Explanation in post below
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Approaching Easter ~ The Trial
John 19
Pilate gave orders for Jesus to be beaten with a whip.
The soldiers made a crown out of thorn branches and put it on Jesus. Then they put a purple robe on him. They came up to him and said, "Hey, you king of the Jews!" They also hit him with their fists.Once again Pilate went out. This time he said, "I will have Jesus brought out to you again. Then you can see for yourselves that I have not found him guilty."Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
Pilate said, "Here is the man!" When the chief priests and the temple police saw him, they yelled, "Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!"
Pilate told them, "You take him and nail him to a cross! I don't find him guilty of anything."The crowd replied, "He claimed to be the Son of God! Our Jewish Law says that he must be put to death."When Pilate heard this, he was terrified. He went back inside and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer."Why won't you answer my question?" Pilate asked. "Don't you know that I have the power to let you go free or to nail you to a cross?"Jesus replied, "If God had not given you the power, you couldn't do anything at all to me. But the one who handed me over to you did something even worse."Then Pilate wanted to set Jesus free. But the crowd again yelled, "If you set this man free, you are no friend of the Emperor! Anyone who claims to be a king is an enemy of the Emperor."When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out. Then he sat down on the judge's bench at the place known as "The Stone Pavement."
In Aramaic this pavement is called "Gabbatha." It was about noon on the day before Passover, and Pilate said to the crowd, "Look at your king!""Kill him! Kill him!" they yelled. "Nail him to a cross!""So you want me to nail your king to a cross?" Pilate asked.The chief priests replied, "The Emperor is our king!" Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be nailed to a cross.
Jesus was taken away.
Pilate gave orders for Jesus to be beaten with a whip.
The soldiers made a crown out of thorn branches and put it on Jesus. Then they put a purple robe on him. They came up to him and said, "Hey, you king of the Jews!" They also hit him with their fists.Once again Pilate went out. This time he said, "I will have Jesus brought out to you again. Then you can see for yourselves that I have not found him guilty."Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe.
Pilate said, "Here is the man!" When the chief priests and the temple police saw him, they yelled, "Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!"
Pilate told them, "You take him and nail him to a cross! I don't find him guilty of anything."The crowd replied, "He claimed to be the Son of God! Our Jewish Law says that he must be put to death."When Pilate heard this, he was terrified. He went back inside and asked Jesus, "Where are you from?" But Jesus did not answer."Why won't you answer my question?" Pilate asked. "Don't you know that I have the power to let you go free or to nail you to a cross?"Jesus replied, "If God had not given you the power, you couldn't do anything at all to me. But the one who handed me over to you did something even worse."Then Pilate wanted to set Jesus free. But the crowd again yelled, "If you set this man free, you are no friend of the Emperor! Anyone who claims to be a king is an enemy of the Emperor."When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out. Then he sat down on the judge's bench at the place known as "The Stone Pavement."
In Aramaic this pavement is called "Gabbatha." It was about noon on the day before Passover, and Pilate said to the crowd, "Look at your king!""Kill him! Kill him!" they yelled. "Nail him to a cross!""So you want me to nail your king to a cross?" Pilate asked.The chief priests replied, "The Emperor is our king!" Then Pilate handed Jesus over to be nailed to a cross.
Jesus was taken away.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Approaching Easter ~ Take this cup away from me.
They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.
"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
Abba Father he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Mark 14 32-42
In this reading we see some of the really human aspects of Jesus. He becomes deeply distressed and troubled. He wants his friends Peter, James and John with him and then wants to be alone. He leaves them and goes to be alone and hear we hear his human and yet godly prayer.
"Abba Father" meaning My daddy, "Everything is possible for you, Take this cup from me" To face death in the cruel and hideous manner is almost too much for him to bear. "Yet not what I will but what you will" He knows that it is the path God has chosen for his people.
He then returns to his friends and finds them sleeping. He wakes them and tells them to pray before leaving them again and going off to pray the same prayer. His disciples don't know what to say to Jesus. How often does this happen to us when we face a friends difficulty. We want to offer words of peace and assistance, but often they are not the words a friend wants to hear, so we say nothing.
Jesus goes again to pray and on returning he finds his friends asleep and wakes them. Knowing that things are now on track for his death, That God has said NO to his request, he looks to where soldiers are approaching him with his friend Judas.
"My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch."
Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.
Abba Father he said, "everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will."
Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Simon," he said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour?
Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."
Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.
When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to him.
Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"
Mark 14 32-42
In this reading we see some of the really human aspects of Jesus. He becomes deeply distressed and troubled. He wants his friends Peter, James and John with him and then wants to be alone. He leaves them and goes to be alone and hear we hear his human and yet godly prayer.
"Abba Father" meaning My daddy, "Everything is possible for you, Take this cup from me" To face death in the cruel and hideous manner is almost too much for him to bear. "Yet not what I will but what you will" He knows that it is the path God has chosen for his people.
