That I May Know Him

~~

We all have our favorite authors or celebrities that we admire.  I know I have favorite authors, actors or personalities that inspire me, and I do enjoy reading the brief biographies printed on the book covers, or found online. 

Still, sometimes, don't you wish you could just sit down, face-to-face and talk with these people?  Wouldn't you like to hear the brilliant thoughts they write or speak directly from their lips in conversation? Wouldn't you like to laugh, wonder, discuss, share in their life - even if it's just for just a moment?  In fact, the more you learn about them, the more you want to know the person who inspires you and who elevates you beyond yourself!

You have heard this common question: If you could meet and talk with any one historical figure, dead or alive, who would it be?

Do you know that the number one answer to this day is, Jesus? For various reasons - not all of them necessarily affectionate - people want to meet Jesus.

For believers though, if we say we want to know Him and draw closer to Him - and we mean it - then perhaps as an example, we need to look at someone who genuinely prayed and lived that request.

Knowing Him 

That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto His death.” (Phillipians 3:10)

It amazes me every time I read this prayer from the apostle Paul, that this 'seasoned' believer, with the most amazing track record of any man that has ever lived except for Jesus himself, and who happened to write the majority of the New Testament prayed:

               1.    that he would know Jesus;

               2.    that he would know the power of His resurrection;

               3.    that he would know the fellowship of His sufferings; and

               4.    that he would be made conformable unto His death.

May this be our prayer during the Lenten season when followers of Christ contemplate the death, and celebrate the resurrection and life of Jesus.

Please know, this is not a prayer for non-believers, though, if you are a non-believer I hope that you do come to know Him sometime.  Rather, this is an exercise in humility for those of us who have followed Jesus for quite some time, and who want, as Paul did, to have a fuller revelation of the person of Jesus.  

I want to know Him.

Christianity 101 teaches much about the historic Christ. Yet, Paul was after something much more; he didn’t just want a biographical knowledge of Jesus, he wanted to know Him personally.

He didn’t just want to know about the life of Christ, he wanted to know Christ as the Life.

He didn’t just want to know about the event of His resurrection, he wanted to know Christ as the Resurrection.

He didn’t just want to know the words Jesus spoke, he wanted to know Jesus as the Word.

I would venture a guess that Paul would have been beside himself, if during one of his times of fellowship with Jesus, Christ would have said to Paul as He said to Phillip in John 14:9:

"Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and yet you still don't 

know who I am?”

May this be the cry of our hearts as believers: I want to KNOW Him! I don’t just want to know about Him, I want to know Him; His heart, His thoughts, His motives, His personality.  Not just as an historical character, nor as a great story or a legend or a character, but I want to know Him personally - like I know my dearest friend or closest relative. Not just the things He did, but what motivated Him to do them! Sure, we've heard about God’s love, but oh, that we might know the very heart of such love and the One who makes it possible for us to experience such love and mercy and grace and abundance of life!

There is no formula. No "5-steps to Knowing Jesus Better." No methodology to follow. Just spend time with Him. As believers you know how to do that.

Life has been very busy (in a wonderful way), and admittedly over the past year I have too often neglected my personal journey to “know Him” more.  So it is the result of our humanity, that in our spiritual life we often have to grieve the breaks, and failures, and intervals that simply prove to us that there is something lacking that prevents us at times from knowing Him more fully.

My guess is, I am not alone. Dear reader, if you find yourself approaching this Easter season in the same condition as you were last year, or perhaps worse than you were a year ago, then let's declare with Paul:

I'm not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don't get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I've got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward—to Jesus. 
I'm off and running, and I'm not turning back! 

(Phillipians 3:12-14, The Message)

May we never, ever be satisfied with thinking that we know him; hoping that we know him; knowing Him as an acquaintance or as an historical figure; or knowing Him through someone else's experience or knowledge. 

Instead, may we have fuller revelation of Him affectionately, experientially and personally!

