepulchre and then off on the Jericho road to float on the dead sea!

Our guide telling us about the Garden of Gehtsemane and scripture reading

2012-01-11T20:46:00.000-08:00

Jerusalem, Jerusalem....

2012-01-11T12:21:00.000-08:00

Your work in the Holy Land!

As we drove from our hotel in east Jerusalem up to the Mount of Olives I was delightfully surprised that our first stop was the Augusta Victoria Hospital complex run by the Lutheran World Federation. It is also home of the Church of the Ascension which is one possible site of the Ascension of our Lord (admittedly not probable) but is also built on the highest point in Jerusalem, some 850 meters above sea level. This is a place that should make Lutherans proud. They provide needed medical services and treatments to many Palestinians who would otherwise not have care. In fact our guide told us that you should feel very good about the work of Augusta Victoria Hospital. I quote "Many people send money to places in the Holy Land and it never does any good. Every penny that comes to Augusta Victoria goes right to the people." Nice way to start the trip. And don't worry Kelly has some brochures and is already thinking of how we can better support this amazing ministry.

Pater Noster Church Mt. of Olives

Kelly looking above Old City on Mt of Olives

Looking out famous window of Dominus Flevit "Our Lord Wept."

From the Mount of Olives we also went to another church--more probable--that marks site of the Ascension, then we went to the church of the Pater Noster, known for it's many versions of the Lord's Prayer that are displayed and then to the overlook into Jerusalem. Never mind that there was a camel there for the tourists to ride, smack dab in front of you is the Holy City. The Dome of the Rock with its beautiful blue color and gold dome, the walls that surround the old city, the tombs of the faithful of three different faiths stretching before you....it is one of those iconic and breathtaking scenes. We then walked down the Mount of Olives following the route that Jesus would have taken on Palm Sunday. Along the way we stopped at the famous church of Dominus Flevit (Our Lord Wept) where you have a beautiful view over Jerusalem and built to commemorate Jesus heartfelt concern for the city. Next we walk to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed to be 'delivered' from his death if it be the Father's will. Then into the Church of All Nations which has the traditional spot of where Jesus threw himself down in the Garden to pray while the disciples slept.

The place where Jesus prayed

Kelly saying a prayer at Gethsemane

Pastor and Kelly outside the Church of All Nations

OK....So can you sense the awe and the sense of everything being surreal? We have been officially touring for less than 4 hours and we have already seen and experienced so much. The place where our Lord rode down on the colt for Palm Sunday, the place of his anguishing prayer in the Garden, the Mount of Olives and the good work at Augusta Victoria. What can one do next, but go have lunch. Where....Falafels of course. A nice little restaurant owned by a Palestinian Christian. Good food.

Lunch Jerusalem style

The Upper Room

Mosaic ceiling where Peter Denied Christ

Reading from Scripture in Caiaphas' house where Jesus was taken after being arrested

Actual steps that Jesus "MAY" have walked down to get to the Garden

Rolling stone from a tomb

What it's all about!

Back to touring, we next went to the Upper Room, where Jesus was supposed to have instituted the sacrament, saw the tomb of David (Which isn't, but some like to think it is), and then went to church built over the house of Caiaphas the high priest. The location of where Jesus was taken after he was arrested and where Peter denied knowing him three times.   Finally we went to the so called "Garden Tomb" where you get a really good idea of what the real empty tomb of Jesus must have looked like; however the real spot is probably closer to the church of the Holy Sepulcher which we will visit later. What first day!!

OK, some nice things about our guide. Great Christian Palestinian man who is very glad to tell you if he thinks a site is authentic, pretty close, or note even in the ball park.   He likes to use three criteria for judging whether a site is probably authentic. Scripture---what do we know from scripture about the site. Tradition--how long has it been associated with an event and what does history have to tell us. Archaeology--what can science tell us about the site, over against what we know about the period.   If all three line up, then he assumes that you have to say: Why not?   If they don't line up, then you probably need to say it is a good place to remember the event, but not the actual location. I like his system and he is generally right on.

People: Very warm and welcoming. Lots of diversity.   Kelly and I walked out in a very urban area of the Arab part of the city and felt very comfortable. Everyone kind. I haven't seen one homeless person or mentally distraught person--and Jerusalem is a big city.   The children are beautiful and always laughing and smiling. Many of the women have traditional dress...and many don't.   You get the impression that if it weren't for the radical extremists on each side, that all these people would easily live together.   You also come to know a lot of Christian Palestinians who are rarely mentioned in the US and who have a very hard time finding jobs and housing etc... in Israel. They are discriminated against in many ways.

That is all for tonight. Tomorrow: The Temple Mount, Western Wailing wall, Bethlehem, and more....An amazing place!

We made it to Jerusalem!

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It took 6 hours from LAX to JFK, then 9.5 hours from JFK to Istanbul, Turkey, then 2 hours from Istanbul to Tel Aviv, then waited for the other folks to arrive, then drove the bus 45 minutes into Jerusalem--we are beat tired and getting ready to go to bed. Having arrived in the city at night, we'll start all our touring tomorrow. However, I have to say that no matter how 'inconvenient' I might find traveling it is amazing that you can start out at 6:30 in the Morning in Los Angeles and within 24 hours be standing in Jerusalem.

Our hotel is the Ritz (not Ritz Carlton) which is in the Arab part of the city. Such a delightful hotel with a staff that was there to meet us with juice and smiles. I couldn't help but take a little adventure so I convinced Kelly to go out for a night time stroll. We'll we walked the alleys and back streets of Jerusalem until what did we see in front of us? The wall of the old city and we were standing right under Herod's Gate. The wall is lit up a night and looks quite spectacular. We were just too tired to venture in---and it was pretty dark and getting late---but there was something about seeing the wall of the old city that makes it real. On the way back to the Hotel we stopped in a little spice shop. Amazing, nothing but spices piled up everywhere, the smells were incredible.

Keep us in your prayers and we'll be glad to actually be able to post some real pictures tomorrow and fill you in on our adventures. Peace! pj Here's Herods Gate

Tuesday November 29, John 21.20-25

2011-11-29T00:01:00.000-08:00

John 21.20-25

20Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, “Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?” 21When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” 22Jesus said to him, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!” 23So the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, “If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?” 24This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. 25But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. The End

Thoughts: For some reason these final verses of John's gospel seem unfulfilling. Obviously there was some rumor about the death of the beloved disciple that this Gospel wanted to address; but it seems to interfere with what has been said thus far. The final line is an important reminder, not everything that Jesus has said or done has been written down. There is much more that we don't know about Jesus than we do know. But John ends his Gospel confident that we have enough to enact the purpose of his writing...to bring us to faith. I hope you've enjoyed the discipline of reading in John's Gospel and that you like Nicodemus find yourself on a journey toward the light. Alleluia, Amen!

Questions: What is the one thing you wish John had written about in regards to Jesus life?

Monday November 28, John 21.15-19

2011-11-28T15:12:00.000-08:00

John 21.15-19

15When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my lambs.” 16A second time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Tend my sheep.” 17He said to him the third time, “Simon son of John, do you love me?” Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” And he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep. 18Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go.” 19(He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, “Follow me.”

Thoughts: Here it comes....Jesus is about to drop the hammer on Simon Peter for denying him 3 times! That most have been how Simon felt, but I think there is more grace here than guilt. Jesus seems to be offering Peter a chance to confess his love, one for each time he denied it. But something else is peculiar about this text, love for Jesus is meet with a command to take care of others. Here John's Gospel, like the parable of the Sheep and Goats in Matthew, makes the undeniable connection between love of Christ and love for those who belong to Christ. Still we resist this message. We like to think that our relationship with Christ is solely for personal salvation. What could be further from the truth! Our relationship with Christ is to empower us to be in relationship with the world he so loves!

Questions: Why do you think we miss this connection between love of Jesus and love of neighbor?

Sunday November 27, John 21.1-14

2011-11-27T00:04:00.000-08:00

John 21.1-14

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way.Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples.Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.Jesus said to them, “Children, you have no fish, have you?” They answered him, “No.”He said to them, “Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish.That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea.But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread.Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn.Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, “Who are you?” because they knew it was the Lord.Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish.This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.

Thoughts: I always joked with my various youth groups that if I were to start a Christian Punk band we would be called: Go Fish Naked! Because that is what we find here. Peter, seemingly not knowing what to do with this resurrected Lord, goes back to the one thing he does know--fishing. I think we have a lot in common with Peter. Sometimes I think we struggle trying to know exactly what we are supposed to do with this resurrected Jesus. Peter falls back on what he knows; but this will not be adequate. Jesus has called him to something bigger. We'll hear the rest of the story tomorrow, but nevertheless Jesus has come to Peter today and there will be no escaping the life giving words of this resurrected Christ!

Questions: Have you ever found yourself wanting to do one thing; but realizing your faith calls you to something different? How did you resolve the conflict?

Saturday November 26, John 20.19-31

2011-11-26T00:24:00.000-08:00

John 20.19-31

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came.So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”
A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.”Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.”Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book.But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Thoughts: I love that Thomas simply wants to experience what everyone else got to see. What I also marvel out is that in a weeks time, no one who was there and saw Jesus was able to convince Thomas that is was true. Maybe there is something wonderful hidden in this text; maybe we need not worry about whether we can prove this or that to be true; maybe the truth is in the practice of our faith and the Holy Spirit will work faith where and when Jesus wills. Thomas does indeed come to faith and Jesus honors his doubts with and invitation to 'come and see the marks and the wounds so that he (Thomas) may not forget.

Question: The last lines above say that many other things about Jesus are not written in these books about Jesus. What question about the life of Jesus would you ask if you could?

Friday November 25, John 20.11-18

2011-11-25T00:17:00.000-08:00

John 20.11-18

But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb;and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet.They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.”When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus.Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.”Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher).Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.

Thoughts: Mary's grief is shown in that even two angels can't bring her back to earth. She is overcome with the thought that someone has done something to the body. Then she here's her name. "Mary... ." Isn't that the promise which is set place before us all as well...we too are called by name. Mary becomes the first witness of the resurrection and she then goes back to the disciples to verify that indeed Christ is risen!

Questions: It is often said that the tomb is open to let us in; not to let Christ out. Have you ever heard the Lord call you by name? How? When?

Thursday November 24, John 20.1-10

2011-11-24T00:10:00.000-08:00

John 20.1-10

Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb.So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.”Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb.The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first.He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in.Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there,and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself.Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed;for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead.Then the disciples returned to their homes.

Thoughts: Did you notice that it is Mary Magdalene who comes alone and she is not coming to prepare the body with spices as that has already been done by Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea. No Mary is coming to the tomb for the same reason we all go to tombs--to grieve, to remember, to go through a whole lists of could haves, should haves, would haves. Her grief is interrupted by the fact that the body is not there and the tomb has been opened. She runs to get Peter and the the other disciple. As of yet, Easter morning is more confusing than anything. I'm not sure what the other disciple believed, but certainly Mary is left in her grief.

Questions: Have you ever gone to the graveside of someone and had a conversation? What things do you think Mary Magdalene would have said at the tomb of Jesus?

Wednesday November 23, John 19.38-42

2011-11-23T00:10:00.000-08:00

John 19.38-42

After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body.Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds.They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews.Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid.And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

Thoughts: It was Nicodemus who first came to Jesus by night; but now it appears that the night is giving way to a new dawn, as Nicodemus is able to show himself as a disciple of Jesus. This will be a dangerous time to be the church; but those who dwelt in deep darkness, on them light has shined. What I love about the story of Nicodemus is that he is not an instant convert, one of the heart and subjective emotionalism; no he is a convert of the mind that has come to see this Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah of God. For both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, fear is over come which leads to demonstrative faith.

Questions: Have you ever kept your Christian faith in the shadows or hidden from others? If so why?

Tuesday November 22, John 19.31-37

2011-11-22T11:35:00.000-08:00

John 19.31-37

31Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. 32Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. 33But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. 34Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. 35(He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) 36These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” 37And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”

Thoughts: As the early Christians reflected on the crucifixtion of Jesus they went back to the scriptures to find places where such things had been foretold. Especially in the suffering servant songs of Isaiah they found scripture that seemed to point toward what happened with Jesus. This was important for two reasons: one it showed that this was God's fulfillment of what went back to Abraham, that through him (Abraham) the world would be blessed; second it gave a new way to interpret what the Messiah was to be about, one based not on military conquest but faithful restoration of God's desires. For many the account of blood and water coming from the spear inflicted wound is a reminder of the sacraments: Holy Communion (blood/wine) and Holy Baptism (water).

Questions: How important is it that the Old Testament may have spoken prophetically about Jesus? Is it a deal breaker if it hadn't?

Monday November 21, John 19.28-30

2011-11-21T15:59:00.000-08:00

John 19.28-30

28After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” 29A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. 30When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

Thoughts: It is finished. Three words that sum up what Jesus has done--death is finished, sin is finished, evil is finished.

Questions: Have you ever experienced the passing of someone from life to death? How does it make you feel to know that because of Jesus none of us will every pass through that threshold of life to death being alone?

