What is Truth?

Good Friday April 10, 2020

What is Truth?

The scripture today is a long one, both chapters 18 and 19 of John’s Gospel.

Let us take time to read the scripture,

perhaps finding something new in these familiar verses:

18 After Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to a place where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. ² Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, because Jesus often met there with his disciples. ³ So Judas brought a detachment of soldiers together with police from the chief priests and the Pharisees, and they came there with lanterns and torches and weapons. ⁴ Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” ⁵ They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. ⁶ When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they stepped back and fell to the ground. ⁷ Again he asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” ⁸ Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So if you are looking for me, let these men go.” ⁹ This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken, “I did not lose a single one of those whom you gave me.” ¹⁰ Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it, struck the high priest’s slave, and cut off his right ear. The slave’s name was Malchus. ¹¹ Jesus said to Peter, “Put your sword back into its sheath. Am I not to drink the cup that the Father has given me?”

¹² So the soldiers, their officer, and the Jewish police arrested Jesus and bound him. ¹³ First they took him to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. ¹⁴ Caiaphas was the one who had advised the Jews that it was better to have one person die for the people.

¹⁵ Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. Since that disciple was known to the high priest, he went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest, ¹⁶ but Peter was standing outside at the gate. So the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out, spoke to the woman who guarded the gate, and brought Peter in. ¹⁷ The woman said to Peter, “You are not also one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” ¹⁸ Now the slaves and the police had made a charcoal fire because it was cold, and they were standing around it and warming themselves. Peter also was standing with them and warming himself.

¹⁹ Then the high priest questioned Jesus about his disciples and about his teaching. ²⁰ Jesus answered, “I have spoken openly to the world; I have always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where all the Jews come together. I have said nothing in secret. ²¹ Why do you ask me? Ask those who heard what I said to them; they know what I said.” ²² When he had said this, one of the police standing nearby struck Jesus on the face, saying, “Is that how you answer the high priest?” ²³ Jesus answered, “If I have spoken wrongly, testify to the wrong. But if I have spoken rightly, why do you strike me?” ²⁴ Then Annas sent him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.

²⁵ Now Simon Peter was standing and warming himself. They asked him, “You are not also one of his disciples, are you?” He denied it and said, “I am not.” ²⁶ One of the slaves of the high priest, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, asked, “Did I not see you in the garden with him?” ²⁷ Again Peter denied it, and at that moment the cock crowed.

²⁸ Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover. ²⁹ So Pilate went out to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” ³⁰ They answered, “If this man were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you.” ³¹ Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him according to your law.” The Jews replied, “We are not permitted to put anyone to death.” ³² (This was to fulfill what Jesus had said when he indicated the kind of death he was to die.)

³³ Then Pilate entered the headquarters again, summoned Jesus, and asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” ³⁴ Jesus answered, “Do you ask this on your own, or did others tell you about me?” ³⁵ Pilate replied, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests have handed you over to me. What have you done?” ³⁶ Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not from this world. If my kingdom were from this world, my followers would be fighting to keep me from being handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not from here.” ³⁷ Pilate asked him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.” ³⁸ Pilate asked him, “What is truth?”

After he had said this, he went out to the Jews again and told them, “I find no case against him. ³⁹ But you have a custom that I release someone for you at the Passover. Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” ⁴⁰ They shouted in reply, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a bandit.

19 Then Pilate took Jesus and had him flogged. ² And the soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they dressed him in a purple robe. ³ They kept coming up to him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and striking him on the face. ⁴ Pilate went out again and said to them, “Look, I am bringing him out to you to let you know that I find no case against him.” ⁵ So Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them, “Here is the man!” ⁶ When the chief priests and the police saw him, they shouted, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and crucify him; I find no case against him.” ⁷ The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to that law he ought to die because he has claimed to be the Son of God.”

⁸ Now when Pilate heard this, he was more afraid than ever. ⁹ He entered his headquarters again and asked Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer. ¹⁰ Pilate therefore said to him, “Do you refuse to speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?” ¹¹ Jesus answered him, “You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.” ¹² From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, “If you release this man, you are no friend of the emperor. Everyone who claims to be a king sets himself against the emperor.”

¹³ When Pilate heard these words, he brought Jesus outside and sat on the judge’s bench at a place called The Stone Pavement, or in Hebrew Gabbatha. ¹⁴ Now it was the day of Preparation for the Passover; and it was about noon. He said to the Jews, “Here is your King!” ¹⁵ They cried out, “Away with him! Away with him! Crucify him!” Pilate asked them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but the emperor.” ¹⁶ Then he handed him over to them to be crucified.

So they took Jesus; ¹⁷ and carrying the cross by himself, he went out to what is called The Place of the Skull, which in Hebrew is called Golgotha. ¹⁸ There they crucified him, and with him two others, one on either side, with Jesus between them. ¹⁹ Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews.” ²⁰ Many of the Jews read this inscription, because the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, in Latin, and in Greek. ²¹ Then the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘This man said, I am King of the Jews.’” ²² Pilate answered, “What I have written I have written.” ²³ When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, one for each soldier. They also took his tunic; now the tunic was seamless, woven in one piece from the top. ²⁴ So they said to one another, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it to see who will get it.” This was to fulfill what the scripture says,

“They divided my clothes among themselves,
    and for my clothing they cast lots.”

²⁵ And that is what the soldiers did.

Meanwhile, standing near the cross of Jesus were his mother, and his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. ²⁶ When Jesus saw his mother and the disciple whom he loved standing beside her, he said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” ²⁷ Then he said to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his own home.

²⁸ After this, when Jesus knew that all was now finished, he said (in order to fulfill the scripture), “I am thirsty.” ²⁹ A jar full of sour wine was standing there. So they put a sponge full of the wine on a branch of hyssop and held it to his mouth. ³⁰ When Jesus had received the wine, he said, “It is finished.” Then he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.

³¹ Since it was the day of Preparation, the Jews did not want the bodies left on the cross during the sabbath, especially because that sabbath was a day of great solemnity. So they asked Pilate to have the legs of the crucified men broken and the bodies removed. ³² Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who had been crucified with him. ³³ But when they came to Jesus and saw that he was already dead, they did not break his legs. ³⁴ Instead, one of the soldiers pierced his side with a spear, and at once blood and water came out. ³⁵ (He who saw this has testified so that you also may believe. His testimony is true, and he knows that he tells the truth.) ³⁶ These things occurred so that the scripture might be fulfilled, “None of his bones shall be broken.” ³⁷ And again another passage of scripture says, “They will look on the one whom they have pierced.”

³⁸ After these things, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, though a secret one because of his fear of the Jews, asked Pilate to let him take away the body of Jesus. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and removed his body. ³⁹ Nicodemus, who had at first come to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, weighing about a hundred pounds. ⁴⁰ They took the body of Jesus and wrapped it with the spices in linen cloths, according to the burial custom of the Jews. ⁴¹ Now there was a garden in the place where he was crucified, and in the garden there was a new tomb in which no one had ever been laid. ⁴² And so, because it was the Jewish day of Preparation, and the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.

As I read through the scripture once and then again, there is so much happening.

A half a dozen sermons or more could be drawn from these verses.

   Judas’ betrayal.

   Peter’s denial.

   Pilate’s indecision.

   Fulfillment of Old Testament scriptures.

   The women at the cross.

   Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus and the burial customs.

   From one garden to another.

I have a few questions which I wish you to respond to on your own,

pray and find the answers in your heart,

find your truth.

What does this scripture say to you?

How does this scripture speak to all of us in today’s uncertain world?

Who do you relate to in the scripture?

How do we understand our relationships with each other? with God?

What happened to Barabbas? to those in the crowd? to the soldiers?

   Were they changed by what had happened?

How has the knowledge of Jesus’ sacrifice influenced your life?

What actions of love do you see in these 2 chapters?

How is love shown in today’s world?

What is truth?

How do you and I speak truth in our daily lives?

Amen.

Easter Cross painted 3/28/19



By Our Love

Maundy Thursday April 9, 2020

By Our Love

With us unable to have worship during this Holy Week,

the service I believe I miss most is Maundy Thursday.

For me it is a service that brings out deep emotions:

as you and I gather at the table for communion,

the comfort of sharing what we believe and

the assurance in hearing Jesus’ words, a sign and seal of God’s love,

fills each of us with love,

when the elements are removed and lights dim,

sadness of what is to come with the betrayal can bring tears,

and leaving in silence gives you and I time to discover

what the Holy Spirit is calling us to do as we go into the world.

The scripture from the Gospel of John for Maundy Thursday is

John 13:1-17, 31-35.

13 Now before the festival of the Passover, Jesus knew that his hour had come to depart from this world and go to the Father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he loved them to the end. ² The devil had already put it into the heart of Judas son of Simon Iscariot to betray him. And during supper ³ Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going to God, ⁴ got up from the table, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself. ⁵ Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was tied around him. ⁶ He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” ⁷ Jesus answered, “You do not know now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” ⁸ Peter said to him, “You will never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no share with me.” ⁹ Simon Peter said to him, “Lord, not my feet only but also my hands and my head!” ¹⁰ Jesus said to him, “One who has bathed does not need to wash, except for the feet, but is entirely clean. And you are clean, though not all of you.” ¹¹ For he knew who was to betray him; for this reason he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

¹² After he had washed their feet, had put on his robe, and had returned to the table, he said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? ¹³ You call me Teacher and Lord—and you are right, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ So if I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ For I have set you an example, that you also should do as I have done to you. ¹⁶ Very truly, I tell you, servants are not greater than their master, nor are messengers greater than the one who sent them. ¹⁷ If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them.

³¹ When he had gone out, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man has been glorified, and God has been glorified in him. ³² If God has been glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once. ³³ Little children, I am with you only a little longer. You will look for me; and as I said to the Jews so now I say to you, ‘Where I am going, you cannot come.’ ³⁴ I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. ³⁵ By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Hospitality of the meal shared,

the love in the service to others through the washing of the disciples’ feet,

and the new commandment given for us all to embrace: love one another!

LOVE!

Love expressed through hospitality and service.

How are you and I expressing this during this time of social distancing?

Calling family and friends to check in on how they are doing.

Doing an errand for a neighbor who cannot go to the store or pharmacy.

Sharing a song on social media to bring a smile to others.

Even amid social distancing, there are many ways to love one another.

As the familiar hymn tells us

“They will know we are Christians by our love,”.

Be known by your love.

Amen.

LOVE painted 1/11/20

Run with Perserverance

Holy Wednesday April 8, 2020

Run with Perseverance

Perseverance, determination, grit, resolve, purpose…

During these uncertain times when you and I feel we have lost control

over our daily routines, what we define as normal, and

have no idea of what the future will bring,

the Apostle Paul encourages us to run with perseverance.

In Hebrews 12:1-3, Paul tells us to see Jesus as the example

and that because of Jesus’ sacrifice we should not lose heart.

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and the sin that clings so closely, and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, ² looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God.

³ Consider him who endured such hostility against himself from sinners, so that you may not grow weary or lose heart.

God’s people have faced struggles before

and endured isolation separation, loneliness, and uncertainty.

Noah and his family in the ark for 40 days.

The tribes of Israel wandering in the wilderness for 40years.

Job losing all he had.

Jesus suffering on the cross for hours.

How are you and I facing this strange and frightening time in our lives?

Social distancing, sheltering in place for 40 days or possibly more.

However, it does not mean we are separated from each other or from God.

Connections to loved ones, friends, and neighbors, continue in diverse ways.

Gathering for worship has expanded beyond our church walls,

into our homes, thanks to our electronic devices.

We are persevering.

You and I may feel as if we are wandering without direction

because we do not know what will come next.

However, you and I know God’s steadfast love for us and God’s protection.

God guided the Israelites through the wilderness, provided manna,

and led them to the promised land.

We are persevering.

There is insecurity, loss and grief.

However, when you and I weep, God weeps with us.

We know God has been with us in the past,

God is with us now, and

God will be there for us in the future.

We are persevering.

There are times in our daily lives,

that you and I have trouble seeing the time when normal will return.

Are we looking for the old normal?

In these unusual days, we have found new joys.

Busy lives have slowed, and we have re-discovered family time,

we have grown thankful for those who are unsung heroes-teachers, nurses,

and those who keep us safe,

we are grateful for the small local businesses

that contribute so much to our communities.

We are persevering.

These difficult days will pass.

Will things be ‘normal’ again?

Yes and no.

You and I are always changed by struggles and challenges.

We will be renewed, revived, and transformed.

No longer do we fear death, because Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins.

There is hope, faith, and the light ahead -resurrection!

Finally, I would like to share a benediction from a professor I had in seminary…

May JOY and nothing less guide you on your way.

May you be blessed; may you be a blessing.

May light, love’s own crucified risen light,

guide you and countless others out of every darkness

all the way home.¹

Amen.

Dove of Peace painted 7/18/19

1 Professor Carson Brisson

My God, My Strength

Holy Tuesday April 7, 2020

My God, My Strength

During this time, we are all feeling overwhelmed.

