It is Holy Week. Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. There were so many events that happened during this week for Jesus and really so much to choose from. But tonight, I will focus on Peter.
During the Passover Meal, Jesus tells Peter that he (Peter) will deny Him (Jesus)that very night. Peter fights back, "No Lord! I will never do that! I will lay down my life for you!" (This is my paraphrase) Really, he is claiming that he loves Jesus more than Jesus will ever know. And then, that very night, just as Jesus predicted Peter denied knowing Him three times.
Peter is devastated. Mournful. The end.
I know that feeling. Praying for opportunities to share God's love I quietly step away with the thought that, "...the time is not right..." Denial. Guilt. The end.
Fortunately, we do not live pre-Easter. We are Easter people. It is not the end for us. For me.
Looking ahead in Scripture, after Christ has risen (that's right, He didn't stay dead) we see Jesus come to the disciples in the account written by John. Jesus stands on the shore looking out to the men whom He had called to follow Him. They went back to what they knew...they were fishing again. And Peter sees Jesus and jumps out of the boat and swims to Him. The others row to shore and all meet Jesus there at the water's edge. He has a fire going and He makes them breakfast. It is quiet around the fire. They are all looking Him and Scripture says that they don't dare ask, "Who are you?" Because they know it the Lord. They are in awe...that is my guess.
And then Jesus says, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?" See, Jesus turns to Peter, calls him by his given name and calls him out on the denial. Really, do you love me more than these...as you claimed not too long ago? And not only that, Jesus is using the agape love here. This unconditional love that is bound my nothing but love itself...the kind of love that Peter did not prove that night.
I am picturing Peter, still devastated and I think he must be hanging his head. The shame and pain and the yes, I know I disappointed you Lord feeling. And he answers, "Yes Lord, you know that I love you." But it isn't the agape love that Peter answers with, it is the philo love, the brotherly love, the love that has some limits. Yes, it is deep...but for Peter and Jesus...it is not what he claimed. And this is what I think, I don't know what some Pastors would say, but I think that what Peter is saying is, "Lord, I am loving you the best that I can."
"Feed my lambs."
And then Jesus asks it again. "Simon, do you truly love me?" It isn't weighed against everyone else around the fire. Just Peter. Do you truly love me? Agape love? Unconditional?
And again Peter answers, "Yes, Lord. You know that I love you." I can hear the raw throat of holding back the tears. I am loving you the best that I can.
"Take care of my sheep."
And Jesus asks a third time. A third time to match the third denial. "Simon do you love me?" But this time it is different. Jesus isn't asking for an agape love...He is asking for a philo love. And this question brings tears to my eyes. Jesus is asking, "Are you loving me the best that you can?"
And Peter breaks down and says, "You know all things; you know that I love you." You know that I am loving you the best that I can.
"Feed my sheep."
And with that Jesus reinstates him...lets him know that his ministry is not over.
Jesus' love is not based on our love. Jesus loves unconditionally but does not expect us to love him like that back. He knows that we can't while in this sinful state. What Jesus wants...is for us to love Him the best that we can.
Look what He did with Peter. Peter stepped up and changed the world. What could you do if you trusted Jesus with your love?
Feed His sheep.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Sunday, April 10, 2011
The Sinful Woman
In Luke 7, Jesus is at a house to eat. Jesus is reclining at the table. Jesus is going to teach us a lesson. This woman. This sinful woman had evidently heard Jesus speak before. This woman. This sinful woman had obviously heard His message, seen the way He treated people like her. This woman. This sinful woman may have even seen how some of her friends had changed after being with Jesus. This woman. This sinful woman, she wanted what Jesus had.
Jesus was invited to a dinner at a house of Pharisee…and she followed Him there. He had passed by enough times that she now knew that she had to have what He what He was giving. Life.
And Jesus sat at the table-His feet stretched out behind Him or to the side and He was in conversation with the men around Him and He was eating. And this woman. This sinful woman, she knelt down and began to wash His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. She took out a bottle of perfumed oil and poured it on His feet. She gave Him all she had. No water, just tears; no towel, just her hair and she spent all that she had on the most expensive bottle of perfume and anointed Him with it. She cleaned the dirtiest part of His body with what she had.
She came to this great Man, humbly. She stepped in front of all these other people because she needed Jesus. And she was mocked and torn apart. She could have slinked away, into the shadows of despair...but Jesus wouldn’t put up with the humiliation. He lifted her up, He stood up for her.
Her faith so fragile, reaching for His hand.
