Posts Tagged ‘Jesus’

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Love Another

December 23rd, 2011

As we approach the holiday weekend, spend a little time of the reason for our celebration – peace, hope and love.  And don’t forget the example that Christ-followers try to base there lives on.

 

7 Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. 10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. 12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us. 1 John 4 7-12

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Go and Do Likewise

October 24th, 2011

Yesterday I had the pleasure of teaching the parable of the Good Samaritan to a group of teenagers.  Yeah, what fun is that  – you talk, they stare at you like you are not human.

But despite that I think they heard something, and the main thing I told them, is probably something all of us could be reminded of as well.

Before this parable Jesus has been asked to clarify who a person’s neighbor is.  He tells a story that we all know pretty well about a man and his rescuer.  He finished the story by with this little exchange:

  36“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”

37 The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”

Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.” Luke 10:36-37

This is really interesting, as if I can paraphrase that last bit, it might be like this:

“Go and have mercy on those who hate you, oh and also have mercy on those that you hate.”

And that’s a pretty amazing way of showing who are neighbor is that we are commanded to show love towards ( with as much love as we show ourselves!!!)

Well, what else can I say, except – Go and Do Likewise!

 

 

 

 

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The Place of The Skull

April 22nd, 2011

The action of this week in history really picked up over Thursday night and all day Friday.  A midnight arrest, a corrupt and unlawful trial, a quick and dirty pardon and then a march to the place called “The Skull”, and then an ole’ fashioned Southern lynching took place at the hands of the Roman government persuaded by the Jewish leaders of the day!

Yes, the Christ, the Son of God, was nailed to a cross and hung for hours before he gave up the spirit and from that some of my favorite verses where written

50 But Jesus cried out again in a loud voice and died.

51 Then the curtain in the Temple was torn into two pieces, from the top to the bottom. Also, the earth shook and rocks broke apart.52 The graves opened, and many of God’s people who had died were raised from the dead.53 They came out of the graves after Jesus was raised from the dead and went into the holy city, where they appeared to many people.

54 When the army officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus saw this earthquake and everything else that happened, they were very frightened and said, “He really was the Son of God!” Matthew 17 NCV

And freedom was delivered, to the people of the world!

Andrew gets to read today in a little gathering from the 53 chapter of the book of Isaiah . I thought it was worth sharing on this Good Friday a little bit from that chapter.

4 But he took our suffering on him
and felt our pain for us.
We saw his suffering
and thought God was punishing him.
5 But he was wounded for the wrong we did;
he was crushed for the evil we did.
The punishment, which made us well, was given to him,
and we are healed because of his wounds.
6 We all have wandered away like sheep;
each of us has gone his own way.
But the Lord has put on him the punishment
for all the evil we have done.

and then the greatest part of it all

12 For this reason I will make him a great man among people,
and he will share in all things with those who are strong.
He willingly gave his life
and was treated like a criminal.
But he carried away the sins of many people
and asked forgiveness for those who sinned.”

So, even though he was the Son of God, he let himself be killed by men, for those very men and for us. But the news doesn’t stop there.. wait until Sunday!

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Follow Thursday

April 21st, 2011

WOW. After a day of inactivity the action really picked up on Thursday at the Passover got into full swing and the activity that leads the the cross begins moving in quite a rapid succession of events. There are so many great points to identify and to focus on in these events that it is a bit of a struggle to only pick one.

But there is an event that seems to define the evening activities of this Passover Thursday, as the Christ, the Lamb, gathers his men for one last meal, one last time to teach, one last time to give them the instruction they need before the show really starts. It’s a little like that last practice before the big game, as coaches struggle to find that one piece of information that his players should hold above all else they have learned. And look what Jesus tells them, after he washes their feet in an educational “hands-on” interactive instructional session:

10-12Jesus said, “If you’ve had a bath in the morning, you only need your feet washed now and you’re clean from head to toe. My concern, you understand, is holiness, not hygiene. So now you’re clean. But not every one of you.” (He knew who was betraying him. That’s why he said, “Not every one of you.”) After he had finished washing their feet, he took his robe, put it back on, and went back to his place at the table.

12-17Then he said, “Do you understand what I have done to you? You address me as ‘Teacher’ and ‘Master,’ and rightly so. That is what I am. So if I, the Master and Teacher, washed your feet, you must now wash each other’s feet. I’ve laid down a pattern for you. What I’ve done, you do. I’m only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn’t give orders to the employer. If you understand what I’m telling you, act like it—and live a blessed life. (John 13:12-17, The Message)

He tells them, and through them he tells us – Be a servant, follow my example. Do what I have done, act like I have acted – give your life for the others.  So, speaking of following, here is a little short video clip about following him.

Hm, follow him, imitate him, act like him.  I wonder what would happen if we do?

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Selling Out?

April 20th, 2011

There’s not much written about what Jesus did on Wednesday on this week. I guess we must assume he spent the day doing his normal chores and then heading off in the evening to Wednesday Church.
Seriously, it is interesting that with all the recorded events on the others days, we really see no action today, except for the agreement between the religious leaders and Judas to sell him out.
Old Judas, the traitor. But I can’t help but think about how many times I decide to sell out and not follow the Christ for my own personal gain. How about you.

So on this day when those most unholy negotiations took place, consider the negotiations on your docket today. Consider your motivation and your ability to be steadfast to the one who will set you free.

 31-32Then Jesus turned to the Jews who had claimed to believe in him. “If you stick with this, living out what I tell you, you are my disciples for sure. Then you will experience for yourselves the truth, and the truth will free you.” (John 8:31-32, The Message)

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