Reading for Sunday November 20, John 19.23-27

2011-11-21T15:54:00.000-08:00

John 19.23-27

23When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. 24So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” 25And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” 27Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

Thoughts: John's gospel is unique in that one of the disciples is actually at the foot of the cross--John the beloved. The other gospels tell us that none of the disciples where there. Does it matter? Sometimes I wonder if John in his telling of the story couldn't bear the truth that he also wasn't there, and so he 'remembered' the day as it should have been, a faithful beloved disciple there with his Lord. Of course I have room for the fact that he WAS there and the other Gospel writers simply didn't have that straight, but it is curious nonetheless. Some have said that perhaps John the beloved represents the church at this moment, and so Jesus is giving over to the church his mother to care for; but likewise his mother can see the church as a part of that which she has 'given birth.'

Questions: What do you think about the soldiers who gambled for his clothes? Can we ever become so accustomed to cruelty and violence that it no longer causes us pain in our hearts?

Reading for Saturday November 19, John 19.17-22

2011-11-21T15:44:00.000-08:00

John 19.17-22

17and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. 18There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them.

19Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” 20Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. 21Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” 22Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.”

Thoughts: It is very important for John that Jesus carried his cross himself. There is no helper in John's gospel, no innocent bystander called upon to help. No, in John's gospel it is Jesus alone who must carry this burden. His help has already abandoned him as symbolized by Peter and now he is left to carry this burden alone. The sign that Pilate wrote is the basis for the inscription you often see on a cross: INRI (Iesu Nazarene Rex Iudeam).

Questions: Do you remember the first time you saw the Crucifixion depicted on the screen (either TV or Cinema) what was your reaction? What about now?

Readings for Friday November 18, John 19.1-16

2011-11-21T15:18:00.000-08:00

Ecce Homo, detail face of Christ, Renaissance Italy

John 19.1-16

19Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. 2And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. 3They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. 4Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” 5So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” 6When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” 7The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.” 8Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. 9He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. 10Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” 11Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” 12From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.” 13When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. 14Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” 15They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.”

16Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus;

Thoughts: Behold the man. Ecce Homo. These are famous words in the church that show the Christ brought before Pilate as one who has been beaten and scourged in the name of justice. It is an image that is better left to artists and poets than narrative, albeit one that demands are deepest thoughts and reflection. What is crime? Ultimately here in John's gospel the crime in insurrection. Strange how this reading has fallen on the weekend that we celebrate "Christ the King." Here is the king.

Questions: Here is a tension between powers. Do they always stand opposed? Can earthly power ever faithfully stand with Christ?

Readings for Thursday November 17, John 18.28-40

2011-11-21T15:05:00.000-08:00

John 18.28-40

28Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. 29So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” 31Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” 32(This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) 33Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” 35Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” 36Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” 37Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” 38Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. 39But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” 40They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.

Thoughts: This simply questions by Pilate seems to haunt all of history: "What is truth?" I think here in John's Gospel we are meant to ask that very question. Is Jesus the truth or is he a fraud. Is there truth in his words or are they the deliberations of a madman? How will we respond to this Jesus who is equally before Pilate and us? Pilate wants nothing to do with him, he is obviously more trouble than he's worth and so he will bypass the religious leaders and let the people have their way. The problem is that like Peter, it seems the whole crowd has now come to deny this one they recently proclaimed as king. Instead of Jesus, we would rather have Barabbas...now Barabbas was a bandit.

Questions: What is your take on Pilate? Do you think he was intrigued by Jesus or was he just not interested in what he saw as a squabble between folks he didn't really like anyways?

Readings for Wednesday November 16, John 18.12-27

2011-11-21T14:54:00.000-08:00

Matthias Strom, 1630's
"Christ before Caiaphas"

John 18.12-27

12So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him.

13First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. 14Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. 15Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, 16but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. 17The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” 18Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. 19Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. 20Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. 21Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” 22When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” 23Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” 24Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. 25Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” 26One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” 27Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.

Thoughts: Two people on trial here...both Jesus and Peter. Jesus is being held on account of what he said and Peter is being tried on account of what he didn't say! Here is one of the most intense moments in the Gospel of John, it is night and apparently Jesus who is the "light" of the world is shining so dimly that a small charcoal fire dominates. Eventually even the light from that fire will prove too much for Peter as he is driven into the darkness. I've always found this a helpful segment of John's Gospel in that there is a hidden promise here, that no matter how dark, Christ is still there. He is hidden, but there.

Questions: Have you ever experienced a 'dark night of the soul' when it seemed that even God had abandoned you? Is it possible to be abandoned by God?

Tuesday November 15, John 18.1-11

2011-11-15T02:35:00.000-08:00

John 18.1-11

1500's anonymous "The Capture of Christ."

18After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered.²Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples.³So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons.⁴Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?”⁵They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.⁶When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground.⁷Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.”⁸Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.”⁹This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.”¹⁰Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus.¹¹Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

Thoughts: After several rather heady readings we come to the Garden and the moment of Jesus' betrayal and arrest. Several things strike me as interesting in this little passage. First of all is the fact that the same question Jesus used in the beginning of the Gospel he uses here again, this time for the guards. "Whom are you looking for?" Everyone is looking for Jesus, some to follow him and some to get rid of him. What to make of Peter and his sword? The servants name means "King" and I think that has to be important--somehow. Here is a servant named King, and Jesus is a King who becomes a servant. Both will end up being assaulted by violence. I wish I had some deep thought to explain this connection, none comes to mind. But it is interesting.

Questions: "I am he" and all the guards step back and fall to the ground. What do you make of that? Jesus when saying "I am" is in a sense invoking the divine name. Does John show us this to remind us that while it is about to get ugly, Jesus is still in charge?

Monday November 14, John 17.12-26

2011-11-15T02:19:00.000-08:00

John 17.12-26

¹²While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me. I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.¹³But now I am coming to you, and I speak these things in the world so that they may have my joy made complete in themselves.¹⁴I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.¹⁵I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one.¹⁶They do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world.
¹⁷Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.¹⁸As you have sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world.¹⁹And for their sakes I sanctify myself, so that they also may be sanctified in truth.
²⁰”I ask not only on behalf of these, but also on behalf of those who will believe in me through their word,²¹that they may all be one. As you, Father, are in me and I am in you, may they also be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me.²²The glory that you have given me I have given them, so that they may be one, as we are one,²³I in them and you in me, that they may become completely one, so that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
²⁴Father, I desire that those also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory, which you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world.²⁵“Righteous Father, the world does not know you, but I know you; and these know that you have sent me.²⁶I made your name known to them, and I will make it known, so that the love with which you have loved me may be in them, and I in them.”

Thoughts: This is the ending of Jesus' high priestly prayer and I'm always drawn to the statement in verse 15 " ¹⁵I am not asking you to take them out of the world, but I ask you to protect them from the evil one." It seems that in Christ both heaven and earth are connected. We are not called, nor does Jesus wish us to be 'out of the world' but prays for our protection while we are IN the world. It seems that so many folks try to find holiness, try to find God by escaping the world and I don't see that as the Christina way. I believe the wonder of Christianity is that we find holiness precisely in the world that often seems so 'unholy.' That is we aren't called to be anything other than what we are: creatures in the world. However, there is one difference, we are now creatures who abide in Christ and thereby like the incarnation itself, the mundane becomes filled with sacred possibility!

Questions: How do you respond to your Christian friends who seem to believe the only role for a Christian is to get out of the world?

Sunday November 13, John 17.1-11

2011-11-13T00:01:00.000-08:00

John 17.1-11

17After Jesus had spoken these words, he looked up to heaven and said, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son so that the Son may glorify you, 2since you have given him authority over all people, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. 3And this is eternal life, that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent. 4I glorified you on earth by finishing the work that you gave me to do. 5So now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had in your presence before the world existed.

6”I have made your name known to those whom you gave me from the world. They were yours, and you gave them to me, and they have kept your word. 7Now they know that everything you have given me is from you; 8for the words that you gave to me I have given to them, and they have received them and know in truth that I came from you; and they have believed that you sent me. 9I am asking on their behalf; I am not asking on behalf of the world, but on behalf of those whom you gave me, because they are yours. 10All mine are yours, and yours are mine; and I have been glorified in them.

11And now I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.

Thougths: This is known as Jesus' high priestly prayer. He is praying not only for the disciples present with him, but for all those who will come to know him. In a sense this is Jesus' prayer for you and me! Many folks like to think about his prayer for unity that we might be one over against the reality of the Christian church. I rather think of this unity already having been accomplished. We are one, because Christ makes us one. We might sin and get in fights over doctrine and interpretation; but none of these things can deter from what Christ has already done--made us one. No we are tasked with living into this unity that Christ has already established.

Questions: Do you think the many different churches and denominations are a gift or a curse? Why?

Saturday November 12, John 16.29-33

2011-11-12T00:04:00.000-08:00

John 16.29-33 29His disciples said, “Yes, now you are speaking plainly, not in any figure of speech! 30Now we know that you know all things, and do not need to have anyone question you; by this we believe that you came from God.” 31Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? 32The hour is coming, indeed it has come, when you will be scattered, each one to his home, and you will leave me alone. Yet I am not alone because the Father is with me. 33I have said this to you, so that in me you may have peace. In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!”

Thoughts: It always seems like I must have missed part of this conversation! "Yes, now you are speaking plainly..." For what ever reason the disciples seem to think that they have come to a new level of cognitive understanding, what is ironic is that they new level of understanding is still going to be fraught with trouble. They will still be scattered and ultimately abandon Jesus. Funny how cognitive understanding sometimes is not enough. But again Jesus doesn't chastise them in advance but more so he is giving them absolution! Nevertheless, take courage; I have conquered the world! What do you think that means? Has Jesus run the perfect race, defeated temptation, remained righteous....hmmm. Or is it that we see that the power, rulers and principalities of this world have no real power--as their greatest weapon death has been made null and void? There is a great promise here. Usually conquerors take over, they subject folks. Jesus is a new kind of conqueror, he subjects himself as a servant. Makes you go hmmmmm?

Questions: Is there a darkness that you need Christ to conquer for you? Lift it up in prayer right now!

Friday November 11, John 16.23-28

2011-11-11T00:01:00.000-08:00

John 16.23-28

23On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. 24Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete. 25“I have said these things to you in figures of speech. The hour is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figures, but will tell you plainly of the Father. 26On that day you will ask in my name. I do not say to you that I will ask the Father on your behalf; 27for the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God.

28I came from the Father and have come into the world; again, I am leaving the world and am going to the Father.”

Thoughts: Just when you think the Gospel of John has helped clear up the relationship of the Son to the Father you get a passage like this and your head begins to hurt a bit. At least mine does. Here Jesus is reminding us of the intimate connection of God the Father and God the Son...and now of those whom are caught up in this love and intimately connected to God as well. Some say that Christianity at its base is a relationship. A relationship within the Godhead itself and a relationship between God and us.

Questions: I have to laugh when Jesus says that he is about done speaking in figures of speech--Amen! But it got me thinking, what one clarifying question would I want to ask Jesus? Why not ask it in prayer?

Thursday November 10, John 16.12-22

2011-11-10T00:03:00.000-08:00

John 16.12-22     12“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. 13When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. 14He will glorify me, because he will take what is mine and declare it to you. 15All that the Father has is mine. For this reason I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you.

16”A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me.” 17Then some of his disciples said to one another, “What does he mean by saying to us, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’; and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” 18They said, “What does he mean by this ‘a little while’? We do not know what he is talking about.” 19Jesus knew that they wanted to ask him, so he said to them, “Are you discussing among yourselves what I meant when I said, ‘A little while, and you will no longer see me, and again a little while, and you will see me’? 20Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. 21When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. 22So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you.

Thoughts: How do you prepare someone for bad news? Do you sugar coat it and try to make things seem better than they are? Do you just give them the truth having it hit like the sting of a band-aid that is ripped off the skin, or do you fall somewhere in between. I think sometimes we forget what John is giving us in these chapters of his Gospel. Jesus is about to die. His relationship with his disciples will never be the same and he has so much he wants to tell them.   So many things, so little time! Here he tries to make sure that they are prepared for the grief and anguish to come, but also here the promise that 'no one will take your joy from you."   That is an amazing word of Gospel. NO ONE! How wonderful is that!

Questions: The more I think about this last line, the more I'm pondering having it read at my funeral. "So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and on one will take your joy from you."   That is just so powerful! What lesson would you want read at your funeral?

Wednesday November 9, John 16.5-11

2011-11-09T09:33:00.000-08:00

John 16.5-11
5But now I am going to him who sent me; yet none of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ 6But because I have said these things to you, sorrow has filled your hearts.

7Nevertheless I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Advocate will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8And when he comes, he will prove the world wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment: 9about sin, because they do not believe in me; 10about righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will see me no longer; 11about judgment, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.

Thoughts: This section of John's Gospel always seems so heady. There is one thing here though that is easy to understand. Somehow, the Holy Spirit is going to be reintroduced to the world in a powerful way. I say reintroduced for certainly the Spirit of God has been around and about before this time. Even Genesis 1 will talk about the Spirit of God hoovering over the waters, but there is something new about to happen. Perhaps it is the Spirit infused with the power of the risen Christ, but whatever it might be--it is a gift that comes to keep the message of Jesus and alive and empowered. Here in our little parish we get a glimpse of who this might work; while we say goodbye to one beloved staff member, we say hello to a new member who we learn to love in a different way. So, Jesus again reminds the disciples they will not be orphaned, they will not be left alone.