He then returns to his friends and finds them sleeping. He wakes them and tells them to pray before leaving them again and going off to pray the same prayer. His disciples don't know what to say to Jesus. How often does this happen to us when we face a friends difficulty. We want to offer words of peace and assistance, but often they are not the words a friend wants to hear, so we say nothing.
Jesus goes again to pray and on returning he finds his friends asleep and wakes them. Knowing that things are now on track for his death, That God has said NO to his request, he looks to where soldiers are approaching him with his friend Judas.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
You Chose The Cross
You knew what your friends would do .... you knew what it felt to be disowned and betrayed .... and you still chose the cross
Approaching Easter ~ Peter and Judas
With Friends like these, who needs enemies?
Ever felt let down by your friends? Perhaps you felt like they let you down, didn't do what you thought they would, broke a confidence.
Jesus had friends and followers, then there were twelve appointed friends who were like his best friends. The ones he could trust and that he went places and did things with.
Today's post looks particularly at two of those friends Peter and Judas.
In Saturdays post we briefly mentioned one of them...... Judas. He was known among the disciples to be light fingered. he carried the money bag around and was known for dipping his hand in to it. Jesus knew his imperfections and yet still held him dear.
"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' Said Jesus at the last supper. He was referring to Judas. he knew that Judas was going to betray him. Jesus was aware of how the next few days were going to pan out.
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. John 13 18 - 30
Jesus Friend problems didn't end there either. His friend Peter would also play out a role. That of disowning Jesus.
Peter said: "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." Luke 22 34.
Even though Jesus was in full knowledge of these facts, I'm sure the pain he felt at these Revelations must have been great.
Ever felt let down by your friends? Perhaps you felt like they let you down, didn't do what you thought they would, broke a confidence.
Jesus had friends and followers, then there were twelve appointed friends who were like his best friends. The ones he could trust and that he went places and did things with.
Today's post looks particularly at two of those friends Peter and Judas.
In Saturdays post we briefly mentioned one of them...... Judas. He was known among the disciples to be light fingered. he carried the money bag around and was known for dipping his hand in to it. Jesus knew his imperfections and yet still held him dear.
"I am not referring to all of you; I know those I have chosen. But this is to fulfill the scripture: 'He who shares my bread has lifted up his heel against me.' Said Jesus at the last supper. He was referring to Judas. he knew that Judas was going to betray him. Jesus was aware of how the next few days were going to pan out.
After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, "I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me."
His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, "Ask him which one he means."
Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, "Lord, who is it?"
Jesus answered, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
"What you are about to do, do quickly," Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. John 13 18 - 30
Jesus Friend problems didn't end there either. His friend Peter would also play out a role. That of disowning Jesus.
Peter said: "Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death."
Jesus answered, "I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me." Luke 22 34.
Even though Jesus was in full knowledge of these facts, I'm sure the pain he felt at these Revelations must have been great.
Monday, April 6, 2009
Approaching Easter ~ Jesus washes his disciples' feet
John 13 v 1 -17
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet 1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.
"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Foot washing in biblical times was a service provided by a good host. On entering someones house custom would mean that you would be provided and the host or his servant would wash your feet.
In this reading Peter seems horrified that Jesus would humble himself by washing their feet. Jesus explains that he is using the feet washing as a metaphor to show that we should all be servants to one another.
The song above, The Servant King, is one of those songs that has stood the test of time. it is as loved today as it was when it was written. It speaks of Jesus coming to earth "not to be served, but to serve".
I personally think the line "Hands that flung stars into space, to cruel nails surrender" is the most poignant. This Amazing powerful entity performed the most subservient act.
The song then moves on to encourage us to serve one another.. "each others need to prefer, for it is Christ we are serving"
What we do for others we are doing for Jesus!
Jesus Washes His Disciples' Feet 1It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of his love.
The evening meal was being served, and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, son of Simon, to betray Jesus.
Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist.
After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples' feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, "Lord, are you going to wash my feet?"
Jesus replied, "You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand."
"No," said Peter, "you shall never wash my feet."
Jesus answered, "Unless I wash you, you have no part with me."
"Then, Lord," Simon Peter replied, "not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!"
Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. "Do you understand what I have done for you?" he asked them.
"You call me 'Teacher' and 'Lord,' and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.
I tell you the truth, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him.
Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
Foot washing in biblical times was a service provided by a good host. On entering someones house custom would mean that you would be provided and the host or his servant would wash your feet.
In this reading Peter seems horrified that Jesus would humble himself by washing their feet. Jesus explains that he is using the feet washing as a metaphor to show that we should all be servants to one another.
The song above, The Servant King, is one of those songs that has stood the test of time. it is as loved today as it was when it was written. It speaks of Jesus coming to earth "not to be served, but to serve".
I personally think the line "Hands that flung stars into space, to cruel nails surrender" is the most poignant. This Amazing powerful entity performed the most subservient act.
