Month: April 2021

Our Gospel lesson is John 20:19-31, taken today from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

So when it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples then rejoiced when they saw the Lord. So Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, their sins have been forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they have been retained.” But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples were saying to him, “We have seen the Lord!” But he said to them, “Unless I see in His hands the imprint of the nails, and put my finger into the place of the nails, and put my hand into His side, I will not believe.” After eight days His disciples were again inside, and Thomas with them. Jesus came, the doors having been shut, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then He said to Thomas, “Reach here with your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand and put it into My side; and do not be unbelieving, but believing.” Thomas answered and said to Him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Because you have seen Me, have you believed? Blessed are they who did not see, and yet believed.” Therefore many other signs Jesus also performed in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; but these have been written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name.

“As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.” Jesus tells the disciples that He has chosen them to carry on the work of bringing the world back to God. He came to save us all, but also to teach us to live in harmony with each other. When we use the gifts we have been given, we become part of God’s plan to redeem His creation.

Our lives are intended to be more than just seeking pleasure and avoiding pain. God created us for a higher purpose and He calls us to live abundantly in Him. Through our connection to the Father we are blessed with an understanding that our existence here is only temporary, and that He has greater things in store for us.

We know that God made us in His own image that we might have a special relationship. Jesus came to restore that connection if we are willing to admit our faults and accept God’s forgiveness. When we receive this blessing we are empowered to go in His name to share His love.

Gracious God, we are sorry for the behavior that leads us into sin and away from You. Help us to face our mistakes honestly that we may live new lives through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Our Gospel this week is John 20:19-31, taken today from the Common English Bible (CEB).

It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.” Thomas, the one called Didymus, one of the Twelve, wasn’t with the disciples when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We’ve seen the Lord!” But he replied, “Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, put my finger in the wounds left by the nails, and put my hand into his side, I won’t believe.” After eight days his disciples were again in a house and Thomas was with them. Even though the doors were locked, Jesus entered and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here. Look at my hands. Put your hand into my side. No more disbelief. Believe!” Thomas responded to Jesus, “My Lord and my God! Jesus replied, “Do you believe because you see me? Happy are those who don’t see and yet believe.” Then Jesus did many other miraculous signs in his disciples’ presence, signs that aren’t recorded in this scroll. But these things are written so that you will believe that Jesus is the Christ, God’s Son, and that believing, you will have life in his name.

Jesus breathes the Holy Spirit onto the disciples and gives them an important instruction – “If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.” This sounds like the disciples are to judge who is or is not worthy of Christ’s mercy. I don’t believe that is what Jesus had in mind at all.

I see this as His commandment to go to all the world, the Gospel of John’s version of the Great Commission to make disciples of all nations. Jesus wants us to tell everyone they can know His love and forgiveness. If we don’t share this, how will they hear? They can’t be forgiven unless we make the effort to share the Good News.

Jesus gives us the power to go in His name to testify to the joy we know in Him. He doesn’t send us to decide who’s in or out. That is between Him and each of us individually. Our task is to proclaim that the kingdom of God has come near and invite everyone to take part.

Loving Lord, we are humbled that You choose us to be part of Your kingdom and Your ministry. Help us to share faithfully that all may come to You. Amen.

Our Gospel lesson is John 20:19-31.

“When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.” But Thomas (who was called the Twin ), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.” A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.”

The story of Doubting Thomas is well known and teaches us the important lesson of “believing where we have not seen” (v. 29). We often look down on this disciple because he didn’t believe what the others had told him about the resurrection. However, like many lessons in the Gospel accounts, we can see ourselves and grow in faith from the experience.

When Peter and John followed Mary to the empty tomb, they didn’t know what to think. Later when Mary returns and tells the disciples “I have seen the Lord” (John 20:18) there is no indication that they believe her statement. Thomas is not alone in his lack of understanding, all those who knew Jesus while He was on earth experienced this. That is why He appeared to them in various situations, to help them accept the fact that God had raised Him.

Near the end of this passage Jesus tells them “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe” (v. 29). That would be all of us! Jesus knew it was important for those who had known Him in the flesh to see Him, that they might testify to the truth of the resurrection, enabling those of us who didn’t meet Jesus in life to believe without seeing. May we go to all the world that they may believe as well.

Gracious God, our faith is often based on what we can see and touch, which is only a small part of Your salvation for us. Help us to see the only proof we need is Your love for us and to know that Christ’s sacrifice has saved us. Amen.

Our Epistle reading is 1 John 1:1-2:2.

