Where Did Monday Go?

 

^"And He said to them, 'The Sabbath was made for man, and not man for the Sabbath. Therefore the Son of Man is also Lord of the Sabbath.'" Mark 2:27-28 NKJV

A lot of people really dislike Mondays. But, on most Mondays; lately, I have had to keep reminding myself that it is actually Monday. My Sundays have been so busy lately that by the end of the day it feels like I have completed two days and I totally want to move on into Tuesday. Although, it feels a bit awkward; it is a good thing. By Saturday, I have actually been able to take a Sabbath rest. I can spend most of the day just being in intentional communion with God; studying His Word and praying. This is a very good thing for me. It helps me to prepare for the first day of the week; which is not Monday; but, Sunday.

I do not despise this first day of the week. I do not really have much time to think about it. I just follow the daily planner and keep on moving. But, I do thank God for the day of rest that He gives me on Saturday so that I might be refreshed, so that I might be reenergized, and ready to go very early on Sunday morning. As Jesus tells us, the Sabbath was made for us. May God help you to all find time to spend solely resting in Him.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Rising Son on Sunday Morning

(Original photo by Jane Moylan VanBuren)

"When the sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices, so that they might go and anoint him. And very early on the first day of the week, when the sun had risen, they went to the tomb." Mark 16:1-2

It is a rare occasion when I am actually able to observe a sabbath on the Sabbath. Every now and then I will absolutely refuse to do anything on Saturday so that I can take a much needed rest. But, those times are rare. I infuse my days and weeks with hours of prayer so that I can rest and be renewed in God's presence.

Can you imagine the excitement of the women at the tomb on that first day of the week when they found that Jesus was risen? Even as the sun began to rise in the sky they found that the Son of Righteous had risen from the grave.

It will be a few hours before the sun rises this Sunday morning; on this first day of the week. But when it does rise, I will be off to worship. I will be off to an intentional hour of entering into God's presence; to witness the living presence of God in Christ Jesus through the Word and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. I will gather with the saints in Skanee on this first day of the week to celebrate that our Lord is risen. He is risen, indeed!

I pray that you will join me in this celebration at your local congregation wherever that might be.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Remember the Sabbath Day

The Third Commandment.

Thou shalt sanctify the holy-day.

What does this mean?--Answer.
We should fear and love God that we may not despise preaching and His Word, but hold it sacred, and gladly hear and learn it.

http://bookofconcord.org/smallcatechism.php#tencommandments

 

My husband and sons were logging. Logging can be a pretty expensive business. We sometimes joked that it was just a hobby as it often felt like they were paying to work rather than earn livings since equipment breakdowns can get pretty expensive. On occasion, they would decide that they needed to work on Sunday morning rather than worship in order to make up for time lost due to the weather or equipment breakdowns. Every time they decided to do this they would have another piece of equipment break down on that Sunday morning. Do I think that God was punishing them for working on Sunday? No. I think that because they did not heed His word to rest on the seventh day that they were exhausted and when we work tired and troubled; accidents; problems occur. God does not give us the commandments so that He can punish us. The commandments are for our own good.

 

It has been many decades since I realized what this holy-day of rest meant for me. I can get pretty cranky at times. During a particularly trying period of my life I came to realize that if I did not attend worship on Sunday (or maybe Saturday evening) I was pretty difficult to live with the rest of the week. By Friday, nobody, including myself, wanted to be around me. I need to receive the means of grace, the Word and Sacrament of Holy Communion, in order for me to be a bit more graceful towards others. I need to be able to find rest in Christ in order to be refreshed for the upcoming days.

 

Thanks be to God, He has given us the gift of the holy-day to gather with the saints and hear His sacred Word.

 

God desires good for you. Receive the good gifts of His Word and the Sacrament of Holy Communion. These gifts are available freely for you every Sunday at your local place of worship. Do yourself and your family and friends a favor; go and listen to Him; receive His Word; receive the Lord in the Sacrament of Holy Communion! Join others in worship every seventh day, no matter which day that happens to fall on.

 

God's Peace - Pr. J

Hebrews 4 - Rest in the Promised Land

Hebrews 4  NIV
Let us enter God's rest. What is this rest? There are those who would use this chapter to remind us of the law of keeping the law of resting on the Sabbath day. But, this is much more than that. It is a promise that all who believe will live in God's rest. We will live in peace; reconciled to God our Father through Jesus Christ our Lord. In these troubled days there is only one place to find real rest; real peace, and that is in the presence of God our Father and our Lord, Jesus the Christ.

