GOD IN THREE PERSONS

“But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you everything, and remind you of all that I have said to you” (John 14:26).

The doctrine of the Trinity has caused some argument.

        Some say it’s nowhere to be found in the New Testament.
It is traditional, they say, a logical attempt
        by early theologians to express but not preempt
what they believed the Scriptures had implicitly confirmed
        about the nature of the God whom Christians have affirmed.
While it is true the word itself is nowhere to be found,
        the biblical foundation for the Trinity is sound.
One only has to read the things that Jesus had to say
        about the Holy Spirit and his Father, and the way
the three of them relate, to be conclusively impressed
        the doctrine of the Trinity is properly expressed.
The Father, Son, and Spirit: three-in-one and one-in-three,
        and so we sing, “God in three Persons, blessed Trinity.”

TRINITY DIAGRAM

Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them” (John 14:23).

One cannot graphic’ly portray the Holy Trinity.
        For how can one make visible an unseen mystery?
And yet there is a diagram which helps some people see
        the three-in-one relationship that is the Trinity:
a wheel drawn with three equidistant spokes from hub to rim.
        Now, at the points the radii have touched the outer rim
write “Father,” “Son,” and “Holy Spirit.”  At the hub write “God.”
        Then on each radius write “is” (each one of them is God),
but on each arc between the points write down the words “is not.”
        So as we view the diagram now, here is what we’ve got:
The Father’s not the Spirit and the Spirit’s not the Son.
        The Son is not the Father, yet the three of them are one,
for all are God ---the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, too.
        The diagram attempts to show what we believe is true.
We can’t resolve the paradox or solve the mystery,
        but we can say what we believe about the Trinity.

“AS I HAVE LOVED YOU”

“I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another” (John 13:34).

We may call ourselves disciples of Christ Jesus,
        but nobody will believe we are, if we
do not show the kind of love for one another
        that our Lord and Savior has for you and me.

A NEW COMMANDMENT

“Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, 'Where I am going, you cannot come.' I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another" (John 13:33-35).

A NEW COMMANDMENT

“I am with you just a little longer, children,
        as I told the Jews, so now I say to you,
where I’m going, you can’t come, though you will seek me.
        A new commandment I now give to you:
Just as I have loved you, you should love each other.
        By this everyone will surely know that you
are disciples of mine, if you love each other.”
        All that Jesus said applies to me and you!

PETER’S ABOUT FACE

If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" (Acts 11:17)

PETER’S ABOUT FACE

It was Peter who first argued eloquently: "The good news
        is for Gentiles who are seekers, just as much as for the Jews!"
When he spoke to the apostles, he did not back down at all,
        and his argument before them sounded very much like Paul.
When we hear him speaking in a situation of this kind,
        we can hardly now imagine he would ever change his mind.
But from Paul we learn that Peter did a total about face,
        and the former Pharisee had to put Peter in his place.

PICKY, PICKY

So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" (Acts 11:2)

                Picky, picky, picky, pick,                                                        
                captious Christians who nitpick!
Do it their way; otherwise,
all they do is criticize.
                Picky, picky, picky, pick,
                captious Christians who nitpick!
If they cannot have their way,
they have nothing good to say.
                Picky, picky, picky, pick,
                captious Christians who nitpick!
They are quick to second guess,
even argue with success.
                Picky, picky, picky, pick,
                captious Christians who nitpick!

Picky, picky, picky, pick!
Captious Christians make me sick!

PETER'S AMAZING STORY

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. 2 So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, 3 saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" 4 Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, 5 "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. 6 As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. 7 I also heard a voice saying to me, 'Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' 8 But I replied, 'By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth' (Acts 11:1-8, NRSV).

Now the saints who were back in Judea heard
that the Gentiles also had received God’s word.                                  
So when Peter came there, he was criticized
for his having gone to an uncircumcised
centurion and staying in his home.
(The Judaizers had no use for Rome!)
So Peter told them all that had occurred,
beginning with the voice that he had heard
in the vision, telling him that he could eat
any unclean thing that he saw on the sheet.

