Crucifixion

Luke 23:26-35 (The Message)

26-31 As they led him off, they made Simon, a man from Cyrene who happened to be coming in from the countryside, carry the cross behind Jesus.

A huge crowd of people followed, along with women weeping and carrying on.

At one point Jesus turned to the women and said, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't cry for me. Cry for yourselves and for your children. The time is coming when they'll say, 'Lucky the women who never conceived! Lucky the wombs that never gave birth! Lucky the breasts that never gave milk!' Then they'll start calling to the mountains, 'Fall down on us!' calling to the hills, 'Cover us up!' If people do these things to a live, green tree, can you imagine what they'll do with deadwood?"

32 Two others, both criminals, were taken along with him for execution.

33 When they got to the place called Skull Hill, they crucified him, along with the criminals, one on his right, the other on his left.

34-35 Jesus prayed, "Father, forgive them; they don't know what they're doing."

After 23 chapters, we come to the moment of crucifixion.

In a way, it's almost strange to see how quickly it happens and the economy of words that Luke uses to describe the act.

"...they crucified him."

But, really, what else can be said?

Of all the entries that I have written for this Gospel, this is perhaps the most difficult of them all.

Jesus Christ is God among us. He is the incarnation of God's person, love and beauty. And now we see him rejected, humiliated and killed.

And yet, even in this darkest moment, hope still abounds.

This is the picture of God's love. Sacrificial, filled with concern for the creation He has made.

Simon, who carries the cross. The "daughters of Jerusalem" who weep for him. Criminals crucified with him, on either side. Even those who place the nails in his hands and feet.

"Father, forgive them, they don't know what they're doing."

I've heard people pull their own anger up around them like a snug little blanket. "If someone isn't sorry for what they've done, then how can there be forgiveness?"

In essence, we say to ourselves, "well...I would certainly forgive, but they haven't said they're sorry."

Look to the example of Jesus. Perfect love doesn't wait. It forgives, completely. This is the master that we follow. His path is not easy, but it is perfect.

Today, we pause with Luke...at the foot of the cross.

Father, we are so imperfect. We "crucify" those we do not like, and we lash out against those who do us harm or even just upset us. Somehow reach into our lives and show us a different way. Remind us of Jesus, and the cross, and his perfect love. May we be redeemed by this sacrifice, and may it never be in vain.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Mob

Luke 23:13-25 (The Message)  

Then Pilate called in the high priests, rulers, and the others and said, "You brought this man to me as a disturber of the peace. I examined him in front of all of you and found there was nothing to your charge. And neither did Herod, for he has sent him back here with a clean bill of health. 

It's clear that he's done nothing wrong, let alone anything deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go."

 18-20At that, the crowd went wild: "Kill him! Give us Barabbas!" (Barabbas had been thrown in prison for starting a riot in the city and for murder.) Pilate still wanted to let Jesus go, and so spoke out again.

 21But they kept shouting back, "Crucify! Crucify him!"

 22He tried a third time. "But for what crime? I've found nothing in him deserving death. I'm going to warn him to watch his step and let him go."

 23-25But they kept at it, a shouting mob, demanding that he be crucified. And finally they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man thrown in prison for rioting and murder, and gave them Jesus to do whatever they wanted.

"...Finally, they shouted him down."  

Sad words.  

Words that haven't changed too much in our world in the last 2,000 or 20,000 years.  

Mob mentality can be absolutely frightening...and overwhelmingly powerful.  

On this very day, December 29, 2008, there is extreme turmoil in the Middle East.  I haven't spent enough time with the TV (if that would help), or done enough reading on the internet to understand all the ins and outs of what's taken place.  

There has been violence in Israel and huge retaliation in Gaza.  And now, the mob is taking over.  

I did see that an Israeli flag was burned in the Jordanian parliament.  Hundreds of thousands have burned U.S. flags in Syria, and crowds are on the offensive in Turkey and Egypt as well.  

The things about riotous, mob mentality is that it feels right to those who are involved.  They are stirred, together, into a frenzy, sometimes because a legitimate wrong has taken place...always because unhealed wounds have been re-opened.  

It takes real leadership to stand against the mob.  Jesus stood...and Pilate stood beside him.  There was a moment of decision...an appeal to reason, and justice...then quiet acquiesence.  

"...finally, they shouted him down."  

And no amount of water could wash the blood from Pilate's hands.  

What mobs do we face in our world today?  What shouts urge us to actions that run counter to our conscience and the word of God within us?  

With prayer...and more prayer...and always humility...we should ask that God will show us the right path, even the one that runs counter to our culture...and then lead us with joy and confidence into whatever direction he has called.  

Father, we read the story of Pilate with a heavy heart.  There are moments when we are caught between the "crowd," and what is right.  Help us always to hear and follow our True Shepherd.  

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.  As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be.  World without end.  Amen.  

Mocked

Luke 23:8-12 (The Message)

8 When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.

9 He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. 10 The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him.

11 Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. 12 That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.

In recent verses, we've seen Jesus physically abused and humiliated.

Now, Jesus stands before Herod Antipas.

He is charged with claiming himself to be the "King of the Jews."

That title had belonged to Herod's father.

Almost 40 years before Jesus' birth, Herod the Great had withstood rebellion and political turmoil. He had gone to Rome, where Caesar had proclaimed him, "King of the Jews."

His son, Herod Antipas, had no plans to give up that title to this Galilean carpenter.

But he was hoping for a good show.

Perhaps it's his pride, his ego...the royalty of his upbringing...but all he thinks that Jesus is good for is a spectacle.

He mistakes the messiah for a magician.

And there's a lot we can learn from him, too. Sometimes, we don't want Jesus to have much space in our lives, except to perform the specific miracles we'd most like to see.

And then we're left wondering why Jesus seems silent in our lives.

The Truth does not speak where it is not truly wanted. "Jesus gave him no answer."

And there was nothing else that Herod wanted to hear. He thinks that he is in charge. He dresses Jesus up. He mocks him. He laughs.

May we see into this story, and learn to see each other with the eyes of Christ.

Father, we pray that we would seek real relationship with you in Christ, throughout every part of our lives. Forgive us for the times when we seek only the miracle, without also seeking to become real disciples.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Stand

Luke 23:1-7 (The Message)

1-2 Then they all took Jesus to Pilate and began to bring up charges against him.

