Lent - Day 34-35, Stations of the Cross

The Scripture for today are: Psalms 121,122,123,124,125,126; Jere 25:8-17; Romans 10:1-13 & John 9:18-41

With apologies for missing the blog yesterday, here are the next two Stations of the Cross:

The Fourth Station: Jesus is Denied by Peter

Scripture: Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. One of the maids came over to him and said, "You too were with Jesus the Galilean." But he denied it in front of everyone, saying, "I do not know what you are talking about!" As he went out to the gate, another girl saw him and said to those who were there, "This man was with Jesus the Nazorean." Again he denied it with an oath, "I do not know the man!" A little later the bystanders came over and said to Peter, "Surely you too are one of them; even your speech gives you away." At that he began to curse and to swear, "I do not know the man." And immediately a cock crowed. Then Peter remembered the word that Jesus had spoken: "Before the cock crows you will deny me three times." He went out and began to weep bitterly.
Matthew 26: 69-75


The Fifth Station: Jesus is Judged by Pilate
Scripture: The chief priests with the elders and the scribes, that is, the whole Sanhedrin, held a council. They bound Jesus, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate. Pilate questioned him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" He said to him in reply, "You say so." The chief priests accused him of many things. Again Pilate questioned him, "Have you no answer? See how many things they accuse you of." Jesus gave him no further answer, so that Pilate was amazed.... Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released Barrabas... [and] handed [Jesus] over to be crucified.
Mark 15: 1-5, 15

In our journey to and through the suffering of Christ we come to these two Stations. Both involve denial. Peter's denial is foretold by Jesus, but nevertheless leaves Peter sick within himself. I love Rembrandt's portrayal of the denial of Jesus. Look carefully and beyond Peter's right shoulder you can see the faint image of Jesus looking back towards him. Peter wanted to be brave, but he succumbed (as I probably would have also) to his own self survival. As a result, he is wracked with guilt and shame and does not know how to get out of it. The answer will come much later - on a lake shore weeks later when Jesus appears to him after his resurrection and speaks grace and forgiveness to him. [Note John 21].

Pilate's denial is not the active denial of Peter; is much more a passive one. He does not know who Jesus really is; but neither does he take to time to understand. He is the man going through life depending upon his own self...surviving, getting ahead, seeking comfortability and compromise over inquiry, wisdom, and truth. Pilate is to be pitied over Peter. Peter will find redemption in the forgiveness of Christ. Pilate will be summoned back to Rome by the Emperor to explain his messed-up rule. Before he arrived back in Rome the Emperor died. Nothing is really known of his life after that. Some sources claim he became a Christian, but equally there are sources that state he ended his life in suicide. We won't know for certain who is correct.

We need to stand before these two stations and reflect on our own soul. There have many times when I have not been faithful in my response to Jesus. It can be done at times intentionally (Peter) or passively (Pilate); but nevertheless it is a reality of my faith life that it has been done. The question at that time needs to be face: Do I choose Jesus? and when I don't, do I feel remorse? a need to repent and receive forgiveness?
Sometimes the most difficult thing in life to do is to receive forgiveness? Yet, this is the Station I most need to stay at and pray.

A Prayer:

"Father, Lord Jesus, for those many times I have actively chosen to deny you, I ask your forgiveness. Specifically, right now, I ask you to forgive me for ___________________. I confess that you are Savior and Lord, and I love you more than I can say. I choose today to walk with you and to love your ways. Teach me, guide me, and help me in your name I pray. Amen."

Read More

Lent, Day 33 -3rd Station of the Cross

Scripture Readings for Today are: Psalms 118, 145; Jere 23:16-32; 1 Cor 9:19-27 &
Mark 8:31-9:1

Today is the last Sunday before the end of Lent. As we come to the final week of Lent, we continue to look at the Stations of the Cross - the journey of Christ Jesus to His death.

Today: Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin

Scripture: "When day came the council of elders of the people met, both chief priests and scribes, and they brought him before their Sanhedrin. They said, "If you are the Messiah, tell us," but he replied to them, "If I tell you, you will not believe, and if I question, you will not respond. But from this time on the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the power of God." They all asked, "Are you then the Son of God?" He replied to them, "You say that I am." Then they said, "What further need have we for testimony? We have heard it from his own mouth."
Luke 22: 66-71

Hope your day of worship is filled with a faith of God's presence. Sometimes in the middle of difficult things there is little faith to believe God is at work. Jesus could have easily succumbed to the temptation of demonstrating his divinity but he spoke a word to them that was truth, and yet they didn't believe. "Faith comes by hearing, hearing by the word of God", says Romans 10.
The question is are we looking to hear? If we don't expect to hear God, we probably won't; but if we do live in expectation that God will speak to us, then we most likely will truly hear.

My prayer is that you "will have ears to hear what the Spirit is saying".

A Prayer:

"Father of truth and light. Lord you know our tendency to exclude you in our lives. We somehow are convinced you really don't want to say anything to us. Forgive me Lord for that. I want to hear you...and by faith I choose to listen. Amen."

