An Easter Reflection

 An Easter Reflection ...

A brief look at two journeys and an amazing sequel. There are a few Bible passages to read if you want to and a couple of songs to listen too, grab a coffee, Tea or whatever and spend a few moments reflecting on what Easter is all about.

Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem seems like the pinnacle in his mission and ministry. Hailed, welcomed, palm branches laid before him as he walked in with his followers. Yet only a few days later he was to take another walk, with many of the same people baying for his death.

 Matthew 21:1-11 The triumph

Palm Sunday and Jesus entry into Jerusalem on a donkey. In these few verses a lot is happening, and there are some clues there about what was going on. I wonder what Jesus was thinking at the time. What were his disciples thinking? What would we have been thinking if we were them?

Jesus asked some of his disciples to go and fetch a donkey. It is unlikely that the owner would have lightly let go an animal which was valuable to them and yet, that’s exactly what Jesus expected to happen. If you were those disciples, what would you have thought? The disciples did as Jesus asked, any fears they had of trouble getting the donkey went and the donkey was taken to Jesus. Why a donkey, why ride and not walk as he had done previously?

All questions that disciples may have been pondering. But as the prophet Zechariah had said – the king would come riding on a donkey. This was how the kings of Israel travelled, it marked the coming of a king – in humility and peace. As we travel with Jesus, we know that he had given up his position and adopted that of a man. Paul reminds as of this in Philippians 2:6-7

Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

Imagine the excitement as the disciples took all of this on board – Jesus, their teacher, prophet. The one that they had stated was the son of God, the Messiah – now arriving in Jerusalem on a donkey and being hailed by crowds. Palm branches and cloaks were laid on the road for Jesus to ride over. A sign of homage and respect for this man. It was all happening as they had hoped.

 And then to top it all shouts of acclamation. Hosanna! “Save now” a plea from an oppressed people to their saviour for deliverance. A call to acclaim Jesus as Messiah? The shout proclaiming Jesus as the Son of David. The one who like David the people expected God to send and restore them, remove them from the yolk of Roman occupation and make them great again. I wonder how much the disciples were caught up in this, how much would we have been caught up in it? Yet Jesus had told his close disciples that he must die and rise again and that was why he was going to Jerusalem.

All was not as it seemed. Yes, he was going to save. But not in the manner that they expected and not just saving them but providing salvation for all humanity.

 Mark 15:12-22 The Tragedy

Now lets us jump forwards some days to the end of the week. The atmosphere was so different. Jesus had been arrested, tried after a fashion and the religious authorities had convinced the Roman governor to execute Jesus.

We pick up the account with the disciples nowhere to be seen, the crowd shouting to make the governor do what they wanted – they could not execute Jesus, but the governor could. Just as fear had caused the disciples to vanish at Gethsemane, fear of the crowd overrode Pilates desire to free Jesus.

The one acclaimed as Messiah, King of the Jews, son of David, the one who would save them, now treated as a common criminal. How would you have felt watching this?

Watching, the disciples and followers of Jesus would have seen his mistreatment, flogged by the Romans, often done to weaken the victim before crucifixion. The road of suffering. (I like this song as a reflection on this - Via dolorosa)

He was Jeered, mocked, spat on and abused, prepared for the walk of shame. 

Half a mile or so, from the Praetorium to the hill where Jesus would be killed. Half a mile in which in his weakened state, the disciples would have seen that someone else had to carry the wood that Jesus was to be nailed to. Half a mile walking through a crowd in which many wanted him dead, others, maybe some his disciples wondering what was going on. All their hopes, expectations, dying with Jesus. Couldn’t he save himself from this? Jesus took it all, walking that road, knowing what he had come to earth to do and was bringing to its conclusion.

Imaging watching Jesus Walk or possibly stagger as if carrying an immense weight, that half mile to Golgotha, bearing the crown of his tormentors, made of thorns to mock him and further injure him. And at the end of the road, the place where it would be finished. Again, all was not as it seemed.

