How many of us while growing up looked forward to Friday? I know I did. I would complete each Friday by saying, “Thank goodness it’s Friday!” I was so glad another week of school was over. The weekend was beckoning me and I was ready for FUN. Mondays were just not as joyful. Fridays; sometimes they were really good for me.
One particular Friday in human history has been called “Good Friday.” If we didn’t know better we might conclude some really exciting event happened on that Friday. We might decide it is so called because a happy event happened. I doubt many of us, if any of us, would call the day a loved one died as a good day. It is, rather, a day of sorrow, mourning and pain. Good? I don’t think so.
Can anyone imagine calling “good” a day on which they were beaten, rejected, and died? Our enemies might call that day “good.” But, if we had a chance I doubt that is what we would call it. Yet, the day on which Jesus Christ died for lost sinners, paying the penalty of death and separation from HIs Father, we call it good. So, for whom is this day good?
To be exchanged for a murdering, thieving, rebel isn’t good. To die for his crimes wouldn’t be good. To be spit upon by a crowd of hecklers wouldn’t be good. To see your friends deny they know you wouldn’t be good. To have one you considered a close friend betray you to killers wouldn’t be good. To be nailed to a wooden cross to die a slow excruciating death would not be good. So, why do we call it good?
It was good because Jesus willingly followed His Father’s will. It is good because He obeyed His Father in the face of death. It is good because His Father had already declared that Jesus was “His beloved Son in whom He was well pleased.” It was good because even though the perpetrators didn’t know it, they were part of God’s plan. It was good because so many prophecies from the Old Testament were fulfilled that Friday. It was good because this one Lamb would provide redemption for so many. It might not have been so good for Jesus, but it was GREAT for us.
Today you need to stop to reflect upon the events of that day. You and I need to contemplate how horrible it must have been, how painful and how humiliating it must have been. Take time to consider the Gospel chapters that tell the story. Meditate upon Hebrews 12:1-3. Think about what the writer means when he says, “..endured…despising…shame…hostility…” Go back to reread the passages that relate Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Ask yourself, where would I be if I was part of the story? Would you do better than they did? Would run and hide or stand up? Would any of us be Judas? Do we secretly posses a heart of stone? What would come out of our mouth? What?
But, as the now famous saying goes, “It’s Friday, but Sunday’s comin’.”
Good Friday? Not so much for Jesus, but so much for us. Don’t finish today without taking some time to give thanks to your Saviour for providing you with redemption.
Which Easter story will you celebrate? It seems the world has gone so much for the easter bunny, chocolate and eggs that the entire story of Jesus’s death, burial and resurrection has been lost. Speak to people today about what Easter is all about and most will not even know about Jesus’ resurrection. Like Santa Claus, the easter bunny has come front and center. Historically the concept of an easter bunny came from immigrants from Germany. We are told German Lutherans brought this tradition with them. Why they began to use the image of a bunny for easter is unclear. But, it has certainly become the dominate theme in our culture today.
Though we might add coloring eggs, hiding eggs, or eating chocolate to our Easter celebration, it must never replace the real message of Christ’s resurrection. How important is the resurrection of Jesus? In 1 Corinthians 15 Paul lists three reasons the resurrection is indispensable to our faith. In 15:12-13 Paul says if there is no resurrection then even Jesus did not rise from the dead. That would mean He is still in the tomb, dead like all other human religious leaders. Second, in 15:14 and 17 Paul says if Christ is not alive our faith is futile, vain, empty, and useless! Who wants to own something that is useless? No one. Thirdly, in 15:15 Paul says if Jesus is not alive then his witnesses are false witnesses. That is, if we preach He is alive and He isn’t, then we are just liars. Like telling people the easter bunny is real, when we know it isn’t, if we tell people Jesus is alive and He isn’t, we are just telling fables. It becomes yet just another false hope.
But, HE IS ALIVE! He did come forth from the tomb. He was triumphant over death, hell and Satan. That first of all Easter Sunday mornings the disciples came to the tomb sad and despondent to finish the task of burial. But, their gloom turned to great joy. They saw and heard the message, He is not here, He’s ALIVE. No longer would death hold Him.
