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Jesus

April 5, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, Jesus, Local

by Brendon

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Holy Week

” Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart out of this world to the Father, having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end.” John 13:1

My son Grahm got out of bed last night, about 3 minutes after Amanda and I walked out of his room, came down to the living room where we were and just stood for a few seconds before asking a question that sparked a thought. Here is what Grahm asked:

” Dad, why dont you just watch the last episode to see who wins and then chose whether you watch the whole thing or go back and watch the whole season? “

Interesting thought from the almost 8-year-old sage. Why don’t we find out what happens at the end and then chose if we want to go to the beginning? I don’t think Grahm knew that he would be asking a question that defines what we see here in John 13, but he did.

Imagine Jesus at this moment in John 13. He has come to the moment in time that He was sent here for. Jesus knew the end was near. Jesus knew his betrayal, beating and death was close. So Jesus does what He needed to do, he takes his closest friends into a room and spends his last moments with them eating and celebrating the Passover. Then Jesus did something that no one thought he would do or even should do.

” Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things to his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples feet and top wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, ‘ Lord, do you wash my feet?’ Jesus answered him, ” What I am doing you do not understand now, but afterward you will understand.” Peter said to him, ‘ You shall never wash my feet.’ Jesus answered him, ” If I do not wash wash you, you have no share with me.” Simon Peter said to him, ‘ Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!’ Jesus said to him, ” The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, ” Not all of you are clean.” ” John 13:3-11

Let’s just take a moment to understand the situation that Jesus and the disciples are in. Jesus is the only one in the room that knows what is about to happen and what he is about to endure. Jesus is the only one in the room that knows what the Devil is doing inside of one man’s heart. Jesus is the only one to know that the person that will start and lead the Church here on earth is actually going to deny knowing him 3 times in the coming hours. Jesus knew……that anyone that would hear and believe what is about to happen to him, is worth it.

The act of washing the disciple’s feet is one that Jesus should never have done. It was the job of a servant or a slave. Like Jesus mentions, the only thing that most people would need to clean is their feet because they didn’t have shoes or anything to keep the dirt from coating their feet. So Jesus not only did something that was probably absolutely disgusting, but Jesus is continuing to teach and lead the disciples in a way that makes them continue to unlearn what they have always known or done.

As we move through Holy Week, according to John, the story now shifts from what Jesus did or was doing to where Jesus is going. Jesus is going to start the last hours he would be here on earth. He would be going towards a wild and raucous crowd that would eventually lead him to his crucifixion. Jesus knew he was going towards a tree that he would have to carry through the streets of Jerusalem up to a rock shaped as a skull. Jesus knew the hour had come for him to sacrifice His life for all those that will believe in Him.

Holy Week does not just remember what Jesus did in the moments leading up to his death and resurrection…..

Holy Week reminds us that Jesus had you in mind.

Holy Week reminds us that in the moments leading to Jesus’ death – he had you in mind.

Holy Week reminds us that Jesus has you in mind, because his Spirit is now here with us.

Holy Week is Holy Week because Jesus knew He was going to die and He chose to follow through.

Jesus shows us in washing his disciple’s feet, that he will do anything for you, including getting down and dirty to make you clean.

April 4, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, HCC, Jesus, Local

by Brendon

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Holy Week

Posted on April 4, 2023 by Brendon

” And Jesus cried out and said……” John 12:44a

Preachers. Some love them and some loathe them. There are different types of preachers all throughout the world and history. There are loud preachers, soft talkers, yellers, fire and brimstone, health and wealth and so many other ways to describe a preacher.

Jesus was a preacher. He was a very famous preacher, some might say arguably the best preacher of all time. I mean take a look at the sermon on the mount, some say if you want to know Jesus and what he was all about, read his sermon on the mount message. Seems to be the trendy thing right now…..I love reading Jesus’ teachings/preaching, I wish very greatly that I could ‘hear’ his sermons at some point or wish there were iPhones when he was alive there could be a secret society of people that keep all of his sermons that they were able to capture from wherever and whoever they could……ok, wishful thinking.