“IF YOU ARE THE MESSIAH”

The Jews gathered around him, saying, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I did tell you, but you do not believe. The miracles I do in my Father's name speak for me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all ; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand” (John 10:24-29, NRSV).

“IF YOU ARE THE MESSIAH”

“How long do you intend, Jesus, to keep us in suspense?
If you are the Messiah, why do you not tell us plainly?”
        “I’ve told you, yet you don’t believe, despite the evidence.
        The works done in my Father’s name have testified quite plainly
        to me, and yet you don’t believe, because you don’t belong to
my sheep. I know them and they follow me, but you don’t long to.
        I give my sheep eternal life and they will never perish.
        No one can snatch out of my hand my own sheep that I cherish.”
                So what if he had said outright that he was the Messiah?
                Would we be more inclined to say, “Jesus is the Messiah!”?
                For even if he'd said he was, it’s still our faith decision.
                And now as in his own time there would bound to be division.
                To our world as to his he’d say, “My works bear testimony 
that I am who I said I was.” Yes, Jesus was no phony!

REARRANGING JOHN 10

9:40 Some of the Pharisees near him heard this and said to him, "Surely we are not blind, are we?"  41 Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would not have sin. But now that you say, 'We see,' your sin remains. 10:19 Again the Jews were divided because of these words. 20 Many of them were saying, "He has a demon and is out of his mind. Why listen to him?" 21 Others were saying, "These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?" 22 At that time the festival of the Dedication took place in Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was walking in the temple, in the portico of Solomon. 24 So the Jews gathered around him and said to him, "How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly." 25 Jesus answered, "I have told you, and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; 26 but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. 27 My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 What my Father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand (John 9:40, 10:19-29).

A student of the Book of John might argue now and then
concerning the arrangement of the parts of chapter 10.
Some commentators think verses 19 through 29
would follow much more logically after chapter 9,
continuing the conversation with the Pharisees,
whom Jesus’ healing on the Sabbath surely did displease.
That means verse 1 through 18 would come after 29.
As far as I’m concerned that new arrangement would be fine.
Though rearranging chapter 10 like that makes sense to me,
        I know with Bible texts we cannot take such liberty!
We have to follow the approved New Testament Greek text,
and that determines for our English Bibles “what comes next.”

A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO A PLAUSIBLE COMPLAINT

Now during those days, when the disciples were increasing in number, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution of food. 2 And the twelve called together the whole community of the disciples and said, "It is not right that we should neglect the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Therefore, friends, select from among yourselves seven men of good standing, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may appoint to this task, 4 while we, for our part, will devote ourselves to prayer and to serving the word." 5 What they said pleased the whole community, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit, together with Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicolaus, a proselyte of Antioch. 6 They had these men stand before the apostles, who prayed and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:1-6, NRSV).

A PRACTICAL SOLUTION TO A PLAUSIBLE COMPLAINT

Since the days of the apostles it has ever been the same:
        there have always been complainers in the church.
In the Bible there are so many examples one could name
        that you really don’t have very far to search.
Take the Hellenists, who grumbled at the Hebrews, we are told,
        for their widows were not getting their fair share
of the daily distribution of the food, which was controlled
        by the twelve, who didn’t want that load to bear.
So they gathered the believers and declared, “It is not right
        that we set aside the teaching of God’s word
just because we have to wait on tables morning, noon, and night.
        It is more important that the word be heard.
From among yourselves, therefore, select now seven worthy men,
        who are known to be both Spirit-filled and wise,
that we may appoint them to this task, and we ourselves may then
        on the word of God and praying focalize.”
That suggestion met with everyone’s approval, so they chose
        seven men, on whom they laid their hands and prayed.
No more trouble with the widows of the Hellenists arose,
        for the necessary changes had been made.
That should teach us all a lesson in responding to complaints,
        when a situation really should be changed,
and instead of getting angry we should emulate the saints,
        who a practical solution thus arranged.

OBEY AND RECEIVE

And we are witnesses to these things, and so is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey him (Acts 5:32, NRSV).

OBEY AND RECEIVE

Some think they need not do God’s will, if they do not believe.
The Bible says those who obey, the Spirit then receive.
So faith will come to those who do what God’s laws would demand,
and when the Holy Spirit is received, they understand.
Obedience delayed does not result in faith, I’ve found;
for with the Holy Spirit it’s the other way around!

“WE MUST OBEY GOD!”

But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority” (Acts 5:29, NRSV).

“WE MUST OBEY GOD!”

Throughout all history these brave words have been said
by believers again and again,
when their faith’s on the line and their lives are at risk:
“We must first obey God and not men!”

It would seem, though, that formula has been reversed
by some nominal Christians today.
They may say the same words the apostles pronounced,
but it’s people, not God, they obey!

When they had brought them, they had them stand before the council. The high priest questioned them, saying, "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this name, yet here you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and you are determined to bring this man's blood on us." But Peter and the apostles answered, "We must obey God rather than any human authority. The God of our ancestors raised up Jesus, whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree (Acts 5:27-30).

CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE

There is a time in good conscience    
for civil disobedience,  
a time when it is proper to
do what our God would have us do
in spite of what a law might say
when law itself has gone astray.
But one must take the consequence
of civil disobedience.

LECTIONARY POEMS PREVIOUSLY POSTED ON "MINDING WHAT MATTERS"

[See Minding What Matters]

This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true (John 21:24, NRSV).

THANK YOU, GOD!

I give thanks, O gracious God, for all the insights I’ve received

        from this Gospel, which John testified is true.
I am grateful for the ways that John has helped me to believe,
        for your Spirit has confirmed his message, too.

What a joy and inspiration, Lord, to know that you inspired
        the disciple Jesus loved to write these things.
And the fact that John was an eyewitness to all that transpired
        reinforces my faith in the King of kings.

Thank you, God, for all the ways that you have made the good news known,
        and for every truth that I have read or heard.
Through John’s Gospel in particular my faith in Christ has grown,
        for I’ve come to know him as the living Word.

Saturday, April 13, 2013

Peter turned and saw the disciple whom Jesus loved following them; he was the one who had reclined next to Jesus at the supper and had said, "Lord, who is it that is going to betray you?" 21 When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, "Lord, what about him?" 22 Jesus said to him, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you? Follow me!" 23 So the rumor spread in the community that this disciple would not die. Yet Jesus did not say to him that he would not die, but, "If it is my will that he remain until I come, what is that to you?" (John 21:20-23, NRSV)

WHAT ABOUT HIM?

When Peter heard what would be happening                                      

   to him, as Christ foretold God’s holy plan,
he looked around and saw John following,
and said to Jesus, “What about this man?”

This had to be a negative comment,
according to the way Jesus replied.
It mirrored his competitive intent.
He spoke not out of love, but out of pride.

Said Jesus, “If it’s my will he remain
until I come again, what’s that to you?”
Why should the Son of God have to explain
        to Peter what was in store for John, too?

When Peter asked his question about John,
  he in a sense denied his Lord again.
He wasn’t challenged to choose pro or con.
What sort of a denial was it then?

Read more »

Friday, April 12, 2013

 . . . After this he said to him, "Follow me!" (John 21:19b, NRSV)

FOLLOW ME!

When you know you are forgiven and redeemed, you can be sure
        that the final word from Christ will always be,
after you profess your love for him and promise to endure,
        what he said to Simon Peter: “Follow me!”

When he asks you, “Do you love me?” as he did Peter that day,
        and you say, “You know I do!” indignantly,
you may not become a shepherd, but you’ll always hear him say
        his concluding words to Peter: “Follow me!”

You may not know what the future holds, or when the end will come,
        or just how you will fulfill your destiny.
But until that final day dawns, you can learn a lesson from
        what Christ Jesus said to Peter: “Follow me!”

