I am sharing today a portion of a sermon I delivered on Good Friday a number of years ago.
The Yellow Brick Road
Mark 15:16-20 (NRSV)
The Soldiers Mock Jesus
16 Then the soldiers led him into the courtyard of the palace (that is, the governor’s headquarters); and they called together the whole cohort. 17 And they clothed him in a purple cloak; and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on him. 18 And they began saluting him, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 19 They struck his head with a reed, spat upon him, and knelt down in homage to him. 20 After mocking him, they stripped him of the purple cloak and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.
It was the 1960’s. We gathered in front of our new color TV to watch the annual presentation of the Wizard of Oz. Corn was popped in our iron Dutch oven, coca colas were poured, and the saga of Dorothy began. Dorothy and Toto, running from a mean old woman determined to take Toto from Dorothy, are swept away to the wonderful world of Oz where their dangers only worsen. The only hope to return home is in reaching the great and powerful Oz, and the only advice they received is “follow the yellow brick road.”
Our Scripture today tells us about the last road Jesus would ever walk. Just one week earlier throngs of people welcomed Him into the city of Jerusalem, shouting “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord”, yet there was an unseen danger. Much like the Wicked Witch of the West planning a way to destroy Dorothy and steal her ruby slippers, the religious leaders were already plotting Jesus’ demise.
Have you ever thought about some of the similarities between the fictional account of Dorothy and the narrative of Jesus’ last days. Both the Yellow Brick Road and The Road to Calvary seemingly were one way roads. Neither Dorothy and her friends nor Jesus and those who accompanied Him met anyone traveling from the opposite direction
Both roads had a singular destination–there was no city beyond Oz nor a place beyond Golgotha.
Neither Jesus nor Dorothy traveled alone, yet none of their friends could help them.
But here is where the roads diverge. While one leads to a magical, mythical land, the other leads to the cruel and very real Place of the Skull.
The phrase, “Toto, I don’t think we’re in Kansas anymore” has become a way of acknowledging our situation has changed, not just changed but has spun out of our control. In other words, things are so different that our normal coping mechanisms will no longer work.
Have you ever had a time when you wished for either a yellow brick road or perhaps a pair of ruby slippers that you could click together three times and you would magically be transported away from your troubles? When Jesus prayed in the garden, asking that the bitter cup before him be removed, he had a very real choice to make. Would he remain faithful to His calling by staying on the Road to Golgotha, or would he take the alternate route, a yellow brick road, still filled with danger but ultimately lifesaving. We all know the choice He made. He was obedient to God, even unto death.
When the Roman Empire ruled the world, there was a saying–all roads lead to Rome. From the time Jesus took his first mortal breath, all roads for Him led to the place where he would die.
Jesus was just where He was supposed to be that fateful day when He walked, stumbled and even crawled towards Calvary. Jesus was just where He was supposed to be when He rose from the dead, and He is just where he is supposed to right now as He sits at the right hand of God the Father.
Each one of us is called to take up our cross and follow Jesus, not down the yellow brick road but on the road to Calvary.
I must needs go home by the way of the cross,
There’s no other way but this;
I shall ne’er get sight of the gates of light,
If the way of the cross I miss.
Refrain
The way of the cross leads home,
The way of the cross leads home,
It is sweet to know as I onward go,
The way of the cross leads home.
I must needs go on in the blood sprinkled way,
The path that the Savior trod,
If I ever climb to the heights sublime,
Where the soul is at home with God.
The way of the cross led Jesus Home, and it leads us home today.
May we determine to be Easter people today and every day.
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Father’s Love
(NIV) John 15: 9 “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. 10 If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. 11 I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. 12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.
Love. God’s love. God’s perfect love. God’s abiding love. On this Wednesday of Holy Week, 2025, I am drawn to the command to love. But have you ever considered how overused the word “love” is? I love that book, I love that dress, I love pasta, I love, I love, I love.
I wonder what would happen if we reserved the word “love” for God and for people (and for dogs—of course we love dogs.) Would the word take on much more significance if it were not used so casually?
Moving farther into the verse, the King James translation uses the word abide instead of remain. I prefer the word abide—it suggests dwelling, which to me sounds more permanent than staying. So, Jesus tells His disciples to abide in His love so that their joy may be complete. Jesus finishes by giving the command to love each other just as He has loved us.
Many years ago I made the statement it is easy to love God, but it is hard to love people. I had no sooner spoken those words than the Holy Spirit quickened my spirit, and I not only asked forgiveness, but I began to earnestly pray that God would change my heart. Well, he did and before I knew it, I had a supernatural love for people. Does this type of love mean that I am blinded to sin and am accepting of anything and everything? No. It means I can have compassion on those who perhaps have chosen the wrong path, roads that lead to death and destruction rather than life.