Questions: Have you every felt abandoned by God? Do you think God is present even when we can't feel God?

Tuesday November 8, John 15.26 - 16.4

2011-11-08T00:05:00.000-08:00

John 15.26 - 16.4

26”When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father, he will testify on my behalf. 27You also are to testify because you have been with me from the beginning.

16”I have said these things to you to keep you from stumbling. 2They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, an hour is coming when those who kill you will think that by doing so they are offering worship to God. 3And they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. 4But I have said these things to you so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you about them. “I did not say these things to you from the beginning, because I was with you.

Thoughts: As Jesus is preparing to leave this world he shares sobering words with his friends. The mission of kingdom of God has been one of love; it will be met with hatred and even violence. We don't like to think about it, or talk about it much in the United States--but still today Christians are being killed for their faith. In the Sudan, Christians are buried up to their head and then stoned to death. In Egypt Christians are burned and their homes and churches are set on fire. Here is the challenge; how do we face such persecution with love? Herein lies a great trap of evil, if a righteous anger can burn in us to the point of hate in which we become the brutalizers of God's children, then we no longer abide in Christ. Who would have thought that LOVE would be so ill received?

Questions: I'm thinking of the old preachers admonition: If they were arresting people for being a Christian would there be enough evidence to convict you?

Monday November 7, John 15.18-25

2011-11-07T00:05:00.000-08:00

Caravaggio, Crucifixion of Peter

John 15.18-25

18”If the world hates you, be aware that it hated me before it hated you. 19If you belonged to the world, the world would love you as its own. Because you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world—therefore the world hates you. 20Remember the word that I said to you, ‘Servants are not greater than their master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you; if they kept my word, they will keep yours also. 21But they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know him who sent me. 22If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin. 23Whoever hates me hates my Father also. 24If I had not done among them the works that no one else did, they would not have sin. But now they have seen and hated both me and my Father. 25It was to fulfill the word that is written in their law, ‘They hated me without a cause.’

Thoughts: Hate. Such a strong word. I don't think any of us want to be hated by the world, hated by anybody. Yet Jesus here is making a very bold prediction: His call to love one another and to serve one another will be met with anger and hatred. It still is. We watch what we say and to whom we say it because we know that the world is not based on love, but on fear. Fear is what motivates markets, politics, faith communities and individual action. So what happens when the God of love abides in us and we in him? What happens when we begin to bear fruit and fear is replaced with love and peace. We would like to think that everything falls into place; but the reality is this is a threat to the world. If we do not fear the markets, fear our neighbor, fear our lose of control--then we become dangerous and it shouldn't surprise us if we are even hated, for the same thing happened to Jesus.

Questions: Jesus reminds us that "servants are not greater than their master." What does that mean to you?

Sunday November 6, John 15.12-17

2011-11-06T00:06:00.000-07:00

John 15.12-17 12“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. 13No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14You are my friends if you do what I command you. 15I do not call you servants any longer, because the servant does not know what the master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have made known to you everything that I have heard from my Father. 16You did not choose me but I chose you. And I appointed you to go and bear fruit, fruit that will last, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask him in my name. 17I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.

Thoughts: John 15.16 is a verse that I give to almost every confirmation class that I've ever had. It is such a wonderful verse. First of all the Gospel is proclaimed with such clarity, "You did not choose me but I chose you." Such a reminder in a culture that makes us want to believe that we make a decision for Jesus and this decision saves us. No! Jesus has made a decision for US, and it is his work on our behalf that grants the gift of salvation. Having been given this gift, we are now appointed to be ambassadors if you will. Folks who are out in the world bearing fruit! I think we've heard this before. But this is the Gospel that we must never get tired of hearing!

Questions: What do you expect from a friend? Can you imagine yourself as a friend of God?

Saturday November 5, John 15.9-11

2011-11-05T00:04:00.000-07:00

John 15.9-11

9As the Father has loved me, so I have loved you; abide in my love. 10If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love. 11I have said these things to you so that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be complete.

Thoughts: Joy. I think this is exactly what we were thinking about in yesterday's reading. There is joy in this fruit that is being brought forth, real joy. Joy is an undervalued state of mind. I often ask folks: "what brings you joy?" If they have a hard time answering that question it is often times a symptom of a much deeper spiritual issue. Christians can certainly be realists, but there is a joy that serves as the foundation of our lives that is at once mysterious and resolute.

Questions: What brings you joy?

Friday November 4, John 15.1-8

2011-11-04T00:04:00.000-07:00

John 15.1-8

15”I am the true vine, and my Father is the vinegrower. 2He removes every branch in me that bears no fruit. Every branch that bears fruit he prunes to make it bear more fruit. 3You have already been cleansed by the word that I have spoken to you. 4Abide in me as I abide in you. Just as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me. 5I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing. 6Whoever does not abide in me is thrown away like a branch and withers; such branches are gathered, thrown into the fire, and burned. 7If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask for whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. 8My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.

Thoughts: Again this 'abiding' issue. Now it is given a new spin as it is compared to grapes growing on the branches that are connected to the vine. To abide in Christ is to be the branches that bear fruit. I always find it fun that the image is connected to grapes that would have then been made into wine. In our culture where we see much destruction due to alcohol abuse we sometimes forget the joyful and celebratory nature of the fruit of the vine! Thus our call to bear fruit is not a burden, but a celebration in that which we have found in Christ.

Questions: What are the good fruits that God is expecting of you?

Thursday November 3, John 14.27-31

2011-11-03T00:26:00.000-07:00

John 14.27-31 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.

28You heard me say to you, ‘I am going away, and I am coming to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father, because the Father is greater than I. 29And now I have told you this before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe. 30I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no power over me; 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us be on our way.

Thoughts: Peace, Power, Fear. All of these words evoke images and emotions. Jesus promises to leave his peace, peace unlike what the world gives (for peace in this world is often tentative and always seems to be in jeopardy) and so his peace must be permanent and secure. The peace of Christ that passes all understanding and allows us then to go forward not in FEAR but in love. If only I could keep my heart from being troubled or from letting fear sneak its way into my life...but here I'm reminded that the peace that comes in Christ is the antidote for such anxiety and fear. Finally, Jesus reminds his disciples that evil has no power over him, that what is about to happen, happens because it is the will of God and not the assertion of evil on an otherwise glorious plan!

Questions: Do you sometimes give evil too much credit? When have you felt the peace of Christ?

Wednesday November 2, John 14.23-26

2011-11-02T00:12:00.000-07:00

John 14.23-26 23Jesus answered him, “Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me.

25”I have said these things to you while I am still with you. 26But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you.

Thoughts: Way back when we began reading John's Gospel, Andrew asked Jesus, "Where are you staying?" And we talked about the word really is, where are you "abiding." To what are you connected? What is your home base so to speak. When asked this question Jesus said, "Come and see." Now we have a startling announcement. Apparently Jesus and the Father are prepared to "abide" in us! To be truly present in our lives as we move forward in love. One would be tempted to say then that our very lives take on a sacramental nature, that is, God is truly present in, with and under all that we do, when we move forward in the love of Christ. This reminds me of what is called "realized eschatology." That is, the kingdom of God is not something to happen in the by and by; but is happening right now, in human lives that are motivated by love.

Questions: How do you think the Holy Spirit works in your life to REMIND you of these things? Can you shut out the Holy Spirit or refuse to listen?

Tuesday November 1, John 14.21-22

2011-11-01T00:02:00.000-07:00

John 14.21-22 21They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them.” 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, “Lord, how is it that you will reveal yourself to us, and not to the world?”

Thoughts: Such a little passage for today. At first read I'm caught a bit off guard as it seems that this might be an "If - Then" kind of statement from Jesus. IF you keep my commandments, THEN you'll be loved. But that's not a faithful reading of the text. It simply says that those who have Jesus' commandments (to love one another, to serve etc...) and keep them are those who love him. Love is not a feeling, love is a choice. And this choice of following in love will result in actions of love. And in this very act of loving, we will begin to see Jesus (reveal myself to them) more clearly. Love truly is the means by which one begins to see Christ and it is this lack of love for the world that keeps one from seeing Christ. Very powerful little text.

Questioins: Can you love someone and still not like them? What does 'love' mean to you?

Monday October 31, John 14.1-20

2011-10-31T00:30:00.000-07:00

John 14.1-20

14“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. 2In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also.

4And you know the way to the place where I am going.” 5Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.” 8Philip said to him, “Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” 9Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. 11Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves.

12Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. 13I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.

15”If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. 17This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

18”I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. 19In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. 20On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.

Thoughts: I will not leave you orphaned. I have a friend that went to the Ukraine to do some work in an orphanage. There was one little girl that he meet there who was all of 6 or 7 years old. All she wanted to do was stroke the bake of his hand. She knew what it was to be alone. She desperately longed for the comfort of knowing that there was someone, anyone in this world that would walk beside her, not leave her orphaned. So Jesus here assures us that even when he is gone, that the Holy Spirit will be with us and we will not be alone. There is great comfort in this passage, yes there will be a place for us when we die...and Jesus is indeed the way, the truth and the life! But there is also the promise that until that day we will have the presence of God in our lives through the work of the Holy Spirit. So with Paul we can say, whether we live or whether we die...we belong to Christ!

Questions: Have you ever felt the presence of God when you really needed to know that you weren't alone? Can we trust that God is there even if we don't "feel" it?

Sunday October 30, John 13.31-38

2011-10-30T00:14:00.000-07:00

John 13.31-38

31When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. 32If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. 33Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ 34I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. 35By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

36Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus answered, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now; but you will follow afterward.” 37Peter said to him, “Lord, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Very truly, I tell you, before the cock crows, you will have denied me three times.

Thoughts: What an interesting little piece of scripture that we get Jesus' command to love one another as he has loved us and the prophetic statement of Peter's denial. I'm sure Peter's intentions were good but he would not be able to stand by Jesus. Here I think we have a powerful conclusion to what following Jesus will be like. First, we are to be servants, to do feet. Secondly we are called to love one another, even as Jesus loves us--which is fully and unconditionally. I don't think any of us every lives up to this high calling perfectly; but we are called to hold it in front of us as the mark of the followers of Jesus. Serve in love!

Questions: What is new about this commandment to love. Certainly the Old Testament calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves...what is new about Jesus' love for us?

Saturday October 29, John 13.21-30

2011-10-29T00:01:00.000-07:00

John 13.21-30

21After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22The disciples looked at one another, uncertain of whom he was speaking. 23One of his disciples—the one whom Jesus loved—was reclining next to him; 24Simon Peter therefore motioned to him to ask Jesus of whom he was speaking. 25So while reclining next to Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” So when he had dipped the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas son of Simon Iscariot. 27After he received the piece of bread, Satan entered into him. Jesus said to him, “Do quickly what you are going to do.” 28Now no one at the table knew why he said this to him. 29Some thought that, because Judas had the common purse, Jesus was telling him, “Buy what we need for the festival”; or, that he should give something to the poor. 30So, after receiving the piece of bread, he immediately went out. And it was night.

Thoughts: And it was night. Betrayal. And it was night. This phrase troubled in spirit can also I believe be interpreted more as angry. Angry at who or whom or what? I think Jesus is angry not at Judas but at the power of evil that so quickly can seduce and enter even into the best of circles. After all, if Jesus and the twelve are not safe from the presence of evil--who is? Certainly this is important for us to remember. I don't personally demonize Judas, but it does make me stop and take pause at how quickly evil can enter into a situation and begin to work its harm. What will be the antidote for such things? Certainly the gift of the Holy Spirit will be one way that communities who gather in Christ will be protected. You see, evil is and will be something for us to deal with as long as we are on this earth; but the Holy Spirit is more powerful an advocate than evil is a foe! Don't ever forget that simple truth!

Questions: What do you think about Judas? In the Gospels he has a mixed lot. I rather think he came to repentance and as all of us stands in the mercy of God.

Friday October 28, John 13.18-20

2011-10-27T23:28:00.000-07:00

John 13.18-20

18 I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ 19I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur, you may believe that I am he. 20Very truly, I tell you, whoever receives one whom I send receives me; and whoever receives me receives him who sent me."

Thoughts: Here is the great chain or connection that Jesus sets forth on the world. To receive a messenger of Christ is to receive Christ himself. To receive Christ himself is to receive the Father. Here is quite the miracle, it is in our work of declaring Jesus, acting in his name and sharing his love that the world receives the creator of the universe! Or let's make it even more crazy---it is in our SERVANTHOOD! In our washing of feet that God is made known! It is Jesus who becomes savior precisely because he is the bridge between humanity and God, it is Christ who allows us to stand in the presence of God without fear--but still with great awe!

Questions: Have you ever considered yourself to be an agent of God? Do you think people can really receive the divine through our humanity? What does it say about God that he desires to be known in this way?

ooops...below is the right post for Thursday

2011-10-27T23:25:00.001-07:00

Seems I posted Friday's reading for Thursday. Below is Thursdays reading.

