"I am on the journey when I regularly attend celebration worship..."
If you think of the beginning of our benediction as a kind of covenant statement of mission, you will see that it is more than just a matter of intent for us- it is in essence a commitment to an important principle. The same principle the writer of Hebrews declared when he wrote, "do not forsake the gathering of yourselves together as some are in the habit of doing." (Hebrews 10:25)
Jack Miller once said, "Thomas missed church one time and Jesus showed up. Don't miss church, you never know what might happen."
The tradition of the ecclesia, or the gathering of saints in local bodies has many benefits, not the least of which is the passing of our faith to the next generation. The training of children was deeply rooted in Jewish history and that value carried forward in the New Testament church. Christianity established educational models that have served as the framework for Western civilization. We neglect that tradition to our peril.
Regular attendance as discipline or "habit" is more than a matter of personal preference, it has some very powerful implications.
According to this study, children who attend church regularly are happier, more balanced and do better in school. The research demonstrated that because church attending children have clearly established values that are not just reinforced in the home by their own parents but by other significant adults in their lives as well, the likelihood of those values taking root increase dramatically.
The obvious message to parents is that if you have developed the habit of not attending church, consider what Thomas missed. But more importantly, consider how it is affecting your children.
Monday, April 30, 2007
Monday, April 23, 2007
the peril of aloneness
He called himself "Question Mark".
He often signed his class work with the symbol ?. His classmates said he never made eye contact. He avoided their attempts at conversation.
His Aunt told A.P. News, "He wouldn't answer me, he didn't talk, he was very cold."
His sister asked her friend Dianna Hong, a fellow student to watch out for him.
“The very first time we went to his dorm room, we were like: ’Hey, I know your sister ...’ But he just nodded, and that’s it,” she said.
Cho didn’t respond to further invitations and e-mails, Hong recalled.
“He was very alone. He didn’t talk with anybody,” Hong said, twisting her hands. “Maybe we didn’t try enough. I guess these questions come up in hindsight.”
By now you have guessed that I refer to Cho Seung-Hui, the 24 year old Virginia Tech student who killed 32 fellow students in what is now believed to be a premeditated murderous rampage against a society he believed failed him.
The aftermath of the worst mass killing in American history by a single gunman leaves many question marks.
How could this happen? How can it be prevented? How could so many who were around this very disturbed young man not see that he was a ticking time bomb getting ready to explode?
There will be many who will weigh in on these and many other subjects that will no doubt be spurned by such a profound tragedy. The question marks will continue long after this tragic event makes it's way off the front page headlines, cable networks and talk shows.
Over the past several days I have read several articles dissecting the various theories of what went wrong with Cho Seung-Hui- his family background, his awkwardness, his apparent depression and mental state, his feelings of powerlessness as well as the renewed conversation of the state of immigrants from Asian countries in the U.S.
One poignant issue stands out to me.
Cho Seung-Hui was alone.
We say it so often in our church it is becoming a cliche. The one thing God said was "not good" at creation was that man was alone. (Gen. 2:18 "Then God said, "it is not good that man should be alone"). Modern psychology and sociology confirm that one of the very worst things that can happen to a person is aloneness.
When a person experiences isolation he or she begins to fall apart. Literally.
According to this research, a person's feeling of loneliness augments the kind of physical changes associated with aging. Your blood pressure increases, your body stops functioning properly when you are lonely. You become unbalanced and un-eased. It causes emotional and physical dis-ease.
Friendship is a lot like food. We need it to survive. What is more, we seem to have a basic drive for it. Psychologists find that human beings have fundamental need for inclusion in group life and for close relationships. We are truly social animals. (Hara Marano, Psychology Today, August 2003)
Psychologist John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago has been studying the effects of loneliness for many years. A few year ago he performed a series of novel studies and reported that loneliness works in some surprising ways to compromise health.
• Perhaps most astonishing, in a survey he conducted, doctors themselves confided that they provide better or more complete medical care to patients who have supportive families and are not socially isolated.
• Living alone increases the risk of suicide for young and old alike.
• Lonely individuals report higher levels of perceived stress even when exposed to the same stressors as non-lonely people, and even when they are relaxing.
• The social interaction lonely people do have are not as positive as those of other people, hence the relationships they have do not buffer them from stress as relationships normally do.
• Loneliness raises levels of circulating stress hormones and levels of blood pressure. It undermines regulation of the circulatory system so that the heart muscle works harder and the blood vessels are subject to damage by blood flow turbulence.
