Matthew 27:45-54

“And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’” vs. 46

Matthew and Mark report that Jesus’ only words from the cross echoed Psalm 22 and reflected his deep distress and sense of alienation. He felt deserted by God, a deep irony given his identification as the Good Shepherd, the one who leads us through the valley of deep darkness. But perhaps that’s the key to understanding the comfort that comes our way from him in our own encounters with distress and despair. He can lead the way because he knows the path so well–he’s been there before us. We don’t have a Lord who speculates about what it’s like to feel pain and know suffering, we have a Lord who knows death first hand. So it’s no wonder that in those moments when hope fades and faith seems fragile, we can snuggle right up to Jesus, and feel his strong arms hold us close. Some people have reported that what had been an intellectual acquaintance with faith became intensely personal when the bottom dropped out of their world and a sense of forsakenness spread over them. In those moments they became aware, and said to themselves, “So this is what it was like for Jesus!” Those are powerful, faith-building times, not ones to be sought after–no one seeks that sort of pain–but times in which we feel unity with our Lord and Savior. And somehow, in a strange sort of way, it just feels good!

Thought for the Day: A time of despair that felt good!

Matthew 27:26-34

“Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.’” vss. 29-40

It’s amazing how quickly people abandoned the “Jesus Bandwagon” after he was arrested and sentenced to death by crucifixion. Surely some of those who passed by that Friday afternoon were familiar with his ministry–he’d been teaching regularly in the temple in the days before his betrayal. But when they walked by on this busy road outside the city walls they had nothing but derision for him. In their eyes he was just another failed messiah, and unless he could pull off a really big miracle and climb down from the cross, they weren’t interested. Oh, there were likely some mourners among the onlookers–mostly women, but Matthew says they stood at a distance. His male disciples were likely holed up, self-quarantined against discovery and making plans to go back to Galilee. It still doesn’t take much for people to abandon their faith and go in another direction–we see it happen regularly. Some calamity comes near, hopes are dashed, prayers go unanswered–the reasons can be many, but the outcome is the same. Jesus is left alone to die! It will be interesting to see now how many people will be returning to the churches when this pandemic begins to dissipate and doors are reopened. Will there be a renewal of faith or will people just continue to stay away? Perhaps we’ll find out on Easter!

Thought for the Day: Why do people abandon faith?

Matthew 27:11-25

“Pilate said to them, ‘Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ All of them said, ‘Let him be crucified!’” vs. 22

According to Matthew the mood of the crowds reversed in the course of a week. They went from cheering Jesus’ arrival as the Son of David to demanding his death as a common criminal. Some explain this by saying that there were two different crowds, one made up of Galileans, the other containing skeptical Judeans. But the truth is that any crowds can be enormously fickle, easily stirred up by clever politicians, and always thirsty for blood–even in the Jim Crow period of American history, less than one hundred years ago, large cheering crowds gathered for the lynching of innocent black men. For them it was a social event, an opportunity to give voice to prejudice and hate. Two thousand years ago the religious leaders did a masterful job of besmirching the character and ministry of Jesus, and the crowds were eager to accommodate them. And Pilate, who knew that Jesus was innocent, lacked the heart to oppose their will, and eventually acquiesced to their demands. As we move beyond this pandemic crisis we’ll be entering the heat of the election campaign. Once again we’ll see efforts made to stir up crowds with accusations and half-truths–and it remains to be seen what influence those crowds will have. While it’s good to let the people have a voice, it can be a disaster when they have the final say.

Thought for the Day: Why is crowd behavior so fickle?

