Palm Sunday

The electricity in the air was palpable. Jesus had sent his disciples to a farmer to borrow a donkey and her foal. He then climbed up on the donkey and rode it into the city of Jerusalem. The people reacted with excitement! This was a clear political statement, as the King was the one who would ride a donkey, coming in as a conqueror in peace. The people cut palm branches, another symbol of the zealot party, signifying their choice of him to be their king.

“Blessed be the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in Heaven and glory in the highest!”

Luke 19:39

The emotionally charged scene made the Pharisees nervous. Rome wouldn’t like this at all.

“Teacher, rebuke your disciples!”

I tell you, he replied, if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out!” Luke 19:39-40

This was a small preview of what will happen when Jesus returns to claim the throne. For now, it was a strange precursor to the events that would happen in over the next week. At this point, the people were excited to be a follower of Jesus. They thought that he would be an earthly ruler, taking the throne as their king and throwing out their Roman oppressors. He would bring peace and prosperity, returning Israel to her former glory.

They were wrong.

As they read their scriptures, they focused on the view of the Messiah that prophesied strength and an earthly, physical success. They overlooked the prophets who told of the suffering servant, who talked about weakness and pain.

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces, he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Isaiah 53:3

We are not so different from those people who only wanted a strong and triumphant Messiah. We read our Bibles, and we like the parts that talk about God’s love for us, that promise us peace and strength. We are not as fond of the parts that require obedience, that tell us to take up our crosses and follow Jesus. We’re okay with following him, until we remember that following him leads us to sacrifice ourselves.

If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.” Luke 9:23-24

There is a cost to following Jesus. There is also great reward. Most of those who followed Jesus on the donkey into Jerusalem, waving their palm branches and declaring him king, had no idea that in just a few days they would call out for his death. As we proclaim him our King, we need to be aware of what that means. We need to remember that the cross is just ahead.

But so is the empty tomb.

In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

There is a cost to following Jesus. But the payoff is worth it. We are secure in his love. He is a King worthy of our praise.

Salty Salt

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again?  It is good for nothing, except to be thrown our and trampled under foot by men.”  Matthew 5:13

            There are few things better than salt. Chocolate, maybe. Dark chocolate, with thin layer of caramel and sprinkled with sea salt can cure any ill. Salt enhances flavor. 

            Salt was a very valuable commodity in Biblical times, valuable enough to often be used in place of currency for trade. Salt was used to season and preserve food, an important function in a hot land with no refrigeration.  Salt was an ingredient in the sacred anointing oil and in sacrifices. It represented purity.  Newborns were rubbed with salt, and it was considered a cure for toothache and decay.  Salt was an important ingredient in the sealing of an agreement.  The details of the agreement had to all be hammered out and the parties had to be at peace with each other before sharing a meal with any salt.  Once the meal was eaten, both parties were under a “covenant of salt” and the visiting party was under his host’s protection.

            Jesus said that we, His followers, are the salt of the earth.  Just as salt was an integral part of society and daily life, so we are to permeate our society.  We are to flavor everything we touch.  We are part of what preserves our society and keeps it from becoming rotten.  Our influence should be felt everywhere we go.  Like salt, we can help restore good spiritual health.  Those who enter our hospitality should know that in us they have found safety and peace, a place where they can find truth and purity.

            When salt lost its saltiness, when it could no longer perform the functions of preservation and health, it was not thrown away.  It still had value.  It was collected in large earthenware jars and stored in a room in the Temple.  When winter rains came and the marble and stone floors became wet and slippery, salt was spread on them to reduce slippage, thus it was trampled under the foot of man.

            We are the salt of the earth.  God will use us in this world to draw men to Himself.  When we choose to live in a way that no longer points out the difference God makes in our lives, we lose our saltiness.  If we have lost our ability to function as salt, we will still be used by God, but not in the way we were intended to be used or for our original purpose. 

            Once again, the choice is ours.

            Lord Jesus, I want to be salt for You.  I want You to use me however You have purposed.  Open my eyes to sin in my life, and to the attitudes and actions that reduce my effectiveness for You.  Use me as You will.  Purify me and make me willing. 

Person of Influence?