• Loneliness destroys the quality and efficiency of sleep, so that it is less restorative, both physically and psychologically. They wake up more at night and spend less time in bed actually sleeping than do the nonlonely. (as reported in Psychology Today)
Of course, the tragic story of Cho Seung-Hui is terribly sad and cannot be reduced to simplistic answers. This is a complicated issue for many reasons. The totality of his problem was not that he was lonely. The world is filled with lonely people who do not buy guns and kill people. His problem was sin. His problem was the same problem all of us were born into and that is that he was unredeemed and could not find identity and hope in any of the worlds idols and material promise. His life was a question mark and he never found answers.
I understand all of that. I am simply making the observation that in addition to this, Cho did not seem to BELONG to anything. Very few people even knew who he was. Even the tight nit group of Asian students on campus said that they did not know him. What we saw in this tragedy was in my estimation the combined affect of a sense of hopelessness and seeming isolation that caused an isolated, lonely detached human being to come unhinged.
It is a powerful reminder to all of us that only in Christ do we find answers to life's question marks. It is only in Him that we find conclusions to the deep searchings of the human heart. God made us for community. We need each other. The Body of Christ should be a place where no one stands alone.
In our study this week in the book of Hebrews, there is a passage that speaks directly to this issue:
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
The writer of Hebrews recognized a direct correlation between maintaining one's sense of hope and the ability to cultivate healthy relationships. This is what we mean by biblical community. It is the reason we use language like "connection" and "community". It is what we mean by the journey. It is living in togetherness in the kinds of relationships in which you are encouraged, challenged, and "spurred on" to love and good deeds.
Despite all of the question marks these last few days and this tragedy has caused, one thing is even more clear to us today than before-
it is not good for man to be alone.
He often signed his class work with the symbol ?. His classmates said he never made eye contact. He avoided their attempts at conversation.
His Aunt told A.P. News, "He wouldn't answer me, he didn't talk, he was very cold."
His sister asked her friend Dianna Hong, a fellow student to watch out for him.
“The very first time we went to his dorm room, we were like: ’Hey, I know your sister ...’ But he just nodded, and that’s it,” she said.
Cho didn’t respond to further invitations and e-mails, Hong recalled.
“He was very alone. He didn’t talk with anybody,” Hong said, twisting her hands. “Maybe we didn’t try enough. I guess these questions come up in hindsight.”
By now you have guessed that I refer to Cho Seung-Hui, the 24 year old Virginia Tech student who killed 32 fellow students in what is now believed to be a premeditated murderous rampage against a society he believed failed him.
The aftermath of the worst mass killing in American history by a single gunman leaves many question marks.
How could this happen? How can it be prevented? How could so many who were around this very disturbed young man not see that he was a ticking time bomb getting ready to explode?
There will be many who will weigh in on these and many other subjects that will no doubt be spurned by such a profound tragedy. The question marks will continue long after this tragic event makes it's way off the front page headlines, cable networks and talk shows.
Over the past several days I have read several articles dissecting the various theories of what went wrong with Cho Seung-Hui- his family background, his awkwardness, his apparent depression and mental state, his feelings of powerlessness as well as the renewed conversation of the state of immigrants from Asian countries in the U.S.
One poignant issue stands out to me.
Cho Seung-Hui was alone.
We say it so often in our church it is becoming a cliche. The one thing God said was "not good" at creation was that man was alone. (Gen. 2:18 "Then God said, "it is not good that man should be alone"). Modern psychology and sociology confirm that one of the very worst things that can happen to a person is aloneness.
When a person experiences isolation he or she begins to fall apart. Literally.
According to this research, a person's feeling of loneliness augments the kind of physical changes associated with aging. Your blood pressure increases, your body stops functioning properly when you are lonely. You become unbalanced and un-eased. It causes emotional and physical dis-ease.
Friendship is a lot like food. We need it to survive. What is more, we seem to have a basic drive for it. Psychologists find that human beings have fundamental need for inclusion in group life and for close relationships. We are truly social animals. (Hara Marano, Psychology Today, August 2003)
Psychologist John Cacioppo of the University of Chicago has been studying the effects of loneliness for many years. A few year ago he performed a series of novel studies and reported that loneliness works in some surprising ways to compromise health.
• Perhaps most astonishing, in a survey he conducted, doctors themselves confided that they provide better or more complete medical care to patients who have supportive families and are not socially isolated.
