In a world of our deepest pain, Jesus meets us.  He meets us in the manger of poverty and rejection; in the storms of fear and despair.  He meets us in the garden of pain and suffering; outside the tomb of loneliness, and in the emptiness of grief.  He meets us in these places, but does not leave us there! 

He draws us out to a place of hope.

Early in the morning, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus had placed Jesus.  Alarmed that Jesus’ body was gone, she ran to tell the disciples.  Both Peter and John investigated the scene, but they left.

Mary remained.

Scripture does not tell us why she stayed.  Angels inquire why she is weeping. “They have taken my Lord away…and I don’t know where they have put him” (John 20:13).  The angels are silent.

She turns—seeing Jesus standing behind her, but she doesn’t recognize him.

’Woman,’” he said, ‘why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?’ Thinking he was the gardener, she said, ‘Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.’ Jesus said to her, ‘Mary.’ She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!”   (John 20:15-16).

Why Jesus would have reserved His first resurrection appearance for women, specifically Mary Magdalene, Scripture doesn’t tell us.  Perhaps her love was deeper, her need greater, or her faith in Him shone as allegiance evident beyond the grave.

I love how Jesus moves from the kind but impersonal address of “Woman” to a simple calling of her name.  “Mary,” He says, making Himself known in this personal way.  She knows Him instantly!

As a woman, I cherish this account. Who am I looking for? 

Jesus who stands universally with women and men in our deepest sadness and greatest need, even when we do not recognize Him. On a personal level, Jesus meets me, His Word illuminating my gloomiest moments of rejection and pain;  His voice reassuring me of His love; and His treating me with kindness, not as a second-class citizen of the Kingdom as women are sometimes made to feel.

When we encounter Jesus, He tenderly reassures that He knows us—by name.

For further study:

• What have you done with the claims of Christ?
• Do you investigate, believe, and walk away or do you remain by faith even when you don’t fully understand?
• Will you leave everything behind to be devoted to Him?
• When He calls your name, will you know His voice immediately?

For additional study:  Matthew 4:18-20, 28:1-10; Mark 8:34-38; John 10:11-21

1 Corinthians 11:23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you;  do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes. 27 Therefore, whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the body and blood of the Lord. (NIV)

Do this in remembrance of me.”

On the very night He would be betrayed by those He came to save, the Lord Jesus gave us a way of remembering Him. 

 This way remembers His death.

Most of us cherish memories of the life of our loved ones—happy times we had together, favorite places we would go, vacations we took, laughter we shared, or hobbies we enjoyed with them.

What does Jesus want? 

He wants us to cherish His death—indeed, to proclaim it.

Isn’t it strangely beautiful?  Rather than asking us to remember happy things we could only know second-hand from reading Scripture, the Lamb of God—Jesus Christ—shows us that His sacrificial death is for us, in whatever age we live.

In a sense, we transcend time because we were there in the betrayal as far back as Eden. 

We were there in spirit the night Jesus was betrayed. 

We were alongside those shouting, “Crucify Him!,” not knowing what we were doing.   

We share in the inheritance of sinners.

But followers of Christ also share in salvation’s beautiful hope by the blood of the Lamb: His death for us.

So, Jesus calls us to communion with Him as we share the bread and cup and remember His death.

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, ‘Take and eat; this is my body.’” (Matthew 26:26)

In the Garden of Eden, we took and ate…and received separation from God.  In the Passover, Jesus says, “Take and eat” and by the New Covenant in His blood, He restores us to fellowship with our Father.  Come to Jesus’ table and come to the Cross where love and judgment meet.

Unlike some pilgrimage to a distant holy site, this coming home to our Father is inward. We transcend our generation through a timeless fellowship meal during which we proclaim Jesus’ death.

It’s a spiritual pilgrimage to the heart where His death whispers salvation to all who hear and believe.  This is My body, broken for you.  This is My blood, shed for you.  A simple act.  A simple meal.  Yet what an amazing remembrance!

