Witnesses

Luke 24:33-53 (The Message)

33-34 They didn't waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem.

They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: "It's really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!"

35 Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.

36-41 While they were saying all this, Jesus appeared to them and said, "Peace be with you."

They thought they were seeing a ghost and were scared half to death.

He continued with them, "Don't be upset, and don't let all these doubting questions take over. Look at my hands; look at my feet—it's really me. Touch me. Look me over from head to toe. A ghost doesn't have muscle and bone like this."

As he said this, he showed them his hands and feet. They still couldn't believe what they were seeing. It was too much; it seemed too good to be true.

41-43 He asked, "Do you have any food here?" They gave him a piece of leftover fish they had cooked. He took it and ate it right before their eyes.

44 Then he said, "Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled."

45-49 He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way.

He said, "You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem!

You're the first to hear and see it. You're the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you're equipped with power from on high."

50-51 He then led them out of the city over to Bethany. Raising his hands he blessed them, and while blessing them, took his leave, being carried up to heaven.

52-53 And they were on their knees, worshiping him. They returned to Jerusalem bursting with joy. They spent all their time in the Temple praising God. Yes.

Luke's Gospel ends in this most magnificent way.

Jesus, alive, and in the midst of his beloved disciples. His presence, and his final teaching of scripture, make ultimate sense of the events that have taken place.

He is Redemption embodied. He is Hope, fulfilled. He is Joy and Peace and Power.

Things have been made right in the most perfect way. He is alive.

Those three words have had so much power throughout time and place.

He is alive.

The one who gave himself up. The most heart-breaking story of sacrificial love ends with healed hearts, bursting with joy.

He is alive.

And now, the task for those who believe this truth? "You're the witnesses."

Witnesses can attest to the truth of what has taken place. Witnesses shed light, and bring reality into clear view. They help others make sense of the world.

That is the call. We are witnesses to what God has done...witnesses to what God is doing and can yet do in our own lives.

Because "he is alive," all things are possible. Joy. Hope. Peace. Power.

"They returned to Jerusalem praising God and bursting with Joy. Yes!"

Father God we thank you for this journey through the words of your witnesses. We are so removed by history from that first resurrection appearance. But we can know Jesus as alive and present in our hearts and world. May we see, and then become witnesses to all that you have done.

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.

Road

Luke 24:13-32 (The Message)

13-16 That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem.

They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them.

But they were not able to recognize who he was.

17-18 He asked, "What's this you're discussing so intently as you walk along?"

They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend.

Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, "Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn't heard what's happened during the last few days?"

19-24 He said, "What has happened?"

They said, "The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened.

But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn't find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn't see Jesus."

25-27 Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don't you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?"

Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.

28-31 They came to the edge of the village where they were headed.

He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: "Stay and have supper with us. It's nearly evening; the day is done." So he went in with them.

And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him.

And then he disappeared.

32 Back and forth they talked. "Didn't we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?"

Here we are, so near the very end of the Gospel of Luke...and we meet "Cleopas," and his unnamed friend for the first time.

They are walking on the road to Emmaus. They have been Jesus-followers. Their description of "our women" seems to indicate that they feel very connected to the disciples and the larger group that had looked to Jesus as their rabbi.

They are grieving. They feel lost and confused by the crucifixion and now the first reports of a missing body.

They meet a traveller on the road who is very different than most...and yet somehow intimately familiar.

He listens to their pain, and then begins setting them straight.

What a gift these two experience! Jesus, present with them, explaining all of the scriptures and prophecies that foretold his death and resurrection!

Of all the stories that Luke could choose to tell, he chooses this story of "Cleopas," and the Emmaus Road encounter.

No one knows why it was chosen, but I'm thankful that we have it.

So many times, we are confused pilgrims on the path. We know that something we just saw has deep, spiritual significance. We know that even though the things we sometimes see don't make sense...God is deeply involved in working his purposes.

The Holy Spirit...the presence of Christ...the scriptures and their message...these are the things that can make the pieces fall in place.

When we carefully, prayerfully look back at the years of our lives...or even just the events of yesterday...we too can have those beautiful moments when we say, "didn't we feel on fire...as he opened the scriptures for us?"

Like Cleopas and his companion...we may catch fleeting glimpses of Jesus in our midst...and they are enough to help us catch fire.

Father, we pray for your help today...and for an appearance of your presence that we can see, even if for just a moment. We pray that the veil would be somehow lifted, and that you would move us deeper in faith and hope.

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.