• Living alone increases the risk of suicide for young and old alike.
• Lonely individuals report higher levels of perceived stress even when exposed to the same stressors as non-lonely people, and even when they are relaxing.
• The social interaction lonely people do have are not as positive as those of other people, hence the relationships they have do not buffer them from stress as relationships normally do.
• Loneliness raises levels of circulating stress hormones and levels of blood pressure. It undermines regulation of the circulatory system so that the heart muscle works harder and the blood vessels are subject to damage by blood flow turbulence.
• Loneliness destroys the quality and efficiency of sleep, so that it is less restorative, both physically and psychologically. They wake up more at night and spend less time in bed actually sleeping than do the nonlonely. (as reported in Psychology Today)
Of course, the tragic story of Cho Seung-Hui is terribly sad and cannot be reduced to simplistic answers. This is a complicated issue for many reasons. The totality of his problem was not that he was lonely. The world is filled with lonely people who do not buy guns and kill people. His problem was sin. His problem was the same problem all of us were born into and that is that he was unredeemed and could not find identity and hope in any of the worlds idols and material promise. His life was a question mark and he never found answers.
I understand all of that. I am simply making the observation that in addition to this, Cho did not seem to BELONG to anything. Very few people even knew who he was. Even the tight nit group of Asian students on campus said that they did not know him. What we saw in this tragedy was in my estimation the combined affect of a sense of hopelessness and seeming isolation that caused an isolated, lonely detached human being to come unhinged.
It is a powerful reminder to all of us that only in Christ do we find answers to life's question marks. It is only in Him that we find conclusions to the deep searchings of the human heart. God made us for community. We need each other. The Body of Christ should be a place where no one stands alone.
In our study this week in the book of Hebrews, there is a passage that speaks directly to this issue:
Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. 24And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. (Hebrews 10:23-25)
The writer of Hebrews recognized a direct correlation between maintaining one's sense of hope and the ability to cultivate healthy relationships. This is what we mean by biblical community. It is the reason we use language like "connection" and "community". It is what we mean by the journey. It is living in togetherness in the kinds of relationships in which you are encouraged, challenged, and "spurred on" to love and good deeds.
Despite all of the question marks these last few days and this tragedy has caused, one thing is even more clear to us today than before-
it is not good for man to be alone.
Monday, April 16, 2007
imus, rap, yada yada
Warning: the next two sentences have fundamentalist preacher written all over it.
What do Imus, Capital Records and Abecrombie & Finch have in common? The answer is that these three are just a few of the many examples of those who have persistently perpetuated a culture of moral deprivation.
By now we all know of Imus' infamous quip that cost him his job. And has been widely retorted, Capital Records is raking in wild profits from hip hop groups that make terms like "nappy headed h--s" common street vernacular- but you don't see them scrambling to find their chopping block.
So why bring Abercrombie & Finch into it? Because I don't listen to rap music (except for Ced's music- a rap beat and great message) and never have liked Imus (a cranky old man in a cowboy hat sitting at a mircophone isn't my idea of entertainment); but I go to the mall occasionally and have to walk past Abercrombie & Finch. I am not the first parent of teenagers who has pointed out that what they call marketing I call soft porn. The visual messages sent to our kids are very powerful. Much more powerful than the very insulting remarks of Imus. And what makes it particularly disgusting and puts it in this context is that the audience the store is targeting is so obviously teen and pre-teen.
I know that this issue has been beaten to death in the press, but I want to raise the issue here for a couple of reasons.
First, I want to point out the irony of popular media expressing such disdain for the very environment it helped to create. From a philosophical perspective, what we are witnessing is the natural outcome of Western European enlightenment thinking that says that there is no such thing as absolute truth and that moral values are undefinable and unsustainable, as there is no way one can prove God scientifically and therefore modern people should not be expected to think in such archaic terms.
But be honest, when one follows secularism to it's end, the outcome is that because everyone is their own judge of human behavior, and there is therefore no higher authority than human consciousness, there is really NO authority over the thoughts and actions of man. When everyone is in charge in other words, no one is in charge. It is in a very real sense a kind of Darwinian moralism.
In this context, why would anyone be offended by what Imus said? Who cares that we refer to college girls as prostitutes with bad hair? Why would anyone be offended that the most popular songs on the charts are pornographic and de-humanizing? What value does human life have anyway? Why not think of stores with posters suggesting pre-teens as sex objects is normative?
You see where I am going with this.