Matthew 21:1-11

“When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘Who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘This is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’” vss. 10-11

According to Matthew, Jesus didn’t exactly sneak into Jerusalem when he arrived for the Passover. In fact he did the opposite and staged an eye-catching entry with a palm festooned procession and a crowd of enthusiastic supporters. As a result the whole city exploded with curiosity–everyone wondered who this donkey-riding pilgrim might be–rumors and gossip passed through the crowded streets quickly. And his Galilean followers were proud to spread the good news. This was the hope of Israel, the prophet Jesus from the remote village of Nazareth! It’s exciting to be in the vanguard of a new movement. Enthusiasm abounds and expectations are high! This new idea, this new person, is going to change everything and the benefits will abound. Some of us know that feeling well–it happens regularly in our constantly recycling political process. Every four years we find our new messiah and millions are convinced that this time things are going to change for good, and our lives will be better forever. Of course that’s not how it works. Before long reality sets in and that new messiah is crucified. But we don’t like to think like that. We want to believe, and we don’t want anyone to rain on our parade. Just like the folks in Jerusalem so long ago, we love to celebrate hope–and so we do–and that’s okay!

Thought for the Day: Who gets me excited about the future?

Philippians 2:4-11

“Let each of you look not to your own interests, but to the interests of others.” vs. 4

In his poem, The Present Crisis, the anti-slavery poet, James Russell Lowell wrote, “New occasions teach new duties,” a perfect commentary on our current “present crisis.” All citizens of the world, believers and non-believers alike, are being urged to put into practice one of the basic principles of life in Christ. In the interest of saving thousands of lives, each of us are being challenged to “look not to our own interests, but to the interests of others.” Even though there appears to be no imminent threat to our own lives, and even though we’re feeling perfectly fine, our elected officials are telling us to practice social isolation. Some folks (even Christians) are resenting such decrees big time. They don’t like being told what to do, and they continue to do all they can to look out for themselves without regard to others. In most of our cities there is rampant hoarding–grocery store shelves are being cleaned out as individuals get what they can while they can. Such primitive impulses fly in the face of Paul’s words to the Philippians, a poor congregation that gave generously so that famine victims might eat. Followers of Jesus understand what it means to be humble servants, and it’s been gratifying to see them in action during these last weeks. This is a big time opportunity for us to practice what we preach, and the world is being blessed by our obedience.

Thought for the Day: Why do people hoard?

Psalm 31:9-16

“I am the scorn of all my adversaries, a horror to my neighbors, an object of dread to my acquaintances; those who see me in the street flee from me.” vs 11

The psalmist didn’t know it but his words are a pretty good description of what it’s like to be infected with the Coronavirus. Thankfully that hasn’t happened for many of us but it’s certainly something that we fear. We carefully practice social distancing and monitor our physical symptoms, and wonder if the sore throat is just a cold or a sign of something more sinister. Almost all have changed their daily habits and are eliminating all physical interactions, a boon to introverts and agony for those more extroverted. Life has changed for all–and we’re struggling to figure out the new normal. We listen to the pundits for guidance, and then wonder if anyone knows what the immediate effects of this pandemic will be. Everyone just seems to be guessing! In our isolation we worry about family and friends and some, like the psalmist, feel horribly estranged. It’s a tough spot, and if we’re looking for guidance we could do worse than pay attention to the psalmist’s prayer, “Let your face shine upon your servant; save me in your steadfast love.” Ultimately it comes down to a matter of trust and a reliance upon our core values. Like the psalmist we do believe in Divine Presence and know that beyond the immediate turmoil and confusion, even beyond the pain and sorrow, we can securely rest in God’s arms of love.

Thought for the Day: How is my faith helping me in these days?

Isaiah 50:4-9a

“I gave my back to those who struck me, and my cheeks to those who pulled out the beard; I did not hide my face from insult and spitting.” vs. 6

Those called by God as prophets in Israel weren’t welcomed with open arms. Even though they came teaching and proclaiming the word of the Lord, most of the time they were persecuted and sometimes killed. They didn’t come with weapons or armies and offered little resistance to those who opposed them–and Jesus knew their stories. As a result when his own prophetic ministry brought him into conflict with the religious authorities and occupying forces, he likely wasn’t surprised to be treated in the same fashion. That pattern of non-violent resistance became the model for every new prophet of God who has graced our planet. From Bonhoeffer to Gandhi to King such leaders have taught the truth of God with dignity and patience–they’ve listened before they’ve spoken, and they’ve suffered for their efforts. And through them the world has been changed for the good. While we might not feel the call to prophetic ministry on our journeys, we are all called to embrace non-violence whenever conflict threatens. There’s no room for cut-throat bullying among God’s people–we are the people of peace, mercy, and forgiveness. Nothing is ever gained by wielding a big stick in the presence of those who oppose us. It might sell in Hollywood but it’s certainly not the way of the Christ!