Awestruck

Luke 24:1-12 (The Message)

1-3 At the crack of dawn on Sunday, the women came to the tomb carrying the burial spices they had prepared.

They found the entrance stone rolled back from the tomb, so they walked in. But once inside, they couldn't find the body of the Master Jesus.

4-8 They were puzzled, wondering what to make of this.

Then, out of nowhere it seemed, two men, light cascading over them, stood there.

The women were awestruck and bowed down in worship.

The men said, "Why are you looking for the Living One in a cemetery? He is not here, but raised up. Remember how he told you when you were still back in Galilee that he had to be handed over to sinners, be killed on a cross, and in three days rise up?"

Then they remembered Jesus' words.

9-11 They left the tomb and broke the news of all this to the Eleven and the rest.

Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them kept telling these things to the apostles, but the apostles didn't believe a word of it, thought they were making it all up.

12 But Peter jumped to his feet and ran to the tomb. He stooped to look in and saw a few grave clothes, that's all. He walked away puzzled, shaking his head.

When last we left Luke...Jesus was being laid in the grave.

On Sunday morning, some of the women who had followed Jesus all the way to the cross followed him further still. They went to that tomb for the difficult but important work of caring for his body.

What they found (or didn't find) changed the world forever.

Luke's account is wonderfully sparse and lean. He tells us only what we need to know...the minimum that moves the story along.

His style has a wonderful way of communicating what the disciples must have felt. Confusion. Bewilderment. They are "puzzled," and left wiht shaking heads.

After all...how can this be?

Just a few days ago I found myself praying in earnest that God would answer a specific prayer. Before the day was out, I had seen it answered, in an amazing and complete way.

I found that my reaction was to be thankful...to praise God...but I'll admit to feeling at least a little puzzled...bewildered...head-shakingly so.

Was that really God, or just my imagination, or just the power of positive thinking?

The resurrection is our answer. God's ways are puzzling. They cause head shaking. And God's ways are always and forever wonderful. Yes, God does act. God does amazing things. In him all things are possible.

Will we dare to be awestruck...and to believe?

Father God, we give you all praise and glory for the wonderful, mind-bending, awe-inspiring resurrection of Jesus Christ. We are told that because he lives, we will live also. Our hope rests in him.

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.

Tomb

Luke 23:50-56 (The Message)

50-54 There was a man by the name of Joseph, a member of the Jewish High Council, a man of good heart and good character.

He had not gone along with the plans and actions of the council.

His hometown was the Jewish village of Arimathea.

He lived in alert expectation of the kingdom of God.

He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus. Taking him down, he wrapped him in a linen shroud and placed him in a tomb chiseled into the rock, a tomb never yet used. It was the day before Sabbath, the Sabbath just about to begin.

55-56 The women who had been companions of Jesus from Galilee followed along. They saw the tomb where Jesus' body was placed.

Then they went back to prepare burial spices and perfumes.

They rested quietly on the Sabbath, as commanded.

"What do we do now?"

The teen driver was ashen. He looked at me through his passenger window. His question hung in the air.

I was confused. In fact, I was angry.

As I made my way down Anneewakee Road, not a quarter mile from Shepherd of the Hills, this kid had decided to just stand on his brakes.

It had taken all I had not to rear-end him. I swerved my Jeep into the ditch, after locking the brakes, and came skidding to a halt beside him.

"What do we do now?" he said, through his open window and into mine.

Then I saw what he meant.

He had hit a small dog. The dog was gone.

There just wasn't much that we "could do now."

And yet, there was.

I turned my emergency blinkers on, and told him to get off the road and pull in front of me. I was in "pastor" mode. The dog wasn't the only victim of the accident.

An elderly lady stood beside her mailbox, crying. The little dog was hers, and had run out into the road as she went to get her mail.

Sometimes, life just turns on a dime. You can never expect it. You're never ready.

It leaves you asking, "what do we do now?"

For me, these last verses of Luke 23 leave us with one of those questions.

The "worst" has happened. Death has come. Jesus hangs upon the cross.

"What do we do now?"

We do the best we can.

Thank God for folks like Joseph of Arimethea. He intercedes in a way that none of Jesus' disciples had the power to do. And he uses that power because he "lived in expectation."

Because of him, a proper burial can take place. And so, they all do what they can.

So did we. We helped this stranger bury her beloved pet. We listened to her cry.

After we did those things, the young man asked me again. "What do we do?"

