Good Friday

Holy Week. Jesus. Followers. A meal. The absurdity of a kneeling king taking a towel and washing feet. A garden. A desperate prayer. Abandonment. Betrayal.

Today will be a cross.

I wish I could comprehend it. I wish I could really take it all in. I feel like I often stand at a great distance -disconnected from the power of this universe-altering moment.

A death like no other death.

A death to end all death.

A death that “redeems a slave by giving a Son.”

A death of dreadful measure.

A death that imposes the common death of a criminal on the One who is righteousness.

A death devoured by the outpouring of wrath.

Many experienced a crucifixion, many suffered agonizing pain. But, only One experienced all the guilt, shame and wrath compressing down upon their spirit with providential power.

Surely he took up our pain
and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God,
stricken by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions,
he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him,
and by his wounds we are healed [freed from the enslavement of sin].
We all, like sheep, have gone astray,
each of us has turned to our own way;
and the LORD has laid on him
the iniquity of us all.

[Isaiah 53:4-6]

[on that day] God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us,so that in Him we might become the righteousness of God.

[2 Corinthians 5:21]

. . . [on the cross] Jesus said, “It is finished.”  With that, he willingly bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

[John 19:30]

I don’t get it. They didn’t get it.

On that day it seemed death won.

Darkness filled the sky. Sorrow. Sadness. Anxiety. Fear. Over. Done.

Waiting.

The Journey of Lent

Lent is here. It’s tomorrow and I’m not sure I’m ready.

I do have my plan, but I thought it was next week and now I am being thrust into this journey sooner than I anticipated. But perhaps, this is appropriate. Perhaps it’s how the disciples felt when Jesus made his march toward Jerusalem and it didn’t look anything like they expected. He didn’t seem to be armed for a political overthrow or ready to put them in power. Instead, Jesus started with a meal. He talked about blood being shed and flesh being consumed — His blood! His flesh! And when they started yet another debate about who would be the greatest, he picked up a towel rather than giving them each a title. He spoke of betrayal and denial and then he took them to pray — and they promptly fell asleep.

Lent is 40 days. Jesus spent 40 days in the wilderness and faced the temptation of Satan before he entered his public ministry. When Jesus took his friends to pray (before and after they fell asleep) he told them to pray for themselves that they would not fall into temptation. Jesus knew temptation and he didn’t want them to give in. But, of course, they did. Just like us.

Lent is a time of focused prayer. Lent is our time to join Jesus in the wilderness. Lent is not just a time to give up chocolate or diet cokes, it is a time to draw closer to Jesus.

“. . . I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ, and be found in him . . . I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death . . .” [Philippians 3:8-10]

Here are some resources to help you enter into the journey of Lent:

A 40-Day Reading Plan: Read through the New Testament for Lent

Small Surrenders: A Lenten Journey

Bread and Wine: Readings for Lent

Place at the Table, A: 40 Days of Solidarity with the Poor

I’d love to hear about your Lenten Journey! Please post your comments.

Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John

Some of us are meditating upon the book of John in our Bible Study. It’s super helpful to read a book all the way through in one sitting when you study because it gives you the big picture. You get to see Jesus’ life fully on display and not broken into small pieces. It enhances worship. I had a friend who didn’t preach a book until he had read it through at least 50 times!

Here are a couple tools to help you read through John in 1-2 sittings. And when you’re done — I’d love to hear what you discover about Jesus from the book of John!

Gospel of John Observation Worksheets

Anticipating the Christ

At least I am trying to anticipate the Christ when today feels like a normal day, another Monday, another day of work and meetings and gatherings with friends. But I am trying not to miss this week. This week before Christmas, this week to anticipate the Christ. Six days to the celebration of the birth of God.

I still find the incarnation absolutely mind-boggling. The physical, earthy, inconspicuous coming of God. A zygote. An embryo. A fetus. A baby. A child.

Mary the virgin wasn’t praying for a miracle or looking to be a part of history. She was merely present in a very small and obscure town when an angel came and said to her, “Do not be afraid . . . You will be with child and give birth to a son, and you will give him the name Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end” (Luke 1:30-33).

A Week for Adoptions

This is a week for adoptions. Today I have multiple friends throughout Africa grabbing hold of their sons. They are facebooking and blogging and rejoicing and crying. Their joy is arresting, disarming. There are no caveats or disclaimers. There is no talk of future challenges. Today is a day for undisciplined delight. I want to crawl into it and feel every feeling they feel.

I envy this experience – of knowing exactly what the Father feels on the day he adopts us into his family. There is no hesitation. No crossed arms waiting for us to meet his expectations. No marching orders. Like my friends who are overwhelming their sons with toys and t-shirts and stuffed bears, he gregariously pours out gifts – the Holy Spirit, his presence, his word, his unabashed affection.

“For those who are led by the Spirit of God are the children of God. The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”  The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” [Romans 8:14-16]

“God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship. Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, “Abba,Father.” [Galatians 4:4-6]

“God predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.” [Ephesians 1:5-6]

Hearing the Voice of God

I’m trying to grow in listening to God– in not running ahead of him nor running behind him. How I do I run with him? How do I hear what he is saying and not just what I want him to say? Jesus says that he only does what the father tells him to do, that he only says what the father tells him to say. I want to know what that could look like in my life.

So, I’d love y’all to help me! How do you hear the voice of God? What does that look like in your life?

Put your comments here and lets get the conversation going!

A Prayer for Going to Target

Dear Father in Heaven who provides all that I need. I am going to Target and I need your guidance and protection.

Guide me to just the three things on my list (toilet paper, dishwasher detergent and tampons). Please protect me from the bathing suits, dresses and shorts. Do not let that $9.99 T-shirt leap into my cart. Remind me that I have too many T-shirts and no room for this one—even if it is the perfect color, size and texture. Do not let my fingers grasp another quick-wicking workout shirt or a pair of oh-so-light-and-colorful running shorts even if I am training for a race that is six months away. Put blinders on my eyes as I pass the candles and lamps and bowls and vases — especially the purple ones that would add that perfect touch of color to my guest room. Keep me from the shoes and remind me how uncomfortable they will be in just a week and that your perfect will for me is at Nordstrom Rack. Keep me from the eyeliner and mascara and blush and lipstick and lip balm. And you know the enemy brought food to my Target—please bring to mind all the Ranch Dressing that already lines my refrigerator shelf. I will memorize these truths: my dog does not need another bone; I don’t need another journal that feels so perfect in my hands; I don’t need lavender body wash; and Diet Coke is cheaper at Ralph’s.

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Amen.