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

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!

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!

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?

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)

And so today I thought I would share one of my favorite verses and one of the verses motivates me to keep writing this blog.  When Jesus was entering Jersalem he was being praised by the residents there, much to the chagrin of the “religious leaders” of the time.  Take a look:

 ³⁵ They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. ³⁶ As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.

 ³⁷ When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:

 ³⁸ “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”

   “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!”

 ³⁹ Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

   ⁴⁰ “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” (Luke 19:35-40, New International Version, ©2011)

What I love about this verse is that Jesus says hey if you silence them, even the stones will cry out and testify to me! That’s pretty powerful!
But why does that motivate me? As much as I would love to see stones literally praising him, I think that is my job to testify of his love and grace and mercy.
How about you, are you letting the rocks do your job, or are you keeping them relegated to a back up role?

So today, there is just one thing on my head. It was stuck there yesterday morning as I heard an outstanding lesson about the women at the well from John 4. The part of this that has stuck with me is the end of the conversation between the women and Jesus here:

25 The woman said, “I know that Messiah” (called Christ) “is coming. When he comes, he will explain everything to us.”

26 Then Jesus declared, “I, the one speaking to you—I am he.” John 4:25-26 (New International Version, ©2010)

Man, I just can’t this this out of my head. This dude Jesus, says that he is the Messiah, the Savior of the World that was predicted, and then those around him claim that again later in the chapter.

42 They said to the woman, “We no longer believe just because of what you said; now we have heard for ourselves, and we know that this man really is the Savior of the world.” John 4:42 (New International Version, ©2010)

This thought is so oustanding, so complex, so motivating and so uplifting, that this has just stuck with me for the last day. These words cannot be dismissed. There is something that you have to do with these words. Some decision must be made. Contemplate this and think about what you will do with these words.

And since this is the busiest time of the year, all sort of schedules are being redone.  Final exams are being moved, Christmas plays and programs adjusted to later in the week.  Shuffling this from here to there, so we can work this in here.

Of course on top of it all is the general confusion about a 19 degree snow filled December day in Chattanooga.  That just never happens.

With all of this changing going on around, it’s always good to know this:

8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever. Hebrews 13:8 (New International Version, ©2010)

I have found myself singing some good old Muppet’s Christmas Carol songs this morning.  But these mostly lines from “One More Sleep”:

Tis the season to be jolly and joyous
With a burst of pleasure we feel it all right
It’s a season when the Saints can employ us
To spread the news about peace and to keep love alive

However, I usually sing it like this

Tis the season to be jolly and joyous
Tis the season to keep love alive
It’s a season when the Saints can employ us
To spread the news about peace and to keep love alive

Anyway, it is the season to be jolly and joyous because:

11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

13 Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

14 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.” Luke 2:11-14 (New International Version, ©2010)

Man, that’s enough to make you joyous any day! So, I hope you are spending some time being jolly and joyous….

After all there’s only one sixteen more sleeps till Christmas

This was originally sent as a email on Friday, September 18, 2009  to the bible class I was teaching:

Argh me hearties!

Ahoy, ‘tis Friday, one day before speak like a scurvy pirate day, but I ain’t be passing by th’ opportunity t’speak wit’ ye buckos ‘n share Christ wit’ a wee flair.

Me hearties, the old salt was marked with the Black Spot. Avast, he was made to kiss the gunner’s daughter, and wast given a taste o’ ye cat o’nine tails. After the flogging he be left t’ dance with ol’ Jack Ketch.   Arr, he went t’ Davy Jones’ locker fer ye. But, he didn’t stay like buried booty.  Smartly, he didn’t stay in the bung hole.  No, begad he beat that ol’ scurvy dog th’ Devil and came back t’ life. – fer ye an’ fer me. Now you don’t have t’ be a bilge rat. You be as beautiful as th’ sea herself. Yo-ho-ho!  Forgiven, Shiver me timbers, Grab you bosun, alert the Cap’n, it be time for a shantey.

So heartly enjoy th’ day.

Remember t’ come out fer tavern on Sunday mornin’ after a great hour ‘o worship. Arrr, th’ speaker gunna be great. Aye, me parrot concurs.

Me must get back to swabbing the poop deck,

No quarter!

Jason

(if you be confused to parts of this email, be clicking your landlubber self to here for some translations: http://www.tide-mark.com/pirate_dict.html)

Romans 6:3-5

(Pirate Version)
3Or don’t ye be knowin’ that all o’ us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his Davy Jones’ treasure chest? 4We were tharfore buried wit’ him through baptism into Davy Jones’ treasure chest  in order that, just as Christ was raised from t’ went t’ Davy Jones’ locker through t’ glory o’ th’ salty sea-do ‘o a Father, we too may live a new life. 5If we have been united wit’ him like ‘tis in his Davy Jones’ treasure chest, we gunna certainly also be united wit’ him in his resurrection.

(New International Version)

³Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? ⁴We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

⁵If we have been united with him like this in his death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection.