Fear, Joy and Resurrection Matthew 28:1-10?

In Christ we are blessed be people of hope. We are not called to be perfect or even normal. Perfection is reserved for God. And normal, a post chemo cancer patient says, is just a setting on the dishwasher.
In Jesus Christ we are called to live in hope. The day between Good Friday and Easter is a great day of hope disguised by grief. Just consider the Saturday after Jesus died.
Hope looked dead.
Jesus' friends likely grieved deep on Saturday after they buried him. Tears come with life's griefs, betrayals, and pains. Mary Magdalene's tears flowed as her rabbi, Jesus was crucified, died, and buried Matthew 27:55-61 and they probably didn't stop on the Sabbath.
But Hope wasn't dead.
This day, this Great Sabbath, can remind us of Jesus' time in the grave. Our Moravian brothers and sisters in their daily texts highlight this sabbath aspect of the day. It's a day when God seemed silent--but wasn't. Jesus rested in the grave. It's a day when hope looked dead or at least out of reach--but Hope has never been dead or out of reach. There's mystery about what happened after Jesus died. We read in 1st Peter 3:19-20 that Jesus went to reach the souls separated from God. There's mystery any time God seems silent.
We will, like it or not, have to live in the mystery. There are so many reasons why we wait for God some seen and others unseen. In faith we know God is work. If faith we know God is reaching for those we consider unreachable. Our faith is the evidence of things unseen (Hebrews 11:1). Our faith trusts that somehow God has ways to do even the impossible.
Faith in Christ comes clear in the waitings days. These are the days when Jesus and the new covenant look incomplete--but the Good News is that God is working on a way. There has to be room in our personal theology--in our understanding of God--for times when God seems silent. Faith is the simple confidence that God will give us answers in time. Faith trusts that God remains faithful as we pull (see the prodigal's story in Luke 15:11-32 to understand). Faith waits on God's answers of yes, not yet, or sometimes even no. Faith helps us know that's God's not dead even if He's silent for what seems like a long time.
Early on Sunday Mary Magdalene went to anoint Jesus' his body along with another Mary. Easter comes just this way. It's unexpected. New Life comes just like this in the place where people thought death ruled supreme. An angle greeted her with news. "He is not here, He has been raised" The Gospel describes these two leaving with fear and joy Matthew 28:8 as the went to share the news with the others. It was then that Jesus met them and told them not fear but to go and tell Matthew 28:9-10.
The wonder of Easter fills us with fear and joy. Meeting the risen Christ casts out ungodly fear and emboldens us to live in faith telling the world the Good News of Jesus with joy.
Peace, John

Who are you in Christ's Passion Luke 22:1-23-56?

Early in Jesus ministry John the Baptist called Jesus "the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). In the cross we see the moment when Jesus is revealed as the lamb who takes away sin in his own death. Through faith Jesus' cross transforms us. Some might hope to sit as neutral observes outside this story; but Christ's innocent death is for us. That makes us participants who both lead Jesus to his cross in our sin and who directly benefit from Jesus suffering and death that overcomes our sin and death.
In the middle of reading the story this year John the Baptist's bold declaration, "behold the lamb" echoes for me each time Jesus is held up for derision. The chief priests (Luke 22:27-56), King Herod (Luke 23:6-12), the leaders of the people and the Roman Soldieres (Luke 23:35-37) even one of the criminals crucified with him mocked him (Luke 23:39). Stepping through the passion my imagination links Jesus beaten and killed with John's words about a lamb taking away sin. A lamb offered up to take awat sin and death with his own suffering and death.
As a dad who looks forward to time with his girls it's hard not to wonder about God the Father's will giving up a son. It's hard to imagine him offering up His Son to suffer and die for another's sake; especially a prodigal; but this is God the Father we are talking about not me or another sinner like me.
Fact is I find myself drawn into Jesus' story this year from the position of a prodigal (Luke 15:11-32). In the cross I see God's own self offered in exchange for me. And Jesus doesn't complain as God the Father seeks out the loss and offers the Son in their place. I find the great blessing to be mine as a wayward child who has returned amd the suffering to be Christ's alone. I find the great challenge as a prodigal facing the cross to be repenting of my own pride. To often I sit like the older brother (Luke 15:25-30)--but in the cross I can't see that any other prodigal's sin is any worse than mine.
My one prayer this Easter is this. May I not be a disinterested observer looking on from a safe vantage point at the cross. I pray that I might be drawn into the cross as a thankful sinner redeemed by the blood of the lamb ready to welcome back others redeemed by the love of the father. AMEN.
Pax, John

Worship matters? Philipians 3:4-14, John 12:1-8

Jesus reorders lives: guaranteed. For Christians its unavoidable. When God moves into first place—when you move from death towards life—everything changes in importance. What you consider great today will someday be discarded as worship and serving God matters. Today's great accomplishments treated like a pile of trash or worse compared to being with God.
Few people speak so openly about their life's reordering as Paul. As a man of God convinced that religious conduct made him right with God the good news changed him. In Christ Paul's understanding of salvation as a gift of God's love given not a possession earned transformed everything. All he had to boast about as a religious man paled in comparison to the joy of knowing Christ.