We declare to you what was from the beginning, what we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— this life was revealed, and we have seen it and testify to it, and declare to you the eternal life that was with the Father and was revealed to us— we declare to you what we have seen and heard so that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ. We are writing these things so that our joy may be complete. This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light and in him there is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with him while we are walking in darkness, we lie and do not do what is true; but if we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous; and he is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.

John writes to a diverse group of believers in various locations about the forgiveness of sins. He reminds us that Jesus has washed us clean and we have an obligation to follow the Him. While we are still prone to sin, we can repent and live by His grace.

Sin is that seed inside that makes us think of ourselves first, ignoring our responsibility to God and the needs of others. When we fall prey to its temptation, we separate ourselves from God. Jesus showed that through confessing our mistake and earnestly wanting to escape its hold on us, we can renew our relationship with Him.

We grow in faith each time we avoid old patterns of wrongdoing and become stronger through God’s love for us. We may never be completely free of sin’s distractions but we can live more abundantly through His gifts to us. Give your weakness to God that He may keep you safe.

Loving Lord, we are always under attack from the power of evil, wanting to separate us from Your kingdom. Help us to avoid the trap of sin and know Your forgiveness. Amen.

Our first reading this week is Acts 4:32-35.

“Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common. With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold. They laid it at the apostles’ feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.”

This lesson tells us of a faith community that lives together in harmony and takes care of each other. Many hear this story and think how wonderful it would be to have such a society. However, we must not let our desire for a carefree life keep us from the call that Jesus placed on our lives to share the Good News with the world.

This group of believers rely on each other and God to meet their needs, like an extended family. They have given up the selfish pursuit of monetary gain and pride of possessions. It doesn’t mean everyone gets to sit around with no responsibilities.

If we desire a lifestyle such as this, it must be for the glory of God and the good of others, not merely our own well-being. Jesus never promised we could relax and take it easy, He has work for us everywhere we look! Don’t let the temptation of being comfortable draw you away from the obligation of our connection in Christ.

Loving Lord, we want the world to be like the community of this passage, but we often forget that there is still work involved. Help us to see we must change our hearts and lives in order that Your kingdom may come on earth. Amen.

Our call to worship this week is Psalm 133.

How very good and pleasant it is when kindred live together in unity! It is like the precious oil on the head, running down upon the beard, on the beard of Aaron, running down over the collar of his robes. It is like the dew of Hermon, which falls on the mountains of Zion. For there the Lord ordained his blessing, life forevermore.

This short Psalm speaks of the joy of community and being part of God’s work. It tells us of a peaceful place and the blessing of being annointed to fulfill God’s call. Jesus came and showed us the path, now it is up to us to follow.

Sometimes it seems difficult to live in harmony with those around us. We have competing needs and we often see others as rivals for the things we want. God calls us to step back from selfish desires and see the plan He has for us.

Ask Him for guidance and look to what is best for all. It isn’t always easy, but that wasn’t what we were promised. God has great plans for all of us and when we obey His commandments, we are blessed beyond measure.

Loving Lord, we want to do Your will, but we let the things of this world distract us from doing what You ask of us. Help us to stand against the allure of earthly things to see the joy You have in store. Amen.

Our Easter Gospel is John 20:1-18.

“Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved, and said to them, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we do not know where they have laid him.” Then Peter and the other disciple set out and went toward the tomb. The two were running together, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent down to look in and saw the linen wrappings lying there, but he did not go in. Then Simon Peter came, following him, and went into the tomb. He saw the linen wrappings lying there, and the cloth that had been on Jesus’ head, not lying with the linen wrappings but rolled up in a place by itself. Then the other disciple, who reached the tomb first, also went in, and he saw and believed; for as yet they did not understand the scripture, that he must rise from the dead. Then the disciples returned to their homes. But Mary stood weeping outside the tomb. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb; and she saw two angels in white, sitting where the body of Jesus had been lying, one at the head and the other at the feet. They said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” Supposing him to be the gardener, she said to him, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have laid him, and I will take him away.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni!” (which means Teacher). Jesus said to her, “Do not hold on to me, because I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and say to them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’ ” Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord”; and she told them that he had said these things to her.”

As we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord, Jesus Christ, we offer grateful thanks for the greatest gift ever given, God granting us forgiveness of our sins, a new relationship with Him, and the promise of eternal life.  Jesus came to be with us, to be like us.  He was obedient even unto death, in order to lead us to salvation; telling and showing us what we must do in order to enter his kingdom.  The Gospel reading from John 20 provides us with some different perspectives on the activities that morning, seen through the eyes of Mary Magdalene and the two disciples who came back with her after she had discovered the stone rolled away.  We can learn much about human reactions and our faith by looking at how the Resurrection affected these three.  Let’s look at each of them in order and see what we are being taught.