 Where would we be in the narrative? Carried by the crowd? Finding it hard to take on board? Excited? Fearful? Questioning?

Matthew 28:1-6 A New Beginning ( A Song to reflect with)

He has risen! These words may mean something to you or they mean seem like fantasy.

If they are fantasy or  just wrong as far as you can understand, I hope that reading this will have given you something to consider. Things are not always what we think. Maybe explore a bit further with a local church group - Alpha, Christianity Explored or one of the many other ways to look deeper. Or read one of the bible accounts - Matthew, Mark, Luke or John.

If "He has Risen" means something let me ask, can you remember the first time that those words meant something to you? For some of us that was a long time back, for others not so far back. Why do I ask? Well consider for a moment the women who went to the tomb, their expectation was to find the stone in place that covered it, their expectation was to finish preparing Jesus for lying permanently in the tomb. But their expectations went out of the window as they arrived.

Earthquake, the stone rolled away, the guards terrified, what was going on? Who were this heavenly being before them, where was Jesus? Then they heard these amazing words “He is not here, He has risen”! What did they think, feel?

So, what did you feel when those words first held significance for you, when you first believed the truth of them. That this man Jesus, who had been brutally killed, crucified and certified dead, then buried, was no longer dead, but alive?

When you say those words does a little tingle go down your spine? Does your heart leap with joy? Do you want to go and shout it to the world at large? “He has risen”.

For me, it meant the many of my life’s reference points had been in the wrong place. I was amazed and overjoyed that this had been done for me. I still am. I hope that feeling of joy and amazement will never leave me.

Jesus resurrection cemented God’s promise that all who believe in Jesus will also rise to glory one day. Death overcome, sin defeated and humanity offered freedom and relationship with God, through Jesus.

He is risen our watch phrase, our encouragement, our spur to do as the disciples did in those early days – light a fire in the world fuelled by God’s love, a fire that will burn brightly and draw many to salvation, because He is Risen!.

Have a Happy and Blessed Easter.

All things change

 Its a while since I wrote in this blog. Mostly because for Nicola and I a lot has changed. We thought we knew what God was doing with us but got tangled in our own plans.

All things change! Especially when we recognise what God is doing compared with what we want to do.

After our location plans went wrong we rested for a bit and refocused. Where we have settled is so much more than we had thought. A nice home in a lovely village with a church that we are now actively involved with. Well we were never going to retire and do not a lot. We are able to and are extending the property to enable us to do more with friends and neighbours. 

All things change!

God's purposes are not always obvious to us are they? We heard in church recently of the transition of God's prophetic mantle from Elijah to Elisha. God's planned change to call Elijah home. Look in 2kings2 if you are interested.

I know its only mid-November but earlier today as I looked at all of the Christmas adverts on facebook I found myself reflecting on the change that God brought through the first Christmas and the life of Jesus. 

All things change, God made a way where there was no way for people to be freed from the price or the curse of sin and once again have a relationship with him. I was drawn to a song which I had not heard that helped my reflect and reminded me that while each year the christmas adverts come earlier, Christmas should be welcolmed. God changed everything through Jesus.

The words might help your preparation for Christmas. This link will play the song the words are below.

A world awakes all unaware 

Of what the night did bring 

A mother’s pain a baby’s cry 

New life begins 

While Bethlehem slumbers 

In shadows so dark and deep 

Sweetly sleep 

What child is this in manger laid 

That dazzled shepherds seek? 

Whom heaven adores yet earth ignores 

Helpless and weak 

Most ancient of mysteries 

Stirs in the chill of these streets 

Sweetly sleep 

O world awake! 