circumcised on the eighth day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee; as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless. But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Philipians 3:5-7 ESV

In Christ Paul saw all his pride as skubala σκύβαλα a word that means worse than rubbish (Philipians 3:8). Everything else was skubala σκύβαλα to him now. In Christ lives are reorder and possessions revalued. Knowing the great price paid for for each soul in the death of Christ sets us free. Think of all the things we chase after in this world—money, houses, cars, status, all the accomplishments worthless compared to the cross and resurrection.
You've no doubt got your list of the things you think make you great. And we won't be able to hold onto anything but Christ and the good he plans to do in us and through us. Everything else is just skubala σκύβαλα. We know it is a part of our natural lives. If we don't get rid of our it from our bodies we'll become toxic. Even wonderful things God used to build you and mold you in his image can become toxic if held onto too after we were meant to be rid of them.
Freedom comes as your life is reordered. Freedom to love God first and put everything and everybody else in a good place, but not the first place in your life, sets you free. Our gospel story starts with Jesus eating in Bethany at the home of two sisters Martha and Mary, and their brother Lazarus (John 12:1-2). There's a story behind this one. These 3: Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, knew Jesus' life reordering love (John 11:5) and deep connection (John 11:35). He was friend and rabbi. But most of all he was resurrection and life (John 11:25) who called into a grave and brought Lazarus back from dead (John 11:20-43).
What a meal—Jesus and his disciples sat with Lazarus at the table as Martha served (John 12:1-2). Mary poured a jar of nard over Jesus' feet wiping them with her hair (John 12:3).
Wow—this is worship—pouring out so much nard the aroma filled the house. Judas made a stink. Such extravagance—the nard could be sold and the profit given to the poor. John notes Judas didn't care about the poor—he pilfered from the purse for himself. (John 12:4-6). Jesus accepted Mary's worship. He told Judas to let her be—she bought the nard for his burial (John 12:7). She knew something of Jesus extraordinary character. Just 6 days before Jesus last passover trial, torture, death, and resurrection she worshipped him (John 12:8).
Along the way to Jesus' end and new beginning John points to signs. Signs through which God is at working telling us who we are, who our risen Lord is, and who we will be in Him. May Mary's worship remind us of the cross and resurrection. AMEN.

Is human forgiveness welcoming other prodigals back? 15:1-3, 11-32

Jesus told 3 stories of God the Father restoring the lost who'd forsaken His love in Luke 15. First is a story of a lost sheep, Luke 15:4-7. Next comes the story of a woman with a lost coin in Luke 15:8-10. Each time a lost one is restored Luke notes Jesus words-- there's joy χαρὰ in heaven. Then comes the most impactful story of God the Father's mercy I've read this past year Luke 15:11-32.
This stories often called the story of the prodigal son. Prodigal's are wasteful and act with disreguard for the great gifts they've been given.
It's no secret I am a prodigal as is every other Christian. There's no better word explaining our drift from God into sin. When you live close to God you have joy and all you need. Prodigals step away looking for something better that they will never find. Prodigals squander real treasure: the joy of being God the Father's presence.
There's One thing this story makes abundantly clear--God isn't the one who wanders--that's not the case at all. God's the one who stays firm as we prodigals search out better than what God has offered us (Luke 15:12).
No human can count all that attracts prodigals away from the joy of the Father. Money, sex, material goods, food, drugs, booze, pornography, power, reputation, appearance, prestigue--prodigals run to all these and more. Some use these as armor to protect a hurt core deep inside yearning for love. The list is endless but the result is always the same. Prodigals seek satisfaction while wandering away from the joy God the Father wants for them. Prodigals give up joy shared with God the Father, in exchange for much less Luke 15:13-16.
And this is where the Good News breaks into the story. Jesus told of a yound man who came to his senses (Luke 15:17) Whenever we are done running--for some prodigals it takes a few weeks--for others it takes years--we can turn back (Luke 15:17-19). Returning to the Father is the moment we find God's true heart and embrace; its the moment when we are restored to joy (Luke 15:20-24). Even when we're unfaithful the Father remains faithful wanting to always restore the broken relationship and welcomes us back into the joy of his kingdom.
Is human forgiveness recieving other prodigals back? While the Father was eagerly welcoming back his prodigal son into the joy of relationship his other boy came in to complain Luke 15:25-27. He accused his father of be prodigal too. He wasted resources on a wayward son and never was so extravagent with him Luke 15:28-30. I've been this unwelcoming brother too; perhaps this is the place where the honesty of thie story cuts closest to home. Jesus invites us here to know God's true character and heart. His love is for all--afterall Jesus came to call the sinners Luke 5:32.
We never hear what the elder brother did next. Maybe this is where the church is called to live out the ministry of reconcilliation 2 Corinthians 5:16-21. Maybe this is my great challenge as a prodigal who hasn't yet forgiven another prodigal
May God give us new spirits that we might forgive as he does whenever another prodigcal comes home. AMEN.

unlike any other man

Word came to Jesus: the king was plotting to kill him. If someone sought to hurt me or a member of my family I'd take action. The goal would be simple: keep safe. When news of King Herod's plot reached Jesus he didn't prepare for a fight or take flight Luke 13:31. Jesus came to die as much as to live--the thing was he wasn't meant to die quite yet. Luke 13:32

Jesus' aim in life is substantially different than the goals people know by nature. By nature, when healthy, we seek to preserve our lives. We try to live long and comfortable. We dream of going on for a long time. Many seek ways to preserve themselves or a legacy of themselves, Ernst Becker argued well in The Denial of Death, after death here in this earth. But Jesus came for the cross. Along the way He brought new life, healing, and truth to many people. He taught so much by example about how to live on this earth. But that wasn't the point. The end of our faith is not found on this earth. Paul told the Philipians as much in Philipians 3:20-4:1. The end of our faith is life with Christ.

