Good Morning Friends,
The past few years Christian worship tradition has been thrown to the wind and it is hard to say what is right and what is wrong and what is of value and what is not worth our time. Oh, we have our opinions and pray for them to be honored by God. But God is not a prayer vending machine. Ultimately, each of us, must decide and go home to pray, for the conclusion in our own minds might well be in conflict with the hopes of others and we so desperately need God’s help not to stifle the Holy Spirit by blaming others about the state of worship in the world. Still, we would be naïve to think that we would all agree even in our hope for a more vibrant and meaningful Holy Week. But nevertheless, something miraculous is happening in what is being birthed in people’s lives today related to the lectionary scripture that I connect with the promise of peace as the answer to our prayers for understanding. As part of today’s scripture we have the continuing story in the book of John about Nicodemus and the prophet’s lament from Jeremiah. Maybe these stories might help us to answer today’s question about Jesus and leadership with certain affirmation and trust as we ask, Where Is The Peace?
Scripture: It was the Lord who made it known to me, and I knew; then you showed me their evil deeds. But I was like a gentle lamb led to the slaughter. And I did not know it was against me that they devised schemes, saying, “Let us destroy the tree with its fruit, let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will no longer be remembered!” But you, O Lord of hosts, who judge righteously, who try the heart and the mind, let me see your retribution upon them, for to you I have committed my cause.
Jeremiah 11:18-20 (NRSV)
When they heard these words, some in the crowd said, “This is really the prophet.” Others said, “This is the Messiah.” But some asked, “Surely the Messiah does not come from Galilee, does he? Has not the scripture said that the Messiah is descended from David and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So there was a division in the crowd because of him. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him. Then the temple police went back to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not arrest him?” The police answered, “Never has anyone spoken like this!” Then the Pharisees replied, “Surely you have not been deceived too, have you? Has any one of the authorities or of the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law—they are accursed.” Nicodemus, who had gone to Jesus before, and who was one of them, asked, “Our law does not judge people without first giving them a hearing to find out what they are doing, does it?” They replied, “Surely you are not also from Galilee, are you? Search and you will see that no prophet is to arise from Galilee.” Then each of them went home,
John 7:40-53 (NRSV)
Message: Today’s Lenten scripture passages reveal how the people of God responded to prophets trying their level best to call people back to repentance and worship. Imagine the response today to a man with a sandwich board by the roadside with “The End Is Near!” printed on one side, and “Repent And Turn To Jesus!” on the other. Sometimes it seems no matter what people try to do, there is resistance to those who are trying to reach others with a message, even without bold placards in the public square, what God has put on our hearts. Jesus had similar problems and in the book of John and we have the story of Nicodemus to help us to better understand the drama and the cultural challenge of getting to the truth so we might have peace. Nicodemus tried to fight for justice when the Jews were using illegal tactics to try Jesus. Many considered him crazy. But Nicodemus saw something in him of relevance. The Bible tells us little about Nicodemus. But this name “Nicodemus” gives us some insight. You see it is made up of two words, a word which means “to conquer,” and one which means “the common people.” The total name means, “One who conquers the people.” And maybe that is why Nicodemus was so interested in Jesus…this Jesus the Messiah who had captured the attention of the common people engaging with them with their faith heritage to create something new. But what soon becomes evident in the battle for power over the people and of the people is that following Jesus would require a commitment that would cost Nicodemus a great deal…. Not unlike the Rich Young Ruler…Nicodemus would be asked to give up everything. It’s true throughout all of Scripture…. Following Jesus isn’t something you can do at night where no one notices. It’s a twenty-four-hour-a-day commitment that will interfere with your life. That’s not the small-print–that’s a bold guarantee.” And here if we claim that we too need to be born again, because of what Jesus said to Nicodemus, then we might just have to sell everything we have and give it to the poor, because Jesus said that to the Rich Young Ruler too. I guess we all need to look into our hearts with Jesus to understand what the commitment is going to require of us. Surprisingly, after Jesus’ death, Nicodemus brought close to 100 pounds of spices to the tomb to help Joseph of Arimathea prepare Jesus’ body for burial. Such a large amount of myrrh and aloes would be difficult to conceal, but at that point Nicodemus seemed unafraid for his connection to Jesus to become known. Why, after Jesus had died, would a man of Nicodemus’ standing risk his reputation? The answer is I think that Nicodemus after sleeping on it awoke believing that Jesus was the Messiah. Nicodemus was witness that no one ever spoke the way Jesus did.
And So, peace is about the promise being kept. It is not about wishes being granted. I know that some of you go through a time of doubt…perhaps right now—a crisis of faith. You feel God is too far away or he just doesn’t connect when you need God most. You feel God does not answer when you call out to him. You feel let down and disappointed. The worst thing we can do in times of crisis is to shut our ears, our eyes, and our hearts—to shut out Jesus from our lives. Even though he may not be doing or saying what we want him to do or say, he has not left our lives, and he is not passive or silent. In times of spiritual dryness and depression, it is enticing to just cut the ties with God, to stop reading the Bible and to stop praying. But it just makes things worse. God wants to stay connected with you. He wants to strengthen you and build you up in your faith. He wants you to recognize Jesus as your God, and Lord, and Savior—not just on an intellectual and theological level, but also on an existential and emotional level. When Jesus speaks, he creates a direct hotline between the loving heart of God and our hearts. And we can experience that connection on a very deep and existential level, even though we cannot explain it. When Jesus speaks, you can sense God’s loving presence—you can almost touch him with your hands. We all have our own reasons why we are here today. We all have our own reasons why we believe in Jesus or why we seek him. We all have our own history of faith and doubt, of trust in God and disappointment with God. If we take time to let him reveal his loving presence to us, if we calm down and be still and retreat from the pressures of day-to-day life, if we care to take what in some circles is called “Quiet Time” with the Lord, you will find that he is with you, and that he is in charge of your life, whatever your circumstances. Trust in him. Be still and know that he is God—your God. Today I want to encourage you and challenge you to continue to let God speak to you through the words of Jesus in the Gospels—or in any other way that he chooses to speak to you right now. Allow him to reveal his truth, his love, and his heart to you. Receive Peace and its Purpose.
Pray Jesus looks into our hearts. Pray we get the chance to be born again and give it all away. Pray we are Holy Spirit inspired in our proclamation of the Word. Pray we come to Jesus for an explanation, greater clarity, and knowledge so we can explain to others how God works connecting it all together in a way that makes sense. Pray we wrestle with our stubborn literalism and be led by Jesus into the deep mystery of faith. Pray we receive the challenge to believe in and receive the challenge of God’s love. Pray we realize that we have to be all in for the commitment to bring a Kingdom Transformation. Pray God actively oppose those who oppose the truth. Pray we appreciate the unique truth of Jesus. Pray we open our mind and heart to Jesus. Pray that when we are overwhelmed, we come to Jesus, even in the middle of the night finding the answer of Peace shared.
Blessings,
John Lawson
Daily Devotionals 