John 18:19 For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus' perspective of the work he will finish in Jerusalem isn't like mine. His view is from the mountaintop. This doesn't mean that it makes God's will any less painful or simplifies it in some way. No, Jesus is going to feel every hit of the whip, every pound of each nail. He isn't going to magically not feel anything because his perspective is from the victor's place. His perspective puts me directly on his mind. Every drop of blood shed reminds him of me and his love grows all the more. His compassion and mercy cannot be swayed; they only grow. The love of Jesus is a perspective I cannot fully know until I meet him face to face. What I can see now is that through his own words in scripture, I have been on his mind. He has wanted me with Him in Heaven through eternity since before I was here. He is a God of love. He is a God of hope. He is a God of compassion. He is a God of mercy. He is a God of justice and grace. Like Him there is none other. Jesus' perspective from the cross increases his mercy toward me. My perspective from the foot of the cross humbles my soul to complete adoration for Jesus' love for me. Oh, to gain a little perspective!
Saturday, March 28, 2020
Friday, March 27, 2020
Truly Suffer to Fully Live
James 5:11 As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
The road leading up to Jericho is difficult to pass. It is known for robbers and animals. It's not easy terrain. As Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem he is trying to help his followers understand what is going to happen once they arrive in Jerusalem. All I can think at this point is that he is on his way, the road is difficult, and yet, when he gets to Jerusalem there is more severe suffering to come. I don't know that I have ever or will ever truly and completely understand the suffering of Jesus. I am invited to endure his suffering with him, but I don't know if I can fully grasp what that is. He is on a difficult path that is only going to get more difficult and painful. I don't know if I have it in me to experience his suffering. Ah, but the beauty of being a follower of Christ is the fact that He has already done it. He offers me His strength to get through it, just as the Father did for Him on His journey. I must seek Jesus and accept all He has to offer in this time of Lenten sacrifice in order to truly suffer with Him and fully live in His glory.
The road leading up to Jericho is difficult to pass. It is known for robbers and animals. It's not easy terrain. As Jesus makes his way to Jerusalem he is trying to help his followers understand what is going to happen once they arrive in Jerusalem. All I can think at this point is that he is on his way, the road is difficult, and yet, when he gets to Jerusalem there is more severe suffering to come. I don't know that I have ever or will ever truly and completely understand the suffering of Jesus. I am invited to endure his suffering with him, but I don't know if I can fully grasp what that is. He is on a difficult path that is only going to get more difficult and painful. I don't know if I have it in me to experience his suffering. Ah, but the beauty of being a follower of Christ is the fact that He has already done it. He offers me His strength to get through it, just as the Father did for Him on His journey. I must seek Jesus and accept all He has to offer in this time of Lenten sacrifice in order to truly suffer with Him and fully live in His glory.
Thursday, March 26, 2020
A Fellow Human
Micah 1:4 The mountains melt beneath him and the valleys split apart, like wax before the fire, like water rushing down a slope.
Jesus is beginning the climb into Jerusalem from Jericho. He is headed up a very steep and dangerous path. I chose this verse from Micah because it reminds me of who God is. It reminds me that He is the Creator of all things. He is in charge of the entire universe and it all responds to Him with reverence and obedience. He is able to make the mountains melt and calm the raging seas. There is nothing that makes Him fearful. Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem. He knows the path he is on very well. He isn't surprised by what is coming; he's actually trying to tell his followers. When I'm climbing the steep path with him, what am I thinking about? Am I thinking about what comes at the end? Am I considering what it is Jesus will have to do when he gets to Jerusalem? He is. I need to consider this with him. I need to recognize that even though he is fully God, he is also fully man. Jesus isn't able to complete this journey because of his divinity. He is making this journey as a fellow human on earth, through the strength of his Father in Heaven. This is why He can now come alongside me in my time of need while I climb my steep mountain and provide me great peace and strength. He's been here.
Jesus is beginning the climb into Jerusalem from Jericho. He is headed up a very steep and dangerous path. I chose this verse from Micah because it reminds me of who God is. It reminds me that He is the Creator of all things. He is in charge of the entire universe and it all responds to Him with reverence and obedience. He is able to make the mountains melt and calm the raging seas. There is nothing that makes Him fearful. Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem. He knows the path he is on very well. He isn't surprised by what is coming; he's actually trying to tell his followers. When I'm climbing the steep path with him, what am I thinking about? Am I thinking about what comes at the end? Am I considering what it is Jesus will have to do when he gets to Jerusalem? He is. I need to consider this with him. I need to recognize that even though he is fully God, he is also fully man. Jesus isn't able to complete this journey because of his divinity. He is making this journey as a fellow human on earth, through the strength of his Father in Heaven. This is why He can now come alongside me in my time of need while I climb my steep mountain and provide me great peace and strength. He's been here.
Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Turn Toward Home
John 12:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead.
After crossing the Jordan, Jesus begins the final part of his journey to Jerusalem. He has turned toward home. I absolutely love this thought. There is so much to those words, turned toward home. Jesus is on The Jericho Road to climb his way to Jerusalem to the temple for the Passover. He is going to the place he knows so well. He is fully aware of what will happen and he is not deterred. He is ready to go home. He is visiting friends. He is sharing his peace. He is making His Kingdom visible, yet no one is really getting it. Jesus is on His way to ensure my place in Heaven with Him, and no one understands what that is going to take. It must have been a lonely place for him. He was trying to tell the disciples, but they were so hyped up on defeating Rome that they couldn't truly listen. They were distracted by the worldly kingdoms. Alas, I do not want to be distracted by a worldly kingdom. I want to live in Jesus' Kingdom through Him and not let the world keep me from His truth. Jesus turned toward home. I want to turn toward home with Him.