It's an understatement to say that Jesus came teaching us how to live. As much as Jesus came to die as much if not more so than he lived to heal and transform giving us an example of how to live he came to die for us. He came teaching us how to die that we might live in him. Jesus came to give everything—to be totally depleted Luke 13:33. He came teaching us the truth that by dying in we might live both now today and always in Christ. Jerusalem was Jesus' goal—the city where he would meet his end; rejected like so many other prophets before Luke 13:34. He knew the end was coming in Jerusalem and He wouldn't go there until the very last moment Luke 13:35. Praise be that Jesus came to die and rise. Peace to you, John

Alone with your Father Matthew 6:1-6;16-22

Have you ever watched an 8 or 9 months old child interacting with a loving mom or dad? Before speaking a single word babies express love and joy. Arms fly and feet kickout when someone special looks in their eyes and smiles. Grown people don't remember these early interactions; but just watch a young child and you will see the grand design: human beings were made for profound connections of joy and love.
Jesus, in Matthew 6:5-6, invites each believer into a personal space with God the Father. Jesus beckons--go be alone with the Father who loves you. Maybe you don't think you could bring joy to God the Father quite the way a 9 month old does--but just imagine the space of prayer that Jesus invites you to today as a space of joy. It was in the same space God the father rejoiced when you were very little. It's in that same space that Jesus invites you to go be alone with God the Father today. Go to be with the one who knows your name and who smiles just to be with you. Little ones rejoice when someone knows them and calls them by name. And Jesus invites you to be that close with God our Father.
Some argue not everyone can easily relate to God as a Father. Many fathers and mothers betray those they should to protect through abuse and neglect. And still Jesus calls us close to a God who deserves the name Father. Many struggle in relationships with distant parents who wrestle with addiction or mental illness. And knowing all the weaknesses of human parents Jesus still calls us to come close to the Father who loves and knows us who we can trust.
Martin Luther wrote about prayer explaining

prayers ought to be brief, frequent, and intense. For God does not ask how much and how long you have prayed, but how good the prayer is and whether it proceeds from the heart.

Therefore Christ says now: “Your heavenly Father knows what you need before you ask for it.” It is as if He would say: “What are you up to? Do you suppose that you will talk Him down with your long babbling and make Him give you what you need? There is no need for you to persuade Him with your words or to give Him detailed instructions; for He knows beforehand what you need, even better than you do yourself.” — Martin Luther, vol. 21, Luther’s Works, Vol. 21 : The Sermon on the Mount and the Magnificat, ed. Jaroslav Jan Pelikan, Hilton C. Oswald and Helmut T. Lehmann, Luther’s Works, Mt 6:14 (Saint Louis: Concordia Publishing House, 1999, c1956). page 143

As you come close to the Father you'll learn the whole truth about who God is and who you are. You'll hear of God's love. You will hear words that challenge and inspire. He showed His love for each of us sending his own Son, his own flesh and blood, to die to save us.
Joy in Ash Wednesday On Ash Wednesday we hear Jesus' invitation to be alone with our Father. As you come close you will be fully known. You will learn God your Father isn't ok with everything you do. Don't be surprised if broken relationships and sins come up. Your Father loves you and delights in you; but there's a guarantee other things well change in value: the idols you've put first in your life--they will fall away as you come closer to the Father. When you come closer you will know the whole truth--you'll see your sins and the cross that over came them. You'll see your broken parts and the new life God has for you in Christ Jesus.
Your father will call you back to that first relationship of joy and hope. He will call you out of the addictions, compulsions, and behaviors that hurt you and others. He will call you out of troubled places into peace with him.
Peace to you, John.

Feedback requested: Come to your Senses or How do sense God?

Have you ever been told to, "Come to your senses" For some deep thinkers it's a common accusation, "you are being to cerebral" or "you are not in tune with what's actually going on in the world right around you";
In the next month we'll be working in churches in Fairmont, Minnesota USA toward a shared Lenten Series entitled Come to Your Senses: A Lenten Journey with God.
A possible theme verse is, The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NIV
I'm wondering how other people experience God through all five senses. I am most curious about the way you sense God in tangible ways through touch, taste, sight, hearing, and smell.
What has been your experience: How do you sense God?
What stories are you aware of that explore an experience of God's presence?
I am also very curious what scripture you point to as you explain experiences of God's tangible--incarnate--activity in the world.
thanks for your input. Pax, John.