” When Jesus had said these things, he departed and hid himself from them. Though he had done so many signs before them, they still did not believe in him, so that the word spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: ‘ Lord, who has believed what he heard from us, and to who has the arm of the Lord been revealed?’ Therefore they could not believe. Again Isaiah said, ‘ he has blinded their eyes and hardened their heart, lest they see with their eyes, and understand with their hearts, and turn, and I would heal them’. Isaiah said these things because he saw his glory and spoke of him. Nevertheless, many even of the authorities believed in Him, but for fear of the Pharisees they did not confess it, so that they would not be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the glory that comes from man rather than the glory that comes from God.” John 12:36b-43

Here we read a few things, first off we read that Jesus in the last moments with a crowd… hides himself from them? Why does he do that? Why in the last moments he has in a public place would he hide himself? Not a scholar by any means, but when you think about the weight that had to be on Jesus’ shoulders in this moment, after coming right out and saying that he is going to die and that he had to be lifted up on a tree…and knowing all of the things had had shown and done and healed in front of these people he was surrounded by and they still did not believe…..anyone would need a moment to breathe. Second, we see that this also fulfills another prophecy about Jesus that was written in the book of Isaiah. Another sign that the crowd did not realize at the time. Lastly, we see that there is fear amongst the people that did believe so they didn’t do anything with their belief. Imagine believing in something but because of the fear of what another group would do or say or ban you from doing……so you keep it hidden for no one to see and you never act upon that belief…..that sounds oddly familiar.

Then we read the last collection of words that Jesus gives before He celebrates the Passover with his disciples and those closest to him and his betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion.

” And Jesus cried out and said, ” Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. If anyone hears my words and does keep them, I do not judge him, for I did not come to the world to judge the world but to save the world. The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day. For I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment – what to say and what to speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father who told me.” John 12:44-50

Can you take a moment and read those words again and let them sink in……..breathe these words in…….

To be honest, I had a question about this text, and when asked it started an over an hour-long conversation about the entire Gospel of John. There is a lot in here to unpack, but let’s keep it simple.

First off, Jesus cries out. As a preacher, emotion is one thing that can be a great thing but also can be a hindrance. Because sometimes a preacher uses to much emotion that it takes away from the potential words he will say. On the other hand, emotion can evoke emotion in someone else which will allow what is being said to stick with the listener(s). So right off the bat, know that if Jesus was up in front of you or a group of people or He was preaching at church this Sunday and he was closing with these words…..His voice would be slowly getting louder and louder and louder until he might sound like he is yelling, but this is the main thing!

Second, Jesus here clarifies and cements why he is here. Jesus was sent to this place to save the world and not judge it. Jesus doesn’t discount or disregard the notion of judgement, but He, Himself came to this world to give the chance for saving to take place. There are lots of big philosophical words we could use, but simply put, Jesus came because the one who sent him Loves his creation and Jesus came to prove that to those who will hear the words and walk with Jesus the rest of their life.

Finally, Jesus wants us to know where He was sent from and who sent Him. Jesus and the Father are one, and Jesus is the majestic representation of the omniscient God that created everything through and with Jesus. Jesus wants us to know that He did not come from anywhere but the heavens and that the one in heaven is the one who has given him the strength and power and mission to bring all those that will believe to know and be known by the Father that Jesus knows.

If you do anything else today….rest in these words and know that Jesus desires to know you and for you be known. Jesus desires to walk with you as light in the darkness so that you may also become a light in the darkness. Know that Jesus is with God as the Holy Spirit is with us. Know that when you believe the words that Jesus says, you have a power in you that is released for you to be light in a dark world for all people to see.

Jesus. The reason for Holy Week.

