Judas

I mentioned Judas in my first post concerning Jesus and the disciples in Bethany at the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha. John had recorded Judas' objection to the nard Mary used to anoint Jesus' feet; the nard should have been sold and the money given to the poor. John wrote Judas had been the treasurer of the group and had taken some funds for himself from time to time. I wonder if John had first hand knowledge, perhaps he'd seen Judas slip himself a few coins. John does not seem like the type to offer anything but his own first hand knowledge. If he knew of Judas' thievery, did he mention it to Jesus?

I wrote then that I'd get back to Judas, so here I am. He presents some problems for many as they try to figure him out, try to understand Jesus inclusion of him into that group. Was he just a pawn who had no choice about what he did? To be clear right at the outset, I don't really know about some of these deeper issues. I am only trying to look at his situation from what we do know.

While I don't consider our record of that week as a story, I will say we tend to like stories that have a villain. We tend to put Judas in this role. From the little we know, he tends to fit it well. But I've been thinking about this and thought I'd share a few thoughts.

First, because of what John writes in chapter 12, we know Judas has some deep character flaws. Money seems to be at the root of most of those flaws. Why then would Jesus have him be in charge of their funds? We can only speculate about that "Why" question.

Judas had a front row seat to all that Jesus did during those years of ministry. He not only saw Jesus heal, cast out demons and preach, but he was part of that intimate group that probably sat around fires at night and were taught deeper truths. Others from those front row seats certainly were changed by that experience. It appears Judas was not. Did he just sit back and listen with a calloused heart, or could there have been times he was pierced, but his pride kept him from a deep surrender to the truth being played out in front of him?

As we move into that last week we can speculate that he probably sought out the Pharisees and made his deal on that silent Wednesday. What did he think would happen? Matthew alone writes of Judas' confrontation with the Pharisees where he returns the 30 pieces of silver. He realizes Jesus is innocent. We are never told why he took matters in his own hand and sold Jesus out.

So, I am left wondering about this man. I can't just simply put him in the "villain" slot and leave him there. I think his character flaws, combined with pride kept, him from submitting to Jesus as the others were able to do. I want to think this was a silent war that raged in him and the only thing that quieted that war was to pocket coins for his own use. This may have been his "go to" when he felt the pressure that sin brings. Sin sometimes does that for us though, it quiets momentarily moral conflicts.

It may have been greed that moved him to make the final deal with the Pharisees, or it may have been an internal justification on his part to try to curtail Jesus' inflammatory rhetoric that was causing some to fall away and question who Jesus was. Again, we don't know.

John tells us something interesting in 13:27, "As Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him". We now have the true villain, Satan, our mortal enemy. Judas is not without culpability, his pride that may have kept him from true submission, kept the door open for Satan. And Satan waited until the last moment, the most pregnant moment, to enter and move the chess pieces into what he believed were in his favor for a final checkmate. At that moment, the act of betrayal was complete, but not yet played out to the end.

If we circle back to Matthew's account we see how diabolical Satan is. He completely abandons his pawn, leaving Judas engulfed in remorse and guilt and blackness. He feels he has no choice and hangs himself.

At this point many offer a silent cheer, he got what he deserved. I no longer see it that way. I see a tragic end to a man I believe Jesus loved. I wonder what might have happened if he could have held out against the blackness that engulfed him long enough for resurrection? What might have been his story of redemption?

Some may say I've gone a bit too far in my speculation. Perhaps, but grace offers us something other than what we deserve. Paul tells us Jesus died for us when we were still his enemies. Could not Judas be included in that group that were redeemed by Jesus' death?

I am writing to point out first who the real villain was, Satan. And I'm also hoping we can see Judas' life as a cautionary one. If he withheld submission to Jesus' love, we also need to be careful about those areas we all carry that we may not have submitted under his love. John in his first letter tells us explicitly what to do when we sin, we confess and let Jesus, through his love and forgiveness, heal those areas that need his touch.

It is not easy to decipher Judas' culpability in the role he played, but I see him as a tragic man, one who was privy to Jesus and yet could not bring himself to give over to Jesus who he was.

Just some thoughts to think about this week after resurrection.