    Mary comes to the tomb early on the morning after the Sabbath to visit.  It has been a long night, waiting for daylight so she can come to make sure that the hasty burial preparations of the day before the Sabbath are adequate.  Imagine her shock at seeing the massive stone that covered the opening rolled away.  Her immediate assumption was that someone had taken Jesus’s body.  It was certainly believable, given all that had happened that week.  Perhaps grave robbers had stolen it, hoping that they could ransom it back to his followers for a good price.  Maybe those who had him crucified had taken it away so his disciples wouldn’t even have a place to come to visit and remember.  It could have been the Romans, hoping to avoid any more unrest after an already tumultuous week.  All of these thoughts might have raced through Mary’s mind as she raced to tell Peter and the disciples what had happened.

    Certainly we can understand the way she felt.  When our loved ones die, we treat the body with dignity, and lay them to rest, even though we know they have gone to be with God.  When there is a disaster that claims lives, such as during severe storms or the devastation of 9/11, we spare no effort to retrieve those who were lost.  During times of war, we often hear of soldiers braving enemy fire to recover their comrades who have been killed.  Why are we so concerned about dead bodies?  Scientists tell us they are made up of several different chemicals and are mostly water, not worth a lot in terms of cash value.  However, we value them because they were created by the hand of God, and because for some period of time, in the form of friends and loved ones, they were inhabited by the very breath of the Living God.  Our friend Mary likely felt the same way.

    She relates what has happened to Peter and the disciple whom Jesus loved.  While both men are members of Jesus’s closest group of friends, they are in very different situations as they run back to the tomb to see what has happened.  Peter, who boasted that he would follow Jesus even unto death, had denied him almost immediately after his arrest, and was not present at the Crucifixion.  Perhaps he is running to the tomb to try to atone for his fear and failure before.  The disciple Jesus loved is never named in this Gospel, but most theologians believe it is John.  He was with Jesus through it all, accompanying him to the foot of the cross, where Jesus told John to care for his mother, Mary.  John is younger than Peter, and beats him to the tomb.  He looks inside and sees the grave clothes, but doesn’t enter the tomb.  A few moments later, Peter arrives, out of breath from exertion and peeved at being second.  While the Gospel doesn’t record it, Peter’s ego, which is larger than he is, has already been wounded by his lack of courage over the last few days and he likely elbows John out of the way, like some Abbott and Costello routine, to at least be the first to enter the tomb.  He sees the grave clothes left behind, as well as the head cloth…what might that mean?  Why would grave robbers have left those?  Peter and John were both present when Jesus brought Lazarus back from the dead, and he came from the tomb still wrapped in the grave clothes.  It’s more than they can figure right now and they leave to go back to where they are staying.  

I’m sure that at this point Mary is thinking “Thanks for nothing guys!  I come to you for help, you come out, look at the tomb, shrug your shoulders and say, “yeah he’s gone”, and you head back to bed!”  Now, in their defense, guys have never been good at looking for things, in closets, in basements, in cupboards…just ask my wife.  Call it lack of attention to detail, short attention span, whatever – we just aren’t blessed with that ability.  Mary, sad, tired and likely frustrated with the whole situation, begins to cry, but she also looks into the tomb, and as usual, the woman finds something the men did not.  There are now two angels in white inside the tomb who ask her why she is crying.  By now, Mary is past the point of analyzing, she has only one thing on her mind – where have they taken Jesus?  She doesn’t even acknowledge that they are angels, she just turns around, and comes face to face with the risen Christ.  In the state she is in, we can hardly blame her for not recognizing Jesus.  He asks, as the angels did, why are you crying, but he also asks who she is looking for.  Back at the beginning of John’s Gospel, this is the first question Jesus asked of those who came to him after his baptism in the Jordan.  Mary repeats what she has told the disciples and then the angels, “They have taken him away and I don’t know where they have laid him.”  Then, Jesus calls her by name, and she recognizes him!  She reacts with joy, as any of us might, and tries to embrace him.  He gently declines, telling her not to cling to him for he has not yet ascended to the Father.  He commissions her to go share the good news with the brothers and sisters in Jerusalem, declaring them all children of God by way of the statement “my Father and your Father, my God and your God”. 