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Questions:

• Imagine having to pack up for a trip to a designated location once a year to worship God.  How is the Passover meal more accessible to everyone in the world?
• Are there ways in which the concept of eating the body and drinking the blood of Christ seems repulsive?  Why do we feel that way?
• The Passover Meal we celebrate as Communion is sometimes called The Eucharist (coming from the Greek word meaning “give thanks” and closely related to the word meaning “grace”).  Ponder the many ways in which the terms Eucharist and Communion are appropriate.

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For further study:  Genesis 3, John 6

Many of us long for significance, to have a legacy that lives on long after we die.  Consider the story of a man barely thirty years old who began a three year ministry during which He would radically impact the course of every life for all time.  Jesus Changes Everything.

Jesus went to a synagogue in Nazareth as He usually did, was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah and began reading,

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”  All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. (Luke 4:18-22)

Jesus proclaimed He is the Messiah, the fulfillment of prophecy, that God’s Spirit is upon Him as He embarks upon God’s mission of setting all things right!  (Receiving your political party’s nomination for a presidential run elicits cheers, balloons dropping, confetti, and large font headlines, yet it pales against Jesus’ bold statement.)

I am the Messiah, Jesus announces!  One would expect instant celebrity status.  Instead, the pronouncement is met with a mighty thud because—already—they did not believe him.

Yeah, Jesus speaks gracious words, but…wait a minute, isn’t this the son of Joseph the carpenter? 

Thud! 

Reverberating through the centuries, what we believe about Jesus—the God-Man who changes everything—has eternal consequences.

Who is Jesus?  Son of God and Messiah, or just another carpenter’s son? 

Jesus fulfilled all prophecy regarding the coming Messiah and rose from the dead to prove He is the Savior, yet He is met—even today—with a spectrum from faith to rejection.  When the trumpet sounds and He returns as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, eternity will forever attest that what we believe about Jesus Changes Everything!

 ***

Who do you say Jesus is? How does this change your definition of success or significance?

Read also: Matthew 16:13-17, Matthew 24:30-31, Mark 14:61-62

HE IS RISEN!  HE IS RISEN INDEED!

As we celebrate Easter Sunday and prepare to descend the steps of the temple to resume our life of daily discipleship, let’s review the Songs of Ascents and what they mean for our journey beyond Easter Sunday:

15.   It’s All about Praise!

14.   The Gift of Unity

13.   Desired Dwelling Place

12.   Shalom, Simple Shalom

11.   Full Redemption

10.   Justice Gets Done!

9.     The Blessed Fear

* * *  

8.     Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow

* * *

7.     Harvest of Joy 

6.     Blessings of Security

5.     Remembering God’s Ways

4.     Have Mercy!

3.     The Habitation of Peace—(Seek God’s Presence and Know His Peace)

2.     Gaze Beyond the Hills

1.     Listen: Expect Opposition

_______________

Our discipleship journey remains a spiritual one

and the lessons we gained while going Up to Jerusalem we will be ones we carry with us daily.  

Until Jesus returns or calls us to the place He has prepared for us,

we will be journeying home with songs in our hearts.  

Christ the Lord is risen today, Alleluia!

Happy Easter!

Psalm 134:1 A song of ascents. Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD who minister by night in the house of the LORD. 2 Lift up your hands in the sanctuary and praise the LORD. 3 May the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion.

Holy Saturday sometimes seems like kind of a lost day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  But even though today’s devotional concludes the Lenten Devotional Series entitled Up to Jerusalem, the message of the final Song of Ascents (Psalm 134) isn’t lost on us: It’s All about Praise! 

Psalm 134 is the shortest Song of Ascents and in the entire Psalter, only Psalm 117 is shorter; but this final Song of Ascents is also one of the most powerful ones.  Plus, it’s a fitting introduction to the remainder of the Psalms which are All about Praise to the God who answers prayers, hears our cry, supplies all our needs, protects us, and knows us.

