3/6/21

Our Gospel is John 2:13-22, taken today from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking of the temple of His body. So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken.

People were always asking for a sign, some proof that Jesus was who He claimed to be. I’m sure He is disappointed in our lack of faith, wanting to see with our eyes rather than believe in our hearts. The bible records 34 miracles He performed during His time with us, but apparently it was not enough for some.

Jesus never did things for “show”, there was always a purpose behind His works. When He healed and blessed, He also taught us, showing how God’s love was part of everything He did. Nothing was for His own reputation, all was for the glory of God and our salvation.

Jesus tells those who are questioning Him in this passage “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up” (v. 19). While He was protective of the place they worshipped, He teaches that God lives within us, an inseparable part of our being. Those who heard this remembered it after His resurrection, and that should be all the “proof” we need.

Loving Lord, we are fragile and forgetful, needing to be reminded of the blessing You give through our very being. Help us to be strong in our faith and believe not because we see miracles but because You choose to be part of us. Amen.

3/5/21

Our Gospel is John 2:13-22, taken today from the Christian Standard Bible (CSB).

The Jewish Passover was near, and so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and he also found the money changers sitting there. After making a whip out of cords, he drove everyone out of the temple with their sheep and oxen. He also poured out the money changers’ coins and overturned the tables. He told those who were selling doves, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” And his disciples remembered that it is written: Zeal for your house will consume me. So the Jews replied to him, “What sign will you show us for doing these things?” Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it up in three days.” Therefore the Jews said, “This temple took forty-six years to build, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking about the temple of his body. So when he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the statement Jesus had made.

Did Jesus actually get angry? He was a human just like us so He experienced every emotion that we feel. The difference is that He didn’t sin in His anger as we often do.

The apostle Paul wrote “be angry but do not sin” (Ephesians 4:26) to warn us that what we do with our anger is the issue. It is when our anger leads us to seek retribution rather than justice that we hurt others and damage our relationship with God. Emotional decisions are often poor choices because we don’t consider the consequences.

Jesus cleared the temple to prevent further dishonor to God’s holy place, not to harm anyone. He wanted them to understand that those activities would distract people from the true worship that was intended there. Our connection to God and each other is the most important part of our human existence and a necessary part of our hope for eternal life through Christ.

Gracious God, help us to use our emotions as You intend, to lead us to correct action and not into sin. May we be energetic in our praise and thanks, and in our work for the kingdom. Amen.

3/4/21

Our Gospel this week is John 2:13-22, taken today from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found people selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. Making a whip of cords, he drove all of them out of the temple, both the sheep and the cattle. He also poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. He told those who were selling the doves, “Take these things out of here! Stop making my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.” The Jews then said to him, “What sign can you show us for doing this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “This temple has been under construction for forty-six years, and will you raise it up in three days?” But he was speaking of the temple of his body. After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this; and they believed the scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

This passage causes confusion to many because it seems out of character for Jesus as we know Him. We remember “gentle Jesus, meek and mild”, not the agitated man we see here. Why is Jesus so angry about this?

The temple was supposed to be the place where people came to be with God, and make Him the focus of their lives. Instead, there are a variety of people making money from the process of worship. This is what has Jesus upset – these things are distracting people from offering their praise and thanks as well as dishonoring God’s house.

Jesus is saddened by this worldly intrusion in what should be a sacred space. He tells us that when we come to spend time with God, that should be all we think about. Anything that leads us away from worship is wrong.

Heavenly Father, forgive us when we are distracted and fail to devote time to You. Help us to know the blessing of being connected, giving You our full attention and receiving Your love. Amen.

3/3/21

Our epistle is 1 Corinthians 1:18-25.

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. For it is written: “I will destroy the wisdom of the wise; the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.” Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

Paul challenges the pride we have in our own wisdom and strength. He warns that all our accomplishments pale before the victory of the cross and only through our acceptance of the Messiah’s sacrifice can we be saved. God has a plan for us and we must trust in Him and not ourselves.

He speaks to the fact that while education and religious practices are not wrong, they are not what will save us. This passage states “Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, but we preach Christ crucified” (v. 22-23), the New Covenant that God makes with us. God reaches out to us in the example Jesus brings.