April 3, 2023

in Church, DTOTD, HCC, Jesus

by Brendon

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Holy Week

Posted on April 3, 2023 by Brendon

“ His disciples did not understand these things at first…” John 12:16a

Each year we come to this season where it is a conglomerate of things to come. It seems like this season gets busier and busier each year due to what is to come. It starts the warm weather, the sun gets up earlier and settles later, the birds are chirping all day long, the play time seems to increase more and more, Baseball is back in full swing, The NFL draft is coming up shortly, Hockey season is winding into the playoffs, March Madness is just about to end and best of all, its Masters Week. Throw in the new practices, game schedules, play practices, recitals and school winding down…you have the making of just a season of chaos….and it happens all within a month time!

But what about Easter…..you know that time we come to each year to remember and celebrate the man Jesus that sacrificed himself on a tree for you and for me?

Where does that fit in to the schedule?

Coming in to this Holy Week, I personally feel the burn of busyness. I am reminded by the to do list and tempers flaring at home. But is this what Holy Week should be like? Is this how we should remember the sacrifice?

The disciples probably felt the same way. These men and the women that were taking care of them and with them always are walking into the last week of Jesus’ life, not knowing what is to come, not knowing what their responses would be, and for sure not knowing what Jesus was about to do.

In John chapter 12, we see all sorts of things that are going in Jesus’ life – there is a plot thickening to kill him, there is a plot to kill Lazarus( a man that Jesus just rose from the dead ), Jesus is anointed with oil at Bethany the day before he is to arrive into Jerusalem to begin the long agonizing walk to his death, and then we find Jesus talking with both Jews and Greeks during a feast:

” Now is my soul troubled. And what shall I say? Father, save me from this hour? But for this purpose I have come to this hour. Father, glorify your name.” Then a voice came from heaven: ” I have glorified it and I will glorify it again.” The crowd stood there and hear it said and it had thundered. Others said, ” an angel has spoken to him.” Jesus answered, ” This voice has come for your sake, not mine. Now is the judgement of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out. And I when I am lifted up from the earth will draw all people to myself. He said this to show by what kid of death he was going to die. So the crowd answered him, ” we have heard from the Law that the Christ remains forever. How can you say that the son of Man bmust be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” So Jesus said to them, ” The light is among you for a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you. The one who walks in the darkness does not know where he is going. While you have the light, believe in the light, that you may become sons of light.” John 12: 27-36 esv

Holy Week leads to a heaviness of soul for Jesus.

The first line in this section shows how ever-present Jesus is to the situation or people that are around him, all the while continuing to be present and prayerful with his Heavenly Father. Jesus’ soul was troubled in this moment, probably due to the coming pain and suffering that he would endure for not just the people that are surrounding him now, but also all that come after them. Jesus’ soul was troubled because not only was he preparing the people around him for his death and giving them instruction, he had to convince them that what is saying is true. Jesus is a masterful teacher and when we think about Jesus’ teaching in the sermon on the mount when Jesus says seek first the kingdom of heaven and then here in John 12 Jesus says, ‘ walk while you have the light with you, so that you do not fall into darkness’.

Holy Week leads Jesus to his human side a lot.

The primary illustration of Jesus asking God to take this cup away from him is in Luke 22, but here in John 12, we see another instance where Jesus is crying to his heavenly father to take this away from him. How many times have we asked that of God?

God, take this fight with my spouse away…

God, take this problem at work away….

God, take this hard task of parenting a pre-teen away…

God, take my sorrow away…

God, show up in a way I don’t expect….

God, take this cup away from me…

Jesus though, knows that this is the reason that he is here. This is the reason that Jesus was sent to this earth. Jesus knows the Holy week leads to the purpose of him being away from his Father. So not only does Jesus walk back his prayer with ‘ Father, glorify your name.’ God tells Him, “I have glorified it, and I will again.” What if we received an answer from God from the heavens when we prayed those prayers of desperation or of need?

Holy Week leads to responding to the Light.

Jesus says, the light is only here for a little while longer….so stick with that light unless you want the darkness of the day to overtake you. Stay with the light so that you may become a son of light when the light is gone.