Thursday October 27, John 13.1-17

2011-10-27T12:02:00.000-07:00

John 13.1-17

John 13

13Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.²The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper³Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God,⁴got up from the table,^* took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.⁵Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him.⁶He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘Lord, are you going to wash my feet?’⁷Jesus answered, ‘You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.’⁸Peter said to him, ‘You will never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered, ‘Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.’⁹Simon Peter said to him, ‘Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’¹⁰Jesus said to him, ‘One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet,^* but is entirely clean. And you^* are clean, though not all of you.’¹¹For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, ‘Not all of you are clean.’
12 After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, ‘Do you know what I have done to you?¹³You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am.¹⁴So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet.¹⁵For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you.¹⁶Very truly, I tell you, servants^* are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them.¹⁷If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

Thoughts: Here we have the last night of Jesus' earthly life and John decides to highlight the foot washing over the meal. Indeed, as we have seen John has talked about the meal at length in his discourse about 'eating Jesus' flesh and drinking his blood,' but for this night he highlights the fact that Jesus once again showed the servants heart. Certainly there is some baptismal connection here as well; but mainly Jesus is showing us that his followers, like himself, are called to do feet! Our mark is servanthood. Many Christians don't like this, they think our mark is to be power or greatness, it is not so. We are called to do feet!

Questions: Do you have a servants heart? Can you see in your neighbor the face of Christ?

Wednesday October 26, John 12.44-50

2011-10-27T11:55:00.000-07:00

John 12.44-50

44Then Jesus cried aloud: “Whoever believes in me believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46I have come as light into the world, so that everyone who believes in me should not remain in the darkness. 47I 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. 48The 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, 49for 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. 50And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I speak, therefore, I speak just as the Father has told me.”

Thoughts: I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. This is reminiscent of John 3.16-17. There it is Nicodemus who is 'in the dark' but who eventually will come to the light. The command that Jesus follows is 'eternal life.' Do you think that judgement means that eternal life if forfeit, or can you be judged and still inherit eternal life?

Questions: How does your faith in Jesus provide 'light' for you in regards to how you see yourself and the world?

Tuesday October 25, John 12.27-43

2011-10-27T11:46:00.000-07:00

John 12.27-43

27“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. 28Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” 29The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” 30Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. 31Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler 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 indicate the kind of death he was to die. 34The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” 35Jesus 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. 36While 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.

37Although he had performed so many signs in their presence, they did not believe in him. 38This was to fulfill the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah: “Lord, who has believed our message, and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?” 39And so they could not believe, because Isaiah also said, 40“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.” 41Isaiah said this because he saw his glory and spoke about him.

42Nevertheless 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; 43for they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God.

Thoughts: For they loved human glory more than the glory that comes from God. This is an interesting little passage with the voice, the anguish of Jesus, it almost reminds me of his time in the Garden of Gethsemane. What I think John really wants us to think about is whether or not we "Believe?" And whether or not our fear of what others might think would get in the way of our ability to believe.

Questions: Have you ever been in the position of feeling uncomfortable because of your faith?

Monday October 24, John 12.20-26

2011-10-24T00:03:00.000-07:00

John 12.20-26

20Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. 21They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” 22Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. 23Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. 25Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.

Thoughts: What is it about those Greeks? I see it as the proof of the statement just made by the Pharisees in yesterday's reading: "look the whole world is going after him." Indeed, this message of Jesus is not going to stay in Palestine but go forth from there to the whole world. It is interesting that the 'Greeks' go up to Philip, who then goes to ask Andrew, who then approaches Jesus. You see Philip is a Greek name (lover of horses) and so is Andrew (Manly) and perhaps this is showing us all along that the Gospel is bigger than just the fulfillment of Israel's story. Of course Jesus quickly turns to a discussion about his death, and it seems as if he realizes that his mission is salvation, not conversation. The Greeks will need to wait until after his death and resurrection, for it is only in understanding these that you can truly 'see Jesus."

Questions: Has anyone ever asked you to help them find Jesus? If they did, where would you start?

Sunday October 23, John 12.12-19

2011-10-23T00:02:00.000-07:00

John 12.12-19

12The next day the great crowd that had come to the festival heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem. 13So 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!” 14Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it; as it is written: 15“Do not be afraid, daughter of Zion. Look, your king is coming, sitting on a donkey’s colt!” 16His 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. 17So the crowd that had been with him when he called Lazarus out of the tomb and raised him from the dead continued to testify. 18It was also because they heard that he had performed this sign that the crowd went to meet him. 19The Pharisees then said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!”

Thoughts: The suspense has been lifted and Jesus does indeed show up. But he doesn't just mosey into town, low key and without fanfare...no he comes in as the Messiah! We often miss this point, but the things that Jesus does on what we call Palm Sunday are a clear provocation to any who have thus far doubted who he claims to be--he rides in as the anointed and allows the palm branches (a national symbol) to be used in his approach. I wonder if there is not also a prophetic moment in the statement: "You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!" Indeed, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

Questions: Would you march in a parade for Jesus?

Saturday October 22, John 12.1-11

2011-10-22T00:11:00.000-07:00

John 12.1-11

12Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5“Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” 6(He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” 9When the great crowd of the Jews learned that he was there, they came not only because of Jesus but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10So the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death as well, 11since it was on account of him that many of the Jews were deserting and were believing in Jesus.

Thoughts: Oh boy, did you catch it? In verse 10 we see that Lazarus--who has just been brought back to life--is once again destined for the grave! Tradition holds that Lazarus was indeed killed shortly after his being brought back to life. Doesn't this seem unfair! What was the point of bringing him back if he was only going to die again? Many believe that John is reminding all of us that to put our lot with Jesus is to make enemies of many powerful people. In fact, while Jesus is the resurrection and the life, we still live in a world where folks often try to solve their problems through dealing death. I also have to laugh at the perfume and the smell of the perfume that most have overtaken the room where they were eating. Remember, just yesterday we read that Lazarus had the stench of death....here again we have the 'stench' of death, but this time it is the fragrance of perfume that is used to mask the smell of decay. Death is in the air in this section of John's gospel and I think we are reminded to remember Lazarus---there is always hope that death wont have the final word.

Questions: What do you think of the woman's exuberant act of worship and devotion? Have you every wanted to worship your Lord with such devotion?

Friday October 21, John 11.45-57

2011-10-21T00:06:00.000-07:00

John 11.45-57
45Many of the Jews therefore, who had come with Mary and had seen what Jesus did, believed in him. 46But some of them went to the Pharisees and told them what he had done. 47So the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the council, and said, “What are we to do? This man is performing many signs. 48If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and the Romans will come and destroy both our holy place and our nation.” 49But one of them, Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all! 50You do not understand that it is better for you to have one man die for the people than to have the whole nation destroyed.” 51He did not say this on his own, but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus was about to die for the nation, 52and not for the nation only, but to gather into one the dispersed children of God. 53So from that day on they planned to put him to death. 54Jesus therefore no longer walked about openly among the Jews, but went from there to a town called Ephraim in the region near the wilderness; and he remained there with the disciples. 55Now the Passover of the Jews was near, and many went up from the country to Jerusalem before the Passover to purify themselves. 56They were looking for Jesus and were asking one another as they stood in the temple, “What do you think? Surely he will not come to the festival, will he?” 57Now the chief priests and the Pharisees had given orders that anyone who knew where Jesus was should let them know, so that they might arrest him.

Thoughts: Surely he wont show up, will he? Everyone knew that the authorities were out to arrest Jesus, if not kill him. But the question remained would he show up or not? Here I think the story of Lazarus is supposed to help our anxiety, both for Jesus and for ourselves. The answer is of course, yes, he will show up. Jesus will walk quite literally into the very gates of hell before he is done claiming the world once and for all for the glory of God.

Questions: Have you ever wondered if God was really with you? Have you ever entered into a dangerous place or situation, knowing that you had to proceed?

Thursday October 20, John 11.1-44

2011-10-20T12:02:00.000-07:00

John 11.1-44

11Now a certain man was ill, Lazarus of Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2Mary was the one who anointed the Lord with perfume and wiped his feet with her hair; her brother Lazarus was ill. 3So the sisters sent a message to Jesus, “Lord, he whom you love is ill.” 4But when Jesus heard it, he said, “This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” 5Accordingly, though Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, 6after having heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was. 7Then after this he said to the disciples, “Let us go to Judea again.” 8The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just now trying to stone you, and are you going there again?” 9Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Those who walk during the day do not stumble, because they see the light of this world. 10But those who walk at night stumble, because the light is not in them.” 11After saying this, he told them, “Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, but I am going there to awaken him.” 12The disciples said to him, “Lord, if he has fallen asleep, he will be all right.” 13Jesus, however, had been speaking about his death, but they thought that he was referring merely to sleep. 14Then Jesus told them plainly, “Lazarus is dead. 15For your sake I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” 16Thomas, who was called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

17When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb four days. 18Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, some two miles away, 19and many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to console them about their brother. 20When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went and met him, while Mary stayed at home. 21Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22But even now I know that God will give you whatever you ask of him.” 23Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24Martha said to him, “I know that he will rise again in the resurrection on the last day.” 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, 26and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.” 28When she had said this, she went back and called her sister Mary, and told her privately, “The Teacher is here and is calling for you.” 29And when she heard it, she got up quickly and went to him. 30Now Jesus had not yet come to the village, but was still at the place where Martha had met him. 31The Jews who were with her in the house, consoling her, saw Mary get up quickly and go out. They followed her because they thought that she was going to the tomb to weep there. 32When Mary came where Jesus was and saw him, she knelt at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”

33When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, he was greatly disturbed in spirit and deeply moved. 34He said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Lord, come and see.” 35Jesus began to weep. 36So the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 38Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. 39Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the sister of the dead man, said to him, “Lord, already there is a stench because he has been dead four days.” 40Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” 41So they took away the stone. And Jesus looked upward and said, “Father, I thank you for having heard me. 42I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” 43When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, “Unbind him, and let him go.”

Thoughts: This is one of my favorite stories in scripture. Many folks know this for it being the shortest verse in the King James version of the Bible: "Jesus wept." But there is much more here than just Bible trivia. First and foremost is the honest questions of both Martha and Mary. They are almost accusing when they say: "If you had been here." It is a variant of the age old question: why? Here it is coached in an offense, 'why didn't you come sooner,' but it still speaks to our knowledge that God can prevent such things, but often does not. That in and of itself is a mystery. But I also love the fact that Jesus is angry. Who is he angry at? It is death! It is death that has made him have rage like a stallion and allowed tears to fall down his face. Why? Jesus knows that death will be overcome, but he also sees and feels first hand the sting of death, the power of grief and the pain of losing someone--and Jesus got mad! This is also the 7th and final sign in John's gospel and it deliberately points us toward his own death and resurrection.

Questions: Do you think Martha and especially Mary were mad at Jesus for not coming sooner? Seeing here Jesus reaction to the death of his friend, does that help you in understanding your own times of grief and mourning?

Wednesday October 19, John 10.31-42

2011-10-19T00:05:00.000-07:00

John 10.31-4231The Jews took up stones again to stone him. 32Jesus replied, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these are you going to stone me?” 33The Jews answered, “It is not for a good work that we are going to stone you, but for blasphemy, because you, though only a human being, are making yourself God.” 34Jesus answered, “Is it not written in your law, ‘I said, you are gods’? 35If those to whom the word of God came were called ‘gods’ —and the scripture cannot be annulled— 36can you say that the one whom the Father has sanctified and sent into the world is blaspheming because I said, ‘I am God’s Son’? 37If I am not doing the works of my Father, then do not believe me. 38But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, so that you may know and understand that the Father is in me and I am in the Father.”

39Then they tried to arrest him again, but he escaped from their hands. 40He went away again across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing earlier, and he remained there. 41Many came to him, and they were saying, “John performed no sign, but everything that John said about this man was true.” 42And many believed in him there.

Thoughts: Here we need to address an important theme in John's gospel. In John sin is not really connected to actions; sin is connected to unbelief. Here it is the scandal of unbelief, the inability of some to recognize Jesus for who he is that is the cause of tension, violence and the need for escape. This is not so true to our modern experience, but would have resonated with those first folks to whom John wrote his gospel. They were living in a time when tension with the synagogue was becoming more and more intense...and the issue was belief in Jesus. So here in John's gospel we have that same issue reflected in Jesus' life. So, Jesus leaves Jerusalem, but still many came to believe. So it was in the first century that many left the synagogue and still many came to believe.

Questions: Is blasphemy something that still irks us? Do you think God needs us to protect Godself from blasphemers? Why do you think this is often seen as such an offense?

Tuesday October 18, John 10.22-30

2011-10-18T15:44:00.000-07:00

John 10.22-30

22At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25Jesus answered, “I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father’s name testify to me; 26but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father’s hand. 30The Father and I are one.”

Thoughts: We continue with the misunderstanding--or perhaps the inability to accept--of Jesus identity. But we also have here one of the most gracious of Gospel proclamations: "I give them them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out my hand." Think about that statement---nothing, absolutely nothing can snatch us away from the loving hand of our Lord. That is good news indeed.

Questions: Have you always heard this good news of Jesus, or have folks tried to convince you that there are things that could 'snatch you' away from Jesus? Is it a bit scary to think that Jesus 'knows' you or is it comforting?