He teaches us that through the apparent humiliation and weakness of the Crucifixion we find true glory and strength. We are called to trust God’s power and wisdom, not the false and temporary things we see here. Through Jesus, our connection to eternal life is assured.

Gracious God, though we are sinners, You love us anyway and call us to come back to the promise of salvation. Help us to put our trust in You, and go in faith to share the Good News. Amen.

3/2/21

Our Old Testament reading is Exodus 20:1-17.

And God spoke all these words: “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. You shall have no other gods before me. You shall not make for yourself an image in the form of anything in heaven above or on the earth beneath or in the waters below. You shall not bow down to them or worship them; for I, the Lord your God, am a jealous God, punishing the children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing love to a thousand generations of those who love me and keep my commandments. You shall not misuse the name of the Lord your God, for the Lord will not hold anyone guiltless who misuses his name. Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. Six days you shall labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work, neither you, nor your son or daughter, nor your male or female servant, nor your animals, nor any foreigner residing in your towns. For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, but he rested on the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you. You shall not murder. You shall not commit adultery. You shall not steal. You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. You shall not covet your neighbor’s house. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife, or his male or female servant, his ox or donkey, or anything that belongs to your neighbor.”

God gave us this guidance that we might live well with each other and with Him. This passage is very familiar to us, yet when asked most people can only recall a few of the Ten Commandments. Why do we find it so difficult to remember and follow these rules intended for our good?

While this wisdom was a gift to God’s children as they were led to the Promised Land, it applies equally to us today. These aren’t just good ideas or suggestions, they are called commandments for a reason – God specifically tells us to do and not to do these things for our own good. Just as we teach and protect our children through boundaries and rules for behavior, God guides and protects us through the laws He made and our relationship with Him.

We need to remember God’s law and apply it in our lives. Obeying is part of our connection and it is through obedience that we learn and grow. Ask for His guidance every day and we too will be led as He always has.

Loving Lord, our own way leads to death but Your love guides us to life eternal. Help us to follow the way You intend for us, loving You and each other under Your law. Amen.

3/1/21

Our call to worship is Psalm 19:1-6.

The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands. Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they reveal knowledge. They have no speech, they use no words; no sound is heard from them. Yet their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world. In the heavens God has pitched a tent for the sun. It is like a bridegroom coming out of his chamber, like a champion rejoicing to run his course. It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is deprived of its warmth.

The psalmist calls us to rejoice in the beauty and wonder of all God has made. The sheer magnificence of the creation around us should fill us with gratitude for His gifts to us. Everything we experience is the work of His hands.

This passage tells us even the heavens give thanks to God for His power and love. Jesus tells the Pharisees in Luke 19:40 that if God’s people don’t praise Him “the stones will cry out”. If the earth itself offers shouts of joy, how much more are we called to sing our thanks to Him?

In his wonderful oratorio “The Creation”, Joseph Haydn used this Psalm to proclaim God’s glory. God has made wonderful things for us and we owe Him our thanks and praise. I encourage you to listen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTYJm5Ae0Xo

Loving Lord, we are in awe of Your creation and that You give it to us. May we be faithful caretakers of all that You have made. Amen.

2/28/21

Our Gospel lesson is Mark 8:31-38, taken today from the New International Version (NIV).

He then began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and after three days rise again. He spoke plainly about this, and Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But when Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, he rebuked Peter. “Get behind me, Satan!” he said. “You do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” Then he called the crowd to him along with his disciples and said: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul? Or what can anyone give in exchange for their soul? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Two very recognizable verses are contained in our reading – “Get behind me, Satan” (v. 33) and “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me” (v. 34). Jesus uses these statements to teach us an important lesson: we must make a choice to resist temptation and put ourselves on His path. He has called us but it is up to us to respond.

Peter (as humans often do) reacts without thinking it through. He didn’t mean any harm, he certainly didn’t intend to cause people to doubt God’s Son. However, Jesus shows him (and us) through His reply that Peter’s comments could do just that.