Holy week can be our response to the light that is betrayed, tried, beaten, mocked, and dragged up to a rock shaped like a skull where the light is hung on the tree for you and me and the light goes out…….

This is just the beginning…of Holy Week and what our response could be to the light.

March 29, 2023

in Church, Discipleship, DTOTD, HCC, Jesus, Local

by Brendon

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Rejoice Greatly – Mary Ann Miller

O daughter of Zion! Shout aloud, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your king is coming to you; righteous and having salvation is He, humble and mounted on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. Zechariah 9:9

I’ve been going thru a Lent devotional this past month, authored by Alicia Britt Chole. She has a flair for drawing out unusual perspectives on different events in the Gospels. Day 14 and 15 discussed Jesus entering Jerusalem the week before His death- what we call the “triumphal entry”. I can’t stop thinking about it. This was no Hollywood event- no paparazzi or limos, no flashes of cameras or cell phones in the air, no red carpet (except greenery and old cloaks!) or reporters with microphones. But yes: fans/ admirers/ followers/ disciples/ friends/ devotees/ the curious/ skeptics/ religious hoity toities/ and the haters. Protesters? Not that we know of.

What I am struck with is: when Jesus looked at the crowds, what did he see and feel, emotionally? All knowing and looking into each person’s heart and mind- does He feel anguish or disgust or sympathy? Or just plain LOVE? He knew of their soon to be betrayals and hypocrisy. But look at them…right now those humans are in the middle of heavy adoration and worshipping without abandon, similar to King David’s style! Almost as if they became kids again, not caring who saw them or what other’s thought. OK, some in this crowd didn’t share this sentiment! Jesus, saw it for what it was. He had just wept entering the city gates, concerning the fate of the Holy City, and also had an intense weight on His shoulders, about this future week. He would not let the suffering in His heart consume Him. He- was- present. Like time was standing still, He was taking it all in. “Ah, yes, this what My Father pleasures in”. Like warm sunshine and fragrant plant scents on a spring morning. Your senses wake up. YES…all the feels! But somehow He didn’t hang on to that for Himself. He reflected it back to the One who sent Him, deserving the praise and worship. His life briefly flashing before His eyes…oh, the culmination of gratitude of these 33 challenging years on earth. Then refocusing. PRESENT in the moment.

How can I be like that? He had way more reasons to worry about the future than us, but He was in the moment. Basking in it, letting it fill His being. He knew this would not strengthen or recharge Him. Aloneness with God would do that.

I think this “activity” is about “non activity”. “Be”ing not “do”ing. The person I want to be, Lord, will take some effort. Father, help us all to worship without abandon (even if it makes us feel uncomfortable), to be in Your presence, giving You honor, respect and glory. Hosanna! You Lord, are my strength and my song; You have become my salvation. (Psalm 118:14) You are my God, and I will give thanks to You; You are my God; I will extol you. Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever! (Psalm 118:28-29)

*personal commentary by a Jesus follower, Mary Ann Miller

February 23, 2023

in Church, HCC, Jesus

by Brendon

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amidst the chaos – Posted on November 9, 2022 by Brendon

” A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her ” Give me a drink.” – John 4:7

Could you just imagine this scene with me for a minute…a woman…in Jesus time being spoken to by a rabbi. Not likely. Jesus asking for a drink by this woman….more not likely. Then the woman in conversation with Jesus, a rabbi, not likely. But yet this is exactly where Jesus wanted to be. This was exactly the person that Jesus wanted to see and talk with. I have a feeling the woman had no thought of someone being at this well when she went. Historically, groups of women would go to the well to draw water together, but not this samaritan woman. She was by herself with no one to accompany her. She was by herself and minding her daily business by getting water.

Yesterday was voting day. It was a crazy scene at Harvester Christian Church. The church serves as a polling site for two precincts. One in our north lobby and one in our south. People were everywhere! People were also confused at which site they were supposed to be. No one was upset or angry, but just confused at where they should be. It reminded me of this moment with Jesus when this woman came near to draw water. As the people yesterday came wondering into the building looking for the civic duty they were about to perform, some of them came into the place that Jesus wanted them to walk in to.

