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

There had likely been a large number of pilgrims making the trek from Galilee to Jerusalem for the Passover festival. They traveled in caravans for protection and safety, and on the way they often had conversations and random encounters. Doubtless those traveling with Jesus, and not just the inner circle of disciples, had many chances to listen to him talk about kingdom living and maybe experience his healing touch. They were impressed and as they approached the city over the Mount of Olives and through the Kidron Valley the crowd of pilgrims began to celebrate. They had come to believe that this march was the beginning of God’s redemption of Israel, that Jesus was the long-awaited messiah. But people in the city were confused and wondered what was going on. If this was the coming king, why was he riding a donkey? And the fact that he was from Nazareth impressed no one…no one famous had ever come from there. But everyone loves a parade and it was an exciting day, an auspicious beginning for a week that changed the world. As it turned out the crowd was right. This was the coming of the king…but the donkey was a sign that his reign would be different. And by the end of the week, many in the crowd were not only confused; they were deeply disappointed!

Thought for the Day: What did Jesus’ choice of a donkey signify?

 Philippians 2:5-11

“Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness.” vss. 5-7

While Paul’s words to the Philippians are still often quoted, in reality few in our newly gilded age take them to heart. The people most admired among the masses are the proud, the bold, and the rich, all those who have filled their lives with property and money. Humility is no longer considered a virtue! Instead the majority pays lip service to saints while giving its heart and support to billionaires. Even Christian pastors get caught up in the frenzied adoration of wealth in their mad pursuit of power and influence. In contrast, followers of Jesus are gently encouraged to think like him, to adopt his mindset, and to walk humbly in his Way. It’s doubtful that others in this misdirected society will imitate us, but that’s okay. In his day the crowds looked to Jesus for miracles, but only a few aspired to carry a cross. But in those few his presence continued, and in their humility the world has been changed. Thank God for those in whom we see the mind of Christ. They live and serve among us with loving faithfulness, gladly emptying themselves for the sake of others. In them Jesus continues his ministry of healing and forgiving, and by their presence all of us are blessed.

Thought for the Day: Why are billionaires so admired?

Psalm 31:9-16

“For my life is spent with sorrow, and my years with sighing; my strength fails because of my misery, and my bones waste away.” vs. 10

The psalmist wasn’t just having a bad day…his misery had become chronic and times of joy were but a distant memory. Most of us probably can’t identify with such long-lasting pain and sorrow…but some can! These are those who deal with depression, grieving, and sadness every day of their lives. Sometimes they can mask their feelings and put on a happy face for the sake of family and friends, but on the inside there’s only misery, a wasting away, and a sense that there is no hope. Their prayers are simple: “Give me the strength, Lord, to make it through another day,” or “My times are in your hands, O God, have mercy on me.” And many do find the strength they crave. They are lifted up to live another day and to even reach beyond themselves as a source of support to other hurting persons. Sometimes it’s the people who know pain intimately who are best equipped to bring hugs and understanding to all those others suffering the sorrows of daily living. Their knowing compassion gives them instant credibility and turns them into wounded healers. As Jesus says, “Blessed are those who mourn,” and we pray that they too will one day find peace and comfort.

Thought for the Day: Where can a wounded healer find comfort?

Isaiah 50:4-9a

“The Lord God helps me; therefore I have not been disgraced; therefore I have set my face like flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame;” vs. 7

When Martin Luther, fresh from his scriptural studies, began to speak out and write about abuses in the sacramental system of the church, there were some who resonated with his insights and gave him great support. But the majority of scholars, bishops, and influential people in Europe did not. They rose up against him and accused him of heresy. Because of the onslaught of opposition there were times when he had doubts and felt exposed. Often he expected that troops would be sent to arrest him and take him to Rome for trial, an almost certain death sentence. In those moments he continued to find affirmation in passages like this one from Isaiah. He was reconciled to dying…and began to think of it as the prophet’s reward. Because his confidence was in the Lord, he didn’t even consider recanting or being diplomatic in his recitation of papal abuses and his exposure of corruption. It’s always been like that for those who walk in the way of Jesus. Sometimes our call is to stand firm in our convictions and speak against injustice and the abuse of power. That prophetic role is never comfortable and often involves confrontation. It’s a blessing in those moments to know that the Lord stands with us and will never allow us to be disgraced or put to shame.

Thought for the Day: A time when I’ve faced opposition and spoken out!

John 11:38-45

“I knew that you always hear me, but I have said this for the sake of the crowd standing here, so that they may believe that you sent me.” vs. 42

The whole of John’s gospel has one intent and purpose, that all who read it would come to believe that Jesus is the Christ and has been sent by God. In nearly every chapter, from beginning to end, we read stories about individuals who encounter Jesus, hear his words and see his deeds, and who become believers. No wonder then that Martin Luther, following his intense encounter with the scriptures, proclaimed John to be his favorite gospel. Luther believed that the promise of salvation that came with faith in Jesus was the central teaching of the bible and he stubbornly resisted any doctrinal pronouncement that diminished that proclamation. This passage, with its promise of resurrection and life in Jesus, became a particular favorite. In his estimation anyone who believed in this word of grace had everything…there was nothing else required for eternal life. We may have mixed feelings about Martin Luther. He spoke and wrote from the hip, and a few of his works are downright offensive. But he did get this part right! Trusting in the Word of promise opens the door to living the resurrected life, now and forever. There are many things to worry about in our confused and terror-stricken world, but the one thing we don’t need to worry about is our salvation. That’s God’s business and not ours! And it’s all been taken care of in Jesus!

