John 20:10-18
Back in John 10 we read that the Good Shepherd knows his sheep and the sheep know his voice. This moving episode connects knowing Jesus’ voice with his speaking our name. Last time I wrote I talked about experiencing the risen Lord as the determining factor in coming to faith, but that there are as many ways of coming to that experience as there are people.
I admit some speculation here, but I like to think that when Jesus speaks your name to call you to be part of his mission (faith is not the goal in itself), he considers very much who you are. That of course has everything to do with what the nature of your ministry and mission will be, as part of his overall plan. Why would that consideration of who you are not also apply to how you are called to faith, as the beginning of that venture? If want to hear him, but haven’t, it may be you are expecting something like what other people have experienced.
Prayer:
Wonderful God, thank you that you see us and value us each as individuals. You call us into community with you and others, and that community is all the stronger and all the more beautiful and powerful in the world, because you take seriously our individual experience and character. Let us encourage one another accordingly. Through Christ. Amen.
Friday, July 21, 2006
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
Random Access Mercy
John 20:1-9
John notes that he (I’m assuming “the other disciple” is John) and Peter still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. In chapter 19, however, it seems John did put two and two together from Scripture and what he was experiencing, so I’m supposing that verse 9 here means that at that point they hadn’t pieced things together.
It seems to me that there is something very important here about our understanding of coming to faith. That is there is no set order of things. There is, however, one critical factor, and that is an experience of the risen Christ – and here it is not even direct contact with the risen Jesus (as it will be in subsequent verses). This is hugely important for us, since we don’t have the same contact with the risen Lord that we’ll find that Mary had, or the disciples Jesus subsequently appeared to. In fact this is a key, maybe the key point for John in his writing of this Gospel. At 20:28-29 (we’ll dwell on it more when we get there) there comes a great climax with his record of Jesus saying, “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe.” My own take on the past tense there (have not seen) is that Jesus is speaking from his glorified perspective and taking in the whole scope of what is to come.
What it means: There is hope for us all. We can, any one of us, experience the reality of the risen Lord. Whatever else the Lord leads us through toward that, or beyond it, that is the one critical factor in our coming to faith. How that comes is as varied as our exerience, but it must be acknowledged (as with the doubter, Thomas, John 20:28) and then built on. That’s when we delve deeper into the Scriptures to help us put the pieces of our experience and of Biblically-illuminated history together. That’s when we turn to intentional Christian fellowship and growth opportunities. That’s when we develop spiritual habits of prayer, giving, study, meditation. We are led, we are all brought (John 10:16) into a growing, transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.
The person who is truly free is the one who lets nothing: no religious formulas, no guilt, no fear, no modesty or conceit, no present experience, no burden of intellect or lack of learning or experience stand in the way of the universally available experience of the risen Jesus, who died and rose again for the whole world.
I believe it follows from this that spiritual experience is non-linear. We tend to have our experience ordered from one event, one life-experience or development to the next. God can and does break into our experience and our self-imposed order of things and expectations at any time. That can even mean (and this can be the tough part), that even what is experienced as painful can become the means of bringing something new, revealing, and empowering to our life. Or, especially as we live prayerfully, he can just surprise us with unexpected gifts of peace, joy, or turn our head to some new path.
Prayer:
Teach me, Lord, to expect to be surprised by your grace. Amen.
John notes that he (I’m assuming “the other disciple” is John) and Peter still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead. In chapter 19, however, it seems John did put two and two together from Scripture and what he was experiencing, so I’m supposing that verse 9 here means that at that point they hadn’t pieced things together.
It seems to me that there is something very important here about our understanding of coming to faith. That is there is no set order of things. There is, however, one critical factor, and that is an experience of the risen Christ – and here it is not even direct contact with the risen Jesus (as it will be in subsequent verses). This is hugely important for us, since we don’t have the same contact with the risen Lord that we’ll find that Mary had, or the disciples Jesus subsequently appeared to. In fact this is a key, maybe the key point for John in his writing of this Gospel. At 20:28-29 (we’ll dwell on it more when we get there) there comes a great climax with his record of Jesus saying, “Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet believe.” My own take on the past tense there (have not seen) is that Jesus is speaking from his glorified perspective and taking in the whole scope of what is to come.