Are you able to see yourself as Peter or John or Mary?  Peter who had failed so badly before, at least makes the effort this time.  He doesn’t see the risen Christ at the tomb, but at least he went.  John, who was always there is there again, but he doesn’t see Jesus at the tomb either, and they both leave.  Only Mary who was there first, and was persistent in her effort to find Jesus actually meets Jesus at the tomb.  Later Peter and John and the others will encounter the risen Christ in different ways.  Each of these three have a lesson to teach: Peter, that even when we fail, we are called to try again and can regain our relationship with Jesus; John, that even if we have always been faithful we can sometimes fall short, but again, there is always grace.  Mary teaches us to be unswerving in our faith effort, to never give up even if others do, and that we are all called to share the joy we have found in the Resurrection with everyone.  Undoubtedly, at some point in our lives we have been like each one of them – afraid, confused, finding that even our best is sometimes not enough.  Jesus tells us that it’s alright, that we can always turn to him when we are in need, and he is always ready to take us back when we repent.

The cross brought an end to Jesus’s time on earth in human form.  In rising, he left behind the grave clothes to show us that he has transcended death and mortal life.  His ascension in glory to sit at the right hand of God Almighty proves that his promise of eternal life is real.  We are all called by name, just as Mary was at the tomb that morning, and given the task of sharing his story and his love with the whole world.  Christ is risen! Alleluia! Amen.

Our Easter Vigil reading is 1 Peter 4:1-8.

Therefore, since Christ suffered as a human, you should also arm yourselves with his way of thinking. This is because whoever suffers is finished with sin. As a result, they don’t live the rest of their human lives in ways determined by human desires but in ways determined by God’s will. You have wasted enough time doing what unbelievers desire—living in their unrestrained immorality and lust, their drunkenness and excessive feasting and wild parties, and their forbidden worship of idols. They think it’s strange that you don’t join in these activities with the same flood of unrestrained wickedness. So they slander you. They will have to reckon with the one who is ready to judge the living and the dead. Indeed, this is the reason the good news was also preached to the dead. This happened so that, although they were judged as humans according to human standards, they could live by the Spirit according to divine standards. The end of everything has come. Therefore, be self-controlled and clearheaded so you can pray. Above all, show sincere love to each other, because love brings about the forgiveness of many sins.

Holy Saturday (the Easter Vigil) is a time of keeping watch for the people of God. The disciples hide in a locked room, fearing what happened to Jesus may happen to them. The authorities place a guard on the tomb where Jesus was laid (Matthew 27:65-66).

Writing later, Peter tells us that as Jesus suffered for us, we should prepare ourselves for suffering as well. The world does not share our hope in the resurrection, instead it opposes the fact and would convince us to live our lives pleasing ourselves instead of pleasing God. Jesus warned that we would face persecution for our faith in Him.

Instead, we wait for the miracle we can scarcely believe will occur. Oh we of little faith! We have Christ’s promise that can never fail. He will return in glory to share the blessing of salvation He has won for us and by His grace we wait patiently.

Loving Lord, help our unbelief. We are weak but through Your strength and care, we can be restored to the Creation relationship God intends. Bless us to wait and watch for Your resurrection. Amen.

Our Good Friday Gospel is John 18:1-19:42.

After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?” So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself. Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest. Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed. Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.) Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” Pilate asked him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit. Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.” Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.” When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” Then he handed him over to them to be crucified. So they took Jesus; and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’ ” Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says, “They divided my clothes among themselves, and for my clothing they cast lots.” And that is what the soldiers did. Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home. After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.” After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

It is difficult to read and discuss this passage. There are so many conflicting human emotions – the betrayal by Judas, the denial of Peter, the exasperation of Pilate. Above it all is the calm and measured response of Jesus.

Jesus isn’t afraid to die, He is afraid for us, afraid for the eternal consequences that we incur from our betrayal and denial. Jesus has come to save us from ourselves and the awful curse of sin.

How do we respond? How can we respond? Christ has given His life for us that we might live in Him. All we can do is watch in wonder and love at His sacrifice.

Blessed Jesus, we grieve over what You endured for us, because of us. Help us to be obedient as You are, even unto death. In Your name we pray, Amen.

Today is Maundy Thursday, when we remember Jesus celebrating the Last Supper with His disciples. Our Gospel lesson is John 13:1-17.

“It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, 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, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their 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. Very truly I tell you, 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.”

Jesus knew all along what God’s plan was for Him. He spent His time on earth sharing what God had planned for us. He came as the living example of God’s love for us and His desire to renew our original connection.

Jesus spoke often of the last, the least and the lost, and we think “these are those poor souls He wants us to seek out.” The truth is we are those poor souls! Jesus came to save lost humanity from the sin we chose in place of God’s love.

He washed the feet of His friends, a lesson for us to be humble with everyone we meet, treating them as important in the kingdom of God. No one stands above anyone else. We must recognize the image of our Creator in each person, loving them as Christ loves all of us.

Gracious God, You sent Your Son as our brother, example and Savior. Help us to follow the path He has taught us, that all may be saved by Your love and mercy. Amen.