They said, "We found this man undermining our law and order, forbidding taxes to be paid to Caesar, setting himself up as Messiah-King."

3 Pilate asked him, "Is this true that you're 'King of the Jews'?"

"Those are your words, not mine," Jesus replied.

4 Pilate told the high priests and the accompanying crowd, "I find nothing wrong here. He seems harmless enough to me."

5 But they were vehement. "He's stirring up unrest among the people with his teaching, disturbing the peace everywhere, starting in Galilee and now all through Judea. He's a dangerous man, endangering the peace."

6-7 When Pilate heard that, he asked, "So, he's a Galilean?"

Realizing that he properly came under Herod's jurisdiction, he passed the buck to Herod, who just happened to be in Jerusalem for a few days.

Truth.

Scripture tells us that it will "set you free."

It stands on its own. It does not need to be adorned or embellished.

Often, real truth can be sensed, and it is known in our hearts even before we're willing to speak it with our lips or accept it in our minds.

"Truth" embodied stands before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Truth does not need to defend itself.

"Are you the 'King of the Jews?'"

The question lays like a very thin veil over Pilate's real concerns. "Do you reject Roman authority? Do you declare yourself the leader of the Jewish people? Are you trying to bring rebellion to the empire?"

"Your words," Jesus says, "...not mine."

The truth stands. It is disconcerting...alienating...uncomfortable...when we are not yet ready to accept it.

Pilate is not ready. He passes the buck. Herod will be next. And the truth will stand again.

Father God, we pray that the Truth of Christ might stand within our hearts. Give us his humility, that we might accept his truth and reflect his light into the world.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Accusation

Luke 22:63-71 (The Message)

63-65 The men in charge of Jesus began poking fun at him, slapping him around. They put a blindfold on him and taunted, "Who hit you that time?" They were having a grand time with him.

66-67 When it was morning, the religious leaders of the people and the high priests and scholars all got together and brought him before their High Council. They said, "Are you the Messiah?"

67-69 He answered, "If I said yes, you wouldn't believe me. If I asked what you meant by your question, you wouldn't answer me. So here's what I have to say: From here on the Son of Man takes his place at God's right hand, the place of power."

70 They all said, "So you admit your claim to be the Son of God?"

"You're the ones who keep saying it," he said.

71 But they had made up their minds, "Why do we need any more evidence? We've all heard him as good as say it himself."

When we really take in this scene, it is hard to fathom. Jesus, bound and blindfolded, being ridiculed by his captors.

This is the most powerful person who has ever existed, fully God and fully human. He is limiting himself, accepting the abuse and allowing their painful taunting to continue.

They are hitting him, lashing out against him, and having a good laugh about his "claims" on God.

It's hard for us to imagine their ignorance...their arrogance...how wrong they are...physically striking and torturing Jesus.

But the truth is that they're not alone.

While we have never had the opportunity to strike Jesus with our own hands, we have certainly felt the pull to question his claims and lash out against him.

When the soldiers turn Jesus over to the high religious council of the Jews, this question of identity is exactly what he continues to face.

They don't understand him. He doesn't fit their conception of the Messiah. They won't accept him.

And he doesn't force his identity on them. This is the irony of Jesus. His identity is not dependent upon our opinion. But our identities can change forever when we accept Him for who He is.

A big part of growing up into faith is admitting what we don't understand. It is laying down our anger and frustration. It is giving up on our own abilities and intelligence as a way to save ourselves.

It is speaking our anger...naming the questions...and finally resolving into a blessed peace...and acceptance.

He is who he says he is. But he's willing to stand for your questions.

Arrogant though we may be...he will wait for us. Imagine the Lord of the universe who waits for us to accept him. He allows us to ask:

"Who are you? Are you the Messiah?"

His answer can cut through our self-righteous delusion:

"If I said yes, you wouldn't believe me. If I asked what you meant by your question, you wouldn't answer me. So here's what I have to say: From here on the Son of Man takes his place at God's right hand, the place of power."

What do we say to that?

God our Father, we pray that you would purge our hearts of anger, violence and self-righteous justifications. Show us your path of peace and acceptance. And thank you for your patience, the patience of Christ who allows the space for our struggle until we can call him Master.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Cry

Luke 22:54-62 (The Message)

54-56 Arresting Jesus, they marched him off and took him into the house of the Chief Priest.

Peter followed, but at a safe distance.

In the middle of the courtyard some people had started a fire and were sitting around it, trying to keep warm. One of the serving maids sitting at the fire noticed him, then took a second look and said, "This man was with him!"

57 He denied it, "Woman, I don't even know him."

58 A short time later, someone else noticed him and said, "You're one of them."

But Peter denied it: "Man, I am not."

59 About an hour later, someone else spoke up, really adamant: "He's got to have been with him! He's got 'Galilean' written all over him."

60-62 Peter said, "Man, I don't know what you're talking about."

At that very moment, the last word hardly off his lips, a rooster crowed.

Just then, the Master turned and looked at Peter. Peter remembered what the Master had said to him: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."

He went out and cried and cried and cried.

What's the worst you've ever "messed up?"

Whatever it is...it can't be as bad as Peter's.

He had been so brave before the hard times came. He had told Jesus that he would stand with him no matter what. He had said that he was ready to lay down his life.

But in the end, he just wasn't ready.

In the heat of the moment...in the turmoil and swirl of Jesus' arrest...he faced more pressure and danger than he had ever imagined.

He wasn't ready. Not yet.

One of the saddest and most broken pictures in all of scripture is that of Peter, weeping.

He had promised more than he could deliver. Head in hands, eyes weeping bitter tears, he is most pitiable because he believes that his is a failure than can never be undone.

If this was the end of Peter's story, it would be terrible news for us all.

Each of us is capable of good intentions, and promising more than we can provide. Each of us has experienced bitter failure, but we know that this is not the end of the story.

For now...we sit with Peter in the bitterness of his tears. There will be more darkness before the dawn, but the dawn of good news will surely come.

Father, we thank you for this picture of brokenness, because it mirrors the feelings that we have sometimes had in the wake of failure. Remind us of what can yet be, when you redeem our failures and give us your grace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Allow

Luke 22: 41-53 (The Message)

41-44 He pulled away from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?"

At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him. He prayed on all the harder. Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.