Thought for the Day: How do I respond to insults?

John 11:32-45

“Jesus began to weep. So the Jews said, ‘See how he loved him!’ But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’” vss. 35-37

The underlying motivation behind the current worldwide shutdown is the fear of death. No matter how much comfort we might find in the certainty of the resurrection, death has never become a friend to us, except in those cases when it brings an end to profound suffering. Even Jesus, knowing what he was going to do, wept and was deeply moved when he saw the pain of the mourners. In our day, we’re willing to endure months of shutdown and self-quarantine, expending trillions of dollars globally because we refuse to allow the advance of the deadly COVID-19 virus. There is probably nothing that brings more sadness into our lives than the death of a loved family member or friend. Tears flow freely and sorrow fills our hearts–like Jesus, we are deeply moved. And that’s the way it should be! Some believers give the impression that belief in resurrection should completely negate our pain. Such a notion is nonsensical and completely underestimates the deep and profound nature of love. Of course we will cry when death comes near–and Jesus said plainly, “Blessed are those who mourn.” In our tears we give expression to our pain and release the pressure on our broken hearts. One day the weeping will end, but only in its time, and not one minute sooner!

Thought for the Day: When has death hit me the hardest?

John 11:17-31

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live…’” vs. 25

Contrary to what we might expect, according to recent polling, most people believe in life after death, even those who self-identify as atheists or agnostics. It’s not surprising then that almost all funerals or memorial services make reference to the continuing life the newly departed now enjoys. For the most part that’s how it was in Jesus’ day too! When her brother, Lazarus, died, Martha readily affirmed her belief in the resurrection on the last day. But Jesus offered her more! He tells her that trusting in him is more than a free pass to heavenly mansions, it means resurrected life now, long before we die. Our new life in Christ is “this-worldly” and can be enjoyed throughout our lives on this planet. It brings daily adventure as we revel in the joy and beauty of the now and search out all the delights the creation has to offer. In the course of that journey there’ll be love and affection and genuine kindness as we use our gifts and talents to serve one another. And then as death draws near, as it surely will, we find comfort in the knowledge that the new life that we’ve been living continues beyond the grave. The best news is that all this is ours by grace, a gift from the Divine Presence who has loved us from the moment of our birth.

Thought for the Day: Why do I trust that what Jesus says is true?

John 11:1-16

“But when Jesus heard it, he said, ‘This illness does not lead to death; rather it is for God’s glory, so that the Son of God may be glorified through it.’” vs. 4

These words of Jesus seem contradictory. Whoever heard of an illness that could bring glory to God, especially one that was deadly in nature? And yet that’s what happened–Lazarus died, but his death provided an opportunity for folks to celebrate life. We’ve been thinking about such things as this new disease, COVID-19, has raced around the globe, not only bringing death to thousands, but also thoroughly disrupting our daily lives. People have been challenged to rethink priorities as they’ve lost jobs and nest eggs have been ravaged. Sometimes the epidemic has uncovered our worst human tendencies as some have engaged in hoarding and scapegoating. But for the most part, we’ve behaved rather well, and maybe even surprised ourselves as we’ve reached out to the vulnerable and provided generously for the needy. People have found remarkable comradery in challenging circumstances, and we’ve learned what it’s like to sacrifice for the sake of others. Some might even say that this illness has brought out the best in us, and that through it God has been glorified. Of course we want it to be brought under control, and our hearts go out to those who have suffered and died–but maybe this awful season of postponements and shut-downs can teach some valuable lessons about life in community, and how important even small acts of love can be.

Thought for the Day: What have I learned about myself during these last weeks?