Read More

Lent, Day 32 - 2nd Station of the Cross

The scripture readings today are: Psalms 33, 102, 108; Jere 23:9-15, Rom. 9:1-18, & John 6:60-71

I am meditating on the Stations of the Cross - the various places and events that surrounded Jesus' death and burial - leading up to Good Friday. There are fourteen stations of the cross, and although there is a traditional one, I have modified it. Still, prayerfully, reflectively, meditatively, I want to think and pray on a daily basis the sacrifice of my Lord.

The second Station is: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested

Scripture: Then, while [Jesus] was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived, accompanied by a crowd with swords and clubs, who had come from the chief priests, the scribes, and the elders. His betrayer had arranged a signal with them, saying, "the man I shall kiss is the one; arrest him and lead him away securely." He came and immediately went over to him and said, "Rabbi." And he kissed him. At this they laid hands on him and arrested him.
Mark 14: 43-46

Very few of us have ever faced the pain of a traitor. History is full of names like Judas and Benedict Arnold, Brutus, and in more recent times, Aldrich Ames. What many of us have experienced is the failure of friendship, the person who we believed to be loyal to us turning out to be one who cared only for themself. What we do with people who fail us is more indicative of our own soul, than of our circumstances. If we believe that we are able to make choices and take even the worst of situations and direct them into new realms of living, we'll be fine. If we don't, we probably will live as a victim and never know the fruit of victory.

Jesus is not a victim. He is the one who knows one will betray him, yet never acts to change the circumstances, nor stop Judas from doing what is in his own free will. A friend does not take away another friend's freedom to choose -- even when that freedom is to choose harm towards them.
When I stop at this Station of the Cross, I see Jesus as the victor, not the victim. He knows what is going to happen as a result of Judas' action. What he feels, I believe, is pity and pain for Judas, not for himself.

A Prayer:

"Almighty God, you have brought us to this new day in victory, because of your Son's death on the cross. Help us to live in that victory, making choices that will reflect all that is good in you. Help us to keep our eyes focused on you...who for the joy set before him, endured the cross, despising it's shame. This we ask in Jesus' name, Amen."

Read More

Lent, Day 31, 1st Station of the Cross

Today's readings are: Psalms 107:1-43, Jere 23:1-8, Rom 8:28-39, & John 6:52-59

The Stations of the cross are our theme as we approach these last few days of Lent and enter into Holy Week. You can read yesterday's blog if you are not familiar with the Stations of the Cross.

At the first Station of the Cross we encounter Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane

The Scripture Reading:
"Then Jesus came with them to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to his disciples, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to feel sorrow and distress. Then he said to them, "My soul is sorrowful even to death. Remain here and keep watch with me." He advanced a little and fell prostrate in prayer, saying, "My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will." When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, "So you could not keep watch with me for one hour? Watch and pray that you may not undergo the test. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak."
Matthew 26:36-41

I don't know if you encounter this idea of flesh the same way I do. I had one of those days yesterday in which my prayers were more whining than anything else. I came to God with a litany of discouragements and disappointments...from unanswered (perceived) prayers to a sense of "why God didn't/don't you..." things.
Don't get me wrong, it felt good to unload the pent up frustrations, and I'm positive that God is not that overly concerned with my humanity - he knows me. But, what I wanted to get out of it is unclear. Most certainly I suppose I hoped for immediate responses of jobs, healing, pain going away, difficulties solved, etc... But I'm realistic enough to know that all of those things are part of the choices I've made in living, and it's not true that God created my messes.

It's a powerful lesson for me/us to learn. We created our own lives with the choices we make. Some of those choices are not necessarily wise, and some of them are eventually going to be downright painful. Nevertheless, there isn't any sense in looking backwards in pity, or as a victim. Just as I made choices in the past, so I can make choices in the present that will affect the future.

Jesus made a choice. He made a choice to go to Jerusalem, and he made a choice to go the garden that evening. He made that choice knowing that his disciples did not understand all that was about to happen as a result. He made that choice for me!

A Prayer:

"Lord Jesus, I stand at the edge of the garden and I know that it is for me, and for the rest of humanity, that you have chosen to go there. You stepped into the dark of the night even as you entered into the darkness of humanity...deliberately, and as a servant, and that is what makes me worship you all the more. Thank you for your choice to love me, to love all of us, to the very end. Amen."

Romans 8:31-39 (NASB)
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us?
32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
33 Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies;
34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.
35 Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
36 Just as it is written, "For Your sake we are being put to death all day LONG; We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered."
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us.
38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers,
39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Read More

Lent - Day 30, The Stations of the Cross

The daily readings for today are: Psalms am: 69, 73; Jere 22:13-23; Romans 8:12-27; and John 6:41-51

Lent is now coming closer to it's end, and following Lent is Holy Week which goes from Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday.

As we come closer to the celebration of the cross, the death and resurrection, I want to stop at what has been traditionally called "The Stations of the Cross".

These "Stations" as they are called, were spots along the journey that took Christ from Gethsemane to Pilate where he was condemned to die through to his burial in the tomb on that Good Friday. The celebration of the Stations came about in the Middle Ages, presumably like stained glass windows, the enacting of these stations visibly spoke to a population of Christians who may have been largely uneducated.

