John 11:1-45 KJV; 5th Sunday in Lent; Jesus wept not for Lazarus; but, for the people who grieved and did not understand fully who Jesus was and what he could do.

 

Jesus Is The Promised One

3rd Sunday of Advent; Matthew 11:2-15 KJV; Jesus is the one promised to come and make us whole.

The First Shall Be Last

Luke 16:19-31 KJV; 16th Sunday after Pentecost; priorities matter - seek the Lord or seek the things of this world. 

He Is Risen; Do You Listen To Him?

Luke 16:19-31; He is risen! Do you heed his voice?

A Time To Laugh And A Time To Weep

"Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." (Rom 12:15 KJV)

I have noticed that there seems to be a really strange idea in the world today. That is that the goal of life is that everyone must be happy, happy, happy all of the time. No. We do not have to be happy, happy, happy all of the time. Sometimes, even often, people suffer from great tragedies and there is much sadness. To think that we should go to them and make them happy is a very sad thing in itself. Nor, should we avoid them because we're uncomfortable with too much grief and we really like to be happy instead of sad. When people weep, we weep with them. We walk with them as far as is possible. 

The shortest verse in the Bible is two words. they are "Jesus wept." (John 11:35) When Jesus was greeted by Mary after her brother Lazarus, died he wept. He wept with her and probably for her loss. He knew that he would be raising Lazarus from the dead in a short while which would bring joy to all of his loved ones. But, in that moment of Mary's sadness, Jesus wept with her.

We walk beside our brothers and sisters. We "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep." (Rom 12:15 KJV)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Celebrate Life In Christ

Then Jesus six days before the passover came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, which had been dead, whom he raised from the dead.

There they made him a supper; and Martha served: but Lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him.

Then took Mary a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped his feet with her hair: and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment.

Then saith one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, Simon's son, which should betray him,

Why was not this ointment sold for three hundred pence, and given to the poor?

This he said, not that he cared for the poor; but because he was a thief, and had the bag, and bare what was put therein.

Then said Jesus, Let her alone: against the day of my burying hath she kept this.

For the poor always ye have with you; but me ye have not always.

John 12:1-8 KJV

You are celebrating with friends. You are having a very pleasant time and suddenly someone begins to complain about something. Maybe, it's because you are having too much fun. Maybe, they are a bit jealous because they are not having fun. Who knows? There seems to always be someone who wants to insert a bit of drama into the party so that it is not so enjoyable for others. 

Judas was the party pooper at the party that was held in Jesus' honor. Can you imagine! Jesus has just raised Lazarus from the dead and Judas finds something to grumble about. Lazarus' sister, Mary, celebrated with a gift of expensive perfume poured on Jesus' feet and then let her hair down and wiped Jesus' feet with her hair. Judas was not happy. What a waste, he thought, and he let his opinion be known. Jesus has just brought a man back from the grave and rather than trust Jesus to be able to care for others, he tries to ruin the party by denigrating this gift from this woman who is rejoicing because her brother lives. Jesus excuses Mary by telling Judas to “Leave her alone, it was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” (vss. 7, 8)

On Sunday morning, many of you will be celebrating by worshiping God. You will be gathered together to celebrate the fact that even as Jesus raised Lazarus from the grave; he, too, is risen from the grave and lives. Yet, there will be grumblers. There will be those within the congregation who will complain about something. Something will not be to their liking. So, instead of celebrating the risen Christ there will be those who insist on focusing on what they consider proper worship or who should or should not even be there worshiping with them. There will be those who take that time to celebrate to focus on budgets and who does or doesn't do something instead of using that time to remember and celebrate that Jesus lives and he lives among us.

Celebrate life. Celebrate your life in the living Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J