Next Post: The Power of His Resurrection

He Visited Us to Put His Beauty On Us

Have you ever noticed that all of the shopping, decorating, Christmas parties, traveling, yes, even entertaining family and friends never seem to meet our soul’s deepest longing at Christmas?  Usually, we end up feeling varying levels of dissatisfaction. For a holiday that was meant to remind us of the most joyous announcement ever made; news of the greatest gift ever given to mankind, somehow we still miss it and end up longing for more.

So what is it about Christmas that we miss year after year? While it is a happy and joyful time for most, why do some find it the most depressing, lonely time of the year? Can we make it so that happiness and joyfulness last longer than a few weeks and perhaps even bubble out throughout the following year?

Perhaps the key is within the story of Christmas itself.  The birth of Jesus was the advent of a whole new way of life for mankind...peace with God. Let’s take a moment to ask one thing… exactly why were those angels so happy when they announced His birth?  What was the temporal and eternal meaning of that event for us? In a word: reconciliation.  Reconciliation between God and man, and mankind to one another.  A very basic definition of reconciliation is to bring into harmony or make compatible, things which were once opposed.

God visited us to put His beauty on us.

Isaiah 1:6 tells us that, since the fall of man in Adam, the heart of natural man in the eyes of God looks like this:

“From the sole of the foot even unto the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds and bruises, and putrefying sores: they have not been closed, neither bound up, neither mollified [soothed] with ointment [oil].” 

Fallen man has become an object of abhorrence to God and needed to be reconciled by the death of His Son.

Think of the headlines these days.  You can’t open a newspaper, watch television, surf the internet or watch television without hearing about one of the top three headliners:  Coach Bernie Fine, who served as the assistant basketball coach at Syracuse University for 35 years, and was fired in November over allegations that he sexually abused boys; or Jerry Sandusky, Penn State Defensive Line Coach charged with sexually abusing young men; and in Colorado’s own backyard, Arapahoe County Sheriff Patrick Sullivan, who was once known for his no-nonsense style and a concern about teenage drug use, now stands accused of using meth to solicit sexual favors from men, along with getting former drug users back onto drugs for the same.

Ugly. Dark. Disgusting. Repulsive. “What an abhorrence!” we declare, and rightly so.  It is terrible what we are seeing being played out in the media of late. Atrocious acts against innocents, and what is even more disheartening is the caliber of people who once were “decent folk”, visited their own darkness and somehow got stuck there. 

Yet, according to scripture, that’s how God viewed ALL of mankind without Jesus.  Face it.  Everyone has had moments of darkness in their lives.  Even if you have never acted on it, you have thought it.  Everyone is guilty because anything that is contrary to the perfect will, purity and holiness of God, is sin. Whether in thought or deed. 

God knows this.  He knew it from the beginning.  And His answer was Jesus.

That is why the song of heaven the night of Jesus’ birth was the song of RECONCILIATION:

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 
“Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” 
(Luke 2: 13-14)

The angels declared that God visited us to put His beauty upon us.

God’s response to the darkness of mankind born through sin was this:

Because you say, ‘I am rich, have become wealthy, and have need of nothing’ - and do not know that you are wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked - I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (Revelation 3:17-18).

The greatest need we have is reconciliation to God (God’s good will toward man) and to one another (peace on earth).  Peace with God and peace with each other.  Only when we attain that are our souls truly content. Since the fall of Adam, we have been broken and damaged in relationship to God and one another.

God sent Jesus to heal that breach and to bind up our spiritual wounds. 

He visited us to put His beauty on us.

So, what is the greatest gift we can ask for and expect to receive this Christmas that will satisfy the longing of our souls and bring temporal and eternal contentment in our lives?  Reconciliation.  Being reconciled to God through Jesus and reconciled to each other. The great exchange. The ongoing process of exchanging our darkness for His light and our sin for His righteousness. 

God sent Jesus to satisfy the legal penalty for the sin of mankind, past, present, future; big or small; yours and mine, and yes, even Sullivan’s, Fine’s and Sandusky’s.