45-46 He got up from prayer, went back to the disciples and found them asleep, drugged by grief. He said, "What business do you have sleeping? Get up. Pray so you won't give in to temptation."

47-48 No sooner were the words out of his mouth than a crowd showed up, Judas, the one from the Twelve, in the lead. He came right up to Jesus to kiss him.

Jesus said, "Judas, you would betray the Son of Man with a kiss?"

49-50 When those with him saw what was happening, they said, "Master, shall we fight?" One of them took a swing at the Chief Priest's servant and cut off his right ear.

51 Jesus said, "Let them be. Even in this." Then, touching the servant's ear, he healed him.

52-53 Jesus spoke to those who had come—high priests, Temple police, religion leaders:

"What is this, jumping me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal?

Day after day I've been with you in the Temple and you've not so much as lifted a hand against me.

But do it your way—it's a dark night, a dark hour."

What do we do when hard times come?

At a basic human level, we are pushed to either fight or run. Our survival instinct kicks in...and the swords come out.

When the authorities come to arrest Jesus, Peter is ready to fight.

But what is Jesus' response? He allows. Had he wanted, he could easily have escaped. He willingly submits to those who come to do him harm. He heals the ear that Peter had violently removed.

The disciples must have felt so confused. Perhaps they were even disappointed. Almost certainly they must have doubted Jesus' real identity. How could the Messiah, the King, allow himself to be arrested and mistreated in this way? How could Judas have betrayed them?

But Jesus moves with peace. He is reconciled to the self-limiting sacrifice that has begun.

Sometimes we think that if we knew how our lives would come out, faith and peace would be so much easier.

Sometimes we're tempted to make less of Jesus' death because he knew resurrection lay just on the other side of that dark door.

I don't think anything about this was easy. But I find his "allowing" inspirational.

As Jesus walks through his "passion," we can learn so many ultimately valuable things.

No matter what comes...nothing can separate us from the Father. We don't have to fight or run.

We can stand and walk in God's power, not our own.

Prayer: Father, we seek to learn from Jesus' example. May we be so filled with trust that we can stop fighting with the world, and allow our lives to unfold as you lead us. What is your will?

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Sweat

Luke 22:39-44 (The Message)

39-40 Leaving there, he went, as he so often did, to Mount Olives. The disciples followed him. When they arrived at the place, he said, "Pray that you don't give in to temptation."

41-44 He pulled away from them about a stone's throw, knelt down, and prayed, "Father, remove this cup from me. But please, not what I want. What do you want?"

At once an angel from heaven was at his side, strengthening him. He prayed on all the harder.

Sweat, wrung from him like drops of blood, poured off his face.

I am so thankful for this passage of scripture.

"Gethsemane" is such a pivotal passage for followers of Jesus.

If Jesus had simply marched bravely to the cross with no struggle, we might be tempted to demonize our own temptations and doubts.

The trial that lay before Jesus was enough to give anyone significant pause. Most of us would run from the kinds of accusations, torture, condemnation and execution that awaited him.

And so he prayed. And we can learn so much from his prayer.

Jesus was completely honest before God, with no reservations. He prayed that if there were any possible way...that the "cup" could be removed.

There is no shame in this kind of prayer. In fact, it is the very pattern of prayer that could bring much healing to those who follow Jesus.

Honesty. Name the struggle. Cleanse the soul. Admit fear and pain.

And then emerge into a place of peace and resolution.

"Not what I want...what do you want?"

As soon as Jesus surrendered his will in unity with the Father, angels attended him and he was strengthened for whatever would come.

Gethsemane is the perfect picture of honest struggle...and the strength that only God can provide.

Prayer: If we are in pain, if we are afraid, if we are uncertain...we call on your strength, our Father. May you bring us to the place of peace, and may angels attend our needs.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Sword

Luke 22:33-38 (The Message)

33 Peter said, "Master, I'm ready for anything with you. I'd go to jail for you. I'd die for you!"

34 Jesus said, "I'm sorry to have to tell you this, Peter, but before the rooster crows you will have three times denied that you know me."

35 Then Jesus said, "When I sent you out and told you to travel light, to take only the bare necessities, did you get along all right?"

"Certainly," they said, "we got along just fine."

36-37 He said, "This is different. Get ready for trouble. Look to what you'll need; there are difficult times ahead.

Pawn your coat and get a sword.

What was written in Scripture, 'He was lumped in with the criminals,' gets its final meaning in me. Everything written about me is now coming to a conclusion."

38 They said, "Look, Master, two swords!"

But he said, "Enough of that; no more sword talk!"

Peter talks big. And, he has been a man of action. After all, remember that it's Peter who gets out of the boat and walks on the water with Jesus.

But his talk is bigger than his walk this time.

"I'll die for you!"

"Swords? Let's get swords! Let's go!"

"Let's fight!"

Sounds good. Sounds good to be ready to fight and go and die if necessary.

It sounds good. But in practice...how does it feel?

Peter could tell us. "Before the rooster crows, you will have three times denied me."

And guess what? I think that's good news for us.

Isn't it amazing that the Bible leaves this story in place? After all, Peter is "the rock," upon which the church would be built. The stories of his denial of Jesus, and the foolhardy way in which he bragged about his readiness just aren't very flattering to him.

And yet, there it is. And that's good for us.

There's a lot that "sounds good" in our world. But in practice, those very things may be scary, difficult, or threatening.

Sometimes we will fail in shameful ways. Those times are almost always when we fail to live in God's power. Sometimes we will live from our fear, our pride, our pain.

It even happened to Peter. And God redeemed that experience.

"No more sword talk," Jesus says. His time had come.

Prayer: Father, we pray that you would help us to live in your power and not our own.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Serve

Luke 22:24-33 (The Message)

24-26 Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up the greatest.

But Jesus intervened: "Kings like to throw their weight around and people in authority like to give themselves fancy titles.

It's not going to be that way with you.

Let the senior among you become like the junior; let the leader act the part of the servant.

27-30 "Who would you rather be: the one who eats the dinner or the one who serves the dinner? You'd rather eat and be served, right?

But I've taken my place among you as the one who serves.

And you've stuck with me through thick and thin. Now I confer on you the royal authority my Father conferred on me so you can eat and drink at my table in my kingdom and be strengthened as you take up responsibilities among the congregations of God's people.

31-32 "Simon, stay on your toes. Satan has tried his best to separate all of you from me, like chaff from wheat. Simon, I've prayed for you in particular that you not give in or give out.