Posted by Richard Armstrong at 5:06 PM No comments: 

Thursday, April 11, 2013

“DO YOU LOVE ME?”

He said to him the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep." (John 21:17)

“DO YOU LOVE ME?”

“Do you love me?” Jesus asks me.                                                        

  “Lord, you know I do!” I say.                                                                      
But I find that I deny him
almost daily in some way.

“Do you love me?” Jesus asks me,
“more than all your cherished things?”
“Yes, you know I love you, Jesus!”
(But I still enjoy my flings.)

“Do you love me?” Jesus asks me.
“You know everything, my Lord.
You must know how much I love you!”
(But what price can I afford?)

“Do you love me?” Jesus asks me.
I reply, “With all my heart!
And I’ll do my best to show you,
  Lord, if you just do your part!”

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off. When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead. When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my lambs." A second time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Tend my sheep." He said to him 

the third time, "Simon son of John, do you love me?" Peter felt hurt because he said to him the third time, "Do you love me?" And he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." Jesus said to him, "Feed my sheep. Very truly, I tell you, when you were younger, you used to fasten your own belt and to go wherever you wished. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will fasten a belt around you and take you where you do not wish to go." (He said this to indicate the kind of death by which he would glorify God.) After this he said to him, "Follow me" (John 21:1-19).

PETER’S RESTORATION

Simon Peter and six others had been fishing through the night,
but they hadn’t caught a thing since they began.
As the darkness was retreating from the early morning light,
they were suddenly aware there was a man
on the shore, and he called out to them, “Have you caught anything?”
The disciples told him, “We have not caught one!”
“Cast your net off to the right.”  “There is a most familiar ring
to that voice,” they must have thought.  When they had done
as he told them, the net soon became so full of fish that they
found they could not haul their heavy catch aboard.
Then John, realizing it was Jesus, was the first to say
  to his partner Simon Peter, “It’s the Lord!”

Read more »

Monday, April 8, 2013

After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. . .  This is the disciple who is testifying to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. But there are also many other things that Jesus did; if every one of them were written down, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written (John 21:1, 24-25, NRSV).

JOHN’S POSTSCRIPT

Chapter 21 of John is like a postscript,                                              
        an appendix that the writer added on
to his Gospel, which concludes in Chapter 20.
        Even so, there are some lessons to be drawn
from the story John relates in his addendum,
        which describes Jesus’ appearance by the Sea
of Tiberias, where some of the disciples
        had been fishing rather unsuccessfully.
John concludes this chapter with a testimony
        that the things which he has written are all true,
and his comment at the end of Chapter 20
        is included in this added chapter, too.
He declares so many things were done by Jesus
        that if every one of them were written down,
the whole world could not contain the books resulting!
        Who could ever count the stars in Jesus’ crown?

Saturday, April 6, 2013

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 (John 20:30-31, NRSV).

JOHN’S CONCLUSION

Chapter 20 verses 30, 31
        are the obvious conclusion of John’s Book.
For they summarize the writing he has done
        and they make a point one must not overlook:
the disciples witnessed many other signs
        not included in this book.  But these have been
for the purpose John states in his closing lines.
        Faith in Jesus as the Christ, he hopes to win.
“These are written that you may come to believe
        Jesus is the Christ, that he’s the Son of God,
and that through believing you may then receive
        in his name eternal life.” Praise be to God!

Friday, April 5, 2013

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" (John 20:24-29, NRSV).

THOMAS

When Jesus came the first time, John says, Thomas wasn’t there.                    
He may have had a reason, but John doesn’t seem to care.  
John simply states that Thomas wasn’t there when Jesus came.
So Thomas went on doubting, and because of that the name
of Thomas probably will be what it has always been:
a synonym for doubters, as if doubting were a sin.
But Jesus didn’t reprimand him, when he next appeared,
or criticize him for his doubt, as Thomas might have feared.
For Jesus knew that Thomas really wanted to believe,
  and Thomas was a thinking person, not at all naive.
From Mark, and Luke, and Matthew we know nothing of the man,
except that he was one of the disciples. But we can
get some idea of the kind of person Thomas was
from incidents they don’t include, which the Fourth Gospel does.