Resurrection Sunday

Resurrection Sunday

I may be a little late in posting this, but He is risen, He is risen, indeed!

I have received many texts on my phone this day expressing this sentiment, one we use on this day as a greeting to one another. It is so good to at least have these text messages giving us a bit of connection to those that hold this day in the utmost esteem.

I think this social distancing that we are practicing is a mixed blessing. Most of our usual practices have been stripped away, especially those that involve crowds of any size.

Gone is the music of the church – choirs and orchestras – that help to stir up awe, wonder and joy as we celebrate resurrection. Perhaps you are missing this, I know I am to a certain extent. I’ve always enjoyed those rousing traditional hymns that allow us to vocally lift up loud voices to express our joy. Newer musical compositions have the same uplifting effect and lend so much joy to this day.

While I miss the usual experiences of the season, I do want to point out the blessing of a quieter, more reflective celebration. Without all the usual prompts and queues leading us to worship, we are left with the choice of intentionally and personally rejoicing. Please choose to enter into a non-traditional, more personal joy for this day.

In consideration of what I am asking you to do, please consider, what might have been the celebration of this day been like, one year after Jesus’ resurrection? I am suspecting it was small, personal, intimate and reflective. In the minds of those early followers steeped in the culture and practice surrounding Passover, I am sure there was a strong and new connection to that celebration. They had witnessed the complete full circle of God’s redemption that had started upon the exodus out of Egypt and ended a year earlier in Jesus’ death.

When I place myself there, trying to observe and reflect as it might have been, resurrection, so improbable with nothing corresponding in the Passover celebration, becomes a lightening rod memory. For those remembering with fresh, one-year old memories, resurrection still must have seemed so fresh, so unexpected, so…… I simply don’t have a word or phrase to capture what that fresh memory would stir up.

All these 2000+ years later, we’ve just lumped it all together and usually rush into the celebration of Jesus’ coming back to life. We almost take it for granted. This year is different, isn’t it?

Our loss of communal celebrations during this peculiar time allows us to approach Easter in a new way. Maybe we can have a fresh appreciation for those early believers.

On Friday, I asked you to stand at the cross. Yesterday I asked you to sit with those who felt such dark grief, not knowing what was to come.

Today, may we not try to capture our own joy in the midst of our loss of community, but to sit with the joy of those on that first year anniversary of resurrection. May we see this day through their eyes. Let yourself be encompassed by their joy, their witness of the impossible and improbable breakthrough Jesus’ resurrection truly is.

We are alive in a way not possible without resurrection.

He is risen, and so are we.

Saturday

Saturday – Day Before Resurrection

I am struggling to find context for this day in my own experiences of death. Every person in the generation preceding me on both my mother’s and father’s side of my family have been swallowed up by death. In my wife’s family there are still three remaining, her mother and an aunt and uncle from her father’s family.

While all of those deaths have hit with varying degrees of grief, two stand out as I sit here thinking and typing. My cousin Darrel, younger than I, died suddenly of a heart attack several years ago. His death preceded both his parent’s death. Nothing I know of predicted his heart attack. It was sudden and very hard for his immediate family. I was asked to preside at his funeral. While an honor, it still was hard since I’d known him his entire life.

The second death that has emerged in my attempt for context for today, was the death of my friend Cliff. He was my best friend as well as one of my wife’s best friends. It was a joy for both of us as he stood as my best man at our wedding almost 46 years ago. He died in an automobile accident a few months after the birth of his daughter in 1978. Fortunately, his wife and daughter survived the accident, but it was a breath-taking blow to hear that news. I still miss him to this day.

None of these experiences offers context to help stand alongside those grieving on this day after Jesus died. Those thoughts we’ve all experienced at the loss of a loved one, (“if only”, I can’t believe this”, “this can’t be true”, “only just yesterday he was here”) are poor echoes of the darkness and grief I believe those men and women were experiencing.

They had been changed by Jesus. They knew physically his touch, the sound of his voice, his smile, his eyes. They loved him. More importantly, they knew he loved them deeply. They had been taught richly of God’s kingdom by his words and actions. He held an authority they had never known from other rabbis. They thought they were going to follow him a long time.