What it means: There is hope for us all. We can, any one of us, experience the reality of the risen Lord. Whatever else the Lord leads us through toward that, or beyond it, that is the one critical factor in our coming to faith. How that comes is as varied as our exerience, but it must be acknowledged (as with the doubter, Thomas, John 20:28) and then built on. That’s when we delve deeper into the Scriptures to help us put the pieces of our experience and of Biblically-illuminated history together. That’s when we turn to intentional Christian fellowship and growth opportunities. That’s when we develop spiritual habits of prayer, giving, study, meditation. We are led, we are all brought (John 10:16) into a growing, transforming relationship with Jesus Christ.
The person who is truly free is the one who lets nothing: no religious formulas, no guilt, no fear, no modesty or conceit, no present experience, no burden of intellect or lack of learning or experience stand in the way of the universally available experience of the risen Jesus, who died and rose again for the whole world.
I believe it follows from this that spiritual experience is non-linear. We tend to have our experience ordered from one event, one life-experience or development to the next. God can and does break into our experience and our self-imposed order of things and expectations at any time. That can even mean (and this can be the tough part), that even what is experienced as painful can become the means of bringing something new, revealing, and empowering to our life. Or, especially as we live prayerfully, he can just surprise us with unexpected gifts of peace, joy, or turn our head to some new path.
Prayer:
Teach me, Lord, to expect to be surprised by your grace. Amen.
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Emerging from the Shadows
John 19:38-42
We have just experienced the witness of the disciple, probably John himself, who knew the Scriptural background of the stark events in front of him (John 19:35-37). Now we see maybe a different kind of believer, at least in how belief comes. Both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus seem to emerge from the shadows, like figures who have been keeping close watch and now step into the scene. Maybe this is not to suggest cowardice but simply caution, the kind of caution exercised by those who have lived much and are wary of disappointment, betrayal, and things that just seem to good to be true. Now, it would seem, they are convinced, and they do what they can in the moment.
Prayer:
Lord, let me never judge how people come to faith. You are the author of their journey. Those you have already given faith have the greatest of privileges: to be present at a birth. Thank you for leading Joseph and Nicodemus out of the shadows into the light of truth. Give courage to countless souls today who are hanging back, wondering what you are about, highly suspicious of your church, afraid of being burned. Let our compassion for them be your compassion for us all. Through Christ. Amen.
We have just experienced the witness of the disciple, probably John himself, who knew the Scriptural background of the stark events in front of him (John 19:35-37). Now we see maybe a different kind of believer, at least in how belief comes. Both Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus seem to emerge from the shadows, like figures who have been keeping close watch and now step into the scene. Maybe this is not to suggest cowardice but simply caution, the kind of caution exercised by those who have lived much and are wary of disappointment, betrayal, and things that just seem to good to be true. Now, it would seem, they are convinced, and they do what they can in the moment.
Prayer:
Lord, let me never judge how people come to faith. You are the author of their journey. Those you have already given faith have the greatest of privileges: to be present at a birth. Thank you for leading Joseph and Nicodemus out of the shadows into the light of truth. Give courage to countless souls today who are hanging back, wondering what you are about, highly suspicious of your church, afraid of being burned. Let our compassion for them be your compassion for us all. Through Christ. Amen.
Monday, July 17, 2006
The Symbol in the Reality
John 19:31-37
We have observed numerous times through reading John’s Gospel that the disciples were missing a grasp of who and what Jesus really was until he would rise again. What he said and did would fall into place, and even at that with the empowerment and understanding that the Holy Spirit would bring.
Here faith is realized through his death, without any reference toward what would yet come. It was enough for the one bearing testimony to the death that he saw in it the fulfillment of Scripture, and a conviction coming from simply being present at the scene, impressed especially by the flow of blood and water from Jesus’ side. This is both evidence of the reality of his death (so medical types tell me), and a built-in symbol of the life of the church he was giving birth to with his death: with water and blood becoming the central symbols of salvation, in the sacraments of baptism and eucharist. The poignant combination of hard reality and profoundly elegant symbolism – all in one horrible act – could only be the work and message of God himself.
