Advent Devotions
All are invited as we Make Room this Advent season.
Jesus loves you
Today’s author is Prince of Peace member, Jim Armstrong.
Jesus is a lover of people. Jesus loves you, Jesus loves me. Because of that he seeks to enter into all our life and all of our life experiences. He is concerned about our life and about our death, too.
Jesus loved his disciples and called them from all walks of life to show that no one is ever outside the realm of his love and concern. In our text in John, we meet a man by the name of Lazarus. He and his sisters, Mary and Martha, are loved by Jesus, too. They were good friends and spent a lot of time together. In our text, the news comes to Jesus that Lazarus is sick. He is in another part of the country and it would take a day or two to rush to his side to heal him. But a greater miracle could be demonstrated if he would wait a little bit longer to visit him because Jesus knew that Lazarus had already died.
After a couple of days, Jesus says it’s time to go. Lazarus has fallen asleep and we are going to wake him up.
As Jesus and his disciples come close to the home site of Lazarus, Martha makes out to meet him. “Oh Jesus, if you had been here a little sooner, Lazarus would not have died. He has been in the tomb for four days now.” “It’s OK,” says Jesus, “your brother will rise again.” “I know that,” says Martha, “I believe in the resurrection.” Jesus says to her, “I am the resurrection and the life, the one who believes in me will live, even though they die, and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the son of God, and God will give you whatever you ask.” Then Martha goes to find Mary. “Come, the teacher is asking for you.” Mary comes to Jesus and the script is the same. “If you had been here, my brother would not have died. I know that you are the resurrection and the life, but that is in the future. We are living in the present and Lazarus is dead.” “Where have you buried him?” “It’s too late. It’s been four days now.” Many Jews, believe that the soul of a person remains near the dead body for three days in the hope of returning to the body, but now all hope was gone. Lazarus was irrevocably dead and decay was already in process.
When Jesus sees the people at the tomb, weeping, he is deeply moved in spirit and troubled, and so Jesus weeps. Jesus is a lover of people. Jesus loves Lazarus. He knows the reality of death and it’s not easy. Death is dreadful. Death is beyond our control. It is an ending. Jesus weeps because Lazarus is loved, and he grieves.
Coming to the tomb, Jesus calls out, “Lazarus come out! I want the people here to see God at work.”
Lazarus walks out, wrapped in burial cloths. Once he is freed from the grave clothes, they see that indeed he is alive. They could not believe what they were seeing. Indeed life was brought out of death, and they are amazed. How did he do this? We know that only God can bring life out of death. Who is this Jesus?
And so once again, the people see another sign of God at work. “Can this really be the Messiah of God?” they ask. “I am the resurrection and the life whoever believes in me will live.”
Jesus loves people. He loves you, he loves me. He is concerned about our life and about our death, too. He wants to be part of both. The raising of Lazarus from the dead is just another sign of the fact that neither life or death is beyond the touch and control of Jesus. It was true when he walked the foot paths of Israel and also true when he journeys with us on the footpaths of Roseville. He is still Lord and is still God. That’s what he wants us to know and to believe. His life in our life and his life in our death Jesus loves people. Jesus loves you. Jesus loves me. How could it possibly get any better than that? Amen
Prayer: Thank you Lord Jesus that all of our life is part of your involvement in who we are. We belong to you and we are thankful for that. Make our life rich and our death blessed. Amen.
Previously…
Faithful Disruptors
Yesterday, as we explored how we’re “Created to Be Disruptive,” we were reminded of the profound impact that faithful disruption can have on society. One powerful historical example is the Civil Rights Movement in the United States, particularly the work of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and other faith leaders. Rooted in their Christian faith, they challenged the oppressive systems of racial segregation and injustice.
Turning Over Tables
This weekend, our series continues with the theme “Created to Be Disruptive.” On Sunday we’ll reflect on the powerful moment when Jesus entered the temple and disrupted the status quo. In Matthew 21:12-17, Jesus overturns the tables of the money changers and drives out those who were exploiting the sacred space for profit. His actions were a bold statement against the injustices and corrupt practices that had taken root in the very heart of religious life.
Created to be Free
I decided to connect the topic Free to a couple of scriptures. Starting with the scripture Romans 12:2 (Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing, and perfect will.) which shows that not following the pattern of the world means breaking away from social norms and ideals to shape who you want to be, not what the world wants you to be.
Freedom For (not just From)
I promise you, it’s a coincidence that just after our country celebrated it independence, our church happened to take on the theme “Created to Be Free.” Who would have thought that the concept of “freedom” would come to carry the amount of cultural and political baggage as it does today? But, as God’s faithful, it would truly be a shame if we confused, let alone ceded, the very definition of living free in God’s world.