In the Book Romans Paul says this, “…declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead…” (Rom. 1:4) God assured us that His Son was His Son by bringing Him out from among the dead ones. He is ALIVE. Praise His name.
Fo us in California today is a great day because the rains have arrived. We have experienced one of our driest winters in history. While much of the country has been getting a lot of rain, snow, sleet, and ice, we have been really dry. The “drought” word has been bandied about by many in our State. But, today, we are getting a really nice rain. And, the rest of the week is to be quite wet. For us spring has sprung.
But, there is a more important sign that spring has sprung. Today, all around the country, open day baseball games are being played. This, my friend, is a telltale sign that we are leaving winter behind and are headed to Spring and on into Summer and Fall. For some of us at least, this is the official opening of Spring.
Ernie Harwell, the longtime voice of the Detroit Tiger’s radio broadcast, would begin each Spring training season with this quote from the Song of Solomon. “Fo lo, the winter is past, the rain is over and gone. The flowers appear on the earth; the time of singing has come, the voice of the turtledove is heard in our land.” (Song of Solomon 2:11-12) Though he just might have been taking this out of context, it sure works for setting the stage of a long baseball season.
Now, I know, many of you couldn’t care less about baseball in general or the SF Giants or even the Oakland A’s. But, for me, I love this time of year. For me, I’m looking forward to Madison Bumgarner throwing that first pitch. I always seem to enter the new baseball season with a renewed hope and optimism. I may have my heart broken by October. But, I usually enjoy the ride.
Yet, baseball, flowers, or April showers aren’t really the most important events to Spring. The resurrection of Jesus Christ is the most important day on our calendar. Without HIs death, burial, and resurrection, His birth would have been useless. Without His work on the cross, His work on the earth would shave been futile. Yes, THIS is the reason we look forward to Spring every year. THIS is the foundation of our celebration. And, we will never be disappointed in this celebration.
Go ahead, if you are a baseball fan, cheer for your team. Yell, scream, encourage, and talk about your team. But, don’t forget the more important work of Christ on the cross.
The Bible has much to say about believers in the Church. Different pictures were used to describe the Church. Some of these are a building, a bride, a body, and a bastion. But, the one picture that might be most endearing is the picture of the brethren. The New Testament draws lessons from the relationship in a family for our relationship with each other. Just like in a family sibling rivalry exists, at times a little misunderstanding can happen in a local church. And, just like in a family, we will defend our family to the end, so also in a local church we should be prepared to stand up for one another. Families are a great metaphor for the Church.
Many years ago Bill Gaither wrote a song we sing quite often. Some of the words are, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God. I’ve been washed in the fountain, cleansed by His blood. Joint heirs with Jesus as we travel this sod, For I’m part of the family, the family of God.” This family is precious to us. We have members of our family around the world that we haven’t met. Yet, this is not the family I want to talk about.
I doubt anyone would disagree with me that the family is under attack. More than ever the family unit is being maligned and redefined. Society is pushing the make up and purpose of the family unit far from a biblical model. G. K. Chesterton once said, “The family is the test of freedom.” Where did the family come from? Why does it exist? How is it formed? These and other questions will be considered as we continue our way through Ephesians 5.
Two main functions will be seen in these verses. The first one is the roles of the husband and wife. Paul will spell out how this relationship should function. Remember, he was addressing a culture quite immoral and pagan. Ephesus was the headquarters for the worship of Diana. The people who made up the church were coming from lives of debauchery and depravity. They did not grow up in a “christian home” or a “christian society.” They had to learn first hand how the home should be a reflection of Christ and the Church. What a change this represents for them. What a testimony it would have been to see the dramatic difference their families would make.
