Jesus Wept

Gospel according to St. John, Chapter 11; KIV 5th Sunday in Lent; Jesus wept because he was saddened by the grief of Lazarus' family and friends.

Mary And Martha

Reading from the Gospel of St. Luke 10:38-42 KJV Mary and Martha; practicing the presence of God with unceasing prayer no matter what you are doing.

In His Time

Now a certain man was sick, named Lazarus, of Bethany, the town of Mary and her sister Martha.

Therefore his sisters sent unto him, saying, Lord, behold, he whom thou lovest is sick.

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.

Now Jesus loved Martha, and her sister, and Lazarus.

When he had heard therefore that he was sick, he abode two days still in the same place where he was.

Then after that saith he to his disciples, Let us go into Judaea again.

                                                                                       (John 11:1,3-7 KJV)

Jesus did not run to keep his friend Lazarus from dying. He took his time so that God might be glorified. He takes his time so that the power of God will be revealed. 

One of the most interesting parts of the story for me is found in the two words of verse 35: "Jesus wept." Jesus surely did not weep for Lazarus as he knew Lazarus would be rising from the dead when he called to him in the grave. Jesus was weeping for those who grieved; whose hearts were breaking over the loss of their loved one. They were the ones suffering. They were the ones living in the shadow of the valley of death (Psalm 23:4 KJV). Jesus cares for them. 

He loves them and He loves you. He does not wish to see in you in sorrow or pain. This does not mean that you will not suffer in this world. But, when you do, trust him for in God's time, he will raise you up, again, for the glory of God our Father. 

Just as knew all about what was going on with Lazarus, he knows exactly what is going on in your lives and he has a good plan for your future. Listen to him. When he calls you out of darkness, listen to him! Follow him and live life!

God's Peace - Pr. J.

We All Must Die

And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment:  So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. (Heb 9:27-28 KJV)

We all must die. These old tents that we live in deteriorate and will finally give out. But, thanks be to God who sent His Son to be a sin offering for us, all who believe in him will not perish but will live eternally in His presence.

The question that often enters my mind is why would anyone think that it will be awesome to live eternally in His presence after their bodies wear out and die, if they have no desire to live in His presence today. Eternity means for all time and all time includes today. 

Our fate is decided by the grace of God of through faith in the one who lived and died and lives again for us. 

When Martha was grieving the death of her brother Lazarus, "Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? She saith unto him, Yea, Lord: I believe that thou art the Christ, the Son of God, which should come into the world." (John 11:25-27)

Yes, our bodies will wear out. We will all die. Yet, the one who lives by faith in Jesus, will be judged sinless by the power of the blood of Jesus on the day when he returns for us and we shall live for all eternity in the presence of Almighty God.  Thanks be to God!

God's Peace - Pr. J

The One Who Believes Will Never Die

Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one coming into the world.”                                                                                                    (John 11:25-27 NRSV)

It is with a heavy heart that we say good-by to a dear sweet lady. Bea Wolf said good-bye to this world yesterday morning. But; there is also peace and joy within the hearts of many who love her because we know that she knew her Savior lived. With Martha, she could say, "Yes, Lord, you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who came into this world." Her faith professed that even though we die; all who believe that Jesus lived and died and lives again for them will never die. She trusted in the promise of eternal life even as we trust in the promise of eternal life in the most precious Kingdom of God for all who believe. 

Thanks be to God for promises fulfilled through His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

God's Peace - Pr. J

From Dust Or Ashes?

This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the Lord God made the earth and the heavens. Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the Lord God had not sent rain on the earth and there was no one to work the ground, but streams came up from the earth and watered the whole surface of the ground. Then the Lord God formed a man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.

Now the Lord God had planted a garden in the east, in Eden; and there he put the man he had formed. (Genesis 2:4-8 NIV)

From the dust you were created once. From the dust God can raise you from the dead. Whenever a death occurs I usually get to hear questions about cremation. There is a fear that if we are cremated that we cannot be risen from the dead. My response (with a smile) is usually something like: "What did God do after He pulled back the waters from the land? Did he not form us from the dust of the ground? If he could create us from dirt once; He can surely do it again whether it is from ashes or from the dust of the earth. No matter what; if it is His will we will rise from the dead. And... what about the faith-filled who have died in fires or other catastrophes where their earthly bodies no longer exist in human form? Do you suppose that He would not give them the eternal life that He has promised to all who believe?"

Do not fear; but, believe. All who believe, though they die will live. Jesus told Martha when she was grieving the death of her brother, Lazarus: "... 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?" (John 11:25)

Do not fear; but, believe. "For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16) That is the promise to you." 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Jesus Wept

Jesus Wept

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.”
   When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. “Where have you laid him?” he asked.
   “Come and see, Lord,” they replied.
   Jesus wept. 
                                      (John 11:32-35 NIV)
                                                                                                              
The shortest verse in the Bible is but two words: "Jesus wept." Upon seeing Mary's grief over her brother's death, Jesus wept. Surely he was not weeping for Lazarus as he knew full well he would be raising him from the grave very shortly. He wept to see such sorrow in Mary and Martha. His relationship with the sisters and their brother Lazarus had been a very close relationship. He loved them and he wept for and with the sisters. His heart went out to these two women who loved their brother so.

There is very little that warms this old pastor's heart more than hearing a member of my congregation or a friend talking about Jesus with tears in their eyes. To hear and feel their love for our Lord brings tears to my own eyes. It fills my heart to overflowing to know that those whom I shepherd love him that much.

Jesus loved Mary and Martha so much that he felt their pain. He had compassion for them. He loved us so much that he was willing to take upon himself the pain of our sins. He had compassion for us and was willing to take upon himself the penalty of our sins that we might also be raised from the dead.

May God help us to have a love for one another that we too might know the pain and suffering of the people around us.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mary and Martha

Both Marys and Marthas

     As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”
     “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  (Luke 10:38-42 NIV)

Prior to worship on Wednesday afternoon, I watched the women in the kitchen preparing the meal that the congregation would share after the service. We have some very dedicated Martha's. They love to serve others. But, these women are also faithful Mary's. They do not neglect to worship. They are with us faithfully to hear the Word of the Lord on Sunday mornings and now during Lent on Wednesday evenings, as well.

We have many Martha's and Mary's at Christ Lutheran and not all of them are female. It is a good thing to serve together. It is a great thing to be able to worship the Lord together. Join us! Everyone is welcome!

Thanks be to God for all of our brothers and sisters in Christ!

God's Peace - Pr. J