This time after his death had to be nothing but crushing darkness. A darkness that held no light to pierce the confusion, the pain, the loneliness.

Yes, I am sure some remembered Jesus had predicted this would happen. It was a grace of kindness that he did that. I believe it may have softened the blow his death would be, into the realm of “barely tolerable”, but the darkness had to be suffocating.

Were they scattered and alone? Did John sit with Mary in her grief? Was Peter huddled somewhere, curled into a ball of shame? We don’t know.

I do know, I don’t have a good context for the loss they felt. As with my thoughts of yesterday, I think it important to not rush to resurrection. I think it important to sit with these men and women who grieved the loss of their Messiah. They are our forebearers of the salvation we now have.

May we sit with them for a while.

Good Friday

Friday – Good Friday 

“Spoiler Alert”, we often see these words in articles that discuss television shows or movies. They are meant to warn the reader the content includes details that tell how the movie or show is going to end, or at least, give details that one might not want to know ahead of time.

I think this issue of “Spoiler Alert” alters how we view this day of Holy Week. We know about Easter, we know how this week ends. That makes it a little difficult to enter into what this day is all about – death.

My friend Bill taught me years ago a large part of worship is remembering. We are told to remember in scripture often, so it makes good sense to employ intentional remembering in our worship services. The Lord’s Table, Eucharist in many church traditions, is a perfect example of this.

Remembering that Friday can be hard since we do know the end of the story. In fact, my own church has abandoned a corporate service on Friday for sober reflection, and now has a rousing baptism party.

As we rush to Easter prematurely, I think we do this at a great loss. We certainly can set aside one hour a year for reflection of the cost paid for our adoption into God’s family. If we don’t corporately gather for some sober remembering, I believe we cheapen Easter.

So, let’s try to set aside Easter Sunday for now. Read through one of the gospel accounts of this day and try to be present as this death of redemption unfolds.

Using your God-given gift of imagination; you are in the Garden of Gethsemane. You’ve sleepily tried to stay awake to pray with Jesus but have failed.

Suddenly you hear a loud group approaching and you are now fully awake. Your heart hammers in your chest. “What is happening?” screams in your mind.

The group sent by the Pharisees have arrived with torches and swords. To your astonishment, Jesus hands himself over to this armed group that have come to arrest him. They really are thwarted though, Jesus willingly, almost eagerly submits to them tying his hands and goes with them. You don’t know it, but that is the last time his hands will be free until they are carrying the cross and then stretched out to receive the nails of crucifixion.

In fear, you scatter. You don’t want to get caught up in these events. Later you learn that John and Peter follow along and are as close to the illegitimate court proceedings as they can get. You also learn of Peter’s denials. Jesus had predicted this, but Peter is crushed under his guilt.

You are shocked to learn the verdict, death by crucifixion. Will you go and witness the cross? Can you stand by and watch this incredible man’s life drain away? Evidently only John of the twelve could do this.

Who else was there witnessing the cross? A crowd jeering, throwing insults. A small group of women grieving uncontrollably at the sight of Jesus hanging there. Pharisees smiling and smug at the thought they’d finally managed to rid themselves of this troublesome rabbi who threatened their power and position.

There may also have been a party going on, a party in the dark heavenlies. Partying, thinking they had won. Jesus was at last dying and the plan had been disrupted. They think they've won.

We pause on this day to remember this cost, to stand in solidarity with those grieving that day. Yes, we know the ultimate outcome of these events, and we will rejoice. But let us set aside some time to remember soberly the cost. Let us add to the tradition of remembering, even if we cannot do it corporately.

Let us stand at the foot of the cross. 

Maundy Thursday

Thursday

Many of us have heard this day in Holy Week referred to as “Maundy Thursday”. I wasn’t sure what maundy meant so I looked it up. Here is what I found:

noun. the ceremony of washing the feet of the poor, especially commemorating Jesus' washing of His disciples' feet on Maundy Thursday. Also called maundy money. money distributed as alms in conjunction with the ceremony of maundy or on Maundy Thursday.

I found it interesting the first statements noted above refer to the washing of feet, commemorating Jesus’ washing the disciple’s feet. This is the area I want to focus on for this devotion.

