Luke 7:36-50. This is a wonderful story of comparison. It involves a Pharisee (which means "the separated one) named Simon, who invited Jesus to a meal. In the gospels, only two Pharisees are mentioned that engage Jesus in such an intimate way. The other is Nicodemus who approached Jesus at night - not wishing to be seen with him. Simon, however, invites Jesus to a public meal.
The power of this story is the mind reading ability of Jesus and his condemnation of Simon or at least his "leveling the playing field" between Simon and this sinful woman. Simon, on par with his Pharisee-ship and being separated from the world - can't believe that Jesus lets a sinful woman touch him. Of course, Jesus came to the world to save, love, and forgive sinful people. The fascinating part of this is that Simon can't see his own sinfulness.
My prayer is that I would be able to see my own sinfulness, repent every time and lavish such love and devotion and worship on Jesus Christ that I would be much more like the sinful woman, who wept at Jesus' feet, wiped them with her hair and anointed his feet with precious oil.
Could you pray for the same "eye opening" experience? Could your eyes be open to your haughty, prideful, judgmental attitude and be humbled, loved and forgiven by Jesus Christ? That's my hope for you! When that happens, life is far more glorious and compelling!
Friday, June 14, 2013
Friday, June 7, 2013
Two Things
I need two things very badly! I need slack in my schedule and I need an outward orientation. Said in a different way - I need to have open spaces in my calendar; areas of unscheduled time and with that, an openness to filling the time for someone else. Open space and openness to others.
As I ponder those two things, it seems that the second one is the nut to crack. It's the one Jesus calls me to. It's the one Jesus models in His life. As He traveled the road of ministry, healing, teaching, giving new life, He always had time for people. He had an outward orientation. It seems that He designed His time around serving others, rather than an agenda of "to dos." His whole orientation was outward, other-directed, life-giving, selfless service, rather than personal goals in a daytimer.
So, what would that look like in my life? I mean, in my iPhone, I use an app called GoTasks which stores all my to-dos (I have 19 for today) and it even links them to my gmail account, so they're always in front of me. What if I had only one for today that read, "Open your eyes and your ears to the needs around you. Open your senses to the cries of people you meet and then do something for them!" What if my calendar had large empty spaces in it, so that a response to people was possible? I think that would be a radical shift - a faithful shift - a "turn myself upside down" shift. And, I think that's what Christ's message is to us! So, what's the cry right in front of me? And, what do I do about it?
As I ponder those two things, it seems that the second one is the nut to crack. It's the one Jesus calls me to. It's the one Jesus models in His life. As He traveled the road of ministry, healing, teaching, giving new life, He always had time for people. He had an outward orientation. It seems that He designed His time around serving others, rather than an agenda of "to dos." His whole orientation was outward, other-directed, life-giving, selfless service, rather than personal goals in a daytimer.
So, what would that look like in my life? I mean, in my iPhone, I use an app called GoTasks which stores all my to-dos (I have 19 for today) and it even links them to my gmail account, so they're always in front of me. What if I had only one for today that read, "Open your eyes and your ears to the needs around you. Open your senses to the cries of people you meet and then do something for them!" What if my calendar had large empty spaces in it, so that a response to people was possible? I think that would be a radical shift - a faithful shift - a "turn myself upside down" shift. And, I think that's what Christ's message is to us! So, what's the cry right in front of me? And, what do I do about it?
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
Luke 7:11 - 17
Jesus leaves Capernaum with his disciples and entourage and make the 25 mile walk to Nain. Just as they are getting there, they run smack into a funeral procession. So here's the scene: The Lord of life is leading a parade of joy and celebration that meets a funeral dirge, a death march with wailing and crying, led by a widow who just lost her only son.
Not many words are exchanged in this scene, but when they are, they are full of power. And, as a matter of fact, Jesus speaks commands (not suggestions). He tells this woman - Don't cry! (now, you and I can't even imagine her situation. She just lost a husband, the bread winner and her voice in the community and now lost her only son. She was destined to be destitute and on the fringe of society, if she lived at all. So we can't imagine this) Jesus says Don't cry. Then he tells the boy, "Young boy, I say to you, Get Up!" With that the boy sits up and starts talking.
So, the only Son of God, who is destined to die for us, has compassion on this woman and raises her dead son to life. He does it by his command, his direct statement to the dead person. In fact, he addresses the boy as if he were alive.
It's interesting that there is no mention of the widow's faith or belief or even asking for the Lord's help. Jesus has compassion on her. He stops the funeral procession in its tracks and gives the dead boy life and hands him back to his mom.
So, the question that must be faced is this: Which procession are we in? Are we in the death march, funeral procession? Have we lost hope, lost energy, given up? Are we shuffling off to the grave, wailing, crying, forlorn? Or, are we in line with the Lord of life? Are we dancing, praising, witnessing, and marveling at what the Lord is doing?
Notice this. That once the two processions meet, the Lord's parade trumps the death march. Jesus Christ stops the funeral and it completely disbands. The Lord of Life overcomes death. The Prince of Peace wins.
And finally, when all of this happens, what is the result? There are shouts of joy and amazement and a response of fear! I mean, it's not ordinary to watch a corpse sit up and start talking. Jesus always turns the ordinary to the extraordinary. He always turns the world upside down for us. And, he does this in a good, loving, positive way! Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
Not many words are exchanged in this scene, but when they are, they are full of power. And, as a matter of fact, Jesus speaks commands (not suggestions). He tells this woman - Don't cry! (now, you and I can't even imagine her situation. She just lost a husband, the bread winner and her voice in the community and now lost her only son. She was destined to be destitute and on the fringe of society, if she lived at all. So we can't imagine this) Jesus says Don't cry. Then he tells the boy, "Young boy, I say to you, Get Up!" With that the boy sits up and starts talking.
So, the only Son of God, who is destined to die for us, has compassion on this woman and raises her dead son to life. He does it by his command, his direct statement to the dead person. In fact, he addresses the boy as if he were alive.
It's interesting that there is no mention of the widow's faith or belief or even asking for the Lord's help. Jesus has compassion on her. He stops the funeral procession in its tracks and gives the dead boy life and hands him back to his mom.
So, the question that must be faced is this: Which procession are we in? Are we in the death march, funeral procession? Have we lost hope, lost energy, given up? Are we shuffling off to the grave, wailing, crying, forlorn? Or, are we in line with the Lord of life? Are we dancing, praising, witnessing, and marveling at what the Lord is doing?
Notice this. That once the two processions meet, the Lord's parade trumps the death march. Jesus Christ stops the funeral and it completely disbands. The Lord of Life overcomes death. The Prince of Peace wins.
And finally, when all of this happens, what is the result? There are shouts of joy and amazement and a response of fear! I mean, it's not ordinary to watch a corpse sit up and start talking. Jesus always turns the ordinary to the extraordinary. He always turns the world upside down for us. And, he does this in a good, loving, positive way! Praise the Lord Jesus Christ!
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