For The Sake Of Others

"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."  (John 15:13 KJV)

If it is a great thing that men and women have laid down their lives that their friends might live free from tyranny; how much love do they have that have laid down their lives for strangers.  I sometimes hear that many of the wars that the U.S. has been involved in was not in anyway to protect this country and we should not have been in them.   

Jesus was once asked by a lawyer, "Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself. And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live. But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?

And Jesus answering said, A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead. And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves? And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise. 

                                                                                  (Luke 10:25-37)

This weekend we remember all those who gave their lives so that friends and strangers around the world might have the opportunity to live in relative freedom. This may not have always proved fruitful, but, the men and women who gave their lives gave them because they cared for the well-being of the lives of others.

Oh, how the world would change if we could all truly love our friends and strangers.

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