We read in John 13:1-5, “It was just before the Passover Festival. Jesus knew that the hour had come for him to leave this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.

The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.” (NIV)

This is the opening of what is often referred to as the “Upper Room Discourse” found in detail in chapters 13-17 in John’s gospel. These chapters are very rich, very comforting and very accessible. Jesus’ final night before his death was an important evening for his disciples, and for us. Much can be learned with a careful reading of these marvelous chapters. But, as with Tuesday’s passages, there is too much to cover in this brief writing.

I would suggest an hour minimum, to slowly read these chapters, letting the rich imagery Jesus used, call you to a deeper intimacy with him. Perhaps, if you are inclined, use your imagination to place yourself there that night and try to listen to Jesus’ voice teaching the depth of what we have in him. Let something “shimmer” for you and let it soak in.

Let me move on, though.

Good teachers or public speakers know they need to start strong to capture the attention of their audience. Jesus takes an interesting turn that night.

As noted in the cite above, Jesus was well aware of the timing of this night. He was closing out his earthly ministry. He fully knew what the next day was bringing. Jesus knew his position the father had given him; all things were under his power. He knew he came from the Father and was retuning to the Father. In simple terms, he knew his position and could start this last evening with his guys in any way he wished. Anyone who wielded even a tenth of this kind of power would use it to their advantage.

What does he do? He strips off his outer clothing, essentially Jesus has stripped down to his biblical BVDs to begin this last evening with his guys.

He then takes a good-sized towel and wraps it around his waist. Perhaps at least one of those gathered is thinking, “Good thing he got that towel, he’s really stripped down here. What is going on?” But Jesus is not done yet.

He takes a basin and pitcher of water and begins to wash the feet of those gathered. He then dries their feet with the towel, his temporary clothing.

Imagine the time it takes to wash 12 pairs of dirty feet. Imagine receiving the loving embrace of Jesus’ hands unexpectedly but intimately on your feet. What goes through your mind?

It is my understanding that culturally, in that time period, having one’s feet washed upon entering a home was common. What was not common was to have someone in authority do the washing. This was servant’s work.

We no longer have this custom. We’ve relegated it to certain “religious” services. If I knew ahead of time, I was going to attend a service that involved foot washing, you can count on it, my feet are going to get a good scrubbing, and my nails trimmed!

I often employ foot washing unexpectedly from time to time in small events I lead. The atmosphere of the room completely changes as people wash one another’s feet who have never met before. Barriers fall and a sense of community emerges.

While culturally these men gathered probably were accustomed to having their feet washed, but not by Jesus. They were far along in their belief in him as a rabbi, teacher, perhaps Messiah. While they do not grasp the scope of who Jesus is yet, (that is to come in just a few days) they certainly hold him in high enough esteem to be shocked and humbled by this act of foot washing.

I suspect, after receiving their washing at Jesus’ hands, they were open to what he was about to tell them.

My question for myself tonight as I write and think about that evening, “How open am I to what Jesus wants to tell me?”

Maybe a more basic question would be, “Am I open to having Jesus wash my feet?” "Am I open to that degree of intimacy?"

We are entering into our own time where we normally would gather. This will be a different weekend for us, won’t it? If I were gathered tonight with close friends, I think I would want to ask that question, “Am I open to having Jesus wash my feet?”, then begin to wash my friend’s feet. Certainly, I am not Jesus, but we can be his hands and feet.

Wednesday - Easter Week

Wednesday

We have all had those times where one day piles upon another with the stuff of life that sucks us dry. Finally, we are empty, toast, a “stick a fork in me I’m done” kind of tiredness. We take a day and do nothing, hoping to recharge enough to move on. That common experience has caused me to wonder about Wednesday of Holy Week.

Nothing is recorded about this day other than it is two days before the Passover Feast. No record of words or actions by Jesus. What is going on here?

I am moving into conjecture here, but I suspect Jesus, after three intense days, needs rest. Some might consider this preposterous, after all he’s God, right? God getting tired, burned out? No way!