That is the message of Christmas.

Dear readers, the best gift I can offer you this holy/holiday season is not an eloquent writing, or clever anecdotes on timely topics... but simply... Jesus.  The business of life is messy.  So, I challenge you to do that little exercise of considering the worst thing you ever did and the worst thing you ever thought of doing... and one step further... the worst thing that has ever been done to you; then invite the beauty of God, which is peace, reconciliation and forgiveness wrapped up and offered freely in the person of Jesus, to visit and rest upon you this Christmas and always!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A HUMBLE THANKSGIVING PRAYER

 
"Thank you, dear God
For all You have given me,
For all You have taken away from me,
For all You have left me."
(unknown)

HAPPY VETERAN'S DAY!

Many thanks for your service to our country and many thanks to the families of our veterans and soldiers!

Legacy

A good reminder....

 

I don't mind if you've got something nice to say about me
And I enjoy an accolade like the rest
You could take my picture and hang it in a gallery
Of all who's who and so-n-so's that used to be the best
At such'n'such ... it wouldn't matter much

I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long awhile
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one...

Wedding Day!

I Love You Michael!

Exercise Your Middle-Age Memory Back In Shape!

Well, I know it's been a while since I've posted anything new, dear readers. I thank you for your patience.  I have been doing some personal research on the middle-age memory issue.  Would you like to know what I've discovered?

Well, I discovered that planning your parents' 50th wedding anniversary celebration, along with your own wedding both of which take place within a month of each other; starting back to work part-time after three years of being off, all the while navigating general life issues in between such as your washer breaking and having to lug laundry around town for a month, death in the family and other various and sundry matters, does not help the middle memory issue at all!  

My research has lead me to conclude that the primary cause of middle-age memory issues has more to do with this being the most diversely busiest time of life ever!  EVER!

While everything so far has been a success, there are small details along the way that simply get forgotten.  But all in all, it is an exciting and challenging time of life!

Seriously though, I was pleased to discover that, while memory loss is certainly part of the aging process, it is manageable and even possibly reversable according to a recent study at Columbia University.

How do we help ourselves?

Exercise.  Plain and simple.

Exercise boosts brain power.

According to the article:

  

Tests on mice have shown them to grow new brain cells in a brain region called the dentate gyrus, a part known to be affected in the age-related memory decline that begins around age 30 for most humans.

 The researchers used magnetic resonance imaging scans to help document the process in mice - and then used MRIs to look at the brains of people before and after exercise.

They found the same patterns, which suggests that people also grow new brain cells when they exercise.

Now we have a new motivation for exercising these middle age bodies!  Reduce or reverse memory loss!

According to the study, the more fit people got, the more blood flow was sent to the dentate gyrus and the more their memory improved! 

What's next in the study?

"Our next step is to identify the exercise regimen that is most beneficial to improve cognition and reduce normal memory loss, so that physicians may be able to prescribe specific types of exercise to improve memory," Small said.

So, if you find yourself walking into a room forgetting what you went in there for, putting milk in the cupboard instead of the fridge, forgetting who you just dialed on the phone...then dust off those dumbbells, stop using your treadmill for storage, oil up that bicycle and pump up the tires, and start exercising and growing new brain cells!

Oh, and maybe slow down a little too on the busy-ness.  I'm hoping after my wedding next week to see some significant improvement in my memory. 

Gee...I hope I remember to show up to the church on the right day and time.... 

I'll let ya know how it comes out!

We Remember...

I Remember Not

I previously did a series on Reinventing Middle Age that was fun and yet emphasized the positive aspects of navigating through mid-life issues; health, REALationships, psychology and other issues. Not only was it fun to write and research, but it helped some of you as well as myself make positive, more healthy decisions in this season of life.

A new development has occurred in my middle-aged journey though, and I'd like to share with you. It is a topic that I'm sure is on every middle-aged person's mind...when they can remember it. 

It is the dreaded middle-aged memory issue.