Prayer:
God of both mystery and truth, I submit all that I consider real and important to your reality and your purposes. May it be so today and always. Through Jesus. Amen.
We have observed numerous times through reading John’s Gospel that the disciples were missing a grasp of who and what Jesus really was until he would rise again. What he said and did would fall into place, and even at that with the empowerment and understanding that the Holy Spirit would bring.
Here faith is realized through his death, without any reference toward what would yet come. It was enough for the one bearing testimony to the death that he saw in it the fulfillment of Scripture, and a conviction coming from simply being present at the scene, impressed especially by the flow of blood and water from Jesus’ side. This is both evidence of the reality of his death (so medical types tell me), and a built-in symbol of the life of the church he was giving birth to with his death: with water and blood becoming the central symbols of salvation, in the sacraments of baptism and eucharist. The poignant combination of hard reality and profoundly elegant symbolism – all in one horrible act – could only be the work and message of God himself.
Prayer:
God of both mystery and truth, I submit all that I consider real and important to your reality and your purposes. May it be so today and always. Through Jesus. Amen.
Thursday, July 13, 2006
Finished
John 19:28-30
Jesus came with a mission of universal scope, yet also showed personal concern for the one who had brought him into this world. With his mother cared for, events accelerated.
His thirst was real and severe. There is one more indication here that all of this was in accordance with a divine plan, since Scripture had anticipated even the thirst (Psalm 22:15).
There was sour wine (“vinegar”) at hand. A sponge was soaked with it and held up to Jesus’ mouth. The presence of hyssop in the incident further points to the broader scope of what is happening here, since hyssop was associated with sacrifice (Exodus 12:22).
“It is finished” refers to more than the present agony, more than Jesus’ life, to the purpose for which Jesus’ came, accomplishing death for the sins of the world.
Prayer:
Lord, if we would all stop long enough to ponder what you accomplished, how different things would be. But then, I stop and ponder and still act at times like it never happened. So I thank you further that you do not give up on me, on us. Keep your cross before me, to remind me of the extent of your love. Amen.
Jesus came with a mission of universal scope, yet also showed personal concern for the one who had brought him into this world. With his mother cared for, events accelerated.
His thirst was real and severe. There is one more indication here that all of this was in accordance with a divine plan, since Scripture had anticipated even the thirst (Psalm 22:15).
There was sour wine (“vinegar”) at hand. A sponge was soaked with it and held up to Jesus’ mouth. The presence of hyssop in the incident further points to the broader scope of what is happening here, since hyssop was associated with sacrifice (Exodus 12:22).
“It is finished” refers to more than the present agony, more than Jesus’ life, to the purpose for which Jesus’ came, accomplishing death for the sins of the world.
Prayer:
Lord, if we would all stop long enough to ponder what you accomplished, how different things would be. But then, I stop and ponder and still act at times like it never happened. So I thank you further that you do not give up on me, on us. Keep your cross before me, to remind me of the extent of your love. Amen.
Monday, July 10, 2006
Four Men and Four Women
John 19:23-27
John notes what transpired with the soldiers and Jesus’ clothing. This further underscores that those directly responsible for the action in these events are unwittingly part of a greater drama, since there is here a fulfillment of Psalm 22:18.
In contrast to the callousness of the four soldiers there are four faithful women standing by.
Perhaps for those of us who have been part of recent discussion about the Da Vinci Code book and movie, there is a footnote here that the church Jesus was establishing was in no way intended to be so partriarchal as it turned out to be.
At any rate, as I just let these few verses soak in a bit, the word that floats to the surface for me is “treasure,” a treasure undiminished by the soldiers, and pointed to in the sense of passing on of responsibility for the sharing of light and truth, present in the faithful ones standing by the cross.
Prayer:
Lord, we confess that we demean you when we become preoccupied with the various forms of clothing we put the Gospel in. Help me to treasure and live and grown in the treasure at the heart of everything, the reality your transforming presence in Jesus Christ. Amen.
John notes what transpired with the soldiers and Jesus’ clothing. This further underscores that those directly responsible for the action in these events are unwittingly part of a greater drama, since there is here a fulfillment of Psalm 22:18.