Monday October 17, John 10.11-21

2011-10-17T00:03:00.000-07:00

John 10.11-21

¹¹“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.¹²The hired hand, who is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep, sees the wolf coming and leaves the sheep and runs away—and the wolf snatches them and scatters them.¹³The hired hand runs away because a hired hand does not care for the sheep.¹⁴I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me,¹⁵just as the Father knows me and I know the Father. And I lay down my life for the sheep.¹⁶I have other sheep that do not belong to this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice. So there will be one flock, one shepherd.¹⁷For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life in order to take it up again.¹⁸No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”
¹⁹Again the Jews were divided because of these words.²⁰Many of them were saying, “He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?”²¹Others were saying, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Thoughts: Here Jesus makes it very clear that no one is taking his life...he is freely giving it for the sake of God's sheep. And not just those sheep that we all know and presume are a part of God's plan...but even these other wandering sheep are the beneficiaries of Christ's unyielding love for humanity. There is also a wonderful promise tucked into verse 16....There will be one flock and one Shepherd. Our unity is already accomplished in Christ. He is our shepherd and we are his people.

Questions: Have you every experienced unity in the Church? Do agreements make unity, or is unity already present in the form of a gift from Christ. That is do we have to find common ground with each other OR is our common ground Jesus Christ.

Sunday October 16, John10.1-10

2011-10-16T00:06:00.000-07:00

John 10.1-10

10“Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit.²The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep.³The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.⁴When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.⁵They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers.”⁶Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.⁷So again Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep.⁸All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them.⁹I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture.¹⁰The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Thoughts: That they might have life and have it abundantly! That's what I want, I want to have life and have it abundantly. But then I realize that for Jesus to have life is to 'lose' one's life. To have abundance means that one offers oneself for the other. This shepherd whose voice sounds so dear and sweet in our ears is also the one who will bid us to take up our cross and follow him. Yet this shepherd is also the gate...the very entrance point between earth and heave--may we all have that moment of glory to hear him call us by name!

Quesions: Think a little and answer the question what does it really mean to have life and have it abundantly? Would you have answered the same way 25 or 30 years ago?

Saturday October 15, John 9.1-41

2011-10-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

John 9.1-41

9As he walked along, he saw a man blind from birth.²His disciples asked him, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?”³Jesus answered, “Neither this man nor his parents sinned; he was born blind so that God’s works might be revealed in him.⁴We must work the works of him who sent me while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.⁵As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.”⁶When he had said this, he spat on the ground and made mud with the saliva and spread the mud on the man’s eyes,⁷saying to him, “Go, wash in the pool of Siloam” (which means Sent). Then he went and washed and came back able to see.
⁸The neighbors and those who had seen him before as a beggar began to ask, “Is this not the man who used to sit and beg?”⁹Some were saying, “It is he.” Others were saying, “No, but it is someone like him.” He kept saying, “I am the man.”¹⁰But they kept asking him, “Then how were your eyes opened?”¹¹He answered, “The man called Jesus made mud, spread it on my eyes, and said to me, ‘Go to Siloam and wash.’ Then I went and washed and received my sight.”¹²They said to him, “Where is he?” He said, “I do not know.”
¹³They brought to the Pharisees the man who had formerly been blind.¹⁴Now it was a sabbath day when Jesus made the mud and opened his eyes.¹⁵Then the Pharisees also began to ask him how he had received his sight. He said to them, “He put mud on my eyes. Then I washed, and now I see.”¹⁶Some of the Pharisees said, “This man is not from God, for he does not observe the sabbath.” But others said, “How can a man who is a sinner perform such signs?” And they were divided.¹⁷So they said again to the blind man, “What do you say about him? It was your eyes he opened.” He said, “He is a prophet.”¹⁸The Jews did not believe that he had been blind and had received his sight until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight¹⁹and asked them, “Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?”²⁰His parents answered, “We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind;²¹but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself.”²²His parents said this because they were afraid of the Jews; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be put out of the synagogue.²³Therefore his parents said, “He is of age; ask him.”²⁴So for the second time they called the man who had been blind, and they said to him, “Give glory to God! We know that this man is a sinner.”²⁵He answered, “I do not know whether he is a sinner. One thing I do know, that though I was blind, now I see.”²⁶They said to him, “What did he do to you? How did he open your eyes?”²⁷He answered them, “I have told you already, and you would not listen. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you also want to become his disciples?”²⁸Then they reviled him, saying, “You are his disciple, but we are disciples of Moses.²⁹We know that God has spoken to Moses, but as for this man, we do not know where he comes from.”³⁰The man answered, “Here is an astonishing thing! You do not know where he comes from, and yet he opened my eyes.³¹We know that God does not listen to sinners, but he does listen to one who worships him and obeys his will.³²Never since the world began has it been heard that anyone opened the eyes of a person born blind.³³If this man were not from God, he could do nothing.”³⁴They answered him, “You were born entirely in sins, and are you trying to teach us?” And they drove him out.
³⁵Jesus heard that they had driven him out, and when he found him, he said, “Do you believe in the Son of Man?”³⁶He answered, “And who is he, sir? Tell me, so that I may believe in him.”³⁷Jesus said to him, “You have seen him, and the one speaking with you is he.”³⁸He said, “Lord, I believe.” And he worshiped him.
³⁹Jesus said, “I came into this world for judgment so that those who do not see may see, and those who do see may become blind.”⁴⁰Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, “Surely we are not blind, are we?”⁴¹Jesus said to them, “If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, ‘We see,’ your sin remains.

Thoughts

Questions: What do you make of the fact that the moment the man has his sight restored he is all but arrested and brought before the authorities. What is the price for "seeing?" Have you ever paid the price for "seeing" clearly?

Friday October 14, John 8.51-59

2011-10-15T20:47:00.000-07:00

John 8.51-59

Very truly, I tell you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.”The Jews said to him, “Now we know that you have a demon. Abraham died, and so did the prophets; yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? The prophets also died. Who do you claim to be?”Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is nothing. It is my Father who glorifies me, he of whom you say, ‘He is our God,’though you do not know him. But I know him; if I would say that I do not know him, I would be a liar like you. But I do know him and I keep his word.Your ancestor Abraham rejoiced that he would see my day; he saw it and was glad.”Then the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old, and have you seen Abraham?”Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, before Abraham was, I am.”So they picked up stones to throw at him, but Jesus hid himself and went out of the temple.

Thoughts: Before Abraham was, I am. Here is a bold statement by Jesus in the midst of a heated argument. I am, Ego Eime in the Biblical Greek is the proper name for God (Yahweh in the Hebrew). A name that no devout Jewish person would say. Here Jesus not only says the name of God, but implication suggests that HE IS, the I AM! Here we see the real difficulty of what Christians call the incarnation, the enfleshing of God. How can the people believe this? Jesus is not yet 50 years old and he is talking about Abraham? But then of course Jesus utters what many still find unreasonable about Christianity--that Jesus is God!

Questions: Have you ever been so mad at someone for their blasphemy that you could have thrown stones at them? Why is it that our religious believes can stir us to such anger when they are but to question?

Thursday October 13, John 8.43-50

2011-10-15T20:41:00.000-07:00

So sorry....I thought I had the blog set up in advance..and it wasn't this week. Here are the posts

John 8.43-50

Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word.You are from your father the devil, and you choose to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks according to his own nature, for he is a liar and the father of lies.But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me.
Which of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me?Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that you are not from God.”The Jews answered him, “Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and have a demon?”Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honor my Father, and you dishonor me.Yet I do not seek my own glory; there is one who seeks it and he is the judge.

Thoughts: Wow, maybe this is why I didn't post this day--it's a hard little passage. Truth. The funny thing about truth is that most of us believe what we want to believe and then convince ourselves that it is truth. It's obvious that Jesus has come to convict us of those things that we hold on to as truth...but in reality are the makings of our own agenda. What I find so troubling about this passage is its honest reflection of us. If we don't agree with someone we automatically demonize them---"Are we not right in saying you are a Samaritan and have a demon?"

Questions: When have you unfairly demonized someone or something because it failed to meet your criteria of truth?

Wednesday October 12; John 8.31-42

2011-10-12T00:20:00.000-07:00

John 8. 31-42

31Then Jesus said to the Jews who had believed in him, “If you continue in my word, you are truly my disciples; 32and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free.” 33They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been slaves to anyone. What do you mean by saying, ‘You will be made free’?” 34Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, everyone who commits sin is a slave to sin. 35The slave does not have a permanent place in the household; the son has a place there forever. 36So if the Son makes you free, you will be free indeed. 37I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to kill me, because there is no place in you for my word.

38I declare what I have seen in the Father’s presence; as for you, you should do what you have heard from the Father.” 39They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing what Abraham did, 40but now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. 41You are indeed doing what your father does.” They said to him, “We are not illegitimate children; we have one father, God himself.” 42Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and now I am here. I did not come on my own, but he sent me.

Thoughts: And the truth will make you free. Truth is not always easy for us on this side of heaven. The truth often times makes me feel more inadequate and lonely...I much more like the lies that make me feel good. But a part of the spiritual path is to encounter the truth, not only about God, but about ourselves.

Questions: Have you ever gotten caught in a lie? How did your get out of it? What is it about the truth that is often so horrendous to us that we work ourselves to death Mon - Friday only for the chance to avoid it for two days a week.

Tuesday October 11, John 8.21-30

2011-10-12T00:15:00.000-07:00

John 8.21-30

21Again he said to them, “I am going away, and you will search for me, but you will die in your sin. Where I am going, you cannot come.” 22Then the Jews said, “Is he going to kill himself? Is that what he means by saying, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come’?” 23He said to them, “You are from below, I am from above; you are of this world, I am not of this world. 24I told you that you would die in your sins, for you will die in your sins unless you believe that I am he.” 25They said to him, “Who are you?” Jesus said to them, “Why do I speak to you at all? 26I have much to say about you and much to condemn; but the one who sent me is true, and I declare to the world what I have heard from him.” 27They did not understand that he was speaking to them about the Father. 28So Jesus said, “When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will realize that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own, but I speak these things as the Father instructed me. 29And the one who sent me is with me; he has not left me alone, for I always do what is pleasing to him.” 30As he was saying these things, many believed in him.

Thoughts: As he said these things many believed. I quite frankly find that hard to believe! Jesus seems to be intentionally speaking on a whole other plane of existence. Perhaps this is one of the ways that John helps us to understand just who Jesus is--he is the means by which we are able bridge the gap between dark and light, death and life. He calls to us in a sense from the world to come, while compelling us to be fully planted in the world beneath us.

Questions: Do you remember the first time you really began to struggle with who Jesus is? Is the fact that Christians understand Jesus to be God still troublesome for the world?

Monday October 10, John 8.12-20

2011-10-12T00:07:00.000-07:00

John 8.12-20

12Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness but will have the light of life.” 13Then the Pharisees said to him, “You are testifying on your own behalf; your testimony is not valid.” 14Jesus answered, “Even if I testify on my own behalf, my testimony is valid because I know where I have come from and where I am going, but you do not know where I come from or where I am going. 15You judge by human standards; I judge no one. 16Yet even if I do judge, my judgment is valid; for it is not I alone who judge, but I and the Father who sent me. 17In your law it is written that the testimony of two witnesses is valid. 18I testify on my own behalf, and the Father who sent me testifies on my behalf.” 19Then they said to him, “Where is your Father?” Jesus answered, “You know neither me nor my Father. If you knew me, you would know my Father also.” 20He spoke these words while he was teaching in the treasury of the temple, but no one arrested him, because his hour had not yet come.

Thoughts: I am the light of the world. In one of his little books the author Robert Fulghum reminds us that the meaning of life is to light our light shine in the darkest of places. Jesus is the light of the world, but as today, some cannot bear it.

Questions: When has Jesus been a light for you?

Sunday October 9, John 8.1-11

2011-10-09T00:05:00.000-07:00

John 8.1-11

1while Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. 2Early in the morning he came again to the temple. All the people came to him and he sat down and began to teach them. 3The scribes and the Pharisees brought a woman who had been caught in adultery; and making her stand before all of them, 4they said to him, ‘Teacher, this woman was caught in the very act of committing adultery. 5Now in the law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?’ 6They said this to test him, so that they might have some charge to bring against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger on the ground. 7When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone among you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ 8And once again he bent down and wrote on the ground. 9When they heard it, they went away, one by one, beginning with the elders; and Jesus was left alone with the woman standing before him. 10Jesus straightened up and said to her, ‘Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ 11She said, ‘No one, sir.’ And Jesus said, ‘Neither do I condemn you. Go your way, and from now on do not sin again.’

Thoughts: One of my all time favorite stories in the Gospels! Why? I love it that it is the older ones who drop their stones first and walk away. Lastly it is the young hot heads who also realize their own sin and walk away. As we get older I think we begin to realize the various shades of gray. The compromises we have made, the less than noble settling that has won day as discretion has gotten the better part of valor. Some ancient records of this story have Jesus writing on the ground the particular sins of everyone who was there gathered. Wouldn't that be something to see Jesus write on the ground about that particular transgression that I thought nobody knew about--but here's this Jesus writing it on the ground for all to see. How quickly would you drop your rock? And here is something quite extraordinary. Did you realize that Jesus never makes the woman confess her sin or even say that she was sorry. He simply proclaims that he as well will not condemn her. Go and sin no more he tells her. I often thought that would make a good dismissal from worship!