May we ask God today to show us people through His eyes, and not only will we love more, but we will find joy in loving and serving.
In the name of the Father, and of the the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Sovereignty of God
(NRSV) Ps 24:1 The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it,
the world, and those who live in it;
2 for he has founded it on the seas,
and established it on the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the LORD?
And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts…
It is when I read passages such as this that I understand David being called “a man after God’s own heart.” During a time when there was still so much idol worship, the King of Israel freely proclaimed that God was sovereign over all of the earth. He understood that the creation was not greater than the Creator but instead was subject to the One who brought everything into existence.
What would happen if we were to acknowledge God as Yahweh, the eternal God, the Creator? Would we be too fearful to speak His name out loud? Would we whisper that holy name? Would our outlook about our place in this world change?
It may surprise some of you to learn that the world in which we live is considered post Christian. In other words, the mores and values of society no long support the views of Christianity. So, what does this mean to the person whose faith is still the foundation of their existence? Absolutely nothing.
When we have not just a change of mind but a change of heart, then it does not matter how the worldview changes because we are no longer swayed by culture. Instead, we are living up to our potential in Christ by putting Him first in everything. We live, and move, and have our very being in the God of our salvation.
May we allow God to purify our hearts daily, and may our actions be wholly aligned with Jesus as we follow in His steps.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Hope of Christ
(NIV) Romans 5:1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4 perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.
As we draw closer to Easter and to celebrating the hope we find in Jesus, I invite you to spend some time meditating on this scripture found in Romans. First read the scripture out loud if convenient. Then focus on some if the key words and their meaning:
- Justified: made righteous in the sight of God
- Faith: trust, belief
- Peace: tranquility
- Grace: the undeserved gift from God; unmerited favor
- Hope: trust; confident expectation
As a child I was taught that justified means “just as if I’d never sinned.” John Wesley described it as something God did for us that we could not do for ourselves. We are drawn to God through prevenient grace, or as he called it “preventing” grace. After we are justified, we begin the lifelong process of sanctification, which is really being perfected in God’s love.
Will there be suffering in this world? Without a doubt. But we must understand that suffering not only reveals who we are, but if we rely on God, then it will help mold us into who God wants us to be. For as Paul said “suffering produces perseverance, perseverance, character, and character, hope.”
I am ending today’s devotional with a poem I wrote around fifteen years ago.
Speak Joy, Hope and Love
Out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaks. Our dreams and schemes, the
essence of what we believe is portrayed,
or sometimes betrayed, by our words.
If you lack joy, but want it, must have it,
speak joy and let the seeds of joy be
planted deep within your heart. Let
your heart speak joy.
If you lack hope, but want it, need it,
cannot live without it, speak hope and
let hope find a resting place within your
heart. Let your heart speak hope.
If you lack love, but know that without
it your heart will surely shrivel and
die, speak love, show love, be all about love. Let
your heart speak love.
Out of the mouth the abundance of the
heart speaks. Speak joy, speak hope,
speak love.
May we find hope through our faith in God, and the sacrifice of love made by Jesus, our Lord and Savior.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Rejoice!
Galatians 5:22-25 (NIV) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.
Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV) 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. 6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
This week The Church at Rock Creek will have an event called “The Table,” where the women of Rock Creek will gather to hear from two women as they witness to the joy of Jesus. The theme of this meeting reminded me of a time when I was an early teenager, and I read for the first time about the fruit of the Spirit.
When I read Gal 5:22 I actually became alarmed wondering how these qualities would ever manifest in my life. But then I saw the word “joy” and I thought, “Wait—I have joy! I can focus on that while the Spirit grows these other characteristics in my life.” And that is what I did.
I began to notice situations where it was easy to respond with joy, and as I matured I began to choose joy, whatever the circumstance. At some point, I noticed the joy of the Lord bubbling up inside of me. It happened primarily when I shared my love of Jesus with others. As I read my Bible, scriptures about joy seems to leap from the pages, and the songs we sang even as children took on new meaning.
The chorus “The Joy of the Lord is my Strength” was taken from Nehemiah, as he directed the rebuilding of the walls in Jerusalem against incredible odds. And of course, “I’ve Got the Joy Down in my Heart” is a song we learn as children, but we never forget.
As we prepare for The Table, I look forward to meeting and visiting with women of God, many of whom I have not met in person. And as we focus on “joy,” I am so very thankful that the seeds of joy were planted in me years ago and my immediate response, even in times of stress, is to remember the joy of the Lord is my strength.
May we recognize that the more joy becomes our natural response, the more content we will be and the more peace we will have.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 