The song then moves on to encourage us to serve one another.. "each others need to prefer, for it is Christ we are serving"
What we do for others we are doing for Jesus!
Sunday, April 5, 2009
Palm sunday ~ Jesus enters Jerusalem
Mark chapter 11 V 1 - 10
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
"Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked,
"What are you doing, untying that colt?"
They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.
When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
Imagine being in Jerusalem on that day. You have heard wonderful things about Jesus. He even raised Lazerus from Bethany from the dead and he'd been dead for four days. Everywhere people were talking about Jesus. he was directly decended from David that great king you'd heard about. Was this reallly the Messiah. Surely he must be. A mere man couldn't raise someone from the dead and turn water to wine like Jesus had. And he was coming here.
You run down to the town. There are crowds jostling to see. You hear the cries of the crowds up ahead shouting "Hosanna" " Blessed be the one who comes in the name of the Lord"
Quickly you pull down palm branches and spread them on the road. And then he comes towards you riding on the back of a young donkey and you look into his face. Yes .......this is your Messiah, your saviour.
As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, saying to them,
"Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.'
They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, some people standing there asked,
"What are you doing, untying that colt?"
They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go.
When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna!"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
Imagine being in Jerusalem on that day. You have heard wonderful things about Jesus. He even raised Lazerus from Bethany from the dead and he'd been dead for four days. Everywhere people were talking about Jesus. he was directly decended from David that great king you'd heard about. Was this reallly the Messiah. Surely he must be. A mere man couldn't raise someone from the dead and turn water to wine like Jesus had. And he was coming here.
You run down to the town. There are crowds jostling to see. You hear the cries of the crowds up ahead shouting "Hosanna" " Blessed be the one who comes in the name of the Lord"
Quickly you pull down palm branches and spread them on the road. And then he comes towards you riding on the back of a young donkey and you look into his face. Yes .......this is your Messiah, your saviour.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
Introducing Holy Week
Tomorrow is the start of Holy Week. I'll be dedicating posts to the lead up to Easter.
Planned (subject to life!!) posts are:
Sunday: The triumphal entry to Jerusalem.
Monday: Washing of the disciples feet
Tuesday: Peter and Judas
Wednesday: Take this cup
Thursday: The trial
Friday: The crucifiction
Saturday: Loss
Sunday: The reserection
Feel free to add you prayers and thoughts by clicking "comments" below each of the posts.
Planned (subject to life!!) posts are:
Sunday: The triumphal entry to Jerusalem.
Monday: Washing of the disciples feet
Tuesday: Peter and Judas
Wednesday: Take this cup
Thursday: The trial
Friday: The crucifiction
Saturday: Loss
Sunday: The reserection
Feel free to add you prayers and thoughts by clicking "comments" below each of the posts.
Friday, April 3, 2009
An Update for you.....
Sarah ~ Autumn Rose Crafts ~ aho sometimes writes for this blog hasn't been around for a while.
WHY?
She's been very very very busy setting up her very own SHOP!
The Grand opening will be
Sunday 5th April 2009
Unit C23
Maws Craft Centre
Jackfield
Ironbridge
TF8 7LS
01952 885749
Pop in and say Hi.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Amazing Love (You Are My King)
"I'm accepted, you were condemned ..... because you died and rose again"
"amazing Love, how can it be, that you my king should die for me"
Whose Team?
Listening to the radio this morning, I heard an article about P.E. Lessons.
P.E. Lessons were a terrible ordeal for me. I remember walking through the door of the changing rooms. The green paint on the walls and the smell.
I never found P.E. a natural thing. I hated standing in the changing rooms removing my clothes to put on the gym slip and top. Every time, I knew the taunts would come. The laughing at my skinny underdeveloped body.
Then there was the team selection. Everyone lined up against the wall. One by one a name would be called and they'd join their friends smiling and laughing until there were just two of us left Claire and me. That would bring forth further laughter "You have the fatty and I'll have the skinny" or "you have the stick and I'll have the podge" would finish that off. How near the tears were. How could you possibly get up from that humiliation and enjoy P.E. No one wanted me. I could offer no value to the team. I was the booby prize.
The teachers couldn't see the effort it took to walk through the door, they couldn't see the effort it took to hold back the tears. To stand routed to the spot as the joke was on me. They rewarded me with a 'D' and on a couple of occassions an 'E' for effort.
How different it is when God selects his team. It doesn't matter who you are, what you look like, how talented you are.
You are wanted, desired, loved cared for, supported and accepted. You don't need to wait for him to select you. You are already selected.
He selected each and every one of us when he bought us. He paid for me and he paid for you when his son subjected his hands and feet to the nails and his head to the crown of thorns. The blood that he shed allowed us to be on his team.
Just step forward and be on his team.
Thank you Father that you love me.
You see past all my faults.
You have forgiven my sins.
You Love me, you want me and I want you.
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