He tells us that not falling for Satan’s lies is the first step, and the next is to obey. 18th century preacher John Wesley taught we must “do no harm” but then move on to “doing good”. Simply avoiding evil is not enough, Jesus says we must deny ourselves and take up our cross in order to be part of His work.

Loving Lord, we are weak by ourselves but with Your help we can help others. Make us strong in Your love to share the Gospel with the world. Amen.

2/27/21

Our Gospel lesson is Mark 8:31-38, taken today from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV).

Then he began to teach them that the Son of Man must undergo great suffering, and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. He said all this quite openly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. But turning and looking at his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.” He called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, “If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”

Peter tries to give Jesus some politically correct advice, warning Him that their mission may be hampered if people hear that the Messiah is to be rejected and killed. Jesus responds that Peter is missing the point, that the truth is more important than earthly things. Once again, Peter could be any one of us, not understanding the difficult lesson the Lord has for us.

Jesus teaches that if we want to follow Him, we must deny ourselves and take up our own cross. This is hard to hear, especially for those who expected a return to power and a place of honor among nations. He said that His kingdom was not of this world and if we cling to earthly things we might miss the eternal joy God has for us.

This requires faith in what we do not yet see and patience to work for it. Jesus knows we have a hard time with both of these, but He stresses that the only way to God is through Him. We must listen, learn, and practice His way in order to be saved.

Merciful God, we don’t always understand what we must do. Give us faith and strength to be changed people, following the example of Jesus. Amen.

2/26/21

Our Gospel lesson is Mark 8:31-38, taken today from the Common English Bible (CEB).

Then Jesus began to teach his disciples: “The Human One must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests, and the legal experts, and be killed, and then, after three days, rise from the dead.” He said this plainly. But Peter took hold of Jesus and, scolding him, began to correct him. Jesus turned and looked at his disciples, then sternly corrected Peter: “Get behind me, Satan. You are not thinking God’s thoughts but human thoughts.” After calling the crowd together with his disciples, Jesus said to them, “All who want to come after me must say no to themselves, take up their cross, and follow me. All who want to save their lives will lose them. But all who lose their lives because of me and because of the good news will save them. Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives? What will people give in exchange for their lives? Whoever is ashamed of me and my words in this unfaithful and sinful generation, the Human One will be ashamed of that person when he comes in the Father’s glory with the holy angels.”

Jesus says that we must say no to ourselves (v. 34) if we are to follow Him. In other versions this is sometimes translated as deny ourselves. What does this mean in our lives?

Jesus isn’t telling us to reject who we are, it is actually an invitation to discover ourselves as the beloved children of God. He asks us to consider the blessing of being connected to God, to be able to accept the call that was placed on our lives from the very beginning. These are hard things but Jesus warns “Why would people gain the whole world but lose their lives?” (v. 36).

Jesus teaches that wanting the things of the world can lead us away from the relationship God yearns to have with each of us. Most of our longings are a vain attempt to find something to fill the void that exists in our lives when we don’t know God. Jesus calls us all to turn from the temporary to the eternal and be part of God’s plan.

Gracious God, we are not complete without Your love in our lives. Bless us to be the sons and daughters You intend, sharing Your truth with the world. Amen.

2/25/21

Our gospel lesson is Mark 8:31-38, taken today from the New American Standard Bible (NASB).

And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Jesus didn’t mince words when it came to what we want over what God wants for us. He tells Peter that he is acting as Satan’s agent when he opposes God’s plan for the Messiah. He has a hard lesson for us that teaches God’s way won’t always be easy, but it will always be right.

He tells us that our vision and understanding are limited, that if we see only earthly things we can never accept the call God places on our lives. He asks us to consider “what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” (v. 37). Jesus says we must choose between temporary material things and the eternal gift of salvation God offers.

We sometimes lose our focus as Peter did. It is a sad part of our human condition, but while Jesus rebukes Peter, He doesn’t reject him. We are all subject to selfish wants. Jesus understands and comforts us with the truth that these desires don’t have to define us, that God is waiting to welcome us when we choose Him.

Loving Lord, we are often weak to the ways of the world and taken in by its false promises. Make us strong in Your word and Your love that we may share the Good News everywhere. Amen.