We receive God's rest when we trust Him. We receive God's rest when we receive the free gift of salvation through Jesus Christ and understand that there is no work that we can do to save ourselves.

We receive His rest as we live in His presence; in His Kingdom, even today. Just as many of the Israelites received the promised land and promised rest even while they were still alive, so too the promised land, the Kingdom of God, is at hand, for you; for all who believe.

May God open our hearts and minds so that we might enter into His rest, into the promised land, even today.

God's Peace - Pr. J

1 Corinthians 16:1-5 Sunday Worship

1 Corinthians 16:1-4 NIV
Paul instructed the Corinthians to set aside an offering to be used for the mission of the church on the first day of every week, on Sunday. They brought their offerings when they gathered together on Sunday to break bread and to remember all that Jesus had done for them.

More than once, I have heard the excuse not to come to worship because worshipping on Sunday is a man-made ritual taken from a pagan custom of worshipping the sun. We worship the Son, not the sun, and He was indeed risen on the first day of the week, Sunday. Excuses like this in no one way justify anyone gathering with members of the Body of Christ to hear the Word, to join in the breaking of the bread, or to fellowship with other believers.

We know that the Sabbath, the day of rest, is Saturday. But, the gathering of Jesus' followers happens on Sunday. This "ritual" was not created decades later by an institutional church. It began on the day that Jesus was resurrected when he went to the disciples who were gathered together in fear in that room behind locked doors. Those first disciples continued to gather together for worship on the first day of the week, on Sunday, in remembrance of the Lord's first appearance to them after his crucifixion.

"On the first day of the week we came together to break bread. Paul spoke to the people and, because he intended to leave the next day, kept on talking until midnight." (Acts 20:7)

Only one or two hours on Sunday to celebrate what our Lord has done for us? Rejoice! for the Lord is risen! Rejoice too that, most probably, none of your pastors have the habit of preaching 'till midnight, unless of course the service doesn't begin until 11 p.m..

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 14:1-14 Place of Importance

Luke 14:1-14 NIV
Jesus associated with everyone. On one Sabbath, he went to eat at the home of a prominent Pharisee. If you recall from our previous readings, the Pharisees were not exactly fans of Jesus. But, he didn't care. He did not have a problem associating with anyone who welcomed him.

Jesus gives us some rules of etiquette for dining that can be used whether you are at someone's home or at a wedding reception. Take the least important place so that you will be honored when asked to move up. Do not sit in a seat of honor or you may be humiliated when the host asks you to move to a place of less importance to make room for another.

The last shall be first and the first last.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 13:10-17 Bound and Free

Luke 13:10-17 NIV
I often wonder about being in bondage. I wonder how much I should allow myself to be bound to things of this world if indeed I am free in Christ. We are indeed free in Christ to serve God and one another. However, we (most of us) are bound to something here on earth. Work schedules, bosses, family members, friends and acquaintances regulate what we do and when we do it. Not long ago, I went with a tour group to Ireland. Even the vacation regulated so that at times I felt like we were chained to a schedule. I also have to be very careful about making plans with my grandchildren. I have to give them a lot of maybes or we'll see... If I agree to do something, they expect me to do it. No matter what else might come up, they get pretty upset if the schedule ends up changed. They insist on me being bound to my word, even if it was not a promise, but a suggestion.

Now, commitments are usually good things. A commitment to worship God on Sundays (or any and everyday) is an excellent thing. But, in our parable today of Jesus healing a woman on the Sabbath, Jesus reminds us that there is more to worship and honoring God than keeping Sabbath law or traditions. When someone is in need, the schedule must be flexible enough to help them.

In Christ, we are free to be bound to love and serve. By his blood, we have been set free to worship and serve our God and to love and serve our neighbors, as well.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Luke 6:1-11 Day of Rest

Luke 6:1-11 NIV

What to do with the Sabbath? What can one do on the day of rest?

Years ago when my husband was logging, every now and then, he would get this crazy idea that he would have to work on Sundays instead of going to our place of worship. It never failed! The equipment would break down and he'd lose even more time fixing it, as well as a whole lot of money.

When confronted by the Pharisees and the teachers of the law about healing a man and his disciples picking some heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath, he said, “I ask you, which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to destroy it?” and "The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath." In Mark 2:27, he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.

I don't believe that my husband was being punished for working on Sunday. But, the reality is that we need to find time to rest in the Lord. Working seven days a week is just not good for anyone. Things happen when we get tired and worn out. We make more mistakes than usual. God gave us a day of rest and the best place to rest is in Him.