There are several ways to approach the fourteen stations of the cross. While Catholics traditionally celebrate it one way, it has precedence to be celebrated more broadly. I like the revised version first done by Pope John Paul in 1991 because it is more comprehensive of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday's lessons.

First Station: Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane
Second Station: Jesus, Betrayed by Judas, is Arrested
Third Station: Jesus is Condemned by the Sanhedrin
Fourth Station: Jesus is Denied by Peter
Fifth Station: Jesus is Judged by Pilate
Sixth Station: Jesus is Scourged and Crowned with Thorns
Seventh Station: Jesus Bears the Cross
Eighth Station: Jesus is Helped by Simon the Cyrenian to Carry the Cross
Ninth Station: Jesus Meets the Women of Jerusalem
Tenth Station: Jesus is Crucified
Eleventh Station: Jesus Promises His Kingdom to the Good Thief
Twelfth Station: Jesus Speaks to His Mother and the Disciple
Thirteenth Station: Jesus Dies on the Cross
Fourteenth Station: Jesus is Placed in the Tomb

As stated before, this is a variation on the traditional stations of the cross, but nevertheless, it has been used before -- even by Pope John Paul himself.

There are spiritual exercises to entered into at each station. These consist mainly of prayer and contemplation - which is another way of saying these stations are not primarily intellectual exercises. There are usually prayers and liturgies for each station, but I prefer to contemplate and seek to put myself in the scene and then pray out of that meditative heart.

Why do them?

Because ultimately they help me remember what I read in the Psalms today, and what was spoken by both Paul in Romans 8, and Jesus in John 6...that in the death of Christ we have life. It is this life that is both eternal and present for us that makes life much more than survival, a gutting it out process, a hope that we'll get ahead if we just do the right things, and therefore all of life will be a pleasant journey. It is this life of Jesus that ends tragically in his death and burial that also leads towards resurrection. It's a way of reminding myself that Jesus ultimately didn't fall into the hands of political and religious rulers who apparently have the day -- even today at times that seems true -- but he fell into the hands of His father, and so death could not hold him, and resurrection to life was THE reality.

Think and pray...we will all someday also come to death's door. It is enough to know that our lives are in the hands of the Father of life, and that through His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ, there is everlasting life and not simply just death.

A Prayer:

"Father of mercy and love, Jesus, My Savior and friend, Holy Spirit, my comforter and guide, to you, One God, belongs glory and honor and praise. For you are life and in you is life both now and forever. Amen."

Read More

Lent - Day 27, March 23

The Readings for today are: Psalms 89:1-52; Jere 16:10-21; Rom 7:1-12 & John 6:1-15

It's a blustery early Spring day outside. The wind is blowing around 30mph and it's raining (but not snowing - yeah). Inside it's warm and comfortable. How can something so different exist in the same place? We know the answer, it's the insulated structure we call the house, and it's the heat to warm it.

The readings reminded me of that today...there's a wind blowing in the early readings...it's not well out there and it's because of things like sin, unfaithfulness, disobedience, choices that are selfish and disregarding of either God or others. Paul's reminder is that the law is good in pointing all of this out. We wouldn't know how to describe the "outside of God" part of life without the law. It's our weather report for the world we walk into.
And then there's God's love, his faithfulness, his righteousness fulfilled in His son, our Savior, the Lord Jesus. Because of him we are safe, warmed inside of his righteousness, forgiven and adopted into this household of God.

Stay warm!

A Prayer:
"Father, your love reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the stars, your righteousness is like a mighty mountain. Because of you we live and breathe and have our being. Help me/us to never forget the greatness and the majesty that is you, and the wonder and joy that is mine. Amen."

Read More

Lent - Day 26, March 22

The readings for today are: Psalms 66, 67, 19, 46; Jere 14:1-9, 17-22;
Gal 4:21-5:1; and Mark 8:11-21

The Psalms are full of the praise of God, and why not. Today is Sunday, just three weeks until Easter, two from Palm Sunday. Our children's pastor, Dave, is beginning a four Sunday series on the journey of Christ Jesus to the cross, ending with Easter Sunday and the Resurrection.

We have the advantage in all of this of the record of scripture. For the disciples and followers of Jesus it all seemed so surreal - this talk of going to Jerusalem where then he would be turned over to the authorities, eventually killed, and then rise again. If we would have been His followers then we most likely would have felt the same as the disciples: confused, questioning, even scheming to prevent it all from happening. When God says, "my ways are not your ways, my thoughts are not your thoughts", He really means that.

With that in mind, I have to ask if I'm prepared to trust God in life's difficulties? While I want to say "yes", I don't want to be foolish in presuming what can only be done in grace. We all experience wonderful opportunities for growth and change disguised in the midst of problems and difficulties.

A Prayer:

"O God, on this Sunday, I worship you -- in Spirit and truth -- because you are worthy of worship and praise. I confess before you that I am not worthy of your grace and blessings. As the Psalmist declared, 'Forgive my hidden faults, and keep me also from willful sins; may they not rule over me.' With the saints of now and old, guard me from the 'yeast of Phariseeism' and allow me to walk with you even towards the cross. Amen."

Read More