There is something that pulls us to Good Friday. We have to realize it is Jesus Christ that is pulling us to himself on Good Friday, the day the Revolution began. We are saved not in order to go to heaven but saved so that we may continue to bring people to Jesus Christ.
One of the biggest things I hear people wrestle with is the judgment that Christ brings and just exactly how that might affect us. This was the question I wrestled with as I prepared this sermon. I think of this as an invitation to join me in thinking through this process in your life. I hope you find it especially helpful as we begin our procession into Holy Week.
Now among those who went up to worship at the festival were some Greeks. They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, and said to him, “Sir, we wish to see Jesus.” Philip went and told Andrew; then Andrew and Philip went and told Jesus. Jesus answered them, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly, I tell you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains just a single grain; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. Those who love their life lose it, and those who hate their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me, and where I am, there will my servant be also. Whoever serves me, the Father will honor.
“Now my soul is troubled. And what should I say—‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it is for this reason that I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and I will glorify it again.” The crowd standing there heard it and said that it was thunder. Others said, “An angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, “This voice has come for your sake, not for mine. Now is the judgment of this world; now the ruler of this world will be driven out. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” He said this to indicate the kind of death he was to die.
Top Image: from http://goeast.ems.com/top-7-rainy-day-hiking-gear-essentials/
Continuing from last week’s conversation. Jesus’ new teaching is the healing of his people. As we work to define our new teaching we must also ask “Are we hurting or healing?”
After Jesus and his disciples left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
The picture at the top is an artists depiction of the woman touching the hem of Jesus’ robe from Mark Ch. 5. The floor seen in the picture is the actual road where this healing miracle took place. I also think it is the perfect imagery of our healing being seen as happening on the altar. this was one of my favorite places I visited in Israel, outside of Jerusalem.
Below are pictures I took in Capernaum. The top picture is inside the synagogue from the Gospel story last week. The bottom pictures are on a slide show and the ruins of St. Peter’s House and the Chruch that now exists on top of it. I thought it would be fun to share the locations mentioned in the Gospel and Sermon.
Forgiveness is hard, but that doesn’t give us the excuse to not practice it. On Sunday, I preached about forgiveness. I even included a little exercise to help see what forgiveness feels like and why it’s important for us. I encourage you to “play along” at home!
Peter came and said to Jesus, “Lord, if another member of the church sins against me, how often should I forgive? As many as seven times?” Jesus said to him, “Not seven times, but, I tell you, seventy-seven times.
“For this reason the kingdom of heaven may be compared to a king who wished to settle accounts with his slaves. When he began the reckoning, one who owed him ten thousand talents was brought to him; and, as he could not pay, his lord ordered him to be sold, together with his wife and children and all his possessions, and payment to be made. So the slave fell on his knees before him, saying, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you everything.’ And out of pity for him, the lord of that slave released him and forgave him the debt. But that same slave, as he went out, came upon one of his fellow slaves who owed him a hundred denarii; and seizing him by the throat, he said, ‘Pay what you owe.’ Then his fellow slave fell down and pleaded with him, ‘Have patience with me, and I will pay you.’ But he refused; then he went and threw him into prison until he would pay the debt. When his fellow slaves saw what had happened, they were greatly distressed, and they went and reported to their lord all that had taken place. Then his lord summoned him and said to him, ‘You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow slave, as I had mercy on you?’ And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he would pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart.”
Where Faith Meets Reason 