The Road to Easter: Peace, Be Still
(NIV) Mark 4:35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
In reading about the fishing boats of the day, they averaged 27 feet in length and 7 1/2 feet in width, with 4 1/2 feet in depth. We do not know which apostles were with Jesus, but the men onboard were seasoned fishermen so they were acquainted with squalls. According to the NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible Notes the shape of the hills surrounding the Sea of Galilee can funnel storms onto the water; they can be sudden and devastating to small boats out in the midst of the lake.
It has always amazed me that the disciples who were with Jesus every day were so surprised when Jesus did something miraculous. I have found myself thinking if I were with Jesus, I would not be surprised, I would not doubt, I would just soak up the glory emanating from His presence. But would I?
We learn from this account that Jesus never promised to keep us from the storms, but that He will be with us in the storms. As the water in the boat began to rise, the disciples’ faith began to waver. Yet, the Master of the Seas had merely to speak three words and the storm did not lessen, it did not begin to abate, it calmed immediately.
I really prefer the King James translation that says, Peace, be still. Jesus first rebukes the storm, and then He rebukes the disciples. I can say it is easier to have faith when you are safe and dry rather than when you are standing ankle deep in water.
So, the lesson to learn here is don’t wait until you are in the midst of the storms of life to develop your faith, do it now. Romans 12:3 says we are each given a measure of faith. It is up to us to grow our faith by staying in the Word and staying in relationship with Jesus.
In the name of the Father, and if the Son, and if the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Road to Easter: The First Miracle
(NIV) John 2:1 On the third day a wedding took place at Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, 2 and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding. 3 When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”
4 “Woman, why do you involve me?” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.”
5 His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever he tells you.”
We have arrived at the first of Jesus’ miracles: turning the water into wine. Why include this event in our journey toward Easter? Because it is noteworthy in that:
• it points toward Who Jesus is
• it points out the transformative nature of Jesus’ relationship in our lives
• it points to a new age. Where before these jars held water for Jewish purification rituals, now they held wine which would ultimately represent the blood Jesus poured out as a sacrifice.
• it highlights that God cares more about what is on the inside than the outside.
The road to Calvary was rough, it was messy, and often fraught with controversy. Even this seemingly innocuous event has resulted in arguments concerning the strength of the wine. For my part, I would rather focus on the strength of God’s love for us and the depth of Jesus’ commitment to us.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Road to Easter: Come and See
(NIV) John 1:35 The next day John was there again with two of his disciples. 36 When he saw Jesus passing by, he said, “Look, the Lamb of God!”
37 When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. 38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?”
They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?”
39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.”
So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon. 40 Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, was one of the two who heard what John had said and who had followed Jesus.
I love the gospel of John. Whenever I talk to new Christians, I always advise them to begin reading John every day—read the red before you go to bed. John begins his gospel with a beautiful description of the Son of God, then introduces John the Baptist. And then, Jesus begins to call His disciples.
It is fitting that John the Baptist would be the one to declare that Jesus was the Lamb of God as He passed by. After all, the Baptizer was foretold in Isaiah 40 as the one who would prepare the way of the Lord. And, it was he who baptized Jesus.
Two of John’s disciples left to follow Jesus, Andrew and an unnamed disciple. When Jesus turns to address the men, in some translations He asks, “What are you looking for”, and they simply answer, “Where are you staying?” And then, oh and then, Jesus answers with that wonderful invitation, “Come and see.”
When asked where He was staying, why didn’t Jesus just give an address and say you can drop by anytime?
1. The invitation is not just to come for a visit, but to stay, to abide with Jesus, for it only in abiding with Jesus that we learn who He is and are transformed by His presence.
2. Our connection with Jesus was never intended to be casual, as in just drop in any time, but to be an abiding life-long relationship.
When Jesus said, “Come and See,” he was inviting all who hear into a life of discipleship. I am reminded of a hymn by Charles Widmeyer, “Come and Dine.”
“Come and dine,” the Master calleth, “Come and dine”;
You may feast at Jesus’ table all the time;
He Who fed the multitude, turned the water into wine,
To the hungry calleth now, “Come and dine.”
There is a divine connection between each of us who abides in Jesus. May that connection be strengthened as we anticipate Easter, 2024, and may we once again answer the call to “Come and see.”
In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
The Road to Easter: What the Magi Saw that Herod Missed
Matt 2:7 Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. 8 Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” 9 When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
When I was a young woman, there was a syndicated radio show called Thru the Bible with Dr J Vernon McGee. He began the program by inviting people onto the Bible bus. I would imagine the Magi would have loved to ride a Bible bus, or any other modern transportation, as they traveled what has been speculated as being 400 miles to visit the Christ child.
The wise men were undoubtedly weary when they approached King Herod. Otherwise, they might have noticed the duplicitous nature of his request to find Jesus. While their intent was to worship the King of Kings, Herod’s sole thought was of murder.
And there it is, the slow march toward Calvary. While the Magi brought gifts to honor the King, Herod sent swords to end His life.
What was it that drew one group to the Son of God where they knelt in admiration, while another was bent on wiping the name of Jesus from the face of the earth? One group followed the light, another lived in darkness.
As we continue our journey toward Easter, may we allow the light of the Holy Spirit to illuminate our way.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit. Amen
The Road Leading to Easter
(NRSV) 1 In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. 2 This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. 3 All went to their own towns to be registered. 4 Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. 5 He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. 6 While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. 7 And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.
8 In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9 Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. 10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: 11 to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. 12 This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” 13 And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,
As we enter into another Lenten season, we have yet one more opportunity to reflect on the love God showed us by sending His Son to seek and save the lost. There was only one way that sinful man could be restored to a holy God and that way was Jesus.
Have you ever considered that Jesus’ road to Calvary did not begin with His final entry into Jerusalem, but instead extends all the way back to Bethlehem? From the moment He took His first breath, accompanied by an angel chorus and followed by the praise of shepherds, Jesus had one final earthly destination. From the cradle to the cross, Jesus walked one pathway. There were no detours.
So, during this season of remembrance and repentance, I invite you to join me as I explore the road leading to Easter. May we determine in our hearts today to acknowledge and repent of our sins as we focus from now until March 31 on spiritual disciplines that will draw us closer to the cross:
1. Reading the Bible daily
2. Praying the scriptures
3. Tending to the needs of others
These spiritual disciplines are not works leading to salvation, but rather works springing from salvation. May we each be prepared to learn more, to love more, and to serve more as we approach Easter.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Seeking Holiness 