Questions: If Jesus were about to write your sins on the dirt which would you be most horrified to see? Can you hear Jesus telling you; "Neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more!" To leave those sins behind is to know forgiveness.

Saturday October 8, John 7.40-53

2011-10-08T00:08:00.000-07:00

John 7.40-53

Division among the People 40 When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, ‘This is really the prophet.’ 41Others said, ‘This is the Messiah.’ But some asked, ‘Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? 42Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?’ 43So there was a division in the crowd because of him. 44Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

The Unbelief of Those in Authority 45 Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, ‘Why did you not arrest him?’ 46The police answered, ‘Never has anyone spoken like this!’ 47Then the Pharisees replied, ‘Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? 48Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? 49But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.’ 50Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, 51‘Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?’ 52They replied, ‘Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.’

Thoughts: Here again we have Nicodemus. He is not one "which does not know the law (vs 49)" but is actually one of the leaders, a Pharisee and it appears that he is beginning to see the light! Of course he immediately feels the pressure from the others to take no stock in this Jesus of Nazareth. What I find interesting is that there is no Bethlehem story in John's Gospel, so we are kept in the dark so to speak as to whether or not Jesus really is from the Galilee. But I think perhaps John wants us like Nicodemus to begin to be able to think in new ways about God. Jettisoning some of our preconceived notions so that we might find in Jesus the salvation of the whole world.

Questions: The guards seem to defy the authority of the council. As a Christian have you ever found yourself in opposition to the 'authorities' around you? What did you do?

Friday October 7, John 7.31-39

2011-10-07T00:32:00.000-07:00

John 7.31-39

31Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, ‘When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?’

Officers Are Sent to Arrest Jesus

32 The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple police to arrest him. 33Jesus then said, ‘I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. 34You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come.’ 35The Jews said to one another, ‘Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? 36What does he mean by saying, “You will search for me and you will not find me” and, “Where I am, you cannot come”?’

Rivers of Living Water

37 On the last day of the festival, the great day, while Jesus was standing there, he cried out, ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me, 38and let the one who believes in me drink. As the scripture has said, “Out of the believer’s heart shall flow rivers of living water.” ’ 39Now he said this about the Spirit, which believers in him were to receive; for as yet there was no Spirit, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

Thoughts: The festival of booths or Sukkot was a harvest festival. It lasts 9 days and at one time it may have been one of the most important holidays in ancient Israel. It start 15 days after Yom Kippur. Jesus is spending a good deal of time in Jerusalem at it is at this last moment of the festival that apparently Jesus feels the need to proclaim himself to be the life giving water. Similar to his proclamation about being the bread, here again what happened in ancient Israel---the giving of manna and the giving of water--are precursors to what is now happening in Jesus. One thing I find quite strange is the remark about there 'as yet there was no Spirit." What can this mean? We hear about the Spirit of the Lord in the Old Testament and also in the New Testament prior to the death of Jesus--so what does John mean? I can only imagine that he means the Spirit of the Living Christ, that is the one specifically known as Jesus who destroys the power of death. John doean' always make it easy, does he!

Questions: Did you notice that the leaders send the Temple police to arrest him---but that they don't! No story is given, I think it was simply, "not his time!" People have said that either Jesus is who he says he is, or the greatest deranged lunatic of all time. What about today's reading would make you resonate with that saying?

Thursday October 6, John 7.1-30

2011-10-06T00:02:00.000-07:00

From the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (Istanbul)

John 7. 1 - 30

The Unbelief of Jesus’ Brothers After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He did not wish to go about in Judea because the Jews were looking for an opportunity to kill him. 2Now the Jewish festival of Booths was near. 3So his brothers said to him, ‘Leave here and go to Judea so that your disciples also may see the works you are doing; 4for no one who wants to be widely known acts in secret. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.’ 5(For not even his brothers believed in him.) 6Jesus said to them, ‘My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify against it that its works are evil. 8Go to the festival yourselves. I am not going to this festival, for my time has not yet fully come.’ 9After saying this, he remained in Galilee.

Jesus at the Festival of Booths10 But after his brothers had gone to the festival, then he also went, not publicly but as it were in secret. 11The Jews were looking for him at the festival and saying, ‘Where is he?’ 12And there was considerable complaining about him among the crowds. While some were saying, ‘He is a good man’, others were saying, ‘No, he is deceiving the crowd.’ 13Yet no one would speak openly about him for fear of the Jews.

14 About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. 15The Jews were astonished at it, saying, ‘How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?’ 16Then Jesus answered them, ‘My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. 17Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. 18Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him.

19 ‘Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?’ 20The crowd answered, ‘You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?’ 21Jesus answered them, ‘I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. 22Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. 23If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man’s whole body on the sabbath? 24Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgement.’

Is This the Christ?25 Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, ‘Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? 26And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? 27Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from.’ 28Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, ‘You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. 29I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me.’ 30Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come.

Thoughts: Interesting how his 'hour' had not yet come. In the beginning of this reading it is his brothers who seem to be getting a bit frustrated with Jesus. "Hey, if you are who you think you are, then go out there and prove it!" But it is funny that Jesus seems to have nothing to prove, while he doesn't shy away from the limelight he will not let others dictate his moves (with the exception of his mother, who seems to get him to turn the water to wine even though it 'is not his time!" John wants us to know that Jesus is in control. His life is not some kind of tragedy, but a well orchestrated coming of God into the world. Yet, we are reminded here as it was said in the first chapter of John: "The light has come into the world, but the world has not recognized it." There are murmurings that he might be the Messiah, but whether his brothers at home or the leaders of the day--they don't see it.

Questions: Do you think you would have followed Jesus if you would have been there? The question of faith is always such an interesting one. We confess in the Lutheran church that the Holy Spirit blows when and where it wills but why is it that some seem to have the gift of faith and others don't?

Wednesday October 5, John 6.60-69

2011-10-05T00:04:00.000-07:00

John 6.60-69

60When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” 61But Jesus, being aware that his disciples were complaining about it, said to them, “Does this offend you? 62Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? 63It is the spirit that gives life; the flesh is useless. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64But among you there are some who do not believe.” For Jesus knew from the first who were the ones that did not believe, and who was the one that would betray him. 65And he said, “For this reason I have told you that no one can come to me unless it is granted by the Father.” 66Because of this many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. 67So Jesus asked the twelve, “Do you also wish to go away?” 68Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom can we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69We have come to believe and know that you are the Holy One of God.”

Thoughts: Lord to whom shall we go, you have the words of eternal life--Alleluia! This passage has always fascinated me because John clearly tells us that many of his disciples turned back and no longer went about with him. The words of Christ can be offensive, confusing and downright terrifying. Why is this? I think because we have the eternal breaking into the mortal, the sacred into the profane, the holy into the secular--and these worlds operate under different assumptions, core values and rules of engagement and because of this there is always a bit of angst when contemplating the things of God. Lutherans deal with this tension by talking about the 'two kingdoms' and that as Christians we learn to life in both the kingdom of God and the kingdom of the world. We don't try to make this kingdom the same as God's kingdom, but we do pay particular attention to that in which our loyalties reside---Christ. The 12 here are the epitome of faith and Peter leads the way! They too I'm sure had their concerns, but they have come to see Jesus as the way, the truth and the life...and so they confess, even perhaps in their discomfort, "where else shall we go?"

Quetions: Do you think you would have left Jesus at this point? Do you ever find it a struggle to be both a person of faith and a citizen of the world?

Tuesday October 4, John 6.52-59

2011-10-04T02:51:00.000-07:00

John 6.52-59

The Jews then disputed among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his flesh to eat?”So Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you.Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood have eternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day;for my flesh is true food and my blood is true drink.Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood abide in me, and I in them.Just as the living Father sent me, and I live because of the Father, so whoever eats me will live because of me.This is the bread that came down from heaven, not like that which your ancestors ate, and they died. But the one who eats this bread will live forever.”He said these things while he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum.

Thoughts: Again we have Jesus speaking this high theology about the Sacrament of the Table (Holy Communion) and his using the manna in the wilderness as a kind of prefiguring what God was now doing in Jesus. The manna came done, but it was a temporary solution and good only for physical hunger. The Son has now come down and he is a permanent solution for spiritual hunger. The word "abide" is very important in John's gospel. In the beginning it is interpreted as "where are you staying" when the disciples respond to Jesus' question of "What are you looking for?" It is more than a location, but suggests to what are you connected. Where do you draw your source of life? To this Jesus said, "Come and see." Now he is using this word to suggest that not only does he 'abide' in the Father, but all those who 'abide' (are connected) to him will have eternal life. So early on in John's Gospel the first question is: "What are you looking for?" "Where do you abide Jesus," ask the new disciples. "Come and see," he says. Now they are called to abide in him!

Questions: This language of eating flesh and drinking blood is very graphic. Why do you think Jesus used such graphic language to talk about communion? Lutherans hold to the fact that Jesus is 'really present' in the Holy Communion. How do you think this passage informs that theological understanding?

Monday October 3, John 6.41-51

2011-10-03T00:48:00.000-07:00

John 6.41-51

⁴¹Then the Jews began to complain about him because he said, “I am the bread that came down from heaven.”⁴²They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”⁴³Jesus answered them, “Do not complain among yourselves.⁴⁴No one can come to me unless drawn by the Father who sent me; and I will raise that person up on the last day.⁴⁵It is written in the prophets, ‘And they shall all be taught by God.’ Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me.⁴⁶Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father.⁴⁷Very truly, I tell you, whoever believes has eternal life.⁴⁸I am the bread of life.⁴⁹Your ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, and they died.⁵⁰This is the bread that comes down from heaven, so that one may eat of it and not die.⁵¹I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give for the life of the world is my flesh.”

Thoughts: Is it any wonder that the Romans thought we Christians were cannibals! John has given us here in chapter 6 a very serious theological discourse on the Sacrament of the table. God has provided bread for the people before. This bread (manna) kept them alive through their wanderings in the desert. Now, God is doing something new. Once again God is providing bread, but this is the bread of the Eucharist, the Holy Communion. Jesus promises to be really present in this bread, which connected to the promise of God's word becomes one of the means by which salvation is proclaimed and in fact given. Those Christians who have a low theology when it comes to the sacraments stumble on the fact that God could use such simply things as baptism and communion to deliver the gift of salvation. The truth is God could have used any means that God wanted to to proclaim salvation. We are like the leper Naaman who comes to Elisha to be healed. He is instructed to simply wash in the Jordan and be healed! He finds this insulting, too easy, hardly worth his effort! Then his slave asks him "If the prophet would have asked you to do some strenuous deed, would you not have done it? Why do you balk at such an easy request?" (Paraphrase). But here it is, the body of Christ, given in Holy Communion is connected to Jesus' promise of eternal life.

Question: What is your view of the sacrament of the altar? Do you believe that Christ is truly present when you come to communion? What might you do with the phrase "You are what you eat!"

Sunday October 2, John 6.35-40

2011-10-02T00:05:00.000-07:00

John 6.35-40

35 Jesus said to them, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.³⁶But I said to you that you have seen me and yet do not believe.³⁷Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and anyone who comes to me I will never drive away;³⁸for I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will, but the will of him who sent me.³⁹And this is the will of him who sent me, that I should lose nothing of all that he has given me, but raise it up on the last day.⁴⁰This is indeed the will of my Father, that all who see the Son and believe in him may have eternal life; and I will raise them up on the last day.’

Thoughts: "Anyone who comes to me I will never drive away." This is quite a wonderful piece of Gospel! God in Jesus Christ has not hidden the Gospel only to be found by the wise nor has God made salvation the accomplishment of a few; but has opened salvation to everyone, anyone, you! Friends might drive us away, but Christ will never abandon us. NEVER. Not even into the fires of hell will Jesus be detered for it is the will of God that everyone who believes in him might have eternal life.

Questions: Do you think God has given all things to Christ? If so what does verse 39 have to say about the salvation of the whole world? While Christ will never drive us away, are we still free to walk away from Him?

Saturday October 1, John 6.30-35

2011-10-01T00:51:00.000-07:00

John 6.30-35

³⁰So they said to him, “What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing?³¹Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness; as it is written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’”³²Then Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven.³³For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”³⁴They said to him, “Sir, give us this bread always.”³⁵Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.

Thoughts: After the exile in Babylon the Torah became known as the Bread of Life. In the Torah we read: "One does not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord (Deuteronomy 8.3). Here Jesus is showing himself as the fulfillment of that statement/prophetic word. But alas, we have miscommunication as the crowd cannot see Jesus as the "Word" but only as the "feedbag" that has filled their bellies. Jesus here is proclaiming himself as the source of all life.

Question: They ask: "what sign will you perform?" What a crazy question, for Jesus has just performed the feeding of the 5,000. But you see we are never satisfied with yesterdays sign...we want one today. Have you ever experienced a miracle? Do you think God still works "signs" and "wonders" today?