Popular culture can't have it both ways. Pardon us, if we Christians are underwhelmed by your sense of shock. If you are buying into the whole secular humanism package, you shouldn't complain by what pops out of it. How strange to hear people who are so obviously followers of the secularist script twist in the wind in trying to explain their displeasure.
Let's face it, Imus as "shock jock" is paid to be provocative- an increasingly difficult task in a culture that has just about defamed and dehumanized everything of value. But what was really shocking was this quote from "The Huffington Post":
"There has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society, Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves of CBS said in announcing the decision. "That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision."
Although I think it is positive that a major broadcast network is having a discussion on the effect of language on young women, we should not hold our breath if the discussion is void of any moral authority, as no real positive conclusions can come from it.
As we have seen time and again, large corporations ruled by their bottom line do not show much promise in choosing what is right over what is profitable.
Which leads me to my next reason for bringing this up. I am more convinced than ever that parents have to gain the upper hand in raising children. If you are not on top of this and vigilant in your approach to parenting, you will quickly fall behind the curve.
The Yada Yada conference coming up May 4 and 5 is especially timely. For all of you moms out there who have young daughters- now is the time to have substantive discussions and to reach for all the effective tools at your disposal.
This conference is one such tool. Register here.
What do Imus, Capital Records and Abecrombie & Finch have in common? The answer is that these three are just a few of the many examples of those who have persistently perpetuated a culture of moral deprivation.
By now we all know of Imus' infamous quip that cost him his job. And has been widely retorted, Capital Records is raking in wild profits from hip hop groups that make terms like "nappy headed h--s" common street vernacular- but you don't see them scrambling to find their chopping block.
So why bring Abercrombie & Finch into it? Because I don't listen to rap music (except for Ced's music- a rap beat and great message) and never have liked Imus (a cranky old man in a cowboy hat sitting at a mircophone isn't my idea of entertainment); but I go to the mall occasionally and have to walk past Abercrombie & Finch. I am not the first parent of teenagers who has pointed out that what they call marketing I call soft porn. The visual messages sent to our kids are very powerful. Much more powerful than the very insulting remarks of Imus. And what makes it particularly disgusting and puts it in this context is that the audience the store is targeting is so obviously teen and pre-teen.
I know that this issue has been beaten to death in the press, but I want to raise the issue here for a couple of reasons.
First, I want to point out the irony of popular media expressing such disdain for the very environment it helped to create. From a philosophical perspective, what we are witnessing is the natural outcome of Western European enlightenment thinking that says that there is no such thing as absolute truth and that moral values are undefinable and unsustainable, as there is no way one can prove God scientifically and therefore modern people should not be expected to think in such archaic terms.
But be honest, when one follows secularism to it's end, the outcome is that because everyone is their own judge of human behavior, and there is therefore no higher authority than human consciousness, there is really NO authority over the thoughts and actions of man. When everyone is in charge in other words, no one is in charge. It is in a very real sense a kind of Darwinian moralism.
In this context, why would anyone be offended by what Imus said? Who cares that we refer to college girls as prostitutes with bad hair? Why would anyone be offended that the most popular songs on the charts are pornographic and de-humanizing? What value does human life have anyway? Why not think of stores with posters suggesting pre-teens as sex objects is normative?
You see where I am going with this.
Popular culture can't have it both ways. Pardon us, if we Christians are underwhelmed by your sense of shock. If you are buying into the whole secular humanism package, you shouldn't complain by what pops out of it. How strange to hear people who are so obviously followers of the secularist script twist in the wind in trying to explain their displeasure.
Let's face it, Imus as "shock jock" is paid to be provocative- an increasingly difficult task in a culture that has just about defamed and dehumanized everything of value. But what was really shocking was this quote from "The Huffington Post":
"There has been much discussion of the effect language like this has on our young people, particularly young women of color trying to make their way in this society, Chief Executive Officer Leslie Moonves of CBS said in announcing the decision. "That consideration has weighed most heavily on our minds as we made our decision."
Although I think it is positive that a major broadcast network is having a discussion on the effect of language on young women, we should not hold our breath if the discussion is void of any moral authority, as no real positive conclusions can come from it.
As we have seen time and again, large corporations ruled by their bottom line do not show much promise in choosing what is right over what is profitable.
Which leads me to my next reason for bringing this up. I am more convinced than ever that parents have to gain the upper hand in raising children. If you are not on top of this and vigilant in your approach to parenting, you will quickly fall behind the curve.