I had the privilege of meeting one of these people yesterday. I have been charged with overseeing the candles for Christmas eve services. Doesn’t sound like much, but when you have a story that will never leave you, it is a big deal. The story is for another time, but as I power walked through the worship center to check on the battery powered candles…..I noticed a woman glancing around the lobby and the building. I could tell that this lady was looking for something, so in my grandest knowledge, I spoke up…..” can i help you?”

” Maybe, are you a member here?”

I was taken back. Not, I don’t know where to go or which precinct is this or where is the bathroom……are you a member here. There was something special about that question. She wasn’t looking for a staff member. She didn’t ask for a pastor. She didn’t ask for anything other than a member.

It struck me in a way that I wasn’t expecting. But then as I thought about it more, it made sense. The woman at the well didn’t ask who Jesus was when he addressed her. She actually never asked him his name. She spoke to him as if he was just asking for a drink. Until she realized he was a rabbi, then she talked to him a little different. What struck me about this lady that asked for a member was, she just wanted to talk to someone that goes to church in that church.

She had a lot to say. I listened to her concerns and how she had moved to the area 8 years ago to take care of her parents that have both unfortunately passed away. But now she was looking for a church to be a part of but she wanted to make sure that she was a part of a church that she could fit in to. That was one that she felt that she could ask questions and be heard and be able to grow in her relationship and understanding of Jesus.

The thing about asking a staff member something, or maybe it is a manager at a restaurant or a lead salesmen at a car dealer…..is more often than not, we have a canned answer. We live in a world where scripts and robots answer our phone calls and attempt to answer our questions. More often than not, we end those conversations being frustrated and our questions still not answered. So what did this lady do…she wanted to get the opinion and the answer to her questions from someone that goes to church.

I was humbled to talk with this woman for about 10 minutes or so as we talked about everything from how the worship service is created to how the old testament is just as important to understand as the new testament. We talked about the length of the service and what she could expect when she came in to encounter Jesus. All questions that anyone that goes to church could answer.

However, when the conversation was over, it struck me just how important and impactful being a member of a church is.

In the midst of the business that surrounded the moment and the day, a woman was looking for a place to encounter Jesus. She just wanted to talk to a member.

What if that was you?

What if you were approached by someone in the midst of your busyness and chaos of the day, would you have stopped?

The amount of chaos and hurry in our lives is sometimes just completely overwhelming. I feel it, almost on a daily basis. We wake up in the morning hurrying to make breakfasts and lunches for the kids to get to school. We have to get ourselves ready at the same time to take the kids to school or to go to work. And we go and go and go all day long until we get home to get the kids from school. Then the fun starts, balancing play time with school work and dinner prep and showers and picking up the house. Then bedtime is always, one more kiss, one more cuddle, one more song, 5 more minutes of reading, bedtime takes too long and you hurry through it to be able to just sit and do nothing. You finally get a chance to sit, then you look at the kitchen with all the dishes and the toys that are still out on the floor that you don’t want to step on in the middle of the night. So by the time you actually get to sit, its time for bed.

Go to sleep. Wake up. Do it all over again.

As much as I know Jesus was where he was on purpose. Jesus demonstrated something in this encounter with this samaritan woman that we need to be aware of……

When we have the chance to talk with someone on how they can encounter Jesus, it is better to stop and be in the moment rather than think about all the things you need to get done.

Being a member or an attendee is more than just going to church and leaving church.

Being a member or an attendee gives you the ability to help others encounter Jesus, wherever you are.

Don’t miss that opportunity because of the busyness and chaos that might be surrounding you.

Jesus

Holy Week

Holy Week

Holy Week

Rejoice Greatly – Mary Ann Miller

amidst the chaos – Posted on November 9, 2022 by Brendon

From the HCC Outreach Team: