How Will You Celebrate And Worship God Over The Next Few Weeks?
Good Morning Friends,
As we continue our Lenten journey moving ever closer to Holy Week, it is like no other Passover week that I have ever experienced. We may make palm crosses for Palm Sunday in a week, as we have in the past, but since we have no practical way as of yet to distribute them to the congregation, instead of making eight hundred we will make eight. But this is not the first time in Holy History that celebration has been set aside. Moses celebrated the Passover only the first year of their exodus from Egypt. For thirty- nine years in the desert, until they entered the Promised Land, there was no celebration. And then there was the time in captivity in Babylon. Oh, we will think about things and even in our distancing feel a closeness. But I doubt it will be the same. The experience is about community connected. And that is hard to do virtually. So, it is a good time to review the lessons from the palm tree, the passion and the Passover and the drama of the relationship between Jesus and Judas. For, there is tension today in the next couple of weeks for all of us living out the reality of our time and yes Lent is almost over but not the story of what is to come. So, I am not sure we will get a sense of closure this season and certainly not today. We need Jesus at the door to reveal to us how to move forward. And we may need more self-initiative than the Hebrews showed that first year that they decided to not celebrate the Passover. We need Jesus to open the door that hinges on Lent and Holy Week if we hope to conquer the greatest challenge of all. And so, it is a good day to explore the question and prepare: How Will You Celebrate And Worship God Over The Next Few Weeks?
Scripture: When they had come near Jerusalem and had reached Bethphage, at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go into the village ahead of you, and immediately you will find a donkey tied, and a colt with her; untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, just say this, ‘The Lord needs them.’ And he will send them immediately.” This took place to fulfill what had been spoken through the prophet, saying, “Tell the daughter of Zion, Look, your king is coming to you, humble, and mounted on a donkey, and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” The disciples went and did as Jesus had directed them; they brought the donkey and the colt, and put their cloaks on them, and he sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and that followed were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 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.”
Matthew 21:1-11 (NRSV)
From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 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?” When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.” Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.
Matthew 27:45-56 (NRSV)
Message: Okay, I do not need any more drama and I know today’s topic is a challenge, but it is relevant. The scripture is filled to overflowing so why not see what God might provide for us in a way of worship. Let us first look at the nature of palms. Sure, palm grow in Florida, at least some varieties. I have a yard full of them. But some also grow in the adversity of deserts where Jesus was tempted, and the Hebrews wandered for 40 years. Palms break the bond tied around them. In storms they bend but do not break. They will even make it through the typical Florida brush fire. And when it comes to dates…that fruit of the palm grows sweeter and more abundant with age just as we are to grow. At the heart of the palm is life. It is on the inside not the outside like most trees. Its message is that if we are healthy inside nothing can stop our spiritual growth. It can take abuse because its life is protected and when joined with other palms, they form an oasis in the desert and in Florida a hammock for wildlife to flourish. The Palm is a wonderful example of the Christian life…. a victorious life in community The events of 2000 years ago with Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem prompted people to cut branches of palms and lay them down on what must have been a pretty messy road. Palms are filled with symbolism and figure into the decor of the Temple. There is something important here for us to remember about how we might worship this season. And part of it is remembering something beyond the palm crosses made in celebration of King Jesus’ triumphant entry into Jerusalem 2000 years ago. It means remembering something beyond those years our chancel choirs sang, or our bell choirs rang in celebration of our worship together like we did two weeks ago. No, the focus is to be on Jesus and the Way of Passion and Purpose and Peace. And we are not only to remember Him, but take him all in, as today, we contemplate how we might in the weeks to come celebrate the return of the victorious King into Jerusalem when we cannot meet to sing. So, we will have to imagine hearing the crowds in the streets calling out for Jesus to save…to rescue…to deliver….to rise up from the inside. But we are not to linger here for long. We know the story draws us to the unimaginable power of the cross and Jesus’ coming victory over death. Friends, even today we might well imagine hearing the sound of the water in the basin Jesus uses to wash the feet of each disciple…even as we wash our hands in preparation for a meal. We might well imagine hearing the breaking of the bread and the pouring of the cup. We might imagine hearing the footsteps as we walk with Jesus to the place of the olive press. And here we might imagine hearing Jesus’ praying while the disciples sleep. And then our imagination might take us to hear the guards…the words of betrayal…the insanity of the arrest and trial. Then it is as if we actually hear the lash of the whip and the pounding of the nails. And we listen to what Jesus says…what Jesus breaths on the cross. But first we must enter Jerusalem with Jesus. You see, Passion Sunday and Palm Sunday and it is a week from now, but they go together even now because they cannot be separated. And they demonstrate just how difficult it is for good and evil to exist in such close proximity. Friends, we too are to join in memory of a revival going on in Jerusalem on that day 2000 years ago when Jesus was ending his earthly ministry but starting something that would extend out to all creation. We are to experience Jesus riding upon a donkey as people threw and waved palm branches in his path. We too are to welcomed and praised Jesus as a conquering hero. But there is more, for we too are drawn to the cross. We too are being drawn to the center point of all History. This place where the Body of a man…the body of God is broken so that creation itself might be reformed… here we discover that Christ’s separation was intentional and perhaps our separation is even now intentional for multiple reason but all hinging on the reality….that Jesus died on purpose so we might live. Friends, a conquering King has to ask the question how many casualties one is willing to take. Jesus answered the question with his own life for at the heart of his ministry still is the saving of lives.