The Sabbath is a gift to us. May God help us to be good stewards of our day of rest and use it wisely.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 3:1-6 - Sabbath Healing

So what exactly is lawful to do on the Sabbath? Jesus and the leaders in the church were having a bit of a go-a-round in the last part of chapter two and the first part of this chapter regarding the Sabbath. He dares to heal a man of a shriveled hand in the synagogue on the Sabbath.

I note, with joy, that this was done in the synagogue. He was not neglecting to worship the LORD or study His word. He was there in the synagogue on the Sabbath. He didn't say, I can do whatever pleases me on the Sabbath; rather, he reminds us of the commandment that "thou shalt not kill." This includes not killing on the Sabbath. And... what does "thou shalt not kill" mean? According to what we teach our children in confirmation classes, from the Small Catechism, it means: "We should fear and love God so that we do our neighbors no bodily harm nor cause them any suffering, but help and befriend them in every need." The Pharisees, you see, would have a person hungry, or sick, or dying; rather than have one of the heaps of ordinances the church had created to regulate the Sabbath observance, broken. Their written laws and traditions were placed above the spirit of the law.

When we regulate or manipulate the law in such a manner that it does not leave us room to do God's will and serve our neighbors in need, we are indeed breaking the spirit of the law. Jesus was once asked what the greatest commandment was. “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” (Mark 12:29:31 NIV) In our reading today, we see an example of how Jesus did both.

May God grant that we should follow in the footsteps of Jesus, worrying less about the letter of the law and more about the spirit of the law, which is loving God; as well as our fellow man.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Mark 2:18-27 Fasting and Eating

Jesus addresses the accusations of not fasting and eating grain that was picked on Sunday be his disciples. His response reminds us that there is a time for everything. His disciples did not fast because he (the bridegroom) was with them. They, in a sense, were newly married. One hardly expects a newly married couple to put on sack cloth and fast, do we? No, rather we expect that they are celebrating their time together. There is a time to fast and a time to celebrate. Human traditions (laws) are not necessarily the greatest guidelines for when these things should happen.

The same goes for the disciples picking some heads of grain to eat on the Sabbath. Would the LORD, who was willing to die for us, really desire that we should go hungry, insisting that we not walk through a field and pick some heads of grain for sustenance - in order to keep tradition? I believe the command was to rest on the Sabbath. But, what does rest mean? I've actually had people tell me that since they are commanded to "rest" on the Sabbath they are sleeping in instead of attending worship. Or maybe they will golf or fish instead? That's rest to some. The reality is that it was the church who came up with all the specific do's and don't do's of the Sabbath.

Personally, I find the "rest" that does me the most good and refreshes me for another week is spending time in God's presence, in His house, with His people, worshipping Him. “The Sabbath was made for man; not man for the Sabbath." The Sabbath, the day of rest, was made for you;" (vs 27)  that you might rest and be refreshed by the power of Almighty God. Take advantage of this gift, celebrate His love, so that you might live life, empowered by His Word and His Spirit.

See you in a few hours at Worship where we can be refreshed by His Word and Sacrament together.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 27:58-66 - Disciples Absent From The Funeral

I have officiated at hundreds of funerals and even more graveside committals. Only a handful of them have had fewer people in attendance than at the burial of Jesus. That would be less than three. Joseph of Arimathea, a follower of Jesus; and the two Marys seem to be the only ones present. Where were the chosen twelve? We know from scripture that Judas committed suicide, so we're down to eleven and what about the hoards that had been following him around in order to be healed? This was a most unusual burial for one who had such a following while he was alive. Where were all these friends and followers?

The Sabbath was fast approaching. In just a few hours the law required no funerals, not even much movement on the part of the Jews. Maybe, the disciples were just trying to follow the Sabbath laws or maybe they had all run in fear for their own lives. As Peter had at the trial, maybe they were all so worried about their own lives, burying their friend; their teacher, was the least of their concerns. But, here we have a man who was willing to put himself out there for Jesus. Joseph was not afraid to have his name connected with the Name of Jesus. He approached Pilate, who had condemned Jesus in the first place, and asks for the body for burial. Then he takes, out of his own holdings, a clean linen cloth and with his own hands buries Jesus on his own property; in his own tomb.

Alone, with the women, Joseph is willing to align himself with Jesus, even after Jesus has been declared an outlaw by the church and state; even after he has been executed for perceived crimes.