I am reminded though, of the incident where he falls asleep in a boat on Galilee. A storm comes up, strong enough to illicit fear in the seasoned fishermen among the disciples. What does Jesus do? He sleeps soundly in the storm.

Jesus, the man, experiences full humanity including fatigue, and I suspect this includes the kind of empty weariness that sets in whenever we go through several days that place heavy demands on us. The previous three days have been intense.

I believe he simply heeded his body’s need for refreshment and rest. But where could he go?

Mark tells us in 11:11 after the entry into Jerusalem and his assessment of the condition of the Temple, he went to Bethany. Again, a return to Bethany is mentioned by Mark in 14:3. Matthew makes mention of Bethany in 21:17. Luke interestingly, says Jesus spent his nights on the Mount of Olives in 21:17. The mount lies just north east of the road leading to Bethany, so it makes sense that Luke’s investigation prior to writing his gospel led him to this conclusion.

I am landing on Bethany, perhaps the household of Lazarus on Sunday evening and the house of Simon the Leper Tuesday and Wednesday evenings.

I also suspect his disciples are with him, but it is interesting that there is no record of anything he may have taught them during those evenings. Is it possible Jesus simply wants to be with these men without having to be the teacher? What better way to be refreshed than to sit with those he loves, and who love him, without demands.

I also suspect he slipped away early each morning to be with Abba, praying as they prepared together for what was coming. You will notice sprinkled here and there in the gospels is Jesus habit of doing this. I doubt he would not have done this during this down time of Wednesday.

There is a comfort for me as I think about Jesus responding to his own need for rest. By doing this, he is telling us he understands when we are washed up and can’t keep going. The Sabbath was established to provide a regular rhythm of rest for us. I also believe we need other days at times. If it is possible that Jesus took this day, then he will invite us to do the same when our mind and body require stoppage. Full stop.

Just maybe this was a full stop for him.

It was not a full stop for one of the disciples. It appears Judas took some of this day to seek out those who are looking for Jesus. It’s entirely possible this was the day he made his deal to turn Jesus over to them.

Tuesday Easter Week

Tuesday

The passages that are believed to tell us of Tuesday are found in Matthew 21:23-24:51, Mark 11:27-13:37 and Luke 20:1-21:36. These are long passages, even Mark with his succinct style devotes part of two chapters sandwiching a complete chapter. I’ve not done any word count, but I believe Matthew’s account is one of the longest sections of “red letters” in the four gospels. I think it ranks in the top three sections along with his account of the Sermon on the Mount and John’s account of Thursday’s Upper Room discourse. These passages for Tuesday are rich.

My intent to write has never been to give an exhaustive study of these passages. I simply ask that we sit with the passages. Perhaps, through imagination, place ourselves into this week and notice; allowing God’s Spirit to move in our noticing.

Having said this, I must admit the length and scope of Jesus’ recorded words on this day are daunting. These passages need time, perhaps fasting and prayer (conversation). Unfortunately, I am still working through these days with not the time I wish I’d had. I think I am sensing God tell me that kind of time may come next year after I am retired. I will look forward to next year’s Holy Week.

The scope of what is covered is staggering. There are parables, one illustrates how poorly God’s prophets were treated and his own death is alluded to, rather thinly veiled in my estimation.

There are Pharisees and Sadducees questioning him, trying to trip him up and implying he has no authority to speak as he does.

There is a fairly long discourse regarding future days and his return including the statement he does not know the hour or the day of his return, only the Father does.

Matthew outlines seven “woes”, decrees spoken against those that lead Jewish religious life. Much of these words are harsh, up to the point he tells them they are nothing but cleaned up containers of death (my paraphrase of Matthew 23:27).

This is a record of his last interactions with the leaders before his upcoming trials before some of these same leaders as well as his public teaching before the crowds. It is remarkable and deserves more than I am prepared to say here.

I wonder what may have been going through the thoughts of his disciples. They love him, believe they would follow him anywhere, but I can believe some may have cringed a little at the boldness of Jesus’ words, especially to the Pharisees.

Have you ever had a good friend or family member speak in such a way that you wished they’d kept their thoughts to themselves? I have, and I’ve had many times I wished I’d kept my thoughts to myself. Jesus had always been bold and spoke with an authority the crowds were amazed at, but some of these words will certainly get him into great trouble. This may have been some of the thoughts of his disciples.