When you have come through the time of testing, turn to your companions and give them a fresh start."

33 Peter said, "Master, I'm ready for anything with you. I'd go to jail for you. I'd die for you!"

So here we are, right where we left off. The argument: who is greatest?

Jesus never loses a teachable moment. When this moment presents itself, Jesus imparts a lesson on real authority that has stood the test of time.

Earthly kings "Lord" their authority over their subjects. But "the Lord," Jesus, comes among us as a servant.

Why?

There are lots of reasons, perhaps. Maybe it's just the very nature of God.

But according to this scripture, it seems that Jesus has a very specific intent in mind.

He wants to build up his disciples. He wants to strengthen them, and us as well. He gives us a seat at the royal table, so that we can be "strengthened as we take up authority among the congregations of God's people."

He serves his disciples, and strengthens us, so that we can serve and strengthen others.

Consider this passage as the beginning of a great chain of strength and encouragement. It has bene passed from Jesus to believer to believer, throughout the centuries.

Perhaps someone has served and strengthened you, even today.

Who could Jesus be calling us to serve tomorrow?

Prayer: Father we pray that we would choose a seat at your banquet table. May we be strengthened through time spent in relationship with you. Through the Holy Spirit, may we walk in the grace of Christ and serve others in his name.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Greatest

Luke 22:21-24 (The Message)

21-22 "Do you realize that the hand of the one who is betraying me is at this moment on this table? It's true that the Son of Man is going down a path already marked out—no surprises there.

But for the one who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man, this is doomsday."

23 They immediately became suspicious of each other and began quizzing one another, wondering who might be about to do this.

24 Within minutes they were bickering over who of them would end up the greatest.

This passage contains a real temptation. It would be so easy to focus on Judas.

We try to figure him out. Why would he do it? Why would he double-cross Jesus? Was it really the money? Was he trying to force a confrontation with the authorities? Was it all pre-determined in a way that just didn't give him a choice?

I don't know.

It's fertile ground for speculation and much has been written about old Judas over the centuries. In The Inferno, Dante places him right at the center of hell, being continually chewed and eaten by the very mouth of Satan.

Tough stuff.

But I'm not sure that's where we should focus. There's a lot going on with all of these disciples.

Think about it: Jesus has just instituted Holy Communion and they were there at the table.

That's lost on them.

He's just announced that the time of his betrayal has come and that the turncoat is seated somewhere at that very table.

Within minutes, they're arguing about who will be the greatest.

Does it sound like human nature has changed a lot in 2,000+ years?

Maybe not. We humans tend to like hierarchies and power structures. We like to scale those structures and then exercise power over one another.

There is some broken, unhealed part of us that always wants to be crowned "the greatest."

I'll leave that pursuit to Muhammad Ali.

Our job is not to be the greatest. It's to be a follower. And following Jesus means following him through the cross, into the resurrection.

It means death. Namely, it means the death of our ego. It means the death of pride and pain and the need to get ahead. It means resurrection into a completely new way of understanding the world and living our lives.

Prayer: Father we pray that we would allow ourselves to be completely adopted into your love. May we be followers. May we be the least, not the greatest. May we depend upon and magnify your power and strength in this world.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Covenant

Luke 22:14-20 (The Message)

14-16 When it was time, he sat down, all the apostles with him, and said, "You've no idea how much I have looked forward to eating this Passover meal with you before I enter my time of suffering.

It's the last one I'll eat until we all eat it together in the kingdom of God."

17-18 Taking the cup, he blessed it, then said, "Take this and pass it among you. As for me, I'll not drink wine again until the kingdom of God arrives."

19 Taking bread, he blessed it, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body, given for you. Eat it in my memory."

20 He did the same with the cup after supper, saying, "This cup is the new covenant written in my blood, blood poured out for you.

Whenever I read this telling of the "last supper," the institution of the sacrament of Holy Communion, I always wonder about what memories this moment brought to the disciples' minds.

We humans have the ability to form associations in our minds, to be transported through space and time to past experiences...sometimes by smells, sights, voices, or people who touch others that remain stored deep in our memory banks.

At this meal, Jesus took the bread, blessed, broke and gave.

I have to wonder if his disciples didn't remember another time they saw him do these very same things in a ceremonial and miraculous way.

Thousands had gathered to receive, but there were only a few loaves and fish on offer.

Jesus took what was there, and blessed and broke and gave (and gave, and gave, and gave...).

I wonder if they remembered?

What they didn't know in that "upper room" moment was that Jesus was feeding more than a multitude of thousands with the bread and cup.

He was offering up himself. "This is my body." "This is my blood."

And since that time? Billions of humans have received the grace offered at that table.

What do we learn?

So much. We learn about Jesus' sacrificial love. We learn that every time we gather together in Jesus' name, the place and moment become holy. We learn that God's provision is equal to every need, and He gives in the most generous ways.

We learn to be thankful, and to remember. Most of all, if we let the full grace of this sacrificial and extraordinary meal into the deepest parts of who we are, we become a new creation.

Prayer: God our Father, we pray for trust and belief. We pray that you would show us signs of your abundant love. Help us to live in the expectation of Advent and to give thanks when you provide. Hold us in your grace.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Prepared

Luke 22:1-13 (The Message)

1-2 The Feast of Unleavened Bread, also called Passover, drew near.

The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way to do away with Jesus but, fearful of the people, they were also looking for a way to cover their tracks.

3-6 That's when Satan entered Judas, the one called Iscariot. He was one of the Twelve.

Leaving the others, he conferred with the high priests and the Temple guards about how he might betray Jesus to them.

They couldn't believe their good luck and agreed to pay him well.

He gave them his word and started looking for a way to betray Jesus, but out of sight of the crowd.

7-8 The Day of Unleavened Bread came, the day the Passover lamb was butchered. Jesus sent Peter and John off, saying, "Go prepare the Passover for us so we can eat it together."

9 They said, "Where do you want us to do this?"

10-12 He said, "Keep your eyes open as you enter the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him home. Then speak with the owner of the house: The Teacher wants to know, 'Where is the guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?' He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare the meal there."

13 They left, found everything just as he told them, and prepared the Passover meal.

As we enter this 22nd chapter of Luke together, things will begin moving quickly.

The hour has come. The clock is now ticking. The wheels are in motion.