Jesus had passed by her so many times, with His words of love and forgiveness for her and today, this night He was doing it again, "...your sins are forgiven..." And this night, she was ready to be washed with those words, "...yours sins are forgiven..."
And today on her knees with her tears, hair and perfume Jesus took her outstretched hands and pulled her close to the Father’s heart. He took her hands, “Your sins, all your wrongs, your past, is gone. You are my child. You cannot escape my love.”
Those same words were spoken to those Jesus passed by on His way to His execution. His blood dripped, His heart broke, His body failing, but His love bursting. Jesus passed by the people who spit on Him, who pulled His beard, who yelled hatred at Him, who beat Him, who were afraid of Him, who loved Him, who denied Him. They followed Him up the hill to watch Him give all that He had so that He could cleanse what which was filthy. And in His lasts breaths he prayed,
Forgive them.
I don't know where you are at, what season your are in...but know this, "...your sins are forgiven...come home."
Jesus was invited to a dinner at a house of Pharisee…and she followed Him there. He had passed by enough times that she now knew that she had to have what He what He was giving. Life.
And Jesus sat at the table-His feet stretched out behind Him or to the side and He was in conversation with the men around Him and He was eating. And this woman. This sinful woman, she knelt down and began to wash His feet with her tears and wipe them with her hair. She took out a bottle of perfumed oil and poured it on His feet. She gave Him all she had. No water, just tears; no towel, just her hair and she spent all that she had on the most expensive bottle of perfume and anointed Him with it. She cleaned the dirtiest part of His body with what she had.
She came to this great Man, humbly. She stepped in front of all these other people because she needed Jesus. And she was mocked and torn apart. She could have slinked away, into the shadows of despair...but Jesus wouldn’t put up with the humiliation. He lifted her up, He stood up for her.
Her faith so fragile, reaching for His hand.
Jesus had passed by her so many times, with His words of love and forgiveness for her and today, this night He was doing it again, "...your sins are forgiven..." And this night, she was ready to be washed with those words, "...yours sins are forgiven..."
And today on her knees with her tears, hair and perfume Jesus took her outstretched hands and pulled her close to the Father’s heart. He took her hands, “Your sins, all your wrongs, your past, is gone. You are my child. You cannot escape my love.”
Those same words were spoken to those Jesus passed by on His way to His execution. His blood dripped, His heart broke, His body failing, but His love bursting. Jesus passed by the people who spit on Him, who pulled His beard, who yelled hatred at Him, who beat Him, who were afraid of Him, who loved Him, who denied Him. They followed Him up the hill to watch Him give all that He had so that He could cleanse what which was filthy. And in His lasts breaths he prayed,
Forgive them.
I don't know where you are at, what season your are in...but know this, "...your sins are forgiven...come home."
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Yahweh Chelqi
The Lord is my Portion. Yahweh Chelqi. God is all that I need and all that I need is met in Him.
"O my strength; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God." Psalm 59:17 God is secure and safe. He is our Steadfast Love
"You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." Psalm 18:28 We are not meant to walk in darkness. He is our Light.
"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth." Psalm 71:5 The hope we have in Christ will NEVER fail. He is our Hope.
"I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings." Psalm 61:4 We are hidden in Christ. Though storms rage, they can not destroy us. He is our Refuge.
"Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one that I praise." Jeremiah 17:14 He heals even the deepest wounds. He is our Healer.
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7 We have been protected and rescued. He is our Deliverer.
"By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42:8 We are nothing without Him. He is our Life.
The Lord is my Portion. Yahweh Chelqi. Simply put, His hand is on us all the time. Whether we believe it or not. All that we need is ours in Him.
The question is: Do you know what you need?
"O my strength; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God." Psalm 59:17 God is secure and safe. He is our Steadfast Love
"You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light." Psalm 18:28 We are not meant to walk in darkness. He is our Light.
"For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth." Psalm 71:5 The hope we have in Christ will NEVER fail. He is our Hope.
"I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings." Psalm 61:4 We are hidden in Christ. Though storms rage, they can not destroy us. He is our Refuge.
"Heal me, O LORD, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one that I praise." Jeremiah 17:14 He heals even the deepest wounds. He is our Healer.
"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." Psalm 32:7 We have been protected and rescued. He is our Deliverer.
"By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me - a prayer to the God of my life." Psalm 42:8 We are nothing without Him. He is our Life.
The Lord is my Portion. Yahweh Chelqi. Simply put, His hand is on us all the time. Whether we believe it or not. All that we need is ours in Him.
The question is: Do you know what you need?
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