The idea to include middle-aged memory in my Reinventing Middle Age series came to me one particular morning when preparing breakfast (I can't remember how long ago...possibly a couple of months). I reached into the cupboard to get the cooking oil, and instead, I found a half-gallon of milk.

My first reaction was extreme annoyance that one of the other family members had been absent-minded when putting the milk in the cupboard instead of the refrigerator. "Great," I said, "Someone just wasted a half-gallon of milk!" I huffed it over to the sink and promptly dumped it down the drain. Far too annoyed to speak, I continued on with the breakfast preparation, and tried to think of how long it must have been in there and who used it last. My strategy was to interrogate each of the two primary suspects in this mindless household crime to see which one had a late-night bowl of cereal or other snack involving milk.

Unfortunately, my stealth interrogation yielded no confession. The other family members appeared just as perplexed as I was at this mystery crime. In fact, they even found it comical which annoyed me even more. But, before breaking out the CSI Crime Scene Junior Investigating Kit to dust for fingerprints, or the Spy Gear Lie Detector Kit, I thought I would take another approach. I was determined to get a confession and scold accordingly.

However, the investigation took a surprising turn when, before I could finish cooking breakfast, my middle-aged memory kicked in and I remembered that I had used the milk to make mashed potatoes the night before for dinner. If the others had truly not used the milk after that - it could only mean one thing...

I WAS THE CRIMINAL WHO PUT THE MILK IN THE CUPBOARD INSTEAD OF THE THE REFRIGERATOR!!!

I truly did not remember doing that!

Thus was born the idea to address the issue of middle-aged memory as part of my Reinventing Middle Age series.

On a lighter note, being the youngest one in the household has its advantages.  A couple days later someone found the dry cereal in the refrigerator rather than the cupboard and I did not do that one, so apparently I am not the only one who suffers memory lapses around here.

So, I will be addressing the issue of memory in middle age in upcoming posts.  Stay tuned for more fun and frivolity as we take both a comical and realistic look at memory issues for middle-agers and what we can do to help ourselves navigate through this challenge while travleing through this season of life!

Hey. If you don't see a post from me for a while, please send me an email and remind me to continue...

More Than Words

In March, I read a very touching article about a British man who was diagnosed with motor neuron disease (MND), better known in the United States as Lou Gehrig's disease.  As a result of this neuromuscular degenerative disease, he would eventually lose his voice, and ultimately because there is no cure, he would lose his life. 

While the disease is tragic in and of itself, to make matters even more heartbreaking, at the time the article was written he had a 13-month old son.

Knowing the rapid progression of the disease and that there was a good possibility that his son may never hear his natural voice, this man decided to record 1,600 sentences for a computer program that would break them up into individual sounds and then piece them back together again to form words under his control when he would be forced to speak through a synthesizer.  He wanted his son to hear his authentic voice complete with his regional accent.

He said, "He [his son] is the key motivation for me to record my voice so that if my voice is lost, he can still hear what his dad sounds like. I might be able to read him bedtime stories; your voice is part of your identity. He can maybe also hear what I sound like when I am no longer here."

 The voice.  It is a powerful instrument.

It is an amazing thing, a parents desire to be able to communicate to their children throughout life.  To be able to comfort and guide and teach, and to have their child know their voice distinct from all the rest so  that their child will be able to say unequivocally,  "That is the voice of the one who loves me!"

What a touching story of this man with MND. As followers of Jesus and thus children of God, it is our story as well.

Jesus, referring to all who would follow Him as sheep and Himself as the Good Shepherd responded to His critics saying,

“To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he puts forth all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice.  A stranger they simply will not follow, but will flee from him, because they do not know the voice of strangers.”  John 10:3-5

You know, the child in the news story mentioned above will hear many voices throughout his life; aunts, uncles, teachers, professors, friends, bosses, politicians, movies, music, television, news reporters, etc.  The gift his father is giving to him will afford him the privilege of being able to distinguish his father's voice from all others. What an invaluable gift!

