Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

As Anna Ruth approaches her 90th birthday – in 4 days – it is a great time to just praise God for a most wonderful life together.  We are blessed beyond words.  Today we are off to Longwood Gardens for our annual spring rite at the magnificent flowery place.

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written: ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”   But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

Matthew 26:31 – 35

Things are moving toward a climax.  Jesus knew the path he must take and he also knew that his disciples could not possibly understand.  He, therefore, took the time to help them to believe.

First, he startled them by announcing that “This very night you will all fall away on account of me.”  After three long years, the faithful disciples will desert Jesus because, as he said, he, the shepherd, will be stricken so the sheep will scatter to try to survive. Not just some of them, but “you will all fall away on account of me.”  I note the word “all.”  I also note that Jesus said, “But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”  He reminds them of his oft-repeated assertion that he will rise from the dead.

Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.  And all the other disciples said the same.”  Jesus knew they would and warned them about it.  He even told them that it would happen before the rooster announces the coming of the morning, in a few short hours.  By then they will have disowned him three times!

So, their resolve melted when Jesus was taken from them that night.  All hid themselves except for John who at some point joined the women.

I have no right to judge the twelve.  I, too, struggle with tension that exists between myself, a believer, and others who simply do not or will not believe!  I live with that tension – will do so my entire life.  For me, Jesus is my life, my breath, my all.  Everyone can know this if they believe!

Every Spring I stand in amazement as our ancient Japanese cherry tree blooms with a great joy.  I find this tree settles my spirit and inspires me.  Old but new and a constant reminder of the goodness of God, year after year.  Right in our own back yard!

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Matthew 26:26 – 30

Matthew does not elaborate on what was going on between the people in that Upper Room in Jerusalem on the night of the Passover.  Other writers did.  Matthew records the central feature, however, the meal itself.

It must have startled the disciples when Jesus, as the feast progressed, took the loaf into his hands, broke off a piece and said, “Take and eat; this is my body.”  Jesus interrupts the Jewish ritualized meal by holding the broken piece of bread and then making the extraordinary claim that his disciples can “eat” him like they eat the Passover Lamb or the broken bread.  So, Jesus gave each a piece of the unleavened bread which they then ate.  They probably did not know what they were doing!  Nothing like that ever happened before.

Then the Lord took the common cup in his hand and said, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.”  I doubt whether the disciples really understood what Jesus was saying.  They knew later, of course, when the Holy Spirit revealed the reality of the death of the Lamb as the death of Jesus himself.

As they passed the cup among themselves, they were sharing all that flowed from Jesus’ sacrificial death that enabled the forgiveness of sins, the central blessing offered by God on that day.

As was the custom, they sang a hymn and then went out to the Mount of Olives, only a short distance away.

I stand amazed. A bit of bread and a sip of wine, offered freely by Jesus, ushered in a new day.  That body and blood, soon to be offered, is my only hope today.  It is as simple as that. It is a joy to know that I have brothers and sisters all over the world today who share this drink and bread with me and with one another, together with all sinners who need forgiveness.

Marie stands by her detailed board that describes her research into squids!  She spent many hours studying the life of these creatures and is being rewarded for her good work.  Jane and I were amazed by her presentation.  We recognized a few words like “the” “it” “after” and so on.  The rest was beyond my little brain, I must say. Jane and I were so proud of Marie and the work she is doing at Millersville University.  She has one semester after this one for graduation.

While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.

When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. “Why this waste?” they asked.  “This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor.”

Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial.  Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

Matthew 26:6 – 13

I love this scene.  It is a window into the reality of  God’s grace for me.

Jesus’ death on the cross is approaching – a few days remaining.  He is with his disciples in the home of Simon, the leper, once healed by Jesus, near Jerusalem. The disciples are disturbed by what is happening. A woman, overcome with compelling thanks and love anointed Jesus head with a very expensive ointment – to be used to anoint the body of a loved one after death.   When the disciples saw her do it they thought only of money, not a bit about the insight and prophetic gift in this woman, certainly not that it was his funeral anointing oil!

Enraged by what they saw as inexplicable waste they berated her!  In the meanwhile. Jesus’ heart was touched by her deed.  He was blessed by her of love. Money did not enter the picture for Jesus, nor for the woman.

Jesus’ value system upset the disciples.  Did he not care that they could have sold that ointment at a handsome price?  They could not believe that Jesus not only allowed the woman to anoint him but praised her for her “beautiful thing.”  For the disciples, a “beautiful thing” would have been to sell the anointing oil and use the proceeds for their own living.

At this season of the year when I recall how Jesus won my salvation, I need to be touched by the wonder of it all, to see again what really matters, now and eternally.  I give my all for the joy of knowing the blessings of God.  My eyes need to see what is of eternal value.  

Dr. Glenn uses his deft hands to cut the Easter lamb into tasty pieces for our family meal. We enjoyed the day, that is for sure – family, food, rich memories and thankful hearts.

Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they schemed to arrest Jesus secretly and kill him. “But not during the festival,” they said, “or there may be a riot among the people.”

Matthew 26:3 – 5

It seems incredible that the leaders of the Jews planned to kill Jesus.  The only thing that stood in their way was their realization that many Jews admired Jesus who was known as a healer.  So, they waited until the time was ripe – then they would carry out their plans.  That happened a few days later, on the night of Passover, after the feast, in the garden.  Out of sight.  As they participated in the high annual Passover feast they remembered how God protected the Jews by the offering of the Passover Lamb, whose blood was spilled and applied.  Little did they know that in an olive orchard that very night God’s Son was facing death as God’s Lamb, prepared from the foundation of the earth. His own people wanted him dead!

While the nation and the pious Jewish visitors were celebrating how the blood of the lamb saved them in Egypt, many long years ago, they were determined to kill Jesus Christ!  We recall that John the Baptist introduced Jesus as the Lamb of God who would take away the sin of the world.  He is the eternal sacrifice!

During this week, my mind is centered on this.  I stand with the children who gathered around Jesus as he entered Jerusalem at the beginning of the week, lifting high our palm branches as our flags of praise.  “Come in, Lord Jesus, and reign supreme in my life.”

Jane and Glenn, next door, attract gold finches – you wouldn’t believe.   What a delightful scene to brighten the Easter weekend, a great family time at our places here.

When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, “As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.”

Matthew 26: 1, 2

Unthinkable.  Jesus, Son of God, Co-creator of the universe, almighty and sinless and much, much more, announces what seems an impossibility – in two days, on Passover, he will die the cruel death of a prisoner of Rome and an enemy of his own people, Israel – on a cross of wood, fashioned to torture and kill enemies of the Roman Empire.

He said he “will be handed over” by the Jews into the hands of Rome who will Kill Jesus by death on a cross.  The Romans had no reason to crucify him, only to placate the Jews.   The Jews did. So both spiritual and secular power killed mankind’s savior in the worst possible way.  It looks like a day to mourn in the world.

Today here in Lancaster is Saturday, when we consider what is happening as Jesus lay dead in the tomb.  I recall how, while growing up, my mother insisted that we note the sad day as a time of reflection.  We found that hard to understