JOHN 20: 19-23   

‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ (v. 21)

As we come to the end of this little series, we find ourselves at a beginning. When Jesus set out on the journey with his disciples the goal had been Jerusalem, the cross and the empty grave (Mark 9: 33), but that was not the final destination, they were not meant to remain there.

As Jesus stands among the disciples and greets them with a reassuring and comforting ‘Peace be with you´ (v.19), he makes it clear that a new era has dawned, it was not ‘back to normal’. Jesus had completed his mission, now the mission of the disciples were about to begin: ‘As the Father has sent me, I am sending you’ (v. 21).

It is important to note how this commission is linked with receiving the Holy Spirit (v. 22). The disciples had gone through the best discipleship course ever. They had walked and lived with Jesus for three years, seen his miracles, heard his teaching and received his guidance, and yet, Jesus says, they were not ready to be witnesses. They are to stay in Jerusalem until they have received ‘power from on high’ (Luke 24:49), they have to ‘wait for the gift my Father has promised’ (Acts 1:4), before launching out in mission.

We too are sent by Jesus to be witnesses of the death and resurrection of Jesus. Through our fellowship we are called to demonstrate and proclaim the new, abundant and eternal life found in Jesus. If we are to do that, if we are to live Kingdom lives, we too desperately need the Holy Spirit and his power in our lives.

There is a difference between us and the disciples though;  we do not have to wait for forty days. The promised Holy Spirit has been poured out; his power is available to those that ask for it, open themselves to him and wait to receive. As we prepare ‘to leave Jerusalem’ and live for Jesus let us pray

Look down and see this waiting host,

Give us the promised Holy Ghost,
We want another Pentecost,
Send the fire!

MATTHEW 27:11-26   

‘Then he released Barabbas’ (v. 26).

Have you ever wondered how Barabbas felt as he woke up Saturday morning, the day after he had been released and Jesus had been crucified? Just 24 hours before he had been in prison, facing an uncertain future, maybe even execution. He was charged, and very likely guilty, as a terrorist and murderer and in the custody of the Roman governor (Mark 15:7). The future prospects had definitely not looked good and yet now he was a free man.

We have no way of knowing how the incident affected him, but since he does not re-appear in the New Testament, it is at least likely that he did not join the disciples and become a follower of Jesus. But this Saturday morning he was free, and while he might not have understood it, he became a living illustration of what happened at Easter: He walked free because Jesus was condemned and died.

While we might neither be terrorists or murderers, we are in the same position as Barabbas: We are guilty and condemned and only because of Jesus’ death have we through faith in him been forgiven and set free. This should fill us with awe and gratefulness and make us ask, with Charles Wesley:

Amazing love! how can it be

That Thou, my God, shouldst die for me?

but rather than just being relieved, as Barabbas very likely was, or even lost in wonder, let us today rejoice that we have been set free and understand that we have been set free to follow him.

My chains fell off, my heart was free,

I rose, went forth, and followed Thee.

LUKE 23: 26-49   

‘All those who knew him…stood at a distance, watching these things’
(v. 49)

  There are many people identified by the gospel writers at Calvary: the two criminals, the centurion, the chief priests, Simon of Cyrene, Mary, John and so on. Two people not mentioned, but yet there, are you and me.

  While of course not physically or historically present at Calvary, we must find ourselves at the cross if we want to be disciples of Jesus, if we want to walk with him and live for him. This is so not only because it is through the death of Christ that we gain life, but because the cross and all it stands for is the central and crucial message of our faith. Without it there is no message to share, no kingdom to proclaim, and no transformation to be experienced.

  Paul was clear about this, ‘I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified’ (1. Cor. 2:2), but he also realised that preaching Christ crucified was to onlookers a ‘stumbling-block…and foolishness’. This has not changed since then, but neither has the truth that for us who are called it is ‘the power of God and the wisdom of God’ (1. Cor. 1:23-24).

  We can hope and dream of God’s kingdom; we can work and pray for it to be revealed more and more in our world today, but God’s reign, his justice and peace, is only experienced and manifested through the cross. It is equally true though, that we only truly embrace the cross when engaging in God’s kingdom work in our everyday life. As the English theologian Tom Wright has put it, ‘Those who are put right with God through the cross are to be putting-right people for the world’

  As we today find ourselves at the cross of Jesus, let us resolve for it always to be the centre of our life, faith and service. Let us with Paul pray: ‘As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ’ (Gal. 6:14 NLT) and go, forgiven and redeemed, and do ‘the good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do’ (Eph. 2: 10) 

MARK 14:53-72   

‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about’ (v. 71)

When Jesus was arrested in Gethsemane ‘everyone deserted him and fled’ (Mark 14:50), but rather than running away and hide, Peter followed Jesus, which is why he found himself in the court yard of the high priest. Mark tells us that he did so ‘at a distance’ (v. 54). The impression one gets is that Peter followed far enough behind Jesus not to get noticed or dragged into anything.