The Yada Yada conference coming up May 4 and 5 is especially timely. For all of you moms out there who have young daughters- now is the time to have substantive discussions and to reach for all the effective tools at your disposal.
This conference is one such tool. Register here.
Monday, April 9, 2007
tales from the crypt
What are we to make of the recent "Discovery Channel" documentary and book about the supposed "Jesus tomb"? Could it be that archaeologists have just now made a shocking discovery that will be the end of Christendom?
Sadly, the average person in America who gets their news from MTV and will only see the headlines will seldom question the validity of such "docu-drama".
But here are some things to keep in mind as you have conversations with people who have seen "The Jesus Family Tomb" and wonder if the bones of Jesus have been found in Jerusalem:
1. The names Jesus and Mary and Joseph were among the most popular names in first century Jerusalem. To find all these names in a family tomb is not surprising at all- in fact it would be a surprise if these names weren't in a family tomb from this time period. (For instance, 21% of all Jewish women were named "Mary" in the first century)
2. DNA sampling from this documentary means absolutely nothing. There is no nuclear DNA available from any of Jesus' family. The fact that everyone in the tomb was related is a completely worthless point and really only a cheap stunt intended to wow viewers.
3. What the documentary did not reveal was that significant evidence from the supposed tomb has been found to be fraudulent. You can find the article here. The same person who brought us the supposed "James" ossuary that was revealed to be a complete hoax, also had a hand in this.
4. Tell your friends about Scott Caroll coming this weekend. Give them the opportunity to spend time with a legitimate biblical archaeologist. The truth will set them free!
It turns out that the documentary is nothing more than a really good publicity stunt without the backing or integrity of serious archeology. Cameron is trying to capitalize financially before the thing falls apart. In the mean time we can use it as an opportunity to engage people with the truth.
This is one of the important questions we will ask biblical archaeologist Scott Caroll when he comes to our church for a seminar this weekend.
I expect that his answer will be similar to Ben Witherington in this article. The simple truth is that the documentary and book are great marketing and money making sensationalism, but have no root in real science. You have to hand it to James Cameron, the American producer who dreamed up the idea of exposing the supposed tomb of Jesus. What could be more sensational than the bones of Jesus?Sadly, the average person in America who gets their news from MTV and will only see the headlines will seldom question the validity of such "docu-drama".
But here are some things to keep in mind as you have conversations with people who have seen "The Jesus Family Tomb" and wonder if the bones of Jesus have been found in Jerusalem:
1. The names Jesus and Mary and Joseph were among the most popular names in first century Jerusalem. To find all these names in a family tomb is not surprising at all- in fact it would be a surprise if these names weren't in a family tomb from this time period. (For instance, 21% of all Jewish women were named "Mary" in the first century)
2. DNA sampling from this documentary means absolutely nothing. There is no nuclear DNA available from any of Jesus' family. The fact that everyone in the tomb was related is a completely worthless point and really only a cheap stunt intended to wow viewers.
3. What the documentary did not reveal was that significant evidence from the supposed tomb has been found to be fraudulent. You can find the article here. The same person who brought us the supposed "James" ossuary that was revealed to be a complete hoax, also had a hand in this.
4. Tell your friends about Scott Caroll coming this weekend. Give them the opportunity to spend time with a legitimate biblical archaeologist. The truth will set them free!
It turns out that the documentary is nothing more than a really good publicity stunt without the backing or integrity of serious archeology. Cameron is trying to capitalize financially before the thing falls apart. In the mean time we can use it as an opportunity to engage people with the truth.
Saturday, April 7, 2007
passion week: holy saturday
62The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. 63"Sir," they said, "we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, 'After three days I will rise again.' 64So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first."
65"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
- Matthew 27:62-66
65"Take a guard," Pilate answered. "Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how." 66So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.
- Matthew 27:62-66
Friday, April 6, 2007
passion week: good friday
45From the sixth hour until the ninth hour darkness came over all the land. 46About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi,[c] lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"[d]
47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."
48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."
50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son[e] of God!"
55Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
The Burial of Jesus 57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
- Matthew 27:45-60
47When some of those standing there heard this, they said, "He's calling Elijah."
48Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink. 49The rest said, "Now leave him alone. Let's see if Elijah comes to save him."
50And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split. 52The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. 53They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
54When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son[e] of God!"
55Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's sons.