May God grant that we never be ashamed or in fear for our lives because we dare to be associated with or praise the name of Jesus.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Matthew 26:1-13 - Mary's Anoints the King

I have, on at least one occasion, considered pouring anointing oil over the head of a loved one, when they really frustrated me, thinking that just maybe the "anointing" might have a positive effect. Don't worry, the thought flashed in and out of my mind quite quickly. No one, that I know, would appreciate having oil or perfume poured over their heads. They just wouldn't be able to put such a good construction on it as Jesus did when Mary anointed his head with oil at dinner.

In exuberant love, possibly, maybe most probably, inspired by the Holy Spirit, Mary anoints Jesus' head with very expensive perfume. The disciples reacted, as I would, "why are you wasting money like that?" But, Jesus, loves Mary and he knows that Mary loves him. He receives this gift graciously and tells the disciples: "When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial." (Matt 26:12 NIV) This was two days before the Passover, when he would eat his last supper, with his disciples. It was three days before his death and burial. There will be no time for Jesus' body to be anointed for burial as his body will be placed in the tomb quickly before the Sabbath begins on Friday eve. There will be no anointing, after his death, because he will rise from the grave before the women can get there on Sunday morning. So, this is it. This is his anointing for burial. I'm pretty sure Mary did not understand the overall implications of what she was doing. Love had guided her to anoint Jesus. Just as King David, generations before him, had been anointed by Samuel; the one who was least expected to be King; was anointed the King. No one, not even the disciples, that day, could begin to fathom the true Kingship of the one they followed.

Things happen. Sometimes, they don't seem or look right to us. But, remember, always, that God has a plan - a good plan... So be careful when you decide to judge something. Not everything is as it seems.

God's Peace - Pr. J

Nehemiah 13 - Giving Way To The Adversary

I remember writing a blog some time ago, titled "Keep Your Friends Close, Enemies Closer."  It was about David's kindness to Mephibosheth from 2 Samuel.  The thing to remember is that keeping them closer is with the hopes of knowing their strategy against you, if they have one, and to maybe open their hearts and minds to another way of being through love and generosity. However, the point is not to let them run you over, control your life, or change your heart and mind.  If mingling with the adversary means that you are going to allow a change in your lifestyle so that God is not honored, that His will is not followed, then you probably should really look at the people you are associating with.

Eliashib, the high priest has given space in the temple courts to the adversary, Tobiah, to live.  Tobiah is not a priest.  He doesn't appear to be a Levite.  Tobiah does everything in his power to thwart the attempts to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem.  Yet, he is so close that it is apparent that at least he knows about keeping your friends close and enemies closer.  The Israelites, it appears, are still straying.  They are not keeping the Sabbath!  In fact, they are profaning it. 

But, God has sent Nehemiah, to remind them and, with a firm voice and hand, to guide them in the way that they should be going.  In the end, God's will is done.  But, by compromising with the adversary, all could have been lost. 

The safest way to know God's will is to actually read the Holy Scriptures.  Whenever the priests or prophets would read the scriptures, the hearts of the people would turn once again to God.  If you're going to consort with the enemy, it's kind of good - actually, it is necessary - to know God's will and that, my friend, comes from His Word.  Stand firm.  Be strong in the LORD.  Take up the sword of the Spirit, which is His Word.  (Eph 6:17)

God's Peace - Pr. J

Sabbath Rest

Leviticus 25

Even the land shall have a sabbath.  Even the land shall rest!  Now this makes sense to anyone who has farmed or gardens.  The ground needs to be replenished so that it can produce fruitfully.  Every living thing needs to rest from time to time.

I think I missed my personal year of Jubilee.  I'm a bit past 50 years.  Every week, every year, I think next week, next year, I will have the time to rest; I will have real time to just spend time resting in God's presence, without any distractions.  But, these Sabbath rests elude me.  If I want to be alone and aware of God's presence, I really have to get up really early in the mornings to just pray.  No phone calls that way.  With everyone else sleeping there is no one to interrupt this time to have me "do" something.  I can just be.

Well, usually that happens.  My husband just woke up to tell me to go back to bed.  Here's the deal though... Rest does not always mean sleep.  Just like the land, we need replenishing.  Yes, we need to sleep, but to be fully replenished we also need to connect with God, spend time with Him, spend time reading scripture, spend time in prayer with Him, speak to Him and listen to Him! 

In this chapter, God promises that when Israel observes this sabbath time, a year away from working the land, God will provide not only a rest for the land so that the land can be replenished, but he will provide for the needs of the people of Israel.  He will make sure that they are fed and nourished.

There are quite a few ordinances in this chapter regarding sabbath and the year of Jubilee.  As you read them, may God help you to understand that these ordinances were meant to benefit His people.