Holy Saturday.  We don’t quite know what to do about it, but our psalmist gives us an answer on the top step on our spiritual pilgrimage Up to Jerusalem—it’s All about Praise!  We have a realization that the spiritual pilgrimage continues. 

For the pilgrims of Jesus’ day, worship at the temple was the high point of the year.  They returned home confident that those ministering before the Lord would carry on with worship for them.  But for our generation, it means there is more to discipleship than an Easter celebration—discipleship lives on and worship continues.  Beyond Good Friday, through Holy Saturday and beginning anew at Easter Sunday, we can continually walk in victory.  It’s the walk of discipleship.

While Jesus was in the tomb, dead to this world, heaven was already rejoicing!  It was All about Praise!  You see, the work had already been done.  Jesus said, “It is finished” (John 19:30) and “with that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.”  Jesus cried out in a loud voice, gave up His spirit and then Matthew tells us of a most amazing situation:

At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.  The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.  They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people (Matthew 27:51-53).

Look carefully: the victory happened at the moment of Jesus’ giving up His spirit.  We make a mistake if we think Jesus ceased to exist during the time His body was in the tomb, that Holy Saturday was some kind of lost day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.

The victory was done.  It was all over but the shouting “He is Risen!”

What was going on in heaven on Holy Saturday?  It was no lost day, that’s for sure.  The celebration had already begun.  Those who ministered all the time in the house of the Lord–in His heavenly dwelling–they were already praising God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit for the total victory that Jesus accomplished.  It was All about Praise!

As spiritual pilgrims, we begin our journey Up to Jerusalem with discipleship, but we end our steps with praise. 

So, what should we do about Holy Saturday?  We can praise God by walking in Jesus’ victory.  We can give Him honor and glory and thanks for enduring the Cross.  We can celebrate the Risen Lord and the eternal life He gives all year long.  Even before His bodily resurrection, the victory was won!  If you stop to think about it, Jesus’ resurrection was simply the proof WE needed.  Heaven was already celebrating.  Therefore, we can press on with our daily discipleship knowing It’s All about Praise!

***

While this concludes our Up to Jerusalem Lenten series, tomorrow there will be ongoing worship with the weekly Chapel Worship Guide and a recap of all fifteen Songs of Ascents.  Beyond Easter, I write periodic articles and devotionals as well as providing inspiration about gardening which you may enjoy as well.  I hope you will stay tuned as we continue our pilgrimage of praise.

Today is Maundy Thursday. For those in Chicagoland, I invite you to join me at my home church, Christ Church Highland Park, for a special Maundy Thursday service entitled Christ, Our Passover. I will be presenting an Old Testament view of the Passover during the course of this communion service.

***

Psalm 133:1 A song of ascents. Of David. How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity! 2 It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down upon the collar of his robes. 3 It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion. For there the LORD bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

God’s Desired Dwelling Place is among His people.  It’s a place of unity and life forevermore.   This fourteenth Song of Ascents brings us nearly to the top of our pilgrimage of praise, Up to Jerusalem!   Looking out over the horizon, the psalmist reflects upon what it means to be God’s people and writes three lines of poetic beauty. 

Our psalmist writes that it is good and pleasant–just like precious oil–when brothers live in unity.  It’s delightful, an eternal blessing and an expression of what true life is all about.  Unity is hard to come by in this world and these days, the “brotherhood of man” seems dysfunctional at best.

Why is that?  True life can only happen because God has given us The Gift of Unity.  Do you ever think of unity as a gift?

Jesus did.  He prayed for this gift for us.  In John 17:20-24, we read Jesus’ prayer.  “My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”

Our psalmist poetically describes The Gift of Unity as God’s heavenly blessing, even life forevermore.  Think about how, like Aaron’s anointing, this unity is holy and divinely inspired:  God models unity within Himself.  He is One God; yet Triune as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit!