And So, we are only partway there, and it is becoming clearer that the events that took place during what is now called “Holy Week” certainly transformed the history of the world, but they also created a new villain: Judas. And here the drama gets personal. As one of Jesus’ closest followers and friends you must wonder what he was thinking when he betrayed Jesus. We will never know what Judas was thinking but it must have been more than just about the money. Without Judas it is hard to imagine a crucifixion and without a crucifixion it is hard to imagine a resurrection. At the end of the day Judas was an adversary of Jesus. Judas’ ways were at odds with the Way of Jesus. But sometimes so is ours. Here the storyline is getting darker and uncomfortably personal. What was being played out in the light is now overshadowed in the dark with evil akin of the final plague on Egypt in that first Passover as we face our own sins. The tension is rising. Even Jesus is getting ready to sweat blood. And here we find that our emotions are heightened too. Here we find that it is not only wise but very necessary that each of us identify our adversaries when things are getting heated. It is a well-founded strategy to identify who our enemies are, so we might relate to with them with caution. But identifying them is not always easy for not all enemies are external. Some are internal. And get this, the internal enemies are more dangerous than the external ones. And the thing is that we need a power greater than ourselves to help us fight the good fight against internal enemies. We cannot fight ourselves and win. Jesus knows who we really are and loves us anyway. He wants us to know that wherever he is grace abounds. He desires us to realize that His Kingdom is big enough for all who want to be free. Even at Calvary the case for Christ is presented with the grace of a King who loves abundantly. In this place of three crosses we see rebellion, repentance and redemption. We see the gift of second chances. At the very moment that Jesus was dying for that criminal’s sins on the cross He was offering all of us an unconditional pardon. Here a symbol of shame and terror and death is replaced with a symbol of God’s profound love for us. Jesus invites us home and is waiting to see if we will extend grace to others. Indeed, He is a surprising King who bring victory even in the symbol of a palm cross.
Pray we not try to fix what we cannot fix but instead use the season’s message to help heal ourselves. Pray we never betray Jesus but find new ways to worship him in difficult times. Pray we realize that God in His wisdom was able, as always, to trick even Satan’s rebellion for the benefit of mankind. Pray we realize that we have a choice and will be held accountable for our choice. Pray we see clearly and completely as best we can. Pray we learn that the key to victory is Jesus. Pray we experience Jesus in the light. Pray we see that He holds it all together when things seem to be falling apart into the darkness. Pray we learn and share in anticipation of the resurrection hope. Pray we identify our enemies and ask God to deal with them on our behalf because we cannot do it on our own.
Pray we realize that when Jesus came into the world, He saw things that the world was unable to see. Pray we realize that sin is a serious problem and for those who do not believe in it, deadly. Pray that Jesus remembers us. Pray in the mystery of the palm and the passion that Jesus be exalted. Pray that we share His powerful Word inside of us. Pray we believe and share what is true and sweet and abundant fruit in us. Pray we promote love to God and to each other despite the tension.
Pray that our walk this day and during Holy Week prepares us for what is to come. Pray we experience a God who created the power of life. Pray we never lose our focus on the cross and its message of salvation. Pray we have victory over separation.
Pray with rejoicing not just in the celebration of this Sunday but also for the fact that Jesus did not run away from our darkness but instead conquered it. Pray we have life on the inside that honors Jesus. Pray we honor God by living.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 