The second relationship referred to is the parent and child. Some married couples will not have children. God is the One who opens and closes the womb. But, those who are blessed with children carry a huge weight of responsibility. The home should the breeding ground of faith as the children see genuine faith being lived out. One author said this, “The family circle is the supreme conductor of Christianity.” We as parents are to be raising our children to love the Lord. Will they all follow the Lord? No. But, it is our responsibility to be the first one to share the Gospel.
Family; we all have one. It may not be the best, and it may not even be Christian. But, we can change that cycle. Love your family and give thanks for them.
How’s your questioning? I know, sometimes we are told that questioning things is a sign of doubt. That can be true. But, other times asking questions is a sign of interest. So, I’ll ask you again, how’s your questioning?
Today I want to remind you that Sunday is coming and we will be remembering the Lord Jesus Christ via our Communion service. We have a Communion service each month on the first Sunday. For many of us we have been doing this for MANY years! So, maybe it has become simply a ritual we put up with. But, this Sunday we will be doing some things that will shake things up. We will have some unfamiliar aspects in the service.
During the Seder meal that the Jews celebrate each year at Passover a series of four questions are asked. These questions are designed to elicit a response to point out the reason the meal is being held. The questions aren’t necessarily being asked for information people don’t know the answers to. Rather, it gives the leader another opportunity to tell the story of Passover, the most important night in the history of Israel.
Sunday we will ask a series of five questions to direct our thoughts to the purpose of Communion. These questions are similar to the questions asked at the Seder meal. They will direct our thoughts away from the service and unto the Lord Himself.
One poet put it this way:
Gathered in Thy name, Lord Jesus
Losing sight of all but Thee,
Oh what joy Thy presence gives us,
Calling up our hearts to Thee.
Notice the wording that points us to Jesus. The poet says that during the Communion service we are be “Losing sight of all but Thee.” As you approach Sunday be asking the Lord to do that for you. You can ask yourself questions about Jesus and His work. The hymn “Lead Me to Calvary” has this chorus, “Lest I forget Gethsemane, lest I forget Thine agony, lest I forget Thy love for me, lead me to Calvary.” Go to Calvary to see past the cross, the pain and the suffering to see Jesus.
Another poet said this,
Amidst us our Beloved stands,
And bids us view His pierced hands;
Points to the wounded feet and side,
Blest emblems of the Crucified.
Come Sunday prepared to celebrate the Lord’s Table with us. What are your questions?
Joy at Christmas, where do we find it? Many folks will be looking in every ad from now until Christmas Eve to find just the right gift. They will travel to every store imaginable to find just the perfect sale. Not too much nor not too little should be spent on this gift. Friday morning lines of people will be waiting to get into the right store that has just the right sales. Some, in fact, will camp out all night to save a few dollars on the “perfect” gift. Thereby, assuring themselves of joy for Christmas.
Do you remember Charlie Brown’s Christmas? He was concerned for the overt commercialization of Christmas. December 9, 1965 was the first airing of this classic Christmas message. This Peanut’s special has been shown every Christmas since 1965. Charles Shultz was concerned that people had forgotten the true meaning of Christmas. He battled with the CBS executives over the inclusion of Linus reading Luke 2:8-14. In the discussions with the network he wouldn’t budge on its admission into the final product. He is quoted as saying, “If we don’t tell the true meaning of Christmas, who will?” If he were still alive today how much more amazed would Charles Shullz be?
Joy at Christmas come from keeping Christ as the focus of our celebrations. As you approach Thanksgiving and the onset of Christmas shopping, I want to encourage you to keep Christ in Christmas. Sunday we will look at the subject of the Songs of Joy at Christmas.
Today begins a new adventure for me. I will be writing some short thoughts about the messages coming on Sundays and to get you and I to think about how to live out our Christian lives.
We are talking about “walking” from Ephesians 5:1-17. Sunday we will be looking at “walking in the light.” The first question you must ask yourself is, “Am I in the light?” Then, you must ask, “Am I still in the light?”
Be reading Ephesians 5:1-17 to become familiar with what happens when we walk in the light.
Fell free to ask questions or make comments. Let’s make this as interactive as possible.