By any account, Joseph was one of the little people. He was a Jew, the smallest and most insignificant of countries. He was a carpenter, a craftsman, whose day was probably filled with repairing common household items and building common farm implements. In Jewish economy, he was strictly blue collar.

And yet, in God’s economy, he was the elite, that man with a heart that sought to be God’s man. He was that man of integrity and kindness who would not marry a woman who was unfaithful to him, but still couldn’t bring himself to publically disgrace her. When God stepped in and told him to go ahead and marry Mary, that the baby was of the Holy Spirit, he didn’t question his own sanity but obeyed. He didn’t ask, or at least it isn’t recorded that he asked, what this all would mean for him, personally. He had to know that people would talk. His reputation would be dragged through the mud, just like Mary’s would. People would assume they had sinned.

Joseph was that insignificant man of great significance. He would raise God’s Son, teaching him a trade, and what it means to be a man, and a man of God. Joseph is, like many of our dad’s, that largely unsung hero who is rarely mentioned but had great influence.

God seems to have a special place in his plans for insignificant people. Little people, like shepherds and village girls and carpenters. Perhaps they are more willing to let God have the glory, aware of their own insignificance. God can do big things with little people. The birth of Jesus shows in so many ways that little people are precious and noticed by God.

Who are the influential people in your life? Are they giant slayers or kings? More likely they are laundry slayers or servants. Mothers and fathers and teachers and bus drivers and Sunday school teachers and youth group leaders and salesmen and neighbors, people who looked beyond themselves and lived in obedience to God.

You don't have to be a 'person of influence' to be influential. In fact, the most influential souls in my life are probably not even aware of the things they've taught me. ~ Scott Adams

Have you thanked those little people of influence in your life recently? As you go through your day, who are you influencing? It may be by the kindness you show to the new kid at work, or the smile you give the homeless lady you pass on the street at lunchtime. Maybe it’s the attention you show to the middle child at home or the too-loud attention-seeking child in your class. Maybe it’s the lady who watches you when you don’t even know it. Maybe it’s the harried sales clerk or the driver of the car stuck in traffic next to yours.

In God’s economy, no one is insignificant.

Joseph reminds us of that. Mary. The shepherds. God will use who He wills, and who is willing.

Are you willing? How will God use you today?

Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord!

      Zacharias was old.  He has faithfully served the Lord as a priest for most of his life. Because his wife Elizabeth had been unable to bear a child, the temple had been where he had poured his energy and passion.  But things were about to change. 

            The angel Gabriel, who stands in the very presence of God, had been sent to speak to him. He had told Zacharias that the time was ready for the coming of Messiah, and that Elizabeth would have a baby who would prepare the hearts of the people to receive Him.

“And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare His ways; to give His people the knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins.”  Luke 1:76-77

            Zacharias was standing in the temple of the Most High God, before the altar, talking with an angel.  You’d think this would be proof enough that this would really happen.  But Zacharias and Elizabeth are old, and Zacharias had a hard time believing that this can be possible.  Because of his disbelief, and perhaps as proof of the truth of the prophecy, Zacharias is struck dumb until the baby is born and named.  After the birth of John, Zacharias’ tongue is loosed, and the first words out of his mouth are praise to God, and then a prophecy of what was about to come;

            “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for He has visited us and accomplished redemption for His people…”

            About the baby, John, Zacharias was very specific; this baby would grow up to prepare the way and the hearts of the people for Messiah.  He would give the people knowledge of salvation by forgiveness of their sins.  John preached repentance.  By the time Jesus began His ministry John had shown them their sinfulness and need for a savior.

            This is our job, today.  With the advent of Christmas we have a unique opportunity to prepare the way of the Lord.  While Jesus has already come, for some the only time He enters their consciousness is at Christmas through TV specials and carols on the radio.  For them, Jesus is coming.  We need to prepare the way, to help them understand their sinfulness, their need for redemption, and the gift of grace.  While we know that the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts of sin and draws men to salvation, we are to be ready with an answer for the hope that we own and live.  At Christmas we have an open opportunity, unlike any other time of year, to share faith.  We need to live the difference salvation makes. 

May hope, peace and grace ever be on my lips and visible in my life.