Why take the journey?

I find the fact that Jesus invites us very interesting and even fascinating!

Interesting because He already knows our name.

• He knows us better than ourselves. 
• He knows who we are and who we will be and what we can become.

Fascinating because of who He is.

• He is God. He is the beginning and the end.
• He is all in all

It's easy to take this for granted. It's easy to overlook that the creator of the universe. Knows you. In the midst of all the things going on all around us, He knows us and invites us!

...wow, He knows our name and our heart.

You being known speaks to how valuable you are to the kingdom

You being known is a validation that you are part of something bigger than yourself

This morning I want to share Psalm 139:1-6

“You have searched me, Lord, and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭139:1-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://www.bible.com/111/psa.139.1-6.niv

So who do you relate to?

I am in Day 35 of One On One: Days with Jesus--Passion.

Let's review the accounts of Jesus' last days. Who do you relate to?

• Do you relate to the Centurion soldier. Who watched, wondered, and then upon placing his spear in His side, the earth shook.
• Do you relate to Mary Magdalene, the first to see Jesus. The one whose past was rough, yet her redemption was epic.
• Do you relate to Peter who denied Jesus yet when he heard that Jesus had risen from the grave, he ran to the tomb!

We can all place ourselves in the sandals of many of the central figures in this account. What if I told you, The spark that was experienced by those followers of Jesus back then impact us just as much today? Because of what they experienced, it started the church.

What they experienced they responded to.

We can experience a lot of moments, things, emotions, and events. It how respond to the event that makes the difference. This is true in a lot of things in our life.

To respond to Jesus is what we can't miss. Many people know about Jesus. They may have seen a billboard, a t-shirt and even heard a song. But the response it what matters.

A personal relationship is what we are called to respond to. But as I shared the other day, we are invited to share that hope because of who Jesus is in our life. Nothing more important. Nothing more significant.

The Apostle Paul in Philippians 3:12-13 wrote these words

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” ‭‭Philippians‬ ‭3:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Respond to your experience with Jesus 

It's so hard to say goodbye...

I am in Day 34 of One On One: Days with Jesus--Passion.

I know I am dating myself (but I'm ok with that). Boyz II Men was one my favorite bands growing up in the late 80's and into the 90's.

The vocal harmony, R&B, A cappella was my jam. One of favorites was "Motownphilly" but by far my favorite was (and is) "It's So Hard to Say Goodbye to Yesterday".

There is something so moving about saying good bye to someone you care about. I remember when you could walk all the way to the gate at the airport when you were dropping someone off.  The long goodbye, the feelings, the thought "When will I see you again?"

This is were find ourselves this account. Matthew 28 the Disciples were with Jesus. The Mount of Olives. A place they had been to time and time again. It says that Jesus shared the greatest commission and two great statements.

Those two statements are "all authority has been given to Me", the second "I am with you always". These two statements are incredible! Jesus says I have, I am, and I will.

• I have been given all authority
• I am who I said I am.
• I will be with you always

This must of been overwhelming and comforting. Wow Jesus

But in between these two pieces of bread is some meat to the why. Jesus also said go make disciples to all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spiirt. Teach them to obey ask the command I have given you

It's not goodbye, It's go. It's not goodbye, It know that He is with us. ...and He will be back. Until then live out this great commission!

We're just getting started!

I am in Day 33 of One On One: Days with Jesus--Passion.

We're just getting started! It was just the beginning. It is probably human nature to believe that walking with Christ is a destination and end or even a goal.

But what if I told you that is the beginning?  When Jesus says "come to me all who are weary..." is an invitation to begin

Begin to look at things from  different perspective.
Begin to believe in someone and something bigger than ourselves.
Begin to turn the world upside down.

...and that's what about to happen in this account. The spark. A supernatural spark. I love this account in John 21. The disciples back on the Sea of Galilee. Back in the boat. Catching fish for dinner. But the next morning. ...again, we know what happens, Jesus appears on the shore. Again, they don't know that the very person they are talking to is Jesus.

Throw the new on the right side. I am fascinated by this instruction from Jesus. He didn't say through it back in. He said throw it on the right side of the boat. The right side. The other side. Was this a subtle preview of what Christianity was going to be. Something different. A movement that is different. A movement that it says in Acts 17:6 that would cause all kinds of trouble in that the world would come to hear of "the Way"?

Peter! Peter then recognized who He was! It is the Lord. What happened next was just the beginning. A conversation, a charge, a challenge, a movement would begin. A fire was not only set to cook but it was set in the hearts of these disciples.

It was the beginning of "The Way" the Church.  A supernatural spark was the beginning!

Mary was there until the end...

I am in Day 29 of One On One: Days with Jesus--Passion.

Then there was Mary Magdalene. While Peter and John ran to the tomb, Mary had gone way back with Jesus. Going way back to her times in Magdala she remained with Jesus, supporting His ministry. She had history with Jesus. Jesus knew her pain. He knew her story. 