As deeply as the father in the story desires to be able to communicate love and fatherly instruction to his child – whether present or absent -  so much more does God desire to communicate His love with those who follow after Him.  

YOU are the main motivation that God sent Jesus to be a living testament to God’s love. YOU are the main motivation that God sent His Holy Spirit to continue to communicate His love after Jesus left.  YOU are the main motivation that God caused men to write the #1 bestselling book of all time – the Bible – so that YOU would have a handbook, a written reminder of the identity, nature, character, instruction and desire of your Father in Heaven.

God speaks to His children in three primary ways:

1.    Through the written/spoken word/scripture (the Bible);

2.  Through Providence (God’s care and guidance manifested in the physical realm, e.g.   nature, events, people); and

3.    Through His Holy Spirit (the Spirit of God communicates directly to our spirit).

Do we take His promise of communication for granted? Or do we regard it as a special privilege?

It is true you know... listening is an act of love!

In this life, in this day and age, particularly with the technological advances, we are bombarded with many voices.  It is easy to lose our way.  But the promise we have is this: that if we are His sheep, we will KNOW his voice.

What station in life are you currently in dear reader?

As a believer, you have a promise that you will know His voice.  Whether it be through the written word of scripture, His Spirit, or through providence, God’s desire to communicate with you has never diminished. 

Are you listening?

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Wishing dads everywhere a special day! 

From someone who is blessed with one of the best...


Happy Father's Day!

Ultimate Dog Tease Video

United States of America Memorial Day

We Remember...

Ciao World!?!

I have to admit.  

My mother just came home from the hospital on Tuesday, so I have not been as diligent about watching the news and keeping up with Twitter and Alexa Top Stories for a couple of weeks. My distraction is also evidenced by my lack of posts to this blog. My apologies.

Gees.  

Miss a week or two of CNN and you find out that you have less than a day to live before the world is going to end. So much to do and I am just too tired.  Oh well, at least I got the house cleaned today.

I wondered why The History Channel was running survival programming all day!

In retrospect, I was given clues all day - I just didn't pay attention.  

Finally, at about 7:00pm this evening, it all clicked.  Someone said Jesus was coming back tomorrow to rapture the church, and there would a global earthquake, and if you weren't fortunate enough be taken in the rapture, you would spend the next 5 months suffering unimaginable happenings here on earth until the end of the world as we know it comes on October 21, 2011.

Ouch.

 

Well, I personally do not believe the rapture will happen tomorrow, but I do  believe it will happen someday.  I doubt we'll have time to sell I Survived the Rapture t-shirts, put up Save the Date billboards or bank cash from other rapture paraphernalia. 

I could be wrong though.  

(In which case, may I thank you all now for your faithful reading, following and comments on my blog.)

I dunno.  Jesus wasn't really a Hollywood glam, billboard, showcase kinda guy.  Extraordinarily large angels, trumpets, thunder, earth-shaking, blink-of-an-eye stuff...now THAT'S how God does it!

So, what's the lesson learned for the day? 

Personally, I can only hope that I stay more tuned in to God on a daily basis, than I have been to CNN and Twitter! How about you?

"Take heed, watch and pray, for you do not know when the time is."

- Mark 13:33

CIAO, OSAMA!

So, last night while I was trying my best to escape reality by watching one of my favorite un-"reality" shows, Celebrity Apprentice, the NeNe vs. Star Jones smackdown was interrupted with the announcement that Osama bin Laden had been captured and killed in a military operation carried out by American Troops in Pakistan.

Admittedly, I fell asleep while waiting for President Obama to make his appearance and announcement, so I am just catching up on the details this morning. 

First, let me say that my heart goes out to every individual and family whose lives have been adversely affected by the unfathomable mass murder and destruction initiated by Osama bin Laden over the years.  In places such as Kenya, Tanzania, Yemen, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and, of course, the 9/11 attack here in the United States, my prayer is that there will be some sense of justice, closure and healing for those who have been tragically impacted by Osama's murderous career. 