Following at a distance can sometimes be tempting, but it is also very risky. It is when we stay far enough away not to be noticed, not to get involved, not to be identified. It is when we have heard the call of Jesus to leave everything and follow him, but choose not to quite give everything up, when we want to stay in control of our life and circumstances, and not give it all over to him. It is, when we find ourselves in circumstances where our surroundings are not overtly Christian, and we decide to compromise and mix in with the crowd rather than be seen as being different and maybe even strange.

It has nothing to do with our faith or belief. Peter did not deny that Jesus was the Messiah or the Son of God, what he denied was that he knew him; he did not want to be recognised as a follower of Jesus. While Peter maybe should be commended for at least following at a distance then his story reminds us that following at a distance always, sooner or later, leads to denial, to disowning Jesus.

Later Peter wrote this encouragement in his first letter: ‘If you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name’ (1. Peter 4:16). He had realised that while following Jesus and being recognised as his follower might involve suffering, it was far to be preferred from the consequence of following at a distance.

To ponder: Let us consider whether there are areas where we might be at risk of ‘following at a distance’ and ask God for strength and boldness to ‘bear his name’ and be known as his disciples.

MARK 14:10-11   

‘Then Judas…went to the chief priests to betray Jesus to them’ (v. 10)

This verse follows immediately after the anointing Jesus in Bethany. It seems as if it was that incident which made Judas decide to go to the priests and betray Jesus. It is of course a matter of speculation trying to understand why Judas betrayed Jesus. John more than implies Judas was embezzling the disciples’ funds (John 12:6) and so one could guess that he did for personal gain.

It seems more likely, however, that his reaction when Jesus is condemned gives a clue as to his motivation. Matthew tells of how ‘when Judas…realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse’ (Mat. 27:3 NLT). Some commentaries suggest that Judas was disappointed with the way things were developing. As Jesus showed no sign of commencing the struggle against the oppressors, maybe Judas thought he could force his hand by engineering a confrontation? It seems as if it was when it dawned on him things were not working out as expected he regretted his action – that it had never been his intention that Jesus should be condemned, quite the opposite.

Such speculations make little difference to our lives and faith today. What we can learn from this incident though, is to question whose agenda we are following in our lives with Jesus? Judas had his own agenda, and he tried to use Jesus to further it. Our agenda probably is not an armed uprising, but maybe prosperity, health, position, or a host of other things. Whatever it is, when Jesus calls us to follow him, he also calls us to give up our own agenda and fully live for his.

Let us learn from Judas not to follow our own agenda, but to consider ‘everything a loss compared to the greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord’ (Phil. 3:8) and ask his Spirit to reveal to us where this is not the case. 

MARK 15:1-15   

‘Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified’ (v. 15).

Pilate was caught between a rock and a hard place. The Jewish leaders had brought Jesus to him to have him tried and condemned. It quickly became apparent to Pilate that there was no substance in the charges brought against Jesus and the right thing to do would be to let Jesus go.

It would have been a straight forward case, if it had not been for the Jewish leaders and the crowd gathered outside. They did not want Jesus released, but wanted him crucified and they did not leave Pilate in doubt thereof.

As we know, Pilate did not release Jesus, but gave him over to be crucified, while he tried to relieve himself of any responsibility for the wrong doing. His reason for doing this was ‘to satisfy the crowd’ (v. 15). It is unlikely Pilate was afraid of what the crowd could do; he did have the power of Rome behind him. It is much more likely that he, as other translations put it, wanted to please the crowd, he wanted them to like him, to be popular.

While there is nothing wrong in being popular, popularity carries with it an inherent danger. Jesus made us aware of this when he said, ‘Woe to you when everyone speaks well of you’ (Luke 6:26). The danger is that we begin to live for the praise of others, that our decisions are guided by what will make us popular and well liked.

Letting popularity set our course and guide our actions is a recipe for disaster. It is of course not better to seek to be unpopular – there is no special virtue in that either. Our task, is ‘to be true, not popular’ (Luke 6:26 MSG). We are to be true to God, to his word and to his calling upon us, and for this we have received the Holy Spirit, who will guide us ‘into all truth’ (John 16:12)

To pray: Holy Spirit, lead me today and every day in all truth and give me the power and boldness to live by your truth.

MARK 14:1-9   

‘They said to each other, “Why waste the perfume?’

The meeting between Jesus and this woman is so intimate that it made the observers uncomfortable. Mark does not give much detail of what actually happened, whereas Luke in his version tells us how the woman wet Jesus’ feet with her tears, wiped them with her hair and kissed them and poured perfume on them (Luke 7:36-50). It was so intimate that to the disciples it was improper, maybe even indecent, but certainly undignified in such a public setting.

Jesus did not have a problem with her actions. It was an act of worship and the woman shows us what worship is. It is not primarily singing, praying, dancing, laughing, crying, reading – although all of these can be part of worship. Worship is what the woman did: pouring out our heart to Jesus, expressing our love and adoration for him, even when others might find it embarrassing and undignified.