Mary was there when Jesus died on Friday, and now it's Sunday. Jesus stepped out of the shadows, stepped out of the shadows to say hi to (guess who) Mary. It's important to know that Peter and John only saw the empty grave but Mary was the first eye witness.

Now put yourself in Mary's sandals. What was that moment like?  To hear His voice. The very voice that she heard as He healed, redeemed, and rebuked. Jesus approached her in the garden. She didn't recognize Jesus right away. Through her tears she heard Jesus say "Mary..."

There's something about this moment that is such an important truth. We must persevere! Following Jesus calls us out to never give up. The passage this morning is John 20:1-18

May we persevere, never give up, Jesus conquered the grave!

In need!

I am in Day 28 of One On One: Days with Jesus--Passion.

Jesus came back!

This is such a significant point in history! Significant for many reasons but let’s make it personal! Place yourself in Peter’s shoes - which honestly it is easy for all of us ...right?

Three days of regret. Three days of sadness. Three days of defeat. Then the news. The most incredible news. The news that changed everything!

Peter couldn’t get to the tomb fast enough! He didn’t walk, he didn’t jog, it says he ran! What makes someone run instead of walk? What’s makes us move with a sense of recklessness? I would suggest it is because of the need! The need for redemption. The need for forgiveness. The need for purpose. The need to be back with Jesus!

Popular song titled "Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing" captures this thought. "Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, Prone to leave the God I love". I think this is where Peter was, and I think this is where we find ourselves at times...

May we also realize the need. May that need eclipse our excuses! May it make us not walk, not jog, but run... 

Our faith in Christ is because of He came back is a truth we can anchor to. It is because He did, we have. We have the hope and the promise and the future in God! 

“And if Christ has not been raised, your faith is futile; you are still in your sins.” ‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15:17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What do you do with pain?

I am in Day 27 of One On One: Days with Jesus--Passion.

Pain is such an interesting word right.

• Pain is used to motivate: Pain is weakness leaving the body
• Pain is used to inspire: No pain no gain
• Pain is used to comfort: Without pain, without sacrifice, we would have nothing.

Just google the word and there are so many quotes, stories, and testimonies about what pain has done in somebody's life!

I am not making light of those truths about overcoming adversity, obstacles, or set backs. But pain is... well, painful.

Now place yourself in the shoes of the disciples on the Saturday after the Friday that Christ died. 

"What just happened?", "Oh there goes that roster again", "What now?" Try to imagine what Mary Magdalene was thinking. "I need to go care for the body in the tomb..."

Our modern quotes of inspiration, would likely not inspire them.

This was the Saturday before the resurrection. It was the moment before the event that changed everything! The disciples and the women who supported Jesus' ministry were in that space between two real truths. Grief and pain are a reality. Grief and pain don't ask for permission to join you on your journey. They don't ask to see when you are available to meet. They don't care if you are busy doing other things. 

But let's not forget the second truth. God is with us. He draws near in our pain. He sovereign and He is behind the scenes.

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” ‭‭Galatians‬ ‭6:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Nicodemus watched too!

I am in Day 26 of One On One: Days with Jesus--Passion.

Nicodemus, Joseph, and Pilate other central figure in this crucifixion account. 

They all watched. I bet they even wondered.

Nicodemus heard about this Jesus and His teaching.

Joseph wondered when he could bury Jesus.

Pilate was likely wondering when the political nightmare would end.

 I can't even imagine what it must of been like to prepare Jesus' body for burial. What was it like when they watched the stone close the tomb

We know what happens next – they did not.

We know the victory – they did know yet.

To know how the account ends is such a benefit. But so is hope. Hope is the ending that is our benefit. We can get through this. We know how the account ends! 

...to know the ending is the hope what's next.

John 19:38-42

It was nine in the morning

I am in Day 25 of One On One: Days with Jesus--Passion.

It is an incredible reminder of the Centurion Soldier's perspective of the crucifixion of Christ. It is easy to read over what this soldier experienced. He watched. He heard. He saw.

He watched how they mocked Jesus with a sign "The King of the Jews"
He heard them yelling insults and ridiculing Him.
He saw saw the other two who didn't get as much "attention as Jesus did.

I wonder what questions he pondered. Isn't this man a rabbi? Why did they excuse Barabbas? All of these soldiers were here to escort this teacher? What are they mocking Him as a king?

Then Jesus screamed before His last breath "tetelestai!" as claim of victory! IT IS FINISHED!

,,,the Centurion plunged the spear in His side. ...and the earth shook!

I can say without any reservation that this moment got everyone's attention. Jesus is the Messiah. He is the Messiah now and always will be. No matter what the uncertainty or instability. He is the deliverer, He is the Savior, He is the Anointed One.