He is Not Here

This Sunday is Easter Sunday. It's a day when traditionally we rejoice with the women as they bring the good news to the disciples that the tomb is empty. We marvel with Mary as she meets Jesus in the garden. We celebrate Jesus victory over death. 

This year though, as we follow the assigned texts from the Revised Common Lectionary, from the book of Mark, we find ourselves somewhat confused. Yes, the women come to finish the job of preparing Jesus body, yes, the tomb is empty, and yes they receive the message that Jesus has risen and the direction to go and tell the rest of the disciples, but the passage ends abruptly with the womon running away in terror, not telling anyone.

We have to wonder what this means. We have to wonder what Mark is trying to tell us in this abrupt ending if it is, in fact, the end (some theologians feel that part of Mark's manuscript has been lost). We have to wonder how the terror of the women might affect our joy on this day.

This Easter Sunday we will wonder together about how we respond to the empty tomb and the Good News it symbolizes.

We Want to See Jesus

What does it mean to want to see Jesus?

The Gospel of John tells the story of some Greeks who come to Jesus disciples asking to see him. This takes place just days after Lazarus is raised from the dead, just days after Jesus rides into the city of Jerusalem to the cries of Hosana, just days after he had cleared the merchants out of the temple. Jesus was making the news. The things he was doing were talked about around the neighbourhood wells and in the streets. He had become something of a celebrity.

I wonder what those Greek visitors expected to see. I wonder what they were hoping to learn. The Gospel doesn't tell us if Jesus even met them, but the fact that they wanted to see him for themselves says something about them and their desire to understand who this Jesus was.

I wonder too, how many of us really want to see Jesus. Are we satisfied with the picture we carry in our minds or who he was and is. So often, we make Jesus into what we need him to be rather than really trying to see who he is.

This Sunday, we will spend some time thinking about seeing Jesus. Who is he to us and how can we help those around us see him too.

For God So Loved....

In all of the Bible, John 3:16 is likely the most well-known verse. It's also the one that has been drawn into popular culture more than any other. We see it promoted at sports events. we see 3:16 tattooed on biceps and waved on signs at protests.  The text fully deserves this prominence. It is powerful, it summarizes God's love for the creation and the extent to which God will go to reconcile a fallen world. 

In his commentary on John, Dale Bruner points out that he once saw John 3:16 laid out as follows as a way to highlight the amazing power in this most famous of Bible verses:

“God ……………………………………………………………The greatest subject ever
So (much)…………………………………………………….. The greatest extent ever
Loved………………………………………………………….. The greatest affection ever
The world (kosmos)…………………………………………. The greatest object ever
That He gave His One-and-Only Son,…………………….. The greatest gift ever
So that every single individual, whoever, …………………..The greatest opportunity ever
Who is [simply] entrusting oneself to him…………………. The greatest commitment ever
Would never be destroyed, ………………………………….The greatest rescue ever
“But would even now have a deep, lasting Life.” ………….The greatest promise ever

The verses around this famous one, describe how Jesus, that one, and only son, will be lifted up, not only on the cross but all the way up to heaven, to make this reconciliation possible, to bring light into the world. 

This Sunday, the fourth Sunday of Lent, we will spend time reveling in God's love, recognizing that Jesus has been lifted up for all of us to see and to find life through him.