Everything has been prepared, and the moment that this story's "bad guys" have been looking for has finally presented itself. Judas present himself to them, prepared to sell Jesus for a profit.

Judas is not the only disciple with a role to play. Peter and John have a job to do, too.

Jesus sends them on ahead for a room that they will find prepared. This is the "upper room" of the very first communion, the "last supper."

"Where?" we hear Peter and John ask. It's almost as though they are saying, "show us the way through this terrible week," although they do not yet understand how painful it will be.

Jesus' answer is that everything is prepared. They need only follow his instruction.

So much of life really seems to be this way. So much is prepared and ready. We live in an incredible world, prepared by God especially for our existence and to sustain the gift of life.

We need only to follow his instruction, whatever it is. But following takes humility and trust.

There will be much more darkness in Luke before the glorious light. Jesus' search is for disciples who are prepared to follow.

Prayer: As we enter into the passion story in this Gospel, we pray for your light and preparation. May you guide every step of our spiritual path. Forgive us all of our betrayals, both small and large. Help us to be prepared for what you may unfold in our sight.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Ripe

Luke 21:29-38 (The Message)

29-33 He told them a story.

"Look at a fig tree.

Any tree for that matter.

When the leaves begin to show, one look tells you that summer is right around the corner.

The same here—when you see these things happen, you know God's kingdom is about here. Don't brush this off: I'm not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen.

Sky and earth will wear out; my words won't wear out.

34-36 "But be on your guard. Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping.

Otherwise, that Day is going to take you by complete surprise, spring on you suddenly like a trap, for it's going to come on everyone, everywhere, at once.

So, whatever you do, don't go to sleep at the switch. Pray constantly that you will have the strength and wits to make it through everything that's coming and end up on your feet before the Son of Man."

37-38 He spent his days in the Temple teaching, but his nights out on the mountain called Olives.

All the people were up at the crack of dawn to come to the Temple and listen to him.

Take just a moment to read that passage again, slowly. Let it really sink in.

It's striking in many ways.

It seems to me that the message Jesus is proclaiming shouldn't draw huge crowds. It's one of self-control, discipline and readiness.

It flies in the face of things that are "fun, quick and easy." Sometimes I tend to think that people don't want to hear these kinds of things.

And yet, "all the people were up at the crack of dawn to come to the Temple and listen to him."

Maybe in Jesus they couldn't help seeing the signs, the first budding of the new, green leaves.

Jesus says that we can see and know when the fig tree's leaves are coming. Their presence tells us that summer is on its way. A huge fig tree stands guard outside the window of my office. This is the fourth fall when I have seen its leaves turn yellow and then brown, then fade away to nothing.

This springs it will bud out once again. The huge, green leaves will come, and then the fruit. In the heat of summer we'll pick figs one more time.

But we're not the only ones who love figs. So do the birds, squirrels and deer. As soon as the figs begin to turn, we pick them. We have to get there first, and to do that, we have to be ready.

We have to watch.

Now, if I'm willing to keep an eye on ripening figs (some things don't change in 2,000 years, do they?), then perhaps I ought to be equally willing to keep watch for the coming of the kingdom.

The holiday season is near, and this year, I want to keep watching. Do Jesus' words sound as though they are describing coming days?

"Don't let the sharp edge of your expectation get dulled by parties and drinking and shopping."

Watch with expectation. Pray. Ask God to make us ready for the ways he may break into our lives.

Prayer: Father, we ask you to make us aware. Help us to be spiritually awake, not asleep at the switch. As we watch for ripening fruit in the summer, show us how our lives and our world turn ripe in your presence.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Help

Luke 21:20-28 (The Message)

20-24 "When you see soldiers camped all around Jerusalem, then you'll know that she is about to be devastated.

If you're living in Judea at the time, run for the hills. If you're in the city, get out quickly.

If you're out in the fields, don't go home to get your coat.

This is Vengeance Day—everything written about it will come to a head.

Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Incredible misery! Torrential rage! People dropping like flies; people dragged off to prisons; Jerusalem under the boot of barbarians until the nations finish what was given them to do.

25-26 "It will seem like all hell has broken loose—sun, moon, stars, earth, sea, in an uproar and everyone all over the world in a panic, the wind knocked out of them by the threat of doom, the powers-that-be quaking.

27-28 "And then—then!—they'll see the Son of Man welcomed in grand style—a glorious welcome! When all this starts to happen, up on your feet.

Stand tall with your heads high.

Help is on the way!"

How does it feel when you're really in danger...when you're really facing a crisis...when you really don't have any idea how things are going to get better...and help finally appears?

It's about the best feeling that there is.

Help in a time of need.

Have you ever really needed help that badly?

The scene that Jesus describes is startling and bleak. It is frightening and painful. Anyone in Jerusalem in the situation he tells us about would be in desperate need of help.

When danger is present on all sides, our instinct can be to run and hide. Even Jesus tells those listening that on that day they should "run for the hills."

But he also tells them something else. That's not the end of the story.

Remember this today, whatever pressures and dangers you face:

When it seems like, "all hell has broken loose," that is the moment to look up.

"Up on your feet, heads held high!"

Jesus promises us that when we need it most...when it seems as though all hope is lost...help is on the way. And it will always be exactly so.

Prayer: Father, we pray that if we are discouraged, you would send us your encouragement. If we have almost given up, remind us to look to the heavens...and to know that you will help us in "grand and glorious style."

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Panic

Luke 21:5-19 (The Message)

5-6 One day people were standing around talking about the Temple, remarking how beautiful it was, the splendor of its stonework and memorial gifts.

Jesus said, "All this you're admiring so much—the time is coming when every stone in that building will end up in a heap of rubble."

7 They asked him, "Teacher, when is this going to happen? What clue will we get that it's about to take place?"

8-9 He said, "Watch out for the doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, 'I'm the One,' or, 'The end is near.'

Don't fall for any of that.

When you hear of wars and uprisings, keep your head and don't panic.

This is routine history and no sign of the end."

10-11 He went on, "Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Huge earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines.

You'll think at times that the very sky is falling.

12-15 "But before any of this happens, they'll arrest you, hunt you down, and drag you to court and jail. It will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name.

You'll end up on the witness stand, called to testify. Make up your mind right now not to worry about it. I'll give you the words and wisdom that will reduce all your accusers to stammers and stutters.

16-19 "You'll even be turned in by parents, brothers, relatives, and friends.

Some of you will be killed.

There's no telling who will hate you because of me.

Even so, every detail of your body and soul—even the hairs of your head!—is in my care; nothing of you will be lost. Staying with it—that's what is required.

Stay with it to the end.

You won't be sorry; you'll be saved.

This section of Luke begins Jesus' speech known as the "little apocalypse."

But any talk about the end of the world doesn't seem too "little," does it?

Somehow, these kinds of scriptures often make us afraid. We fear the change that scripture predicts will some day come. We know, intellectually, that the "things of this earth are passing away," but right now they sure do seem like the most stable, unchanging things in our lives.

Jesus' prediction about the destruction of the temple would happened just about 40 years later.

History is marked by terrible occurrences, by genocide and chaos. Our own lives have been witness to 9/11, war and turmoil.

Is it time for "the end?" Is it time to panic?

Not according to Jesus.

The irony of this scripture is that it is intended to calm, not upset. Jesus is reminding us that his followers have no reason to panic...not even in the face of death.

He gives us assurance that no matter what...he will give us the right words...the stamina...the courage that we need.

It is here that we learn that God cares for "ever detail of our bodies and soul, even the hair on our head!" "Nothing," Jesus says, "nothing of you will be lost."

Recently, several good friends asked me to show them how scripture should help us not to be afraid. Why shouldn't Christians panic if they think the world is turning away from God?

Because in this scripture, Jesus tells us plainly not to fear. We walk in his strength, and that strength cannot be overcome.

Prayer: God our Father, may we walk in your strength today. May perfect love cast out fear in our lives, communities and world.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Extravagant

Luke 21:1-4 1-4

Just then he looked up and saw the rich people dropping offerings in the collection plate.

Then he saw a poor widow put in two pennies.

He said, "The plain truth is that this widow has given by far the largest offering today. All these others made offerings that they'll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford—she gave her all!"

Jesus knew a teaching moment when he saw one.

And, he has an interesting definition of "largest."

Even though the widow in this story gave "two pennies," one of the smallest amounts of the day, Jesus said she had given the most.

He has a different kind of math, and he's trying to teach the rest of us his ways.

You see, she gave the most because she, "gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford...she gave her all."

2008 has been one of of the worst economic years in the U.S. and around the world that we've seen in recent memory.

Many businesses are suffering...and churches are no exception. When I attend clergy meetings, I often hear a common theme: "we are so far behind budget...we don't know what we will do."

The people are struggling...we feel like there is scarcity, and certainly not abundance.

What can we do?

Well...it's pretty simple.

We can trust. No matter what the news says, we can choose not to live in fear.

Jesus is telling us that there really aren't any excuses. I mean none.

We don't have too little. Our offering isn't so small that it doesn't count. We don't have to take care of ourselves when God wants to take care of us. We can always, always choose to give.

And it's not the amount that God gives. It's the relative amount of trust it takes in the giving.

"She gave extravagantly what she couldn't afford...she gave her all!"

And it was the largest offering of the day. There is no budget problem that trust can't overcome.

Prayer: Father, we pray for the operating budget at Shepherd of the Hills, and at all of your churches in our community, nation and world. Help us to close the gap in our operating deficit so that we don't take on debt in the name of ministry. We pray that the vision of our CCC Team to give 100 turkeys to those in need this Thanksgiving will be fulfilled. Teach us to be giving people of faith.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Preen

Luke 20:27-47 (The Message)

27-33 Some Sadducees came up. This is the Jewish party that denies any possibility of resurrection.

They asked, "Teacher, Moses wrote us that if a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother is obligated to take the widow to wife and get her with child. Well, there once were seven brothers.

The first took a wife. He died childless. The second married her and died, then the third, and eventually all seven had their turn, but no child. After all that, the wife died. That wife, now—in the resurrection whose wife is she? All seven married her."

34-38 Jesus said, "Marriage is a major preoccupation here, but not there. Those who are included in the resurrection of the dead will no longer be concerned with marriage nor, of course, with death. They will have better things to think about, if you can believe it.

All ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God. Even Moses exclaimed about resurrection at the burning bush, saying, 'God: God of Abraham, God of Isaac, God of Jacob!' God isn't the God of dead men, but of the living. To him all are alive."

39-40 Some of the religion scholars said, "Teacher, that's a great answer!" For a while, anyway, no one dared put questions to him.

41-44 Then he put a question to them: "How is it that they say that the Messiah is David's son? In the Book of Psalms, David clearly says,

God said to my Master,
"Sit here at my right hand
until I put your enemies under your feet."

"David here designates the Messiah as 'my Master'—so how can the Messiah also be his 'son'?"

45-47 With everybody listening, Jesus spoke to his disciples.

"Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preen in the radiance of public flattery, bask in prominent positions, sit at the head table at every church function.

And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless.

The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they'll pay for it in the end."

Jesus is so patient with the people around him.

He listens to their questions...even when those very questions show how little understanding they really have.

Their question about marriage is of the "how many angels can dance on the head of a pin," sort.

Interesting...but ultimately irrelevant.

The resurrection is not a place concerned with hypothetical ethics. Jesus says there will be "better things."

Jesus is not a nose-in-the-air, or even a head-in-the-clouds sort of leader. His teachings are real, powerful and present.

Why does he ask about the messiah's role as "Son of David?" To illustrate that he is a servant in this human world.

Jesus doesn't wear an academic gown or seek anyone's praise. He doesn't play games of imaginary theology. He isn't interested in the illusions of power and privilege that our world can provide.

He is a servant. He is soon to be the "suffering servant."

What lessons in leadership. The "strong" are those who help the weak. The "powerful" don't vie for the seat of honor. The way of the cross is not found among the preening power players.

It is gift of God's spirit...intense humility...powerful obedience...servant leadership.

Prayer: Show us the way of the cross. Lead us into humble paths. Give us your peace and power.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Caesar

Luke 20:20-26 (The Message)

20-22 Watching for a chance to get him, they sent spies who posed as honest inquirers, hoping to trick him into saying something that would get him in trouble with the law.

So they asked him, "Teacher, we know that you're honest and straightforward when you teach, that you don't pander to anyone but teach the way of God accurately.

Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?"

23-24 He knew they were laying for him and said, "Show me a coin. Now, this engraving, who does it look like and what does it say?"

25 "Caesar," they said.

Jesus said, "Then give Caesar what is his and give God what is his."

26 Try as they might, they couldn't trap him into saying anything incriminating.

His answer caught them off guard and left them speechless.

They're still trying to get him.

They're not going to quit until he's trapped. They're determined to turn the crowds against him.

They're waiting for a mistake...for a moment when he slips...any opportunity to do away with this man Jesus.

"Let's make him talk about money," I can almost hear them thinking.

"Yeah, ask him about taxes. Everybody hates taxes. And the people resent Caesar. If he says 'don't pay,' the people will love him but Caesar won't. If says 'pay,' the people will see him as a false prophet. It's perfect, there's no way out!"

This is the ultimate game of life-and-death "gotcha."

What could Jesus say?

Well...he could challenge the very premise of the question. That's what He seems to do so often, and it's very important that we listen.

"Look at this coin. Who's picture is this? What is the name inscribed here? I'd say it belongs to him. If he wants it...give it to him...he thinks it's his."

The crowd must have murmured...maybe some angry voices got raised, unhappy with what he'd said about paying taxes.

"But give God what belongs to him, too."

They were speechless. They didn't trap him. He trapped them. Again.

But remember this: Jesus' traps are not really traps. They're invitations to a new way of life. They will make us think. They will make us pray. They can change who we are.

He will leave us speechless, and that's a good thing.

Prayer: Father God, we pray for speechless moments today. We pray that you would show us the things that belong to you, and help us give you those with no reservations. We offer our hearts, leaving the things of the world for those who want them...teach us to want relationship with you and with our fellow human beings.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Cornerstone

Luke 20:9-19 (The Message)

9-12 Jesus told another story to the people:

"A man planted a vineyard. He handed it over to farmhands and went off on a trip.

He was gone a long time. In time he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect the profits, but they beat him up and sent him off empty-handed.

He decided to try again and sent another servant. That one they beat black-and-blue, and sent him off empty-handed.

He tried a third time. They worked that servant over from head to foot and dumped him in the street.

13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'I know what I'll do: I'll send my beloved son. They're bound to respect my son.'

14-15 "But when the farmhands saw him coming, they quickly put their heads together.

'This is our chance—this is the heir! Let's kill him and have it all to ourselves.' They killed him and threw him over the fence.

15-16 "What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? Right. He'll come and clean house. Then he'll assign the care of the vineyard to others."

Those who were listening said, "Oh, no! He'd never do that!"

17-18 But Jesus didn't back down. "Why, then, do you think this was written:

That stone the masons threw out—
It's now the cornerstone!?

"Anyone falling over that stone will break every bone in his body; if the stone falls on anyone, it will be a total smashup."

19 The religion scholars and high priests wanted to lynch him on the spot, but they were intimidated by public opinion. They knew the story was about them.

Who is weak and who is strong in this story?

At first glance, the servants sent by the master look pretty weak. They get beaten black and blue. They not successful in obtaining the money that they're supposed to collect.

Then son, then, must be the weakest of them all. He doesn't just get beaten up. He gets killed and dumped like trash, over the fence.

These farmhands the Master left in control are some big, mean, strong guys. They're not to be messed with or taken lightly.

At least, that's the way it looks at first.

God has a special place in his heart for the "weak." In fact, the Bible teaches us that it's only in our weakness that God's strength can really be seen.

God does not seem to appreciate the proud, the "puffed up," the intimidators...the violent...the "strong."

The real truth is this: "weakness" can be harder than stone.

This is a parable for anyone who's ever been rejected, or hurt, or beaten. This is a story for the underdogs. This is a message of hope for the hopeless and justice for those who have suffered.

This is a story of the messiah...the cornerstone.

Jesus stood in the midst of the religion scholars, and all the people...hard as rock...tough as iron...unbreakable.

But the farmhands weren't finished yet. They would push this man to the limits. They would break him...so they thought. They "knew the story was about them," and they would wait for the opportune time.

Prayer: Teach us the lessons of the suffering servant. Help us, Father, to remember that we don't have to be puffed up before you. We can admit our weakness. We can sustain the punches of the world around us...because your strength will always shine through.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Credentials

Luke 20:1-8 (The Message)

1-2 One day he was teaching the people in the Temple, proclaiming the Message.

The high priests, religion scholars, and leaders confronted him and demanded, "Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to speak and act like this?"

3-4 Jesus answered, "First, let me ask you a question: About the baptism of John—who authorized it, heaven or humans?"

5-7 They were on the spot, and knew it.

They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, "If we say 'heaven,' he'll ask us why we didn't believe him; if we say 'humans,' the people will tear us limb from limb, convinced as they are that John was God's prophet."

They agreed to concede that round to Jesus and said they didn't know.

8 Jesus said, "Then neither will I answer your question."

Have you ever tried to "trap" God?

Probably. Truthfully, I think almost all of us have...in fact, we probably do it pretty often.

We ask God why things aren't the way that we think they should be. We go passive aggressive..."if you really loved me, then..."

Maybe sometimes, especially when we encounter a scripture that pushes us...a sermon that makes us uncomfortable...a person or a situation that defies easy explanation...we find ourselves trying to set a "trap" for the almighty.

Even as I write those words, the foolishness of the idea is striking. But, foolishness has never stopped us. Sometimes we humans just have a penchant for the foolish.

What about the religious leaders in this scripture? They've been trying to trap Jesus for several chapters, but this time they just outright confront him.

"Show us your credentials!"

I guess they wanted Jesus to produce a certificate that had been stamped by the proper authorities.

He had something better than a card. Asking them a simple and legitimate question, the trappers found themselves trapped.

That's what happens when we fight with the divine...when we confront the all-knowing...we we try to trap the untrappable...we we question the credentials of the ultimate authority.

We're left speechless.

So, maybe some quiet time would do us all good every now and then.

Prayer: We ask for the gift of quiet today. Help us to be still. To sit in the presence of your authority.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Late

Luke 19:41-48 (The Message)

41-44 When the city came into view, he wept over it.

"If you had only recognized this day, and everything that was good for you!

But now it's too late.

In the days ahead your enemies are going to bring up their heavy artillery and surround you, pressing in from every side. They'll smash you and your babies on the pavement. Not one stone will be left intact.

All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit."