Shake off the night 

A greater dawn is breaking 

A brighter Sun 

Heaven’s pure light 

To set the world on fire 

God in flesh appearing 

Heaven and earth are touching here 

Receive him now 

As you would welcome 

A new-born child 

From A World Awakes by Graham Kendrick 

Copyright © 2007 Make Way Music 

www.grahamkendrick.co.uk 

Bread of Life

 I am currently reading a book by Andrew Wilson as a devotional. The last few days I have been reading a section on "Bread". Which got me thinking 😊

The thing is that today in most developed countries we can take or leave bread. Its not essential and in some cases we are advised not to eat it for our health. If we do eat it we have a myriad of choices. When we eat bread often its not in community but on our own, rushing through a day and grabbing a sandwich or sitting alone somewhere having a 5 min break from the day's activities.

Biblically, bread was essential as was the success of producing the crop from which it is made. To share or break bread with someone was (as Wilson says) to include them by sharing something essential to life.

What does it mean to me to share bread with others? Is it any more than just being hospitable? My wife and I like having people around for food or going to other folks' homes for food, especially our family. They are good times of sharing stories, hearing each other and re-bonding. We recently helped out on an Alpha course in the church we attend and they do Alpha with a full meal as we used to years ago before we tried to make the sessions shorter. The connections made during that series again made me think of the importance of sharing food or breaking bread with each other. We got to know each other, we recognised differences as well as similarities in understanding. A number of the guests asked Christ into their lives and all (some were already Christians) were deeply affected on the Alpha day. Connections made through sharing food.

So when I read in the Bible Joh 6:35  Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty..."

How should I interpret it, given that bread today has a different sense of importance to those Jesus was talking to? Well taking communion, sharing or breaking bread with other Christians is like a shadow of what Jesus was meaning, I think. Its one time when a group of Christians share bread / wafers or water ever in common union with each other and with Christ. But I don't think it has the significance that this would have had when Jesus said it. Would "I am the food of life". Give us a better understanding? We all need food to survive and to grow and to live. We rely on those who grow and provide our food, however we buy it, cook it and eat it. 

I am the bread / food of life, suggests to me that Jesus is something that we cannot do without for the life that God intends us to have. Our inner hunger and thirst met in full. Without him in our lives we are in some ways, empty, spiritually thirsty and hungry. When I eat with others, sharing food, time and care for each other, I will try to remember that in that simple thing, the one who is my "food and drink" is with us.

Pedestals

We heard recently of accusations of inappropriate behaviour against another well known Christian leader. And of course there is no smoke without fire, so many queue up to point out the dangers, some even applaud the apparent fall. In a society that seems to promote celebrity culture, the raising onto a pedestal, those who we "follow" or like to watch on the media, we also seem to almost revel in their all too often fall from it.

Have we considered that in some way many of us in the Christian church have responsibility for these situations? Myself included. I have listened to Mark Driscoll (of Mars Hill Fame) and his often encouraging and challenging teaching. I have attended Soul Survivor weeks with teenagers. I have followed and read Bill Hybels (Willow Creek). I have read and enjoyed so much from Hillsong whose founder, Brian Houston is under investigation for a number of things.

How many of us rush to buy the latest books by famous Christian speakers and authors? How many of us go to see the latest in vogue, Christian performers or get the latest Christian songs into our churches? In a way all of this is a part of the "celebrity" culture of the times in which we live. Like it or not most of us have bought into this, even if we don't like admitting it.

Now a question, has anything changed over the years, the centuries? The Church has a history of raising up those who stand out for their, piety, service, preaching, song writing, leadership, sacrifice. There are so many names - Mother Teresa, Spurgeon, Wesley, Smith, Whitefield, Luther, Augustine to name a few. Their work continues to help us think about our faith and to worship our God. In their day these were celebrities.

Are we forgetting that all humans are vulnerable, all can be caught up in the position that they find themselves in because of a gift they have? Some find themselves or even strive to be put on a pedestal. The fame, the accolades and the wealth that can come with that being perhaps attractive, but maybe the sense of reaching so many being the real draw.

I am reminded of the man Philip and then Peter encountered in Acts 8 ...

