Holy Saturday: Stillness

Our scripture today is Matthew 27:57-66
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=matthew+27%3A57-66&version=NIV

How do you feel in stillness? How do you respond to being alone, intentionally silent? No phone or tablet, no newspaper or radio? Many people are uncomfortable in silence? On one Holy Saturday I had an hour of silent meditation at the church. No sound, just silence. At the end one of my elders said, “I cannot do this again, the silence was deafening”. Our present society is filled with distractions and often we miss the subtle moves of GOD in our midst. historically Jesus is in the tomb today. We wait in silent expectation for the resurrection.

Out text depicts the burial of Jesus. A guard is placed outside the tomb and the savior is silent. When the savior is silent I work to be still. Moving without direction and inspiration is like being a ship without a sail. Like a leaf in the wind. Holy Saturday is not just a day to put the finishing touches on the new outfit, but the time to be still and reflect on what it is like to be still. Slow down today, take an extra moment to smell your surroundings and experience the presence of GOD on the most solemn of days. #livebig

PRAYER: LORD teach us to hear your voice. When you are silent help us to be still and to experience you in stillness.

Point To Ponder: How do you handle silence? What have you learned in your silence.

Good Friday: Finished

Our Scripture today is John 18:1-19:42
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+18%3A1-19%3A42&version=NIV

Reflect on a time when you have done all you could do and you know your work is finished. When you reflect on this time, ask yourself, did you really do all you could do, Or all you had to do? There is a difference. Often times we do just enough to get by. We do just enough to get a job done emphasizing the product more than the process. Jesus, has given it all, and when he says, “It is Finished”, his entire being can be at peace, without wondering could he have done more.

In our text, we see the lengths people will go through to maintain their false sense of power and superiority. We see how humanity can stoop to its darkest level in the presence of its brightest light. In our text we find, betrayal, denial, deception, and depravity. Judas, a disciple and follower of Jesus, for what ever reason, betrays Jesus into the hands of those who sought to harm him. Once Jesus is taken into custody, Peter who is lingering to see how things turned out, denies three times that he too was one of the disciples. We find the Chief Priests, the religious Jewish leaders deceive the Roman government bringing Jesus in on trumped up charges, and finally we see the depravity of humanity in the method of ending another humans life called crucifixion. This all plays out in less than 24 hours. Humans can be cruel, and far too often we shrink in the presence of fear and uncertainty. We often are willing to only go as far as we can see, and when we are up against the unknown, we can allow fear to overtake our faith. Humanity can choose to let a killer go in Barabbas and have an innocent man executed. Barabbas was a known entity, yet the implications of allowing Jesus to continue was far more frightening. If Jesus were to continue, people would no longer be able to be comfortable in their mess. People could no longer deceive without conscious. Liars would be confronted with their lying, and a whole way of being would have to be learned. A way that called humans to love each other unconditionally. A way that changed governments and economies, and legal structures, and religion. A way that highlighted relationship with GOD without having to go through middle men. We humans chose Barabbas. Barabbas makes us feel good about ourselves because we can at least say, “well I am better than him”. But we are not better.

It is finished. I don’t know what you will do today, but one thing i suggest is commit to doing the best you can, all the time, every time. When you do this, like Jesus you will be able to say, “It is Finished” and know you have given your all. #livebig

PRAYER: Divine Creator, today we recognize your extreme sacrifice and expression of love. It is through your pain and shame that we receive eternal gain. Thank you for giving your all. Thank you for choosing to stand up for humanity by laying down your life. May we forever give you the glory and honor you deserve.

Point To Ponder: What will be the legacy you leave? What are you willing to sacrifice to leave it? What did Jeshua save you from and save you to?

Wednesday Holy Week: Judas, You, and Me

Our scripture today is John 13:21-32

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=john+13%3A21-32&version=NIV

Have you ever been troubled in your spirit? Have you ever sensed something was about to happen that made you feel uneasy? There are times when GOD allows us to feel when there is a shift in our spiritual atmosphere. We may not know when, where, or why, but we do know something’s up. In times like these, Be alert, for your adversary, the devil is lurking like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour.

In our text today Jesus feels something is about to happen. After saying “whoever accepts anyone I send accepts me; and whoever accepts me accepts the one who sent me.”Jesus was troubled in his spirit.” He senses that someone has been giving lip service to following him, but inwardly they are not totally committed to the cause. Jesus senses betrayal is in the air. What follows is a cautionary tale for all of us. I begin by saying, I apologize to Judas. I know he was the one who ultimately betrayed Jesus, however it could have been any of the disciples, just like it could have been any of us. We like to believe we wouldn’t let the Master down, yet even the disciples paused and wondered who it was. I contend if we could have gone into each of their minds we would have heard each of them playing the blame game. They could have found fault with any one. For Judas it was money, but for Peter it could have been cussing, or violence. For Thomas it could have been doubting. What i’m driving at is we are all capable of letting our Savior down. Each of us is guilty of betrayal in one way or another. This scene of betrayal with Judas could have played out with any human of any time in history, for all of us have sinned and fallen short of GOD’S glory. For this reason I apologize to Judas because that would totally absolve me for any part I have played in the betrayal. I apologize to Judas because he takes the fall for fallen humanity, and we see how he couldn’t handle the stress of it all. Secondly I apologize to Judas because it is possible he truly believed the Jeshua would not allow his demise to come like this. In some ways he may have been working to force Jeshua to claim his throne as Israels new king. Unfortunately the kingdom Jeshua came to introduce was not of this world.

Recognizing the ways that we all have betrayed Jesus is a sobering thought for me. We are all like Judas, impatient, reckless, selfish from time to time.  As we go through today, let us reflect on being more aware of our opportunities to be more forgiving, and loving, for there but by the grace of GOD, We ARE JUDAS. #livebig

PRAYER: LORD too often we have betrayed you. We have been too gullible and receptive to the schemes of the devil. Help us to be more aware of your presence and more patient with your Divine delays.

Point To Ponder: How have you betrayed Jeshua? How have you connected with your weaknesses? What will you do about it?