"Now, we leave," I said. And so did those who gathered at the cross. So do those who gather at gravesides anywhere and everywhere today.

It's not very fulfilling to just go home. It seems that more should be done. But in the waiting...those closest to Jesus drew closer to the resurrection.

We can do what we can...then we can wait...and we can know that there is hope that will be yet fulfilled.

Father, when our hearts are broken and we face the reality of death, we pray that you would give us the strength to do what we can, and to wait in faithful expectation of your power. May we remember the example of Joseph, and never lose hope in what may yet be.

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.

Friday

Luke 23:44-49 (The Message)

44-46 By now it was noon. The whole earth became dark, the darkness lasting three hours—a total blackout.

The Temple curtain split right down the middle.

Jesus called loudly, "Father, I place my life in your hands!" Then he breathed his last.

47 When the captain there saw what happened, he honored God: "This man was innocent! A good man, and innocent!"

48-49 All who had come around as spectators to watch the show, when they saw what actually happened, were overcome with grief and headed home.

Those who knew Jesus well, along with the women who had followed him from Galilee, stood at a respectful distance and kept vigil.

Every single year, there is one moment in worship that stands out as unique from all the others.

On the Friday before Easter, worshipers all over the world gather together to remember the death of Jesus Christ.

The same is true at Shepherd of the Hills. We sing songs, we listen to the story of his arrest, trial and crucifixion from scripture. Sometimes there is a sermon, sometimes there are various other acts of worship.

But the end of that service is always the same. It is unlike any other ending, any other moment of worship throughout the whole year.

We extinguish the candles. We cover our altar table in black cloth. We are silent.

And then we leave. We just leave. It is the strangest feeling in the world to just walk out, lock up, get in a car and drive home. That's it.

That moment is a re-creation of the moment experienced by all those who were present at the Cross that day.

The skies darkened. The curtain was torn. The Roman soldier proclaimed the truth.

And then everyone left, in silence. Those closest to him stayed behind and kept vigil. But there was a real darkness...a real loss...a real grief in that place.

It's disconcerting to leave church in the silent darkness. It is strange to hear that last chord left unresolved.

Thank God for the good news of resurrection.

Without it, our own lives, for all time, would be left with the heaviness of grief and the silence of loss. Without that hope, we would live in the midst of that strange, twilight, uncomfortable silence...we would walk away, heads down, into a real sort of hopelessness.

That is the nature of this moment in Luke. Friday. But Sunday is coming.

Father God, we give thanks for the sacrificial death of Jesus Christ. May we always be willing to enter fully into Friday. Help us not to look away, but to know that only Friday's darkness makes the bright light of Easter Sunday possible.

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.

Thief

Luke 23:34-43 (The Message)

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

Dividing up his clothes, they threw dice for them. The people stood there staring at Jesus, and the ringleaders made faces, taunting, "He saved others. Let's see him save himself! The Messiah of God—ha! The Chosen—ha!"

36-37 The soldiers also came up and poked fun at him, making a game of it. They toasted him with sour wine: "So you're King of the Jews! Save yourself!"

38 Printed over him was a sign: this is the king of the jews.

39 One of the criminals hanging alongside cursed him: "Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!"

40-41 But the other one made him shut up: "Have you no fear of God? You're getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him—he did nothing to deserve this."

42 Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom."

43 He said, "Don't worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise."

Some people really seem to resent the idea of "deathbed" conversions.

Can it really "count" if a person throws themselves on the grace of God at the last minute, after a lifetime spent out of relationship?

Thank God...yes.

In fact, in a sense, I'm not sure there's really any other kind of true conversion at all.

If we are to live with Christ, we're going to have to die...one way or another.

What I mean is, at the heart of the Christian faith, following Jesus is about relinquishment. It is about humility. It is about renouncing our pride and ego, admitting and fully and embracing our need for a savior.

Most of us can't do that in the "good" times. Often, there is a need for a kind of spiritual "bottom," from which the seeds of our faith can grow and develop in the full light of God's strength.

Really, that's what it's all about. God's strength. 100%. Not ours, in any way.

Do you know who may have understood that better than almost any other individual we will ever read about in scripture?

The thief who hung, crucified, beside Jesus.

He makes his deathbed conversion.

And Jesus' response?

Welcome to the Kingdom. Today you will be with me in paradise.

Here's to "deathbed" conversions for us all.

Father God, we pray that our old selves could die away, that you would crucify our wounded egos and allow us to live new lives, fully dependent upon your strength alone.

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.

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.