In contrast to the callousness of the four soldiers there are four faithful women standing by.
Perhaps for those of us who have been part of recent discussion about the Da Vinci Code book and movie, there is a footnote here that the church Jesus was establishing was in no way intended to be so partriarchal as it turned out to be.
At any rate, as I just let these few verses soak in a bit, the word that floats to the surface for me is “treasure,” a treasure undiminished by the soldiers, and pointed to in the sense of passing on of responsibility for the sharing of light and truth, present in the faithful ones standing by the cross.
Prayer:
Lord, we confess that we demean you when we become preoccupied with the various forms of clothing we put the Gospel in. Help me to treasure and live and grown in the treasure at the heart of everything, the reality your transforming presence in Jesus Christ. Amen.
Sunday, July 09, 2006
Gracious Invasion
John 19:17-22
The irony continues to the end. The title of king written over Jesus helps Pilate justify having Jesus crucified – suggesting he was an insurgent aspiring to kingship, even though he himself had tried to demonstrate Jesus was far from this kind of threat. Pilate would not have realized that Jesus could have chosen to be that kind of king. What is meant as condemnation and degradation appears as truth in a different light. His death between two criminals portrays his oneness with sinners. The languages the sign was written in help to indicate Jesus truly was and is a king for all peoples. In Pilate’s refusal to change the sign, he is used to show that Jesus actually did go to his death as a king.
Prayer:
Occupy my heart, King Jesus. Invade all our spaces. Assert your sovereignty over my thoughts and actions. You be king. Let me be more like you in your servanthood. Amen.
The irony continues to the end. The title of king written over Jesus helps Pilate justify having Jesus crucified – suggesting he was an insurgent aspiring to kingship, even though he himself had tried to demonstrate Jesus was far from this kind of threat. Pilate would not have realized that Jesus could have chosen to be that kind of king. What is meant as condemnation and degradation appears as truth in a different light. His death between two criminals portrays his oneness with sinners. The languages the sign was written in help to indicate Jesus truly was and is a king for all peoples. In Pilate’s refusal to change the sign, he is used to show that Jesus actually did go to his death as a king.
Prayer:
Occupy my heart, King Jesus. Invade all our spaces. Assert your sovereignty over my thoughts and actions. You be king. Let me be more like you in your servanthood. Amen.
Friday, July 07, 2006
Power Play
John 19:1-16
The deeper the hatred, the more the words and actions are turned to God’s purposes. The most telling part is this regard is verse 11, where Jesus tells Pilate his power is not his own.
Still bewildered by all this, Pilate apparently hopes that the flogging will make Jesus seem so pathetic as to be ludicrous as a king figure, and a threat to no one. But the taste of their obscene victory being at hand, the enemies of Jesus press on – to the point of an otherwise unthinkable outburst about having no king but Caesar - and Pilate’s stew of sympathy, superstition, and self-preservation leads him to hand Jesus over.
Prayer:
So many power-plays at work in the world, Lord, all so oblivious to the smallness of the plans at work in comparison to your grand pland and your working through it all: plots to wreak havoc here; individuals pulling strings here and there – kidding themselves that there is some motive of good behind it; sad young people plotting destruction because of cruel slights against them: it’s all about power in one way or another; rarely is it what it seems to be, whether ostensibly good or undisguisedly evil. Expose it all, Lord. Show your power; manifest your grace; exercise your judgment through your unfailing light that shows all for what it is. Through Your Son. Amen.
The deeper the hatred, the more the words and actions are turned to God’s purposes. The most telling part is this regard is verse 11, where Jesus tells Pilate his power is not his own.
Still bewildered by all this, Pilate apparently hopes that the flogging will make Jesus seem so pathetic as to be ludicrous as a king figure, and a threat to no one. But the taste of their obscene victory being at hand, the enemies of Jesus press on – to the point of an otherwise unthinkable outburst about having no king but Caesar - and Pilate’s stew of sympathy, superstition, and self-preservation leads him to hand Jesus over.
