7 posts tagged “jesus”
Today's reading is from the 70th Psalm.
4 Let those on the hunt for you
sing and celebrate.
Let all who love your saving way
say over and over, "God is mighty!"
Today's reading also included some Ezekiel and Revelation, but I didn't really find a whole lot to comment on there. In fact, I'm having a hard time commenting on the verses I have quoted above, but they just stuck with me.
I took a walk this afternoon because the weather is just so fantabulous, and in my walk I heard several reminders of why the church has a long way to go when it comes to showing the love of Jesus to others, so they in turn can practice it in their own lives.
On my walk, I heard a mom and daughter arguing in their house (windows open is why I could hear; I'm not a stalker), a family sitting in their front yard yelling at their child to quit riding his bike for some undisclosed reason. Three different houses in our neighborhood have some late teens, early twentysomethings living in them, and the language pouring out of there wasn't for anyone under the age of... well, it really wasn't for anyone to hear.
Sure, this isn't a sign that the world is coming to an end by any means, but none of this was spoken out of love for others. It's selfishness, guilt, pride, and unchecked emotions that some adults don't know how to deal with, let alone the children they're yelling at.
What did that Beatle say? "All we need is love..."
Today's reading is from John 13. This is after Jesus has washed the disciples' feet. Judas has already left to go get the guards to arrest Jesus.
34-35"Let me give you a new command: Love one another. In the same way I loved you, you love one another. This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other."
What more needs said?
The headline for this article over at the NY Daily Times is Can I hug my son's killer, mom asks judge. While it's a good read, this particular paragraph resonated with me:
The judge said he couldn't allow any contact with the defendant. Birkett-Johnson (the mother of the victim) told the Daily News later she wanted the young man to know he can change the direction of his life.
I remember a story about a Jewish boy who wouldn't do his studies. Finally, the mother of the boy took him to the local Rabbi, who was considered a very wise man, hoping he could somehow show the boy the error of his ways. The Rabbi simply held the boy close, so close that the boy could feel the beating of the Rabbi's heart. The next day, the boy began doing what he was supposed to be doing, and became a great Rabbi himself.
Sometimes we just need to feel where a person's heart is at to know that things can be different. Ms. Birkett-Johnson obviously knows this. We could all learn alot from her.
Today's reading is from John 12.
47-50"If anyone hears what I am saying and doesn't take it seriously, I don't reject him. I didn't come to reject the world; I came to save the world. But you need to know that whoever puts me off, refusing to take in what I'm saying, is willfully choosing rejection. The Word, the Word-made-flesh that I have spoken and that I am, that Word and no other is the last word. I'm not making any of this up on my own. The Father who sent me gave me orders, told me what to say and how to say it. And I know exactly what his command produces: real and eternal life. That's all I have to say. What the Father told me, I tell you."
O: The above is from Jesus. That first sentence just gets me. "I don't reject him." It's almost confusing to think our own salvation is in our hands. If someone knows of Jesus, and chooses not to follow him, they're rejecting him. He doesn't reject them.
I think this further proves the point that Jesus just waits for us to say, "I'm ready." Almost as if he's waiting with bated breath, just hoping and praying we say "take me." And, when we do, he flings the door open to his Kingdom and says, "what took you so long?"
But, following Jesus isn't just about getting to heaven. It's about taking Him to those who don't know Him. It's about taking care of the poor and outcast. It's about serving in His name.
A: How is the world to know about Jesus if we don't take Him to them? "A thorn, a nail, a cup of cold water," Chris Rice says. How true.
Today's reading is from John 11.
5-7Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus, but oddly, when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed on where he was for two more days. After the two days, he said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea."
8They said, "Rabbi, you can't do that. The Jews are out to kill you, and you're going back?"
9-10Jesus replied, "Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in daylight doesn't stumble because there's plenty of light from the sun. Walking at night, he might very well stumble because he can't see where he's going."
11He said these things, and then announced, "Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep. I'm going to wake him up."
12-13The disciples said, "Master, if he's gone to sleep, he'll get a good rest and wake up feeling fine." Jesus was talking about death, while his disciples thought he was talking about taking a nap.
14-15Then Jesus became explicit: "Lazarus died. And I am glad for your sakes that I wasn't there. You're about to be given new grounds for believing. Now let's go to him."
O: I'd like to focus on 14-15 here. Just for the sake of stating it, a majority of Chapter 11 of John is pretty dramatic, and a great read, especially via The Message. The phrase "You're about to be given new grounds for believing" makes me wish I were there to see Lazarus raised up. I can just imagine the disciples looking at each other after Jesus said that. Jesus has already done some pretty miraculous stuff, and to make a statement that, to me, says that they're about to see something pretty astounding, blows my mind.
A: Don't doubt that God can come through, even when the odds seem insurmountable.
P: God, thank you for the reminder today that nothing is impossible with you. The God that made the universe, the One that can melt mountain like wax, make seas boil, cause the heavens to shake and the earth to split. My soul is humble before your majesty.
Today's reading is from John 10.
31-32Again the Jews picked up rocks to throw at him. Jesus said, "I have made a present to you from the Father of a great many good actions. For which of these acts do you stone me?"
33The Jews said, "We're not stoning you for anything good you did, but for what you said—this blasphemy of calling yourself God."
34-38Jesus said, "I'm only quoting your inspired Scriptures, where God said, 'I tell you—you are gods.' If God called your ancestors 'gods'—and Scripture doesn't lie—why do you yell, 'Blasphemer! Blasphemer!' at the unique One the Father consecrated and sent into the world, just because I said, 'I am the Son of God'? If I don't do the things my Father does, well and good; don't believe me. But if I am doing them, put aside for a moment what you hear me say about myself and just take the evidence of the actions that are right before your eyes. Then perhaps things will come together for you, and you'll see that not only are we doing the same thing, we are the same—Father and Son. He is in me; I am in him."
O: I want to focus on 34-38 for a moment. I included 31-33 for context purposes. I'm very interested in the text that says, "If I don't do the things my Father does, well and good; don't believe me. But if I am doing them, put aside for a moment what you hear me say about myself and just take the evidence of the actions that are right before your eyes." It's not that Jesus was speaking in opposition to God. Quite the contrary. But, how often have we heard someone say one thing, and do something else entirely?
I feel like Jesus is really pushing the point that if we hear someone speaking the right things and they're also backing those words up with deeds, then there's something to take away from that. There's something we can rely on and believe in. Jesus backs up his words with deeds. It's an example we need to emulate.
A: First, do the right thing. Then, if I need to talk about doing the right thing, I won't be making empty statements, because I'll have done those very things I talk of. Feed the poor, help the homeless, lift up the downtrodden.
P: LORD GOD, I praise you for your Word. Thank you for these examples of your son, doing what needs done. I pray that I can have the courage to do those right things as well. I know I'll fail, and there will be times where I cop out, and don't give my all. May I refocus my vision on your will, to know, see, and act on what you would do.