Friday September 30th, John 6.22-29

2011-09-30T00:38:00.000-07:00

John 6.22-29

²²The next day the crowd that had stayed on the other side of the sea saw that there had been only one boat there. They also saw that Jesus had not got into the boat with his disciples, but that his disciples had gone away alone.²³Then some boats from Tiberias came near the place where they had eaten the bread after the Lord had given thanks.²⁴So when the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into the boats and went to Capernaum looking for Jesus.²⁵When they found him on the other side of the sea, they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you come here?”²⁶Jesus answered them, “Very truly, I tell you, you are looking for me, not because you saw signs, but because you ate your fill of the loaves.²⁷Do not work for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For it is on him that God the Father has set his seal.”
²⁸Then they said to him, “What must we do to perform the works of God?”²⁹Jesus answered them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in him whom he has sent.”

Thoughts: Here we have the beginning of a very sad section of John's Gospel. The people are looking for Jesus because he feed their physical hunger--not because of who he is. Jesus challenges us to hunger for him just as powerfully and naturally as we hunger for bread. There is more at stake in life than just having our fill. There is a deeper spiritual hunger that most also be addressed. For those of us who follow Jesus--he is that bread. That is, the very thing that gives us life.

Questions: If someone miraculously provided for your needs one evening, would you chase them down the next day and try to get more? Do you think the peoples question is sincere---'what must we do to perform the works of God?' Or do you think they wanted to know what they needed to do to get more free bread and fish?

Thursday September 29, John 6.16-21

2011-09-29T00:23:00.000-07:00

Boat on the Sea of Galilee, AKA the Sea of Tiberias,
AKA The sea of Geneserate

John 6.16-21

¹⁶When evening came, his disciples went down to the sea,¹⁷got into a boat, and started across the sea to Capernaum. It was now dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.¹⁸The sea became rough because a strong wind was blowing.¹⁹When they had rowed about three or four miles, they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat, and they were terrified.²⁰But he said to them, “It is I; do not be afraid.”²¹Then they wanted to take him into the boat, and immediately the boat reached the land toward which they were going.

Thoughts: Some Biblical scholars feel as if this story of Jesus coming to the disciples is actually a post resurrection story. Regardless it is full of mystery and wonder. And yet it is a story that brings comfort to many of us. Here the disciples are--all alone--facing a storm, struggling at the oars and who shows up---Jesus! He calls out for us to not be afraid and when we reach to bring him into the boat, alas our ordeal is over and we've reached the shore. Not only is Jesus here the master of wind and wave, he is the bringer of peace in the midst of the storm. That image alone could be the meditation of a lifetime.

Questions: I often say that fear is the opposite of faith. Do you agree?

Wednesday September 28, John 6.1-15

2011-09-28T00:08:00.000-07:00

Tabgha as it is known. One of the earliest Christian mosaic
known to exist, from near the site of the fishes and loaves.

John 6.1-15

6After this Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee, also called the Sea of Tiberias.²A large crowd kept following him, because they saw the signs that he was doing for the sick.³Jesus went up the mountain and sat down there with his disciples.⁴Now the Passover, the festival of the Jews, was near.⁵When he looked up and saw a large crowd coming toward him, Jesus said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread for these people to eat?”⁶He said this to test him, for he himself knew what he was going to do.⁷Philip answered him, “Six months’ wages would not buy enough bread for each of them to get a little.”⁸One of his disciples, Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him,⁹“There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But what are they among so many people?”¹⁰Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.” Now there was a great deal of grass in the place; so they sat down, about five thousand in all.¹¹Then Jesus took the loaves, and when he had given thanks, he distributed them to those who were seated; so also the fish, as much as they wanted.¹²When they were satisfied, he told his disciples, “Gather up the fragments left over, so that nothing may be lost.”¹³So they gathered them up, and from the fragments of the five barley loaves, left by those who had eaten, they filled twelve baskets.¹⁴When the people saw the sign that he had done, they began to say, “This is indeed the prophet who is to come into the world.”
¹⁵When Jesus realized that they were about to come and take him by force to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain by himself.

Thoughts: Are people a problem or an opportunity? Is there not enough, or more than we can imagine? This story of the miraculous feeding of the 5000 occurs in all the Gospels and is a long time favorite of the Church. What I think is so interesting is that everyone had as much as they wanted (vs 11). This is God's economy where there is a superabundance for all. I think this miracle reminds us that my brothers and sisters are not my competition; but fellow travelers, fellow guests at the divine table. And that unlike what the world would have me believe, there is enough for all of us. Enough food--yes; but also love, mercy and room at the feet of Jesus.

Questions: What do you make of Jesus command to gather up the left overs (fragments) so that nothing might be lost? Is he still talking about bread? Why do you think is the motivation for the people wanting to make him King?

Tuesday September 27, John 5.31-47

2011-09-26T23:07:00.000-07:00

John 5.31-47

³¹“If I testify about myself, my testimony is not true.³²There is another who testifies on my behalf, and I know that his testimony to me is true.³³You sent messengers to John, and he testified to the truth.³⁴Not that I accept such human testimony, but I say these things so that you may be saved.³⁵He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.³⁶But I have a testimony greater than John’s. The works that the Father has given me to complete, the very works that I am doing, testify on my behalf that the Father has sent me.³⁷And the Father who sent me has himself testified on my behalf. You have never heard his voice or seen his form,³⁸and you do not have his word abiding in you, because you do not believe him whom he has sent.³⁹“You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf.⁴⁰Yet you refuse to come to me to have life.⁴¹I do not accept glory from human beings.⁴²But I know that you do not have the love of God in you.⁴³I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not accept me; if another comes in his own name, you will accept him.⁴⁴How can you believe when you accept glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the one who alone is God?⁴⁵Do not think that I will accuse you before the Father; your accuser is Moses, on whom you have set your hope.⁴⁶If you believed Moses, you would believe me, for he wrote about me.⁴⁷But if you do not believe what he wrote, how will you believe what I say?”

Thoughts: There is a tiny little verse tucked within this reading that I think holds a lot for us to think about. In verse 39 Jesus says: "You search the scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that testify on my behalf." Theologically speaking it is Jesus who is the Word of God. Holy Scripture is not technically the Word of God but it points us to the Word or reveals the Word--who is Jesus. This may seem like a simply word trick; but it is very important. We do not worship scripture, we worship the one to whom scripture points. The power of scripture--the Gospel--is that as Jesus says it reveals himself (Jesus) to us. It is only Jesus who saves. That is why Lutherans have always said that while we find both Law and Gospel in the pages of scripture; and while both are important, it is only the Gospel, that is Jesus, that saves. I think here Jesus was saying you pour over the scriptures as if these words on a page were the source of eternal life, they are not. They point to the one who is! Many Christians today get caught up in trying to solve mysteries of prophetic words found in the Bible, they get caught up on obscure verses and nuances...as Jesus would say they swallow camels but strain out the gnats! We do best when we keep our eyes on Jesus.

Questions: What is your relationship with scripture? Is it a long love affair? A love/hate relationship? A distant romance? A flirtatious exchange? A life long commitment?

Monday September 26, John 5.17-30

2011-09-26T09:46:00.000-07:00

John 5.17-30

17But Jesus answered them, “My Father is still working, and I also am working.” 18For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him, because he was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God his own Father, thereby making himself equal to God. 19Jesus said to them, “Very truly, I tell you, the Son can do nothing on his own, but only what he sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, the Son does likewise. 20The Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing; and he will show him greater works than these, so that you will be astonished. 21Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. 22The Father judges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, 23so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. 24Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment, but has passed from death to life. 25“Very truly, I tell you, the hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26For just as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself; 27and he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28Do not be astonished at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in their graves will hear his voice 29and will come out—those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of condemnation. 30“I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge; and my judgment is just, because I seek to do not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

Thoughts. I remember showing the movie The Gospel of John during Lent a few years ago and one of the comments I got was how confrontational Jesus often sounded. It is true, in John's Gospel Jesus is often in direct confrontation with the authorities. Part of this is historical. John's Gospel was written during a time of great tension between the synagogue and the fledgling church. This historical tension that the author of John's Gospel felt personally gets reflected also in his writing. John's purpose is to bring us to faith in Jesus. He's trying to make that folks realize the claims that Christians are making--that Jesus is GOD WITH US! If this is so, then all other claims become subservient to Jesus--including laws like healing on the Sabbath.

Questions: It seems that many folks took offense at Jesus? Do you think modern folks take offense at Jesus? If so, what is so offensive about him? Are we followers of Jesus guilty of over looking this reality--or soft selling Jesus' claims?

September 25, 2011--Story

2011-09-25T00:00:00.000-07:00

John 5.1-16

Beth-zatha today

5After this there was a festival of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.²Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes.³In these lay many invalids—blind, lame, and paralyzed.⁵One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years.⁶When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there a long time, he said to him, “Do you want to be made well?”⁷The sick man answered him, “Sir, I have no one to put me into the pool when the water is stirred up; and while I am making my way, someone else steps down ahead of me.”⁸Jesus said to him, “Stand up, take your mat and walk.”⁹At once the man was made well, and he took up his mat and began to walk. Now that day was a sabbath.¹⁰So the Jews said to the man who had been cured, “It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to carry your mat.”¹¹But he answered them, “The man who made me well said to me, ‘Take up your mat and walk.’”¹²They asked him, “Who is the man who said to you, ‘Take it up and walk’?”¹³Now the man who had been healed did not know who it was, for Jesus had disappeared in the crowd that was there.¹⁴Later Jesus found him in the temple and said to him, “See, you have been made well! Do not sin any more, so that nothing worse happens to you.”¹⁵The man went away and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well.¹⁶Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because he was doing such things on the sabbath.

Thoughts: Do you want to be made well? What a question. Of course I want to be made well, healed of my infirmities, healed of my prejudices, healed of my hatreds, healed of my rationalizations....hmmm. Do I want to be healed? This is such an interesting question that Jesus asks the man at the pool. In truth, the man never does answer the question before Jesus has ordered him to pick up his mat and walk!

Questions: What would be different in your life if Jesus "healed" you right now? Do you think rules are made to be broken or are you a stickler that things are done RIGHT! Why do you think Jesus purposely healed on the Sabbath? Couldn't he had come back the next day? When have you allowed the "rules" to get in the way.

Saturday September 24, John 4.43-54

2011-09-24T00:59:00.000-07:00

John 4.43-54

⁴³When the two days were over, he went from that place to Galilee⁴⁴(for Jesus himself had testified that a prophet has no honor in the prophet’s own country).⁴⁵When he came to Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him, since they had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the festival; for they too had gone to the festival.⁴⁶Then he came again to Cana in Galilee where he had changed the water into wine. Now there was a royal official whose son lay ill in Capernaum.⁴⁷When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and begged him to come down and heal his son, for he was at the point of death.⁴⁸Then Jesus said to him, “Unless you see signs and wonders you will not believe.”⁴⁹The official said to him, “Sir, come down before my little boy dies.”⁵⁰Jesus said to him, “Go; your son will live.” The man believed the word that Jesus spoke to him and started on his way.⁵¹As he was going down, his slaves met him and told him that his child was alive.⁵²So he asked them the hour when he began to recover, and they said to him, “Yesterday at one in the afternoon the fever left him.”⁵³The father realized that this was the hour when Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he himself believed, along with his whole household.⁵⁴Now this was the second sign that Jesus did after coming from Judea to Galilee.

Comments: There is quite a wide range of folks who are coming to Jesus: Nicodemus, religious leader who doesn't quite get it; woman of Samaria to whom is revealed that Jesus is hte Messiah, and now a royal official whose son is ill and who begs Jesus to come down with him to heal the son. This official however has no time for conversation, his child is dying. Jesus begins with a bit of a rebuff about folks always wanting signs, but the man is insistant in only one thing, Jesus coming to heal his son. Instead, Jesus simply says--"Go; your son will live." And he believes. And here is the second of Jesus signs. But I have to wonder, is it the sign of the sick child recovering or is it the sign of faith, when someone can believe in Christs words even with no evidence to substantiate his claim. Fith, hears and believes.

Thoughts: Can you take someone at their word or do you need to see everything up front? What kind of faith did the royal officail have. What would it take for you to have such faith?