Read more »

Thursday, April 4, 2013

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 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" (John 20:24-25, NRSV).

THE MAN WHO WASN’T THERE

I have wondered about Thomas
and why would he not believe,
when his friends said, “We’ve seen Jesus!”
Thomas just could not conceive
that his Master could be living
after being crucified,
so he laid down the conditions
by which he’d be satisfied:
he would have to see the nail prints
and the wounds in Jesus’ side,
that the soldiers had inflicted
to make certain he had died.
Why would Thomas be the only
one his doubt still to declare?
Because when the Lord appeared the
first time, Thomas wasn’t there!

. . . . SO BE THERE!

When church members are in their own church each Sunday, it’s a bet,
  that in matters of the Spirit, all their needs are being met.
If on any given Sunday they decide not to appear,
they may miss the very sermon that they needed most to hear.
Lest one be a doubting Thomas, every Christian must take care,
when the saints have gathered, not to be the one who wasn’t there.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

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" (John 20:19-29, NRSV). 

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS

On Sunday evening of that day, the first day of the week,             
        for Jesus’ followers the future still was very bleak.
They gathered in a house where they had sometimes met before,
        and fearing the authorities they’d bolted every door.
How startled they all must have been, and maybe frightened, too,
        when Jesus suddenly appeared and said, “Peace be with you.”
He then showed them his hands and side.  Oh, how they did rejoice
        to see the Lord alive again and hear their Master’s voice!
He then repeated what he’d said before, “Peace be with you,
        for as the Father has sent me, so I now send you, too.”
And after that he breathed on them, and then went on to say,
        “Receive my holy spirit.”  He empowered them that day
to pardon sins or to condemn.  Because of this last word
        much controversy among Bible scholars has occurred.
Now Thomas wasn’t with the others when Christ came that day.
        So when they said, “We’ve seen the Lord!”  Thomas replied, “No way!
Unless I see the nail marks in his hands, and feel his side,
        I won’t believe!” For he was certain that Jesus had died.
However, when they met again, after a week had passed,
        the Twin was there when Jesus reappeared, and now at last
he, too, believed.  For Jesus told him, “Put your finger here,
        and see my hands, and touch my side.  Have no more doubt or fear.
Believe!”  Then Thomas answered him and said, “My Lord, my God!”
        The doubter was the first disciple to call Jesus, God!
But Jesus said, “Have you believed because of what you see?
        Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe in me.”
What John reports that Jesus said was needed to convince
        those who have had to answer “Who is Jesus?” ever since.

Monday, April 1, 2013

But these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them (Luke 24:11, NRSV).

TOO GOOD TO BE TRUE

When you’re told something astonishingly new
        and with all your heart you’re wanting to believe it,
if it seems it is just too good to be true,
        you may find yourself unable to receive it.

So you temper your excitement, until you
        can confirm the thrilling news that you are hearing.
The disciples were reacting that way, too,
        to the stories there were told of Christ’s appearing.

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Now it was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them who told this to the apostles (Luke 24:10, NRSV).

POINTS OF AGREEMENT

Does it matter that the Gospels don’t agree in their accounts
        of what happened at the tomb on Easter morn?
The details are unimportant, for the fact that really counts
        is that all say it was empty Sunday morn.

One more salient detail on which the Gospels all agree
        in their telling of the Easter morning tale:
They concur it was the women who were first to come and see
        that the tomb was empty ---it was not a male!

Saturday, March 30, 2013

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." . . . 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 (John 20:1-2, 11-18, NRSV).