(Act 8:18-20)  When Simon saw that the Spirit was given at the laying on of the apostles' hands, he offered them money and said, "Give me also this ability so that everyone on whom I lay my hands may receive the Holy Spirit." Peter answered: "May your money perish with you, because you thought you could buy the gift of God with money!

 A man whose worldly sense of gain, wanted to have the gifts of God for his own benefit. It was open and overt, often the seduction that comes from a rise in notice and fame is not so overt. But then the temptations that come with this lurk in the background until they overwhelm or just draw upon our own sinful desires. 

It is not just those on the celebrity pedestal who are in danger of temptation. Anyone in any form of Christian leadership can fall foul of temptation. Pastors, Children's workers, Youth workers, Elders, Deacons, those in pastoral care, any with responsibility!

So should there be no "celebrities" in the Christian world, no book writers, song writers, leaders of note, no pastors or organisation leaders? I think there will also be those who are raised in this way because we all look up to those with such gifting's. However the real failing is that like so many film and pop celebrities, those who look up to them, us, forget to keep them accountable, forget to ask the hard questions like:

Was that appropriate? Does that action or activity honour God? Was that right? Are you behaving in your own life in an honouring way to God? Have you clear boundaries to protect yourselves and others? Are you accountable to others?

As Jesus told his disciples:

(Mar 10:42-45)  Jesus called them together and said, "You know that those who are regarded as rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many."

To serve each other, we must each be accountable to each other. we must each be prepared to be asked and to ask the hard questions and not be angered by the asking, instead seeing this as the loving, caring desire of our brothers and sisters in Christ to help us stay in the right place and not succumb to temptation.

It saddens me that these falls happen and give the world another stick to try to bruise the church of Christ with. But as a closing thought, we need to pray for those called to lead, called to "great" things and if they fall, pray for them all the more as well for those impacted by whatever it is that they did.

Waiting and Timing

 In my yearly read through of the bible (it doesn't start in Jan 😀), I recently got to the end of the Old Testament and reflected a little on the long 400 year gap between the last Prophet and the coming of the Messiah. God's timing is not always ours is it? We are also pretty impatient in our technology focused world, driven by instant messaging, emails and social media. I sometimes wonder how the people who were back in Judea felt at the long gap, had some given up waiting while others tried to tie down behaviour to "ensure " that they were ready and while yet others exploited the situation seeking power and position?

How good are we at waiting? How good are we at jumping the gun a bit and trying to make things happen when we believe God has given us a direction and things seem slow happening? We were reminded in church recently of the story of Abram (Abraham) and Sara (Sarah). Childless they were promised a son by God, but nothing seemed to be happening.

(Gen 12:31)  The LORD had said to Abram, "Go from your country, your people and your father's household to the land I will show you. "I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you."

How often do we like Abraham and Sarah try in our own strength to do what God has promised? In my experience that usually leads to problems, wrong directions and even heart-ache. Fortunately for Abraham and Sarah, God did give them the son who would be the root of blessing for all peoples, Isaac, even though they had produced Ishmael from a servant rather than wait.

Nicola and I thought last year that we had the next phase of our lives worked out. Retiring from a church and job that we both loved in Essex and which we knew we would miss, but realising it was time to hand over to a new minister, we prepared. Sold our home in Sussex (4 times in 6 months) and prepared for living near the sea. A few weeks before our retirement the buyer pulled out leaving us with no choice but to return to our house in mid-Sussex and see what the future held. We are trying one more time to see if the move to the sea is on this year. 

While I am convinced that retirement was to right thing and we are loving spending more time with family and grand-children we have questioned our plans for where to live. Does God want us where we have now returned to or is the move to the sea-side and a different adventure still the plan just not in our timing? We are enjoying being in the church here but continue to seek God's direction for what is next, here or the sea-side. His timing and plans are good and perfect, ours are often impatient and flawed.

I have just read Luke chapters 1-5 and the account of Jesus' the Messiahs birth. God did do as he had promised his people, just not in their timing and not in a way that they expected. Perhaps we need to learn patience and listening to God more than we have?