Thanks for joining me this Lent as we walked through Luke. Get daily devotions from Luke's Second Edition, the Book of Acts, starting Monday, April 5.
http://www.ripplingout.blogspot.com/
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Pastor Dave
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
CROSSING OUR PATH---- Day 40-- Saturday April 3 2010
TODAY’S INTRO
Day 40! The entire way through Luke. Death does not have the final answer.
TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 24
24But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they came to the tomb, taking the spices that they had prepared. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they went in, they did not find the body. 4While they were perplexed about this, suddenly two men in dazzling clothes stood beside them. 5The women were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. 6Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, 7that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners, and be crucified, and on the third day rise again.” 8Then they remembered his words, 9and returning from the tomb, they told all this to the eleven and to all the rest. 10Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles. 11But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. 12But Peter got up and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; then he went home, amazed at what had happened.
13Now on that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, 16but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17And he said to them, “What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?” They stood still, looking sad. 18Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?” 19He asked them, “What things?” They replied, “The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. 21But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. 22Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, 23and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. 24Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him.” 25Then he said to them, “Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! 26Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?” 27Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. 28As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. 29But they urged him strongly, saying, “Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over.” So he went in to stay with them. 30When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. 31Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. 32They said to each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?” 33That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. 34They were saying, “The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!” 35Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.
36While they were talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 37They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. 38He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? 39Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” 40And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. 41While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” 42They gave him a piece of broiled fish, 43and he took it and ate in their presence. 44Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” 45Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, 46and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, 47and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48You are witnesses of these things. 49And see, I am sending upon you what my Father promised; so stay here in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”
50Then he led them out as far as Bethany, and, lifting up his hands, he blessed them. 51While he was blessing them, he withdrew from them and was carried up into heaven. 52And they worshiped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy; 53and they were continually in the temple blessing God.
TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES
Here’s a strange way to begin. Do you remember the movie ELF. It is one of my favorite movies of all time. Elf is the story of a baby who snuck into Santa’s sack one Christmas Eve and got taken back to the North Pole. The elves fell in love with the kid and one of them (played by Bob Newhart) took him in as his own son. The elf grew up to be enourmous. After all, he was human. Buddy (played by Will Ferrell) grew up with the elves but always was “different”. Buddy was given the job in the toy factory (after failing as a toy maker) of testing the quality control of the jack in the box toys. He’d crank be turning the crank on the side of the box and you’d hear the familiar tune (around and round the mulberry bush, the. . . ..and pop goes the weasel). At “pop” the jack in the box was supposed to explode out. So, over and over Buddy tested each one. If it worked, he put a check. If it didn’t it got an X. As only Will Ferrell can do, he somehow made the testing of this seem hilarious.
My point is simple- each time the hope was that things would be predicatable, that “Jack” would appear at the same exact time, every single time.
At Easter, we are reminded that for as much as we would like to have Jesus in a box and that he would come into our lives in a nice, neat, predictable, and orderly way ---he does not! At Easter, we are reminded that Jesus loves to show up and disappear and reappear . He likes to meet us on the road and journey with us and then leave us. Does he do that to keep us on our tows? Does he do that to keep us looking? Does he do that because he’s always one step ahead? Yes. Yes. Yes. Ultimately, we realize Jesus can’t be confined. When we try and confine him, we can’t stop him. When we invite him in, he’ll come and hang out (for a while). But, he is too busy to stay put. There’s a whole world out there to be reached. His resurrection is like a pebble dropped into a still pond. It starts a ripple effect that won’t be finished till it reaches the ends of the earth. May we be part of the Ripple effect of Jesus reaching out in this generation. May we be an active part of that Ripple Effect.
*Thanks for walking with me this Lent through Luke. I hope you will do a few things:
2) I hope that you will provide me with some feedback on this experience. Click this link to provide me with feedback. Your comments can be anonymous. https://goodshepherdlc.wufoo.com/forms/feedback-for-jesus-facebook-page-devotion-series/
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Until the Bitter End Day 39- Friday April 2 2010
TODAY’S INTRO
On this Good Friday, many of us will go to worship services and hear the final words of Jesus. The Tenebrae service is one of my favorites- the service of shadows. Read through Luke’s account of the crucifixion below. (You might also read the other accounts in Matthew, Mark, or John to compare)
TODAY’S TEXT- Luke 23: 32 to 56
32Two others also, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. 33When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. 34Then Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots to divide his clothing. 35And the people stood by, watching; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!” 36The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, 37and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” 38There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” 39One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, “Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” 40But the other rebuked him, saying, “Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? 41And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.” 42Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” 43He replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”
44It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon, 45while the sun’s light failed; and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. 46Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.” Having said this, he breathed his last. 47When the centurion saw what had taken place, he praised God and said, “Certainly this man was innocent.” 48And when all the crowds who had gathered there for this spectacle saw what had taken place, they returned home, beating their breasts. 49But all his acquaintances, including the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.
50Now there was a good and righteous man named Joseph, who, though a member of the council, 51had not agreed to their plan and action. He came from the Jewish town of Arimathea, and he was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God. 52This man went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. 53Then he took it down, wrapped it in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid. 54It was the day of Preparation, and the sabbath was beginning. 55The women who had come with him from Galilee followed, and they saw the tomb and how his body was laid. 56Then they returned, and prepared spices and ointments. On the sabbath they rested according to the commandment.
TODAY’S STATUS UPDATES
Hanging in with someone to the “bitter end” is a tough thing. Yet, Luke makes it chrystal clear that there was a group of women who did. They followed him from Galillee. They listened to his teaching. They provided from their resources to further his ministry. When he was taken into custody and then sentenced to death, they marched behind him. They weeped and wailed and were not afraid to be seen as his followers. They stayed there as he was nailed to the cross and stayed there until he died. They stayed there after he died and were there until he was put in the grave.
We so often emphasize the total abandonment Jesus experienced. Luke makes the case that even as Jesus went through agony, devoted followers were still present. They were surely helpless to do much other than be a witness but. .. . . ..isn’t that what we are supposed to do for the dying.
Death is awkward. People don’t know what to say or do or think or . . . .whatever. People apologize for not knowing what to say or do. Step one—be there! It’s the greatest gif t you can offer. To die well takes courage (Jesus certainly demonstrated that) but so does walking with someone who is dying. It takes love and compassion and the willingness to suffer as well (albeit in a different way than the one who physically dies).
I am very thankful for the witness of these women this day. They loved Jesus to the bitter end. I only hope and pray that at the end of my life they say, “he was so stirred up that he loved the Lord till the bitter end”. May that be said for all of us.
Thanks for walking with me this Lent through Luke. I hope you will do a few things:
1) Join me for a daily walk through Acts starting on Monday, April 5—www.ripplingout.blogspot.com (note that this blog appears on my facebook page as well as “good shepherd Lutheran Gaithersburg “ facebook page.
2) I hope that you will provide me with some feedback on this experience. Click this link to provide me with feedback. Your comments can be anonymous.
https://goodshepherdlc.wufoo.com/forms/feedback-for-jesus-facebook-page-devotion-series/
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