After crossing the Jordan, Jesus begins the final part of his journey to Jerusalem. He has turned toward home. I absolutely love this thought. There is so much to those words, turned toward home. Jesus is on The Jericho Road to climb his way to Jerusalem to the temple for the Passover. He is going to the place he knows so well. He is fully aware of what will happen and he is not deterred. He is ready to go home. He is visiting friends. He is sharing his peace. He is making His Kingdom visible, yet no one is really getting it. Jesus is on His way to ensure my place in Heaven with Him, and no one understands what that is going to take. It must have been a lonely place for him. He was trying to tell the disciples, but they were so hyped up on defeating Rome that they couldn't truly listen. They were distracted by the worldly kingdoms. Alas, I do not want to be distracted by a worldly kingdom. I want to live in Jesus' Kingdom through Him and not let the world keep me from His truth. Jesus turned toward home. I want to turn toward home with Him.
Tuesday, March 24, 2020
Glory In the Trial
Joshua 5:15 The commander of the Lord's army replied, "Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy." And Joshua did so.
Jumping back into the Old Testament, back to the moment when the Israelites had crossed the Jordan. Crossing the Jordan was not the battle. They had another battle on the other side, the city of Jericho. Once they are there, Joshua realizes he is in the midst of the Holy One. Jesus, hundreds of years later is going to experience a similar situation. He's going to cross the Jordan, but the battle for him is still ahead...in Jerusalem. Jesus is leading the way to battle, a battle that none of them was expecting. They are walking where the "greats" have walked, yet they are on a very different journey. In all of Israel's history it has been God going before them, leading them. And now that God is on the planet with them, He is leading them again. What battle am I experiencing right now? Have I asked Jesus to go ahead of me? Have I found a place where God is inviting me to experience His holiness and remove my sandals? This is what I seek. I want to look ahead to where God is moving and follow Him. I don't think the disciples really understood the battle that was coming. I think they had missed it completely, and I don't know that I blame them. However, there is no excuse for me to miss it. I have so many historical, Biblical, and personal references to see God's moving. Lord, don't let me miss the Your glory in the trial!
Jumping back into the Old Testament, back to the moment when the Israelites had crossed the Jordan. Crossing the Jordan was not the battle. They had another battle on the other side, the city of Jericho. Once they are there, Joshua realizes he is in the midst of the Holy One. Jesus, hundreds of years later is going to experience a similar situation. He's going to cross the Jordan, but the battle for him is still ahead...in Jerusalem. Jesus is leading the way to battle, a battle that none of them was expecting. They are walking where the "greats" have walked, yet they are on a very different journey. In all of Israel's history it has been God going before them, leading them. And now that God is on the planet with them, He is leading them again. What battle am I experiencing right now? Have I asked Jesus to go ahead of me? Have I found a place where God is inviting me to experience His holiness and remove my sandals? This is what I seek. I want to look ahead to where God is moving and follow Him. I don't think the disciples really understood the battle that was coming. I think they had missed it completely, and I don't know that I blame them. However, there is no excuse for me to miss it. I have so many historical, Biblical, and personal references to see God's moving. Lord, don't let me miss the Your glory in the trial!
Monday, March 23, 2020
Twelve Stone Marker
Joshua 4:9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.
This is very likely the same spot where Jesus crossed over the Jordan into Jericho just before he heads into Jerusalem. Many amazing things from Israel's history are in this very spot. It's as if this spot is the marker of a "new day" and Jesus is crossing with the same intention. The twelve stone marker was something the Jewish people knew well. It was a way for God's work to be remembered and told. I've been thinking about my own "twelve stone marker" today. What markers do I have in my life that are a remembrancer of the amazing things God has done? They are things like a particular Bible, a rose, a photo, a ring, and so on. I find these to be important reminders of the work God has done in, around, and through me. With that, I'm thinking about where Jesus wants to walk with me on this journey to Jerusalem. What is He inviting me to remember during this Lent? I want to be aware of His movements.
This is very likely the same spot where Jesus crossed over the Jordan into Jericho just before he heads into Jerusalem. Many amazing things from Israel's history are in this very spot. It's as if this spot is the marker of a "new day" and Jesus is crossing with the same intention. The twelve stone marker was something the Jewish people knew well. It was a way for God's work to be remembered and told. I've been thinking about my own "twelve stone marker" today. What markers do I have in my life that are a remembrancer of the amazing things God has done? They are things like a particular Bible, a rose, a photo, a ring, and so on. I find these to be important reminders of the work God has done in, around, and through me. With that, I'm thinking about where Jesus wants to walk with me on this journey to Jerusalem. What is He inviting me to remember during this Lent? I want to be aware of His movements.
Sunday, March 22, 2020
Make Heaven a Reality
Jesus, our world is in great need, as we have always been. But Lord, in this time, we are struggling to find the answers to difficult questions that connect all of us in an undeniable way. Our world seems to be upside down, and yet, that's exactly how your Kingdom is. Lord, give us eyes to see the hope in the darkness. Shed light on the path, that we may understand. Help us to know You are present. Let us see the beauty in the design of the world, the way it works together, cells, people, and universe. Father, I know you are in control. I know you have a greater plan than any of us can fathom. You are working. You are seeking to get closer to each and every one of us. May I make time to let you in. May I give my energy to the things that put me in Your presence. Meet me here. Show me Your Kingdom. You have already brought Heaven to earth in Christ; Holy Spirit, make Heaven a reality for us here. Amen.
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