45-46 Going into the Temple he began to throw out everyone who had set up shop, selling everything and anything.

He said, "It's written in Scripture,

My house is a house of prayer;
You have turned it into a religious bazaar."

47-48 From then on he taught each day in the Temple.

The high priests, religion scholars, and the leaders of the people were trying their best to find a way to get rid of him.

But with the people hanging on every word he spoke, they couldn't come up with anything.

In my thinking this passage represents some of the most heart-breaking words that Jesus ever says in the Gospels.

But even though they're heart-breaking, he still says them.

"It's too late."

That's not something I ever want to hear him say.

"Too late" is a truly crushing situation.

Did you ever turn in an assignment after the deadline, hoping that the professor could somehow extend you some grace, and maybe just take a little off the grade?

Did you ever hear that teacher say, "no, it's too late...I can't accept that assignment now."

Or did you ever need someone, or something...only to have it arrive after the moment had passed?

"Too late." If it's really "too late," there's nothing you can do to change it. It hurts.

We really, really like to live with the idea that it will never be too late.

We tend to always put off until tomorrow. And then the tomorrow after that.

But here in this scripture we hear Jesus saying that it's too late for Jerusalem. He predicts the complete destruction of the temple (which happened only a few decades after his crucifixion).

The moment was passing. Why?

"All this because you didn't recognize and welcome God's personal visit."

What about us? Is it possible that even though God may give us many, many days, one day it could be too late?

We can do something right now. We can welcome God's personal visit. Let's do it...while it's today...right now...

Prayer: Father, we pray that we might learn the lesson of Jesus in Jerusalem. May we open our hearts completely...right now...and may the terrible possibility of too late give us the urgency that grow our hearts toward you.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.

Praise

Luke 19:28-40 (The Message)

28-31 After saying these things, Jesus headed straight up to Jerusalem.

When he got near Bethphage and Bethany at the mountain called Olives, he sent off two of the disciples with instructions:

"Go to the village across from you. As soon as you enter, you'll find a colt tethered, one that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it. If anyone says anything, asks, 'What are you doing?' say, 'His Master needs him.'"

32-33 The two left and found it just as he said. As they were untying the colt, its owners said, "What are you doing untying the colt?"

34 They said, "His Master needs him."

35-36They brought the colt to Jesus. Then, throwing their coats on its back, they helped Jesus get on. As he rode, the people gave him a grand welcome, throwing their coats on the street.

37-38 Right at the crest, where Mount Olives begins its descent, the whole crowd of disciples burst into enthusiastic praise over all the mighty works they had witnessed:

Blessed is he who comes,
the king in God's name!
All's well in heaven!
Glory in the high places!

39 Some Pharisees from the crowd told him, "Teacher, get your disciples under control!"

40 But he said, "If they kept quiet, the stones would do it for them, shouting praise."

Yesterday was a day of incredible significance in the history of our country.

My grandfathers grew up in a society where segregation was never even questioned. It was simply the way of life that everyone knew, and everyone knew their place. Everyone believed that nothing about that way of life could really ever change.

A black President was simply unimaginable. At that time, it even seemed that no one from the South could ever be elected, and no one could even think of the possibility of a person of color coming to the office.

My Father's generation witnessed change, but it wasn't easy.

He has memories of "white" bathrooms and water fountains. His grandmother once slapped him back when he almost drank from the "wrong" one.

He lived through the integration of schools and came of age during the turbulence of the 60's and early 70's.

My first teachers in elementary school were black women. My classrooms were evenly divided between white and black. My teammates were of all colors. But my churches were not.

As a child of the 80's coming of age in the early 90's, much racial progress had been made, but some things still seemed impossible. There were taboos that were not to be crossed.

Last week, I ate lunch with my 3rd grader, in his elementary school cafeteria. I saw a sea of black and white children eating together, completely enmeshed together at their tables. I didn't see pockets of color where like ate or talked with like. I heard laughter. I saw smiles.

There were no obvious social or economic differences. My son just happens to be pale with freckles and many of his friends happen to have darker skin.

I couldn't help hearing the voice of Dr. King somewhere deep in the back of my mind.

As we sat in the "red hills of Georgia," it struck me deeply that I was watching, "the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners...able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood."

When my sons first saw Obama on television, I asked them...what do you think about him? They said, "he's tall, and he seems really smart."

That's what they noticed. Tall, not black.

Last summer, after an afternoon at the pool, our then four year old asked why different people have different color skin. We explained that God makes us that way, that people have different color eyes, hair, skin. We asked him what color he was.

He looked at his arm...

"Pink," he said. There's a lot we can learn from children.

We've definitely come a long way in four generations.

What does all of this have to do with today's scripture from Luke? I'm glad you asked.

Last night, hundreds of thousands of people gathered in Grant Park to celebrate and hail the new President-elect.

I don't think I've ever witnessed anything quite like that in my lifetime. People, as far as the eye could see, wildly celebrating a newly elected leader.

As we read this passage of scripture, it's hard not to draw comparisons. Jesus entered Jerusalem to throngs of shouting people...waving palm fronds...heralding him as a King.

In Jesus' time, not everyone celebrated his arrival. Certainly, the same was true last night. Wonderful, Chrisitan people voted for both candidates. Both candidates couldn't win. One had to lose.

Throughout the campaign, some have derisively referred to Obama as "messiah." There's no doubt, he has created a kind of "messianic" excitement in some of his supporters.

But it's important to remember, no matter who you supported for president, that no human being can be the messiah.

No matter who we voted for last night...all Christians have one and the same King.

No matter who we voted for...we can celebrate the significance of the moment, and acknowledge the positive changes that have come through the blood of previous generations.

No matter who we voted for...we can remember that we are all redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ.

And whether we were celebrating with the masses last night or not, we should all be committed to praising Jesus each and every day. If we didn't, "the stones would do it for us."

God is always, always good, and His steadfast love endures forever, for us all.

Prayer: God our Father, we lift to you today our current President George W. Bush. We pray that you would give him the gifts of wisdom and leadership in his remaining days in office.

We pray for John McCain and all who have given their time, energy and votes in support of his candidacy.

We pray for Barack Obama. May you bless him and his family and may your Holy Spirit rest upon him. May you make him equal to the tasks ahead, and may you help us all to be united as one country, and united in faith as followers of Jesus Christ.

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit. As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be. World without end. Amen.