John 12:1-11 Celebrate Life! Celebrate Christ!

John 12:1-11 NIV
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. 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)

As the writer from Ecclesiastes wrote:
"There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

    a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
    a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
    a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
    a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
    a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
    a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
    a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace." (3:1-8)

There is a time to weep and a time to laugh. There is a time to rejoice and to dance. There is a time to be silent and to speak. There is a time to tear down and a time to build things up. Just because you may feel like it's time to tear things apart, doesn't necessarily make it so. Put a clamp on your desire to destroy other's joy in the LORD. Let those who rejoice in the LORD, continue rejoicing and worry about the lesser things at another time. Do not let your jealousy or greed get in the way of others rejoicing in the gifts of God; namely, the gift of life. We who were once dead in our sins, now live. What is more important than worshipping God, thanking Him for the gift of life, and celebrating in His presence?

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 11:1-44 Jesus Wept

John 11:1-44 NIV
There is just so much in the story of the death and resurrection of Lazarus that I could take it a couple of verses at a time and stretch it out for a week, at least. But, I prefer that you all read it as a whole.

Jesus is not running to keep Lazarus from dying. He takes his time so that God might be glorified. One of the most interesting parts of the story for me is found in the two words of verse 35: "Jesus wept." Jesus surely wept not 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 NKJV). Jesus cares for them. He loves them and He loves you. He does not wish to see in you in sorrow or pain. But, when you are, He is with you. He will raise you up, again, for the glory of God, our Father.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 16:19-31 NIV - Dire Straits

Luke 16:19-31 NIV
In the parable of the rich man and Lazarus the rich man had been provided every opportunity to reach out to Lazarus in brotherly love. He did not. Once the rich man died and found himself alone and in extreme distress, there was no one to reach out to him. How different it would have been if he had allowed that poor beggar into his life while he was still living! He would have a friend now. Maybe, he would not be in the dire straits he found himself in, now.

From Hades, he begs Abraham to send Lazarus to his family to warn them so they don't end up like he has. For some reason the rich man thinks his family might listen to Lazarus even though he, himself, had paid no heed to him while he was alive.

No, Father Abraham replies. Your brothers will not listen to Lazarus. They did not listen to Moses or the Prophets. They will not even listen if someone rises from the dead.

Sadly, that is the way it is for many. They will not take the time to pay heed to the stranger at the door, the hungry at our gates. They will not take the time to pay heed to the warnings of Moses or the prophets. They pay no attention to the one who has risen from the dead. Like the rich man, the lives of many are spent focusing on their worldly, day to day, pleasures as they pay no heed to the things that are really important; that will last for eternity.

God's Peace - Pr. J