What do you and I lean on when we are feeling this way?

Our faith.

Our belief in God our Father,

Jesus Christ, our Savior,

and the Holy Spirit which inspires us.

Faith according to Hebrews 11 is defined as

Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,

the conviction of things not seen.

Our strength in difficult times is a gift given to us from God.

The scripture I want to look at today is Isaiah 49:1-7.

49 Listen to me, O coastlands,
    pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The Lord called me before I was born,
    while I was in my mother’s womb he named me.² He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
    in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
    in his quiver he hid me away.³ And he said to me, “You are my servant,
    Israel, in whom I will be glorified.”⁴ But I said, “I have labored in vain,
    I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the Lord,
    and my reward with my God.”

⁵ And now the Lord says,
    who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
    and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honored in the sight of the Lord,
    and my God has become my strength—⁶ he says,
“It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
    to raise up the tribes of Jacob
    and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
    that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth.”

⁷ Thus says the Lord,
    the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
    the slave of rulers,
“Kings shall see and stand up,
    princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the Lord, who is faithful,
    the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you.”

Isaiah says God’s light is a light to all nations

so that salvation may reach to the end of the earth.

God’s light, God’s love, God’s strength is meant for all.

You and I are called to spread God’s love and share the Gospel.

Our faith reaches beyond the doors and walls of a church,

our worship space is wherever God is -everywhere!

Lean on God’s strength as you and I encounter these long days;

our faith will get us through this.

Share your faith, reach out to others even in the midst of social distancing.

A phone call, an email, an encouraging word, listening, praying…

you and I have each other and have our faith.

Let us lean on God and each other.

And in that spirit, I would like to share lyrics to a song that speaks to this.

Music has a special way of speaking to us, hymns are beautiful words of praise.

Secular music can also touch our souls

so here are the lyrics of Bill Withers’ song Lean on Me.

Sometimes in our lives we all have pain

We all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's always tomorrow

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

Please swallow your pride

If I have things you need to borrow

For no one can fill those of your needs

That you won't let show

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long

'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on

You just call on me brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'll understand

We all need somebody to lean on

If there is a load you have to bear

That you can't carry

I'm right up the road

I'll share your load

If you just call me (call me)

If you need a friend (call me) call me uh huh(call me) if you need a friend (call me)

If you ever need a friend (call me)

Call me (call me) call me (call me) call me

(Call me) call me (call me) if you need a friend

(Call me) call me (call me) call me (call me) call me (call me) call me (call me)¹

Amen.

Rural Church painted 3/7/20

1 Lean on Me by Bill Withers

We See Light

Holy Monday April 6, 2020

We See Light

Where is hope?

When will things be normal again?

You and I are filled with doubts and fears.

Doubting our future amidst uncertain financial times…

Fear of contracting the virus or spreading it to our loved ones…

Not knowing when businesses will re-open, will we return to work…

Afraid of loneliness and isolation…

We are missing occasions when we gather together…

birthdays,

graduations,

dinner with friends,

worship in churches and chapels.

On this Holy Monday, let us read together part of Psalm 36.

⁵ Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,
    your faithfulness to the clouds.⁶ Your righteousness is like the mighty mountains,
    your judgments are like the great deep;
    you save humans and animals alike, O Lord.

⁷ How precious is your steadfast love, O God!
    All people may take refuge in the shadow of your wings.⁸ They feast on the abundance of your house,
    and you give them drink from the river of your delights.⁹ For with you is the fountain of life;
    in your light we see light.

Psalms of lament, assurance, praise, hope, and love,

all touch our many emotions.

These words from Psalm 36 are words of assurance,

assurance of God’s steadfast love.

The psalmist knows God is Love and God’s love has no limits.

It stretches from heaven to earth,

from mountains to seas,

it includes humans and animals.

There is abundance, life, and light.

In God’s light, we see light.

God’s light shines in all the dark places.

Fear and doubt are left behind when true light shines.

Jesus brought a light to the world

and as believers and disciples you and I pass on this light to others.

A dark day will come later this week as we remember

the betrayal, crucifixion, and death of our Savior Jesus.

Yet, light will shine again,

light of the resurrection,

light that overcomes death,

light that stretches from that first Easter morning to our present.

Look! See the light, darkness will not overcome it.

Amen.

Light and Peace (Shalom) painted 12/20/19