Worship is supposed to be intimate. It is, of course, to declare the greatness of God, it is to bow down to the Majesty in awe, but it is also an intimate meeting with the lover of our soul, where we, who have been forgiven much, express our love to our Saviour.

To the onlookers, it seemed as a waste. The danger though, then and now, is that we get so caught up with what ought to be done, the needs around us and the enormous task before us, that we forget all our service must begin with and flow out of our love for Jesus. Worship is not a waste, it is the only prober response in the presence of Jesus and without it we risk to achieve nothing with all our deeds (1. Cor. 13, 1-3).

LUKE 19:28-44   

‘As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” They replied, “The Lord needs it.”’ (v. 33-34).

How would you have reacted? Imagine you came outside your home and two men are getting ready to drive away in your car, on your bike, or whatever means of transportation you might own. You very likely would have reacted like the owners of the donkey and asked, ‘What are you doing?’ I know I would, and I probably would have been not just a little bit agitated.

The real question, though, is not what our reaction would be to someone taking our car or bike, but what our reaction would be as the men answered our initial question. The two disciples untying the colt looked at the owners and replied, as Jesus had instructed them, that ‘The Lord needs it.’ Amazingly, when the owners heard this they just let the disciples go with the colt.

A more natural reaction would have been to begin asking questions. We tend not to want to say outright ‘No’ to the Lord, even if that is what you want to. Instead, we begin to question: Are you sure the Lord meant this colt? How can I be sure you will bring it to the Lord? Does it need to be now? How can I know it is the Lord saying this? You can add your own questions, but more often than not they are just excuses for not being obedient, a subtle way of avoiding to let Jesus have his way. Not so with the owners of the colt, they let the disciples take the colt without any questions or apparent reluctance.

Theologically we might understand that we have nothing that we have not been given, nothing that does not already belong to the Lord and we might even sing ‘Take my silver, take my gold’, but how will we react when it becomes reality, when someone begins “to untie the colt”?

LUKE 22: 1-6   

‘The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way to do away with Jesus’ (v. 2 MSG)

  The chief priests and the teachers of the law had made their minds up: Jesus was to be killed. The decision was made after Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. Many Jews began to put their faith in Jesus and the religious establishment felt their position threatened(John 11: 48). Interestingly they did not question that Jesus was ‘performing many miraculous signs’ (John 11:47) and they also ‘were amazed at him’ (Mark 12:17) when he countered their attempts at trapping him in religious arguments. But it did not change their minds, Jesus was to die.

When Jesus was hanging on the cross they literally added insult to injury, mockingly challenging him, ‘Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe’ (Mark 15:32). But I wonder if that would have changed anything?

It think it was C.S. Lewis that pointed out that it is not so much a matter of seeing is believing, but rather that believing is seeing. The chief priests could not believe, because Jesus did not fit their expectations to the promised Messiah, and because they could not believe they could not see, even when the glory of God was in front of them.

                 We can be tempted to shake our heads in disbelief at the chief priests, but maybe we should rather pray that we will not fall into the same trap as they. God works in mysterious ways and reveals himself in unexpected places and people. Even with the best of intentions, we also run the risk of not recognizing him. Rather than saying, as the chief priests, this can’t be God, let us learn to ask: Is this you, God? so we will not miss him and his glory.

                  Maybe we should personalise Paul’s prayer for the Ephesians and pray that ‘the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, give the Spirit, who will make wise and reveal God to , so that will know him’ (Eph. 1:17 GNB), remembering the promise of Jesus, ‘If you believe you will see God’s glory’ (John 11: 40 CEB). 

MARK 12:28-34   

‘You are not far from the kingdom of God’ (v. 34)

The man who met Jesus in this text is identified as one of the ‘teachers of the law’ (v. 28). One translation calls him a ‘legal expert’ (CEB),but the Message translation is probably more helpful when identifying him as a ‘religion scholar.’ He was a man well versed in the Jewish Scriptures and religious traditions and he was impressed with how Jesus had handled a debate with the Sadducees concerning the resurrection (v. 18-27).

In the short conversation he has with Jesus it becomes clear that he had a good and correct understanding of the Scriptures and that he knew that faith should be expressed not primarily in religious rituals, but in love to God and love to neighbour. For this Jesus commends him and then goes on to proclaim ‘You are not far from the kingdom of God’ (v. 34).

This scholar joins with other people we meet in the New Testament who were close to the Kingdom: The rich young man (Mark 10:17-25) who only lacked one thing and King Agrippa, who himself exclaimed that Paul was close to convincing him to become a Christian (Acts 26:28 MSG). They were all close, but not quite there.

Paul, speaking to King Agrippa, makes it clear that the question is not whether you are close or far away, but that you arrive, that you actually enter the Kingdom.

No matter where we are in relation to the Kingdom of God, we have one thing in common: To arrive we need to move in the right direction from where we are just now and that is the lesson we can learn today: Whether close or far away from the Kingdom the important thing is that we are moving towards the kingdom, the reign of God, all the time.

To ponder: What will it today mean for me to move closer to the kingdom and the reign of God?