But I need to pause here and remember, Jesus spoke only the words his Father gave him. He is speaking his Father’s heart. I believe the intent was to wake up those that were leaders to their own bankrupt lives. They needed to hear these words, but their pride would not let them take the seven “woes” to heart. At the sound of those words directed to them, they have only two choices, humility and repentance, or outrage.

We also get a glimpse into what troubles our Father; bad religion that only burdens those seeking Him, religion that is more about a leader’s intent to attain and maintain power over people rather than lead them into freedom from sin and into God’s kingdom.

It is not all harsh though. There are words from Jesus expressing his longing to gather his children as a hen gathers her chicks. I can hear the longing in that tender statement. This was part of that day, as well.

Perhaps you feel a little overwhelmed at the length and scope of the words attributed to Tuesday of Holy Week. I believe God understands that reaction, but He still invites us into sitting with something from that day. As I wrote earlier, my intention in writing has not been about fully understanding everything that was said and occurred during this important week. My hope is for us to observe and notice what the Spirit prompts in us.

Read some of these passages in gentleness, letting God choose a section for you and let it soak into your spirit. Let yourself enter and sit at Jesus feet as he speaks to us. You won’t be disappointed.

Monday-Easter Week

The graphic I am using marks Monday as the day Jesus cleared the temple. The passages cited are Matthew 21:10-17, Mark 11:15-18 and Luke 19:45-48. Matthew reads as if this occurred on Sunday. Mark clearly tells us it occurred the next day. Luke also is not definitive about the day. John cites an earlier clearing of the temple in chapter 2:13-17.

I’ve had a long day today, but I’ve thought off and on about this scene asking God what I needed to notice here. A couple things have stood out.

Jesus is incensed at the selling going on in the temple. In a very real sense, access to God is being sold. Think about that, he is about to pave the way for free and clear access to our Heavenly Father and he finds, once again (remember the John passage occurred very early in his ministry) money changers profiting handsomely from the pilgrims at Passover. I could go into detail about needing “temple” coin and the exchange rate used to extort from the pilgrims, but let it just be said, this is not how God’s house is to be used, or abused in this case.

He proclaims that it will be a house of prayer. This idea has stuck with me today. Many know that I am passionate about prayer. I’ve come to believe it is the lifeblood of intimacy between our Abba and us. I no longer view prayer as my “prayer life” as if it is something separate from other parts of my life. It is no longer something I take out occasionally, dust off and try to practice. It simply has become my life connection to Jesus.

Jesus, by his proclamation that his house will be a house of prayer, elevates this important function in the life of all who will follow him. If you watch Jesus and how he lived during his years of earthly ministry, you will find him often going out alone to be with his Father in prayer. It is a model we all should emulate. He is telling us in this violent act of clearing the temple that prayer is IMPORTANT!

There is something else I’ve noticed. We tend to try to tame Jesus. We want a meek and mild Jesus, here to simply love us. He does love us, more than we will ever really understand, but he cannot be tamed.

If you read the passage of the first cleansing you will notice something interesting, he goes into the temple, sees the money-changers and all the others selling access to the temple, and then goes out and makes a whip. A whip. Think about the forethought he is putting into what he is about to do. The passages citing the second clearing make no mention of a whip, but make no mistake. Jesus is angry.

This is a side to Jesus we often have trouble with. Frankly, I don’t. I am relieved that he is willing to make a huge ruckus that day to get his point across. There is a wildness to him that is refreshing. He will not be tamed by our ideas about who he “should” be. He simply is who he is. There is a fierceness to him that we need to not forget.

It is refreshing because he is FOR us. He wants us to have clear and free access to prayer, to him. He is willing to fight for that, fight for us.

John, in the opening of his gospel tells us much about Jesus. Take a few minutes and read that description of who it was that came as a baby, grew up learning carpentry then gathered his disciples and started a ministry that will culminate in death. But what a death it was, one that showed us his mastery over what we consider inevitable and final.

It was not final and that is what we are moving towards as we sit with him in these passages about those last few days.