Therefore, Jesus spoke of The Gift of Unity as evidence that Jesus was sent from the Father; proof that the Father loves us; and is the greatest witness to the world that Jesus Christ came to give His life as a ransom for many.   The Gift of Unity means that we can experience the relational joy of God’s internal oneness.  By being one people–a community bound together by faith and in the love of Christ, we can enjoy true life forevermore as God’s gracious gift.

For further thought: 

1. What seeks to divide you from your brothers and sisters?
2. Are there any things that churches do, resulting in division between brothers and sisters?
3. How can we overcome such divisions and acheive the kind of unity that Jesus desires?

Luke 19:41 As he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42 and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace– but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God’s coming to you.”

It’s easy to see how if Jerusalem was God’s Desired Dwelling Place among His people, it would break the heart of God to know that His own people didn’t want Him or recognize the time of His coming to them.  Our peace with God came at the high price of the crucifixion of Jesus, the Son of God. 

How did a crowd shouting “Hosanna” quickly turn to shouting “Crucify him”?  They wanted a political solution to a spiritual problem. 

They sacrificed what would bring true peace because God’s way didn’t measure up politically.  They expected a political revolt and a political conquering king, but they would reap what they had sown.  Even in the passage above, Jesus outlines what mere political revolt and overthrow accomplish.  The crowd wanted a political solution to a spiritual problem…and Jesus wept because He knew that this approach–on its own–would not achieve what they really wanted.  They needed a real Messiah.

In our lives, how often do we look for political solutions to spiritual problems? 

I used to be a political junkie.  I followed all the talk radio programs, watched all the loud arguing talking heads on panel discussion shows, and lived for the news of the day.  I called my congressman regularly, wrote letters to the editor, and voiced my views.  Then Jesus grabbed hold of me and things changed.

Oh, don’t get me wrong, I still have clear views of things, I watch news and opinion programs, voice my views, and vote.  But I’m looking to Jesus to solve the spiritual problem at the root of every political problem. 

Look at this list of today’s major political hand grenades:

• Abortion
• Energy Policy
• Foreign Policy
• Greed
• Hate
• Jobs
• Judicial Policy
• Military Policy
• Race Relations
• Tax Policy
• Welfare Policy

One passage of Scripture radically changed my thinking on this topic of a political solution to a spiritual problem: Matthew 22:16-22.  The answer Jesus gave (v 21) was: “Give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.”

Political solutions belong to political problems.  Spiritual problems need a more reliable Messiah.  If we let Jesus Christ—and the peace He alone brings—be the lens through which we view the major political ideas of our day, we will stop looking for lesser messiahs in the form of our elected officials.  We will move beyond political solutions and recognize the time is now!  God has made peace for us through Jesus Christ’s coming to us.  He will make us His Desired Dwelling Place as we see Jesus as the only solution to the spiritual problem at the root of every political problem.

For further thought:

1. How tempting is it to look for political solutions?
2. Why do we like political solutions?
3. What is the Christian’s obligation regarding faith and politics?

In our thirteenth Song of Ascents (the pilgrim songs that travelers would sing on their way Up to Jerusalem), we encounter Psalm 132—the longest of these songs.   The title of this discipleship lesson might be Desired Dwelling Place because it highlights God’s desire to dwell among His people. 

This song begins:  Psalm 132:1 A song of ascents. O LORD, remember David and all the hardships he endured.  2 He swore an oath to the LORD and made a vow to the Mighty One of Jacob: 3 “I will not enter my house or go to my bed– 4 I will allow no sleep to my eyes, no slumber to my eyelids, 5 till I find a place for the LORD, a dwelling for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

David’s desire was to find a dwelling place for God, but God’s desired dwelling place was wherever His people came to worship Him.  If we remember back in 1 Chronicles 13-16, King David brought the Ark of the Covenant to Jerusalem.  He had found it in Jaar (i.e. Keriath Jearim –1 Samuel 5 tells us the Philistines abandoned it, as it brought nothing but judgment against those who hated God). 