The Burial of Jesus 57As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. 58Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus' body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. 59Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, 60and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
- Matthew 27:45-60
Thursday, April 5, 2007
passion week: maunday thursday
1Now the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread were only two days away, and the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him. 2"But not during the Feast," they said, "or the people may riot."
3While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5It could have been sold for more than a year's wages[a] and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
6"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
12On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
13So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."
16The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me."
19They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"
20"It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.
24"This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."
26When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
- Mark 14
3While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard. She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.
4Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, "Why this waste of perfume? 5It could have been sold for more than a year's wages[a] and the money given to the poor." And they rebuked her harshly.
6"Leave her alone," said Jesus. "Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me. 7The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want. But you will not always have me. 8She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. 9I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
10Then Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them. 11They were delighted to hear this and promised to give him money. So he watched for an opportunity to hand him over.
12On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus' disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"
13So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. 14Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' 15He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."
16The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover.
17When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. 18While they were reclining at the table eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me."
19They were saddened, and one by one they said to him, "Surely not I?"
20"It is one of the Twelve," he replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with me. 21The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
22While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body."
23Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it.
24"This is my blood of the[b] covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. 25"I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God."
26When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
- Mark 14
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
passion week: day three
See, my servant will prosper; he will be highly exalted. Many were amazed when they saw him – beaten and bloodied, so disfigured one would scarcely know he was a person. And he will again startle many nations. Kings will stand speechless in his presence. For they will see what they had not previously been told about; they will understand what they had not heard about.
Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal his saving power? My servant grew up in the LORD's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins – that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave.
But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD's plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Who has believed our message? To whom will the LORD reveal his saving power? My servant grew up in the LORD's presence like a tender green shoot, sprouting from a root in dry and sterile ground. There was nothing beautiful or majestic about his appearance, nothing to attract us to him. He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with bitterest grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way when he went by. He was despised, and we did not care.
Yet it was our weaknesses he carried; it was our sorrows that weighed him down. And we thought his troubles were a punishment from God for his own sins! But he was wounded and crushed for our sins. He was beaten that we might have peace. He was whipped, and we were healed! All of us have strayed away like sheep. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the LORD laid on him the guilt and sins of us all. He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led as a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. From prison and trial they led him away to his death. But who among the people realized that he was dying for their sins – that he was suffering their punishment? He had done no wrong, and he never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave.
But it was the LORD's good plan to crush him and fill him with grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have a multitude of children, many heirs. He will enjoy a long life, and the LORD's plan will prosper in his hands. When he sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, he will be satisfied. And because of what he has experienced, my righteous servant will make it possible for many to be counted righteous, for he will bear all their sins. I will give him the honors of one who is mighty and great, because he exposed himself to death. He was counted among those who were sinners. He bore the sins of many and interceded for sinners.
Isaiah 52:13-53:12
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
passion week: day two
1As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. 2He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins.[a] 3"I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. 4All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on."
5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6"As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."
7"Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
8He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. 9When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."
10Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12"But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13This will result in your being witnesses to them. 14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17All men will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By standing firm you will gain life.
20"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
29He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32"I tell you the truth, this generation[b] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
37Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
-Luke 21
5Some of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6"As for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on another; every one of them will be thrown down."
7"Teacher," they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that they are about to take place?"
8He replied: "Watch out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. 9When you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen first, but the end will not come right away."
10Then he said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven.
12"But before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and governors, and all on account of my name. 13This will result in your being witnesses to them. 14But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict. 16You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17All men will hate you because of me. 18But not a hair of your head will perish. 19By standing firm you will gain life.
20"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. 21Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. 22For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.
25"There will be signs in the sun, moon and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the roaring and tossing of the sea. 26Men will faint from terror, apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be shaken. 27At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. 28When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."
29He told them this parable: "Look at the fig tree and all the trees. 30When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31Even so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is near.
32"I tell you the truth, this generation[b] will certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.
34"Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a trap. 35For it will come upon all those who live on the face of the whole earth. 36Be always on the watch, and pray that you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able to stand before the Son of Man."
37Each day Jesus was teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the hill called the Mount of Olives, 38and all the people came early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
-Luke 21
Monday, April 2, 2007
passion week: day one
1As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2saying 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. 3If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' "
4They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna![a]"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"[b]
10"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
- Mark 11:1-10
4They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5some people standing there asked, "What are you doing, untying that colt?" 6They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. 7When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,
"Hosanna![a]"
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"[b]
10"Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!"
"Hosanna in the highest!"
- Mark 11:1-10
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