A most humble thanks to the U.S. and Allied forces who have fought tirelessly, particularly this past decade, to bring an end to Osama bin Laden's segment of  the perpetuation of hatred and terrorism.  To the countless men and women who have served their countries and the common cause of peace bravely, I say thank you.

While I still have some catching up to do on the details of this historical news, I pray the world does not get lulled into a false sense of peace as a result of bin Laden's death.  The ideology of hatred is alive and well, with many faces, and the battle against his type of extremism must continue. May we continue to work and pray diligently for peace among every nation and every people, and for the well-being of the military and civilians who give their lives in service to the common cause of peace and liberation worldwide. 

'Nuff said for now.  Back to unreality as I Hulu last night's episode of Celebrity Smackdown.

May the news of the demise of Osama bin Laden be embraced in whatever manner seems appropriate to each of you individually, as families, and as nations as we humbly give pause to this momentary victory over extremism, hatred and prejudice.

An historical moment indeed...

Shadow of the Cross Part V: He Is Risen!

Now after the Sabbath, as the first day of the week began to dawn, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to see the tomb. And behold, there was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door and sat on it. His countenance was like lightening, and his clothing was white as snow. 

And the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel answered and said to the women, "Do not be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.  He is not here; for He is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay."

(Matthew 28: 1-6)

Yes, the same angel who on the hills of Bethlehem proclaimed Christ's birth, now rolls away the huge stone from the tomb of Jesus as though it were a mere pebble and the guards hear him proclaim: 

Son of God, come forth;  Thy Father calls Thee. 

They see Jesus come forth from the grave, and hear Him proclaim, 

"I am the resurrection and the life."

Christ came forth from the tomb glorified and the Roman guards saw it.  Their eyes were riveted on the glorified face of Him whom they had so recently mocked and severely beaten.   This was the One for whom they had made a crown of thorns.  This was the One who had been nailed to the cross, at whom the priests and rulers, full of self-satisfaction, had wagged their heads saying, 

"He saved others; Himself He cannot save."   

Oh, how wrong they were!

The decree of heaven had loosed the captive.  Mountains piled upon mountains over His tomb could not have prevented Him from coming forth.

Rejoice! Here is our hope...He is risen! 

This series was based on the Gospels and the Desire of Ages by E. White.

The Shadow of the Cross: Part IV

I Know A Place...

Jesus, having walked in the shadow of the cross, was about to present Himself as the sacrificial lamb, the sin offering for the world - for you and for me. This final offering would bring an end to the need for the Passover Feast and the many other ceremonies that for 4,000 years had pointed to His death. In its place, Jesus instituted a new service that was to be the memorial of His great sacrifice. This was to be observed by His followers in all lands and through all ages.

The ordinance of the Lord's Supper. 

Communion.

The breaking of the bread and the drinking of the wine.

"My body which is broken for you.

My blood which is spilled for you.

Do this in remembrance of me…"

In the shadow of the cross, Jesus remained a servant of servants. He came to minister to others, not be ministered to. He taught by example the humble attitude in service we are to give to one another by  washing the feet of His disciples - even His betrayer -  on the very night of His betrayal.  He demonstrated ultimate selflessness on the cross where He gave His life for the redemption, forgiveness and freedom of humanity from the power of hell.

So now, we may come to the table to meet with Christ.

We remember how great His love is for us - so great that He gave His life.

We remember His sacrifice and death - and they become the center of our hope and faith.

We remember.

And we no longer stand in the shadow of the cross - instead we stand in its saving light! 

Hey! I know a place... a wonderful place!  

Will you come with me today?

The Shadow of the Cross - Part III

If You Had Known...

As the celebratory procession approached the city of Jerusalem, the gospels say that Jesus looked upon Jerusalem and wept.  The Jewish nation was a symbol of the people of all ages who scorn the pleadings of God’s infinite love.  The tears of Christ as He wept over Jerusalem were for the sins of all time. His words, through tears, rang true for Jerusalem as much as they ring true today for those who reject God’s gift of love:

“If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace!"  