Ps 132: 6 We heard it in Ephrathah, we came upon it in the fields of Jaar: 7 “Let us go to his dwelling place;  let us worship at his footstool— 8 arise, O LORD, and come to your resting place, you and the ark of your might. 9 May your priests be clothed with righteousness; may your saints sing for joy.”

But even after the Ark was in Jerusalem, Scripture says, “After David was settled in his palace, he said to Nathan the prophet, “Here I am, living in a palace of cedar, while the ark of the covenant of the LORD is under a tent” (1 Chronicles 17:1).

David’s cedar palace seemed to be a more fitting dwelling place than under a tent.  God’s Desired Dwelling Place was among His chosen people.  This is what the “Tent of Meeting” represented. 

God desires to meet with His people–the ones who love and fear Him–wherever they are.

Here is the beauty of God’s condescension and His great humility.  He allowed the Temple to be built not because He needed one, but because He loves us.  It would not be built by David, a man of war, but by Solomon, whose name means peace (see the Hebrew consonant similarities with shalom, SLM).  Seek God’s Presence and Know His Peace.  This is His Desired Dwelling Place.

Ps 132:10 For the sake of David your servant, do not reject your anointed one. 11 The LORD swore an oath to David, a sure oath that he will not revoke:  “One of your own descendants I will place on your throne—12 if your sons keep my covenant and the statutes I teach them, then their sons will sit on your throne for ever and ever.”13 For the LORD has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: 14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it—15 I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor will I satisfy with food. 16 I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her saints will ever sing for joy. 17 “Here I will make a horn grow for David and set up a lamp for my anointed one.  18 I will clothe his enemies with shame, but the crown on his head will be resplendent.”

God’s resting place–where He is enthroned– is the eternal temple.  It was made possible by Jesus Christ—His Anointed One.  Where is God’s eternal Desired Dwelling Place?  

“And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying,

‘Now the dwelling of God is with men, and he will live with them.

They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.’”

(Revelation 21:3)

Luke 19:28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem. 29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ tell him, ‘The Lord needs it.'” 32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.” 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: 38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”  (NIV)

Shalom, Simple Shalom—this was the discipleship lesson of our twelfth Song of Ascents. 

Jesus modeled it.

I can’t even begin to imagine the dread I would have felt knowing what was ahead if I had been in Jesus’ sandals.  I dread bad things and I even dread good things.  I dread parties where I don’t know many people.  I dread going to unfamiliar places.  I dread overseas travel.  When I worked at Home Depot, I used to dread the first Saturday of each month because that’s when we’d have the children’s workshops.  OK, maybe there was some legitimate reason to dread being taken away from the work needing to be done and being placed in charge of supervising many small children with hammers.  (I think I had nightmares about that one.)

I may be a great big dread head, dreading both the good and also the bad.  I’m not sure why I routinely do this, but one thing is for sure: it displays a significant lack of trust in what God is doing.

Here, in Luke, Jesus shows us how Simple Shalom is done.  The plan is to go to Jerusalem and have all the sins of mankind piled on you.  You’ll carry them all to a cross where you’ll die a painful death as a demonstration of God’s great love for mankind. 

My reaction would have been … “Really??”    Or maybe,  “Ugh!!”      Or perhaps, “I want to run away.”

Jesus embraced it because He knew Shalom, Simple Shalom. 

His life was in God’s hands and He trusted God, plain and simple. 

Jesus trusted God with the provisions needed.  He let God worry about the reactions of a crowd which today shouts “Hosanna” but soon will shout “Crucify him!”  He let God deal with the Pharisees.  And if God wanted the rocks to cry out instead, He’d trust God to make it all work out.

Jesus modeled what humbly trusting in God looks like.  It looks like Shalom, Simple Shalom.  Trusting God ought to be plain and simple.  Why do I struggle with it so?

For further thought:

What hinders your trust in God, keeping it from being plain and simple?

What does dread say about who the focus is on?