Thought for the Day: Why do some folks worry about their salvation?

John 11:28-37

“But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?’” vs. 37

The mourners at the home of Martha and Mary were aware of Jesus’ reputation as a healer. They’d heard the stories of miraculous cures and they wonder aloud why Jesus hadn’t made more of an effort to help his friend, Lazarus. Their question is a good one. In fact, it’s one that many of us ask when our prayers for healing seem to go unheard. We earnestly plead with God for intervention on behalf of suffering friends and family members, and are perplexed when the illness progresses and death comes. Sometimes we can even begin to doubt that prayer does any good at all. There’s really not a good answer for our wonderment. Most explanations fall short of satisfaction and we’re left to live with our questions. But what’s truly amazing is that most of us don’t stop praying! Our love won’t let us! Because we care so much we keep on asking God to bring healing and restore life. It’s what we do as followers of Jesus. We know that he wept with Mary and her friends…and he weeps with us. Our prayers do not go unheard! Granted, we won’t always get the miracles we’d like, but we should never imagine that our compassionate Lord has abandoned us. In our suffering we will receive comfort. Questions may not be answered but tears are wiped away and joy restored.

Thought for the Day: Why doesn’t Jesus heal everyone?

John 11:17-27

“Jesus said to her, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?’” vss. 25-26

Martha already believed in resurrection…it was a common belief among the faithful of her day. But she’d always thought of it as something reserved for the future, an end of time experience. What Jesus presented was something quite different, an all-encompassing resurrection that begins now and that can’t be interrupted by death. He told her that he was the resurrection and the life, that all who were connected to him, even if they died, would continue to live…that in fact they would never die. That’s quite a promise, one that quite likely took a while for Martha to comprehend. It’s hard for us too. We have all experienced the death of loved ones and we also know that we will one day breathe our last. That’s what seems real to us. This promise of Jesus, this assurance that life is stronger than death, flies in the face of that reality. And yet we continue to believe that his words are true…not only for the future but for the present. Again and again as death comes close we choose to affirm the resurrection and trust that our loved ones have new life…and that in Christ we will never be separated. In this promise we find our consolation and our joy is restored.

Thought for the Day: What questions do I have about resurrection?

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

In John’s gospel things are not always what they appear to be. There’s always more to the story. We see another example of this as Jesus receives notice of his friend, Lazarus’s, severe illness. On the surface it seems straight-forward. Mary and Martha want Jesus to know about their brother, so they send word to him. It’s what has always been done when there is great love among friends. But the response surprises. Jesus sees that this illness is an opportunity for God’s glory to be shown, and a chance to demonstrate that in him death never has the last word. Accordingly, he delays his return to Bethany, even though he loved Lazarus very much. Sometimes that’s the way it is in loving relationships. We don’t always do what is expected or what protocol demands because life is complicated and we sense there may be a better way. It could be a matter of saying “no” when our loved one has been expecting a “yes.” Obviously there’s risk involved in such actions and we should not expect that others will immediately understand. Martha and Mary were angry when Jesus finally showed up…and there were lots of tears. But he was right. God was glorified and death was overcome. And even today we rejoice in that victory.

Thought for the Day: A time I didn’t do the expected thing.

Romans 8:6-11

“To set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.” vs. 6

Some followers of Jesus struggle to live with their flaws. They have been blessed with a spirit of perfectionism and have the irrational notion that they should be able to live exactly as God desires. Paul had a dose of that gene too…and he struggled to do what he thought he ought to be doing. His great insight was to realize that he could never control what he called his “flesh,” that’s the physical part of who we are, the part that’s connected to our desires. He told the Romans that to focus on those desires was death. No matter what we try, the power of sin at work in the flesh will always be stronger. His solution was to focus on the indwelling Spirit of Christ where he consistently found life and peace. His words should be a consolation for us in our lifelong struggle with sin. We’re just not going to win that battle, but that’s okay! We don’t have to! Christ has won the victory over sin and death and we are the beneficiaries. In him, no matter how screwed up our lives might be, there is always forgiveness and hope. And on some days our sorry wretched selves can actually produce some nearly flawless fruits. In fact, sinners whose minds are set on the Spirit are beautifully equipped to reach out to embrace the least and the lost. In Christ we are the hope of the world!

Thought for the Day: How can I daily set my mind on the Spirit?

Psalm 130

“Out of the depths I cry to you, O Lord.” vs. 1

So what shall we do when we’re down and life seems to be closing in on us? It’s a situation that all of us face from time to time, and one that some deal with on an almost daily basis. The darkness of those moments is overwhelming and it’s hard to make wise decisions. Our well-meaning friends may offer advice or prescribe possible solutions, but often they don’t grasp the depth of the depression. Sometimes we don’t even know why we’re feeling so bad and struggle to make explanations. All we know is that we’re in a dark place…and it’s no fun being there. That’s where the psalmist was all those centuries ago and he didn’t like being there either. In his pain he shouted out to the Lord, knowing that in God he would find both forgiveness and unconditional love. Evidently he knew from experience that those were the two things he needed to be lifted up and restored. That’s still how it works for us. When depression strikes we don’t need lectures about how good life is and how we should be grateful. We don’t need to be told to snap out of it or to get outside and take a walk, though that’s never a bad thing to do. What we need to know is that we are loved unconditionally and that God’s forgiveness knows no limits. And we don’t even need to cheer up to be forgiven or loved! And some days that’s the best news ever!

Thought for the Day: What do I do when I’m down?