MARY MAGDALENE

What do we know about Mary,
        whom Luke says was called Magdalene?
Mary was one of the women
        whom Jesus had healed and made clean.
We’re also told it was Mary
        “from whom seven demons went out.”
Other than that she’s a woman
        whose life we know little about.
“Magdalene” surely refers to
        the town Magdala from which she
came.  It was located on the
        northwest shore of Lake Galilee.
Some commentators call Mary
        a woman of sinful repute.
But their case for that conclusion
        is easy enough to refute.

Read more »

He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that  tells the truth  (John 19:35, NRSV).

“I SAW THESE THINGS”

John makes a parenthetical remark
        to show that he’s not writing in the dark.
It is a most impressive point to me
        that he was there that day on Calvary
and saw with his own eyes all that took place.
        It’s as a witness that he makes his case:
“I saw these things and I can say to you
        that everything I’ve testified is true!”

Friday, March 29, 2013

They compelled a passer-by, who was coming in from the country, to carry his cross. . .

(Mark 15:21) 

A HELPING HAND

O Christ, had I one wish I fain would be                                      
        the one who bore your cross to Calvary,  
who walked beside you on the dusty way
        and shared the pain you bore for me that day.

If only it were my hand that you clasped,
        my shoulder which your aching fingers grasped,
then would I dare to face that painful scene,
        if it were I upon whom you could lean.

But, Jesus, you are walking even yet,
        your cross upon your back.  Need I regret,
as if all opportunity were gone?
        The road to Calvary goes on and on!

Beneath another's cross your face I see.
        My neighbor's burden is your cross for me.
Your silent sorrow bids me understand
        that you will always need a helping hand.

(from Now, That's a Miracle!)

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

A POEM FOR MAUNDY THURSDAY

GETHSEMANE

I gaze across the ages to

a garden of the past,

where shadows of Gethsemane                                                      

their spectral spell now cast,

and through the window of my soul

into the darkness stare,

until the starry sky reveals

the ghostly figures there.

As fantasy takes form and shape

the scene becomes more clear.

It is the Master's face I see,

and those of others near.

I watch him kneeling, deep in prayer,

close by three sleeping friends.

How could they all forsake the one

on whom their life depends?

His sweat appears like drops of blood---

the Passion has begun!

"Remove this bitter cup," he prays;

"but let thy will be done."

I hear one call him "Master," then

betray him with a kiss.

Did ever friend betray a friend

in such a way as this?

Another who has called him "Lord,"

and boldly said "I can!"

Will soon deny him with a curse:

"I do not know the man!"

I look with shame upon the twelve;

they fail to meet the test.

I know that I for one would not

forsake him like the rest.

 

No traitor nor betrayer I,

nor one who'd flee his call.

Could I but speak, could they but hear,

I'd castigate them all!

Within the olive shadows yet

one face remains obscure.

I strain to catch a closer look.

It must be John, for sure.

But he whom Jesus loves the most

is running fast away!

Not even John (if it be John)

is brave enough to stay.

To verify my guess I hold

my dream-made lantern high,

and phantom flame on feeling form

reveals that it is I!

(from Now, That's a Miracle!)

Monday, March 25, 2013

Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred deanery and the money given to the poor?" (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) (John 12:1-6, NRSV).

HIS TRUE COLORS

The Passover was just six days away,
when Jesus came to Bethany to stay
with Lazarus, whom he’d raised from the dead.
There Martha and her sister Mary spread
a feast in Jesus’ honor.  Martha served,
while Mary took some perfume she’d conserved,
anointed Jesus’ feet, and with her hair
then wiped them.  The aroma filled the air.
When Judas saw her do that, he was bold
in asking why the perfume was not sold
for three hundred dinarii or more,
and then the money given to the poor.
He said this caring not for their relief,
but just because he was, John writes, a thief.
He kept the common purse and used to steal
from it, and so he said this to conceal
his true motives, as people often do.
They feign some noble purpose, so that you
won’t know their real intention, if and when
they raise objections or complain.  This then
explains what Judas had in mind, when he
said what he said that day in Bethany.