Friday September 23, John 4.1-42

2011-09-23T00:01:00.000-07:00

John 4.1-42

Woman at the well by: He Qi

4Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard, “Jesus is making and baptizing more disciples than John”²—although it was not Jesus himself but his disciples who baptized—³he left Judea and started back to Galilee.
⁴But he had to go through Samaria.⁵So he came to a Samaritan city called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob had given to his son Joseph.⁶Jacob’s well was there, and Jesus, tired out by his journey, was sitting by the well. It was about noon.⁷A Samaritan woman came to draw water, and Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.”⁸(His disciples had gone to the city to buy food.)⁹The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask a drink of me, a woman of Samaria?” (Jews do not share things in common with Samaritans.)¹⁰Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.”¹¹The woman said to him, “Sir, you have no bucket, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water?¹²Are you greater than our ancestor Jacob, who gave us the well, and with his sons and his flocks drank from it?”¹³Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again,¹⁴but those who drink of the water that I will give them will never be thirsty. The water that I will give will become in them a spring of water gushing up to eternal life.”¹⁵The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I may never be thirsty or have to keep coming here to draw water.”¹⁶Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come back.”¹⁷The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’;¹⁸for you have had five husbands, and the one you have now is not your husband. What you have said is true!”¹⁹The woman said to him, “Sir, I see that you are a prophet.²⁰Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you say that the place where people must worship is in Jerusalem.”²¹Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem.²²You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews.²³But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father seeks such as these to worship him.²⁴God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”²⁵The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming” (who is called Christ). “When he comes, he will proclaim all things to us.”²⁶Jesus said to her, “I am he, the one who is speaking to you.”
²⁷Just then his disciples came. They were astonished that he was speaking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you want?” or, “Why are you speaking with her?”²⁸Then the woman left her water jar and went back to the city. She said to the people,²⁹“Come and see a man who told me everything I have ever done! He cannot be the Messiah, can he?”³⁰They left the city and were on their way to him.³¹Meanwhile the disciples were urging him, “Rabbi, eat something.”³²But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”³³So the disciples said to one another, “Surely no one has brought him something to eat?”³⁴Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to complete his work.³⁵Do you not say, ‘Four months more, then comes the harvest’? But I tell you, look around you, and see how the fields are ripe for harvesting.³⁶The reaper is already receiving wages and is gathering fruit for eternal life, so that sower and reaper may rejoice together.³⁷For here the saying holds true, ‘One sows and another reaps.’³⁸I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor.”³⁹Many Samaritans from that city believed in him because of the woman’s testimony, “He told me everything I have ever done.”⁴⁰So when the Samaritans came to him, they asked him to stay with them; and he stayed there two days.⁴¹And many more believed because of his word.⁴²They said to the woman, “It is no longer because of what you said that we believe, for we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this is truly the Savior of the world.”

Questions: Have you every had a serious religious conversation with someone? Are you able to agree to disagree or do you need others to embrace your position. What started this conversation between Jesus and the woman (look at verse 7). How might you entertain such lofty conversations?

Thursday September 22, John 3.31-36

2011-09-22T00:02:00.000-07:00

John 3.31-36

³¹The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is of the earth belongs to the earth and speaks about earthly things. The one who comes from heaven is above all.³²He testifies to what he has seen and heard, yet no one accepts his testimony.³³Whoever has accepted his testimony has certified this, that God is true.³⁴He whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for he gives the Spirit without measure.³⁵The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in his hands.³⁶Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but must endure God’s wrath.

Comments: My first thought this morning is that how quickly the wonderful chapter of John 3.16, turns to the wrath of God! Remember the context, this is so important. Jesus is STILL speaking with Nicodemus, one who came in the dark, one whom others trust as a religious leader, and yet Jesus seems to be suggesting all along that even folks like Nicodemus (not by intention) are living in the dark! This is a serious spiritual problem and it can only be cured by God! God has now come in Chirst, to show that it is the work and righteousness of GOD that brings salvation, not human work. Yet this desire to hang on to our own way, our own path, our own deep seated preferences and prejudices will prove difficult for many of us to give away. Notice, it's not that God wants them to endure God's wrath, but that there is no other possible destination for those who insist on salvation being the result of their own effort. These who insist on this attempt will find themselves constantly running into the 'wrath,' the law of God that so quickly shows our brokeness. On the contrary, to lean on Christ is to no longer be bound by the law--nor it's wrath!

Questions: Have you heard the word: Universalist? A universalist is someone who believes that ultimately all people will be saved by God through Christ. How would a universalist look at todays reading? Does wrath equate with damnation? Did you notice the language being used, did it sound like a personal conversation (between Jesus and Nicodemus) or more like a court room? What is the testimony do you think that has been offered?

Wednesday September 21, John 3.22-30

2011-09-21T00:03:00.000-07:00

John 3.22-30

22After this Jesus and his disciples went into the Judean countryside, and he spent some time there with them and baptized. 23John also was baptizing at Aenon near Salim because water was abundant there; and people kept coming and were being baptized 24—John, of course, had not yet been thrown into prison. 25Now a discussion about purification arose between John’s disciples and a Jew. 26They came to John and said to him, “Rabbi, the one who was with you across the Jordan, to whom you testified, here he is baptizing, and all are going to him.” 27John answered, “No one can receive anything except what has been given from heaven. 28You yourselves are my witnesses that I said, ‘I am not the Messiah, but I have been sent ahead of him.’ 29He who has the bride is the bridegroom. The friend of the bridegroom, who stands and hears him, rejoices greatly at the bridegroom’s voice. For this reason my joy has been fulfilled. 30He must increase, but I must decrease.”

Thoughts: The baptism that John the baptizer and Jesus offered were not Christian baptism. Instead it was a form of an entrance ceremony that communicated a new start, a literal turning of oneself around so that one might reorient oneself to a life that is turned toward God. In some ways we are talking about conversion. Latter, Jesus is going to connect Christian baptism to his life, death and resurrection. Christian baptism is not based in the the repentance of sin or the turning of oneself around; but in the joining with Christ and being connected with him to the promises of salvation. Jesus honors John by not only being baptized by him in the Jordan, but also by likewise sharing in his mission to call folks to repentance. But as John himself said, this will decrease as the good news of God in Christ must take prominence.

Questions: Do you think it's OK for Christians to be rebaptized? Is baptism about you or about God? Is it still important to have a time of repentance and renewal?

Tuesday September 20, John 3.16-21

2011-09-20T00:04:00.000-07:00

Remember him?

John 3.16-21 16“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life. 17“Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18Those who believe in him are not condemned; but those who do not believe are condemned already, because they have not believed in the name of the only Son of God. 19And this is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and people loved darkness rather than light because their deeds were evil. 20For all who do evil hate the light and do not come to the light, so that their deeds may not be exposed. 21But those who do what is true come to the light, so that it may be clearly seen that their deeds have been done in God.”

Thoughts: Verse 17 calls on us to see that the Son has been sent not to condemn the world but to save it. Thus as the serpent was raised in the desert by Moses, so Jesus becomes the means by which we are saved. But this salvation also has a secondary impact in that it exposes the darkness. Remember Nicodemus came to Jesus at night and here Jesus is reflecting on the fact that his (Jesus) presence is going to shine light into the darkness, and that while many will come to him, others will prefer to stay in the dark. For me this is an invitation for confession. To name the darkness in which I find myself entangled and then from the midst of that place to look to the cross of Christ for strength and forgiveness.

Questions: For God so loved the world.... This has been called the Gospel in a nutshell (John 3.16). Do you think it expresses fully the good news we have in Christ? What darkness in your life do you think needs to be exposed by the light of Christ? Would you be willing to pray for Jesus to expose that darkness right now?

Monday September 19, John 3.7-15

2011-09-19T00:02:00.000-07:00

John 3.7-157Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’ 8The wind blows where it chooses, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 9Nicodemus said to him, “How can these things be?” 10Jesus answered him, “Are you a teacher of Israel, and yet you do not understand these things? 11“Very truly, I tell you, we speak of what we know and testify to what we have seen; yet you do not receive our testimony. 12If I have told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how can you believe if I tell you about heavenly things? 13No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descended from heaven, the Son of Man. 14And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, 15that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

Thoughts: Martin Luther reminds us that the Holy Spirit blows when and where it wills, that is we cannot control the activity and presence of the Spirit. I think Jesus is using this analogy over against the set and rather precise ways of the Pharisees. It wasn't that the Pharisees were bad people--they weren't; but they were folks who had a pretty firm understanding of what God wanted and what God didn't, that is they were rather rigid. God is always surprising God's people and whenever we think we have a handle on God---that is when we have probably lost our way. But there is good news. Just as Moses fashioned a bronze serpent in the wilderness as a kind of magical totem to heal the people of Israel who had been bitten by the snakes, so Jesus will be lifted up and serve as the means of salvation.

Questions: What do you think "Son of Man" means? Do you think Nicodemus was getting frustrated at Jesus? What part of following Jesus do you find most confusing?

Sunday September 18. John 3.1-7

2011-09-18T00:01:00.000-07:00

John La Farge, 1880 Smithsonian
Jesus and Nicodemus

John 3.1-7

3Now there was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a leader of the Jews. 2He came to Jesus by night and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God; for no one can do these signs that you do apart from the presence of God.” 3Jesus answered him, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God without being born from above.” 4Nicodemus said to him, “How can anyone be born after having grown old? Can one enter a second time into the mother’s womb and be born?” 5Jesus answered, “Very truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God without being born of water and Spirit. 6What is born of the flesh is flesh, and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. 7Do not be astonished that I said to you, ‘You must be born from above.’

Thoughts: Nicodemus comes at night. He is a Pharisee and a member of the high council--an important man, but also one who is very careful with whom he is seen. In John's Gospel night is much more than just reference to the sun, it is an indication of disbelieve, lack of faith and spiritual darkness. Nicodemus comes at night and thus Jesus tells him that he is going to have to be born from above! Or as our Evangelical friends like to say--born again. This however does not mean some kind of subjective personal experience as many in America like to think; but a total new way of looking at the world. What Nicodemus needs is a new start, from scratch, an openness to that which God is doing through Jesus. What about us? Have we gotten ourselves into a kind of spiritual rut whereby we too need to be reborn?

Questions to ponder: What do you think Nicodemus risked by going to see Jesus? What signs do you think Nicodemus is talking about--the clearing of the Temple, the miracle at Cana? Do you think Nicodemus understood what Jesus was getting at--why or why not?

Saturday Sept 17th: John 2.13-25

2011-09-17T00:04:00.000-07:00

Benardino Mei: 1655 Cleansing of the Temple
You can see this
at the J.Paul Getty!

John 2.13-2513The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. 15Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” 18The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” 19Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21But he was speaking of the temple of his body. 22After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

23When he was in Jerusalem during the Passover festival, many believed in his name because they saw the signs that he was doing. 24But Jesus on his part would not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people 25and needed no one to testify about anyone; for he himself knew what was in everyone.

Thoughts: Some people don't like this story about Jesus, a snorting, angry Jesus who makes whips and drives people out of the temple. This probably stems from our own uncomfortableness with anger. But there is such a thing as righteous anger, and that is exactly what Jesus is displaying. The Temple was supposed to be a place of prayer and where one finds the presence of God. Instead, at least on that day according to Jesus, the Temple looked more like a place of crooked commerce and shady deals. Did you notice that John has this story of the cleansing of the Temple here in the beginning of his Gospel? The other three Gospel writers have it at the end of their gospels and a leading component of Holy Week--not John. John has much that contradicts the other three Gospels. But we must remember that John is not interested in writing a biography of Jesus; but of bringing you to faith. He freely relocates a story if it suits his agenda of helping to tell the bigger story of who Jesus is.

One final thought. There is a little verse that I find to be very sobering. Verse 24 reminds us that Jesus knowing all people would not entrust himself to them. Wow. That is really the full force of the law. We are in need of the Holy Spirit to help us be transformed, otherwise our wills remain in bondage to sin and Jesus knows full well where that will lead--away from the father.

Your thoughts: What about this passage surprises you? Since Jesus is without sin what does that say about anger...at least some anger? What do you think Jesus means by connecting his body/himself to the Temple?

Friday Sept. 16: John 2.1-12

2011-09-16T00:04:00.000-07:00

Jars like these would have been at Cana

John 2.1-12

2On the third day there was a wedding in Cana of Galilee, and the mother of Jesus was there. 2Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3When the wine gave out, the mother of Jesus said to him, “They have no wine.” 4And Jesus said to her, “Woman, what concern is that to you and to me? My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.” 6Now standing there were six stone water jars for the Jewish rites of purification, each holding twenty or thirty gallons. 7Jesus said to them, “Fill the jars with water.” And they filled them up to the brim. 8He said to them, “Now draw some out, and take it to the chief steward.” So they took it. 9When the steward tasted the water that had become wine, and did not know where it came from (though the servants who had drawn the water knew), the steward called the bridegroom 10and said to him, “Everyone serves the good wine first, and then the inferior wine after the guests have become drunk. But you have kept the good wine until now.” 11Jesus did this, the first of his signs, in Cana of Galilee, and revealed his glory; and his disciples believed in him.

12After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; and they remained there a few days.

Thoughts: This is the first of 7 signs in John's Gospel that point beyond the act itself to something much bigger. Signs are different from miracles as they act as beacons along the way that help us understand who Jesus is. So what is the sign of the water turned into wine pointing to or toward? Some see in the reference to it being the "third day" a clue that we are to understand this event in the context of the resurrection. After three days, all that we thought we knew about life will be turned upside down! That is, at the wedding they believed the party was over, the wine had run out...and so it is with all good things, they eventually come to an end. However, on the third day that we call Easter, God has proclaimed that death no longer has the ability to ruin the party--that their is a new covenant or promise being made where life to come, like the wine that Jesus produced, will be even better than that which we have originally known.

Your thoughts: Is there something else that they could be pointing to or toward? What is your take on the exchange between Jesus and his mother Mary? Does it seem harsh to you? Of course being a good Jewish boy...he does listen to his mother. What does that tell you about Jesus? About Mary?