...

"... you did not know the time of your visitation”  (Luke 19:42 & 44)
 

The multitude of people gathered in Jerusalem for the Passover Feast believed that Jesus would soon sit on the throne as King of Israel.  However,  the shadow of the cross was looming larger - though none could see it but Jesus. In that shadow, He saw not just the agony He would suffer, but more joyously, the completed work of human redemption and the love of God manifested to the universe.  

This was to be accomplished by the voluntary sacrifice of His own life, in order to impart abundant life to humanity.

As Jesus walked in the shadow of the cross the week before His crucifixion, He did what He had always done: He expounded on the scriptures, taught living lessons with parables, gave words of instruction and warning, and spent personal time with his disciples.  He cleansed the temple again, as well as rebuked the priests and scholars who were as pretentious and barren in their ministries as the barren fig tree which He cursed on the way. 

Jesus' whole life example and lesson could be summed up as this: 

the law of self-sacrifice is, ironically, the law of self-preservation; and 

the message of the cross would simply be:

TO GIVE - IS TO LIVE!

The Shadow of the Cross - Part II

Palm Sunday - The Triumphal Entry of Jesus

Never before in His earthly life had Jesus permitted such a demonstration of admiration as He did during His entry into Jerusalem for the Passover. Until now, Jesus had always traveled on foot, and His disciples probably wondered why He now chose to ride. But they were full of hope that he was about to enter the capital, proclaim Himself King and assert His royal power.

Jesus followed the Jewish custom for royal entry.  The animal on which He rode was ridden by kings of Israel and prophecy had foretold that the Messiah should come to His kingdom. No sooner was he seated upon the colt than a loud shout of triumph filled the air. The multitude hailed Him as their Messiah and King.

"Hosanna! Hosanna!  Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord!" 

They didn't have costly gifts to present Him during His entry,  so they laid their outer garments along with olive and palm branches on the path.

The multitude rejoiced that their hour of emancipation from Roman oppression was at hand.

Jesus knew what they did not -

His royal entry into Jerusalem would bring Him to the cross...

The Shadow of the Cross - Part I

What happened during the week prior to Christ’s crucifixion on the Cross? 

Have you ever pondered that question? His own disciples had no idea at the time.  They were excited when Jesus entered Jerusalem because they were certain he was there to assert His power and take His position on the throne of David.  Their King was entering the city to release them from the oppressive Roman rule, and restore Israel to its former glory!

However, Jesus knew when He entered Jerusalem on what we now celebrate as Palm Sunday, He was there to fulfill his paschal duties – He was about to become the sacrificial lamb of Passover, as the sin offering for the world.

He knew he was about to suffer the most egregious, undignified, painful torture and death – the humiliating death of a common criminal.  Adding insult to injury – the legal proceeding which would condemn him to that terrible death would be one of the most ill-legal, botched trials in history. The voluntary execution of God by design.

The shadow of the cross.  

What a tragic triumph it would be.

Let's begin our contemplation toward Resurrection/Easter Sunday together, and perhaps...well perhaps we just might arrive there with a little different perspective than the usual...

THREE NAILS
An Original Poem and Picture by... Me!
~~~~~

The nails that caused God’s blood to flow

From Jesus’ hands and feet,

That poured atoning power for us -

REDEMPTIVE LOVE COMPLETE!

 (I wonder, how those nails did look,

So big and thick and strong?

They must have been to hold the King

Upon the cross so long!)

Did He know even as a child

The nails He used to build,

Would some day pin Him to a tree –

REDEMPTIVE LOVE FULFILLED!
  
(I wonder, how those nails did look,

So big and thick and strong?

They must have been to hold the King

Upon the cross so long!)

And to this day His hands still bear

The scars caused by those nails,

And yet He holds them out to us-

REDEMPTIVE LOVE PREVAILS!