Prayer:
So many power-plays at work in the world, Lord, all so oblivious to the smallness of the plans at work in comparison to your grand pland and your working through it all: plots to wreak havoc here; individuals pulling strings here and there – kidding themselves that there is some motive of good behind it; sad young people plotting destruction because of cruel slights against them: it’s all about power in one way or another; rarely is it what it seems to be, whether ostensibly good or undisguisedly evil. Expose it all, Lord. Show your power; manifest your grace; exercise your judgment through your unfailing light that shows all for what it is. Through Your Son. Amen.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
The Sinful Manipulatee
John 18:28-40
The enemies of Jesus were determined not only that he die, but that he die by crucifixion, and therefore as one cursed (Deuteronomy 21:23). We see here the irony of the enemies of Jesus fulfilling God’s purpose – with his Son receiving the curse that would justly fall on rebellious humanity.
Pilate just wants the whole business to go away. He has nothing against Jesus but will do whatever he needs to do to avoid trouble, so he goes along with the plot. When he asks, “What is truth?” it almost seems like he asks it as he is turning away, with the cynic’s attitude that truth has nothing to do with much of anything. Life is for him more a matter of expediency, survival. The truth is much different, and much more than that. Pilate’s question seems to me more than ever not a seeking of light but a symptom of darkness. Meanwhile the truth and the light is before him. And the darkness will not overcome it.
Prayer:
What elaborate schemes your creatures concoct, God. What twisting of facts, manipulation of circumstances and people your creatures put in motion in order to promote and preserve status, prestige, a sense of superiority, influence and control. Let your light overwhelm it all. Amen.
The enemies of Jesus were determined not only that he die, but that he die by crucifixion, and therefore as one cursed (Deuteronomy 21:23). We see here the irony of the enemies of Jesus fulfilling God’s purpose – with his Son receiving the curse that would justly fall on rebellious humanity.
Pilate just wants the whole business to go away. He has nothing against Jesus but will do whatever he needs to do to avoid trouble, so he goes along with the plot. When he asks, “What is truth?” it almost seems like he asks it as he is turning away, with the cynic’s attitude that truth has nothing to do with much of anything. Life is for him more a matter of expediency, survival. The truth is much different, and much more than that. Pilate’s question seems to me more than ever not a seeking of light but a symptom of darkness. Meanwhile the truth and the light is before him. And the darkness will not overcome it.
Prayer:
What elaborate schemes your creatures concoct, God. What twisting of facts, manipulation of circumstances and people your creatures put in motion in order to promote and preserve status, prestige, a sense of superiority, influence and control. Let your light overwhelm it all. Amen.
Tuesday, July 04, 2006
Released by His Presence
John 18:12-27
It’s bad enough to undergo a humiliating interrogation. It’s worse if the interrogation will be used to know how to be all the more effective in an ensuing trial. Add to that the betrayal by a disciple, the denial of knowing you from another, and the running away of still others.
The one who went through such things is certainly equipped to carry us through times of a similar character. Why do we call such times “trials?” Maybe because we feel judged as persons, with our worth challenged, because of troubles we go through. That becomes a vicious circle because then you feel less like sharing your burden with others because of what you imagine they might think of you. And we all know things are worse when we try to deal with them alone.
We can start breaking such a pattern by recognizing the one who carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:3-5) is with us even before we ask.
Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, that you are beside me even when I forget to acknowledge you. I even deny you in my words and actions, and yet you do not forsake me. Release us more to one another and we recognize your own gracious presence with us. Amen.
It’s bad enough to undergo a humiliating interrogation. It’s worse if the interrogation will be used to know how to be all the more effective in an ensuing trial. Add to that the betrayal by a disciple, the denial of knowing you from another, and the running away of still others.
The one who went through such things is certainly equipped to carry us through times of a similar character. Why do we call such times “trials?” Maybe because we feel judged as persons, with our worth challenged, because of troubles we go through. That becomes a vicious circle because then you feel less like sharing your burden with others because of what you imagine they might think of you. And we all know things are worse when we try to deal with them alone.
We can start breaking such a pattern by recognizing the one who carried our sorrows (Isaiah 53:3-5) is with us even before we ask.
Prayer:
Thank you, Jesus, that you are beside me even when I forget to acknowledge you. I even deny you in my words and actions, and yet you do not forsake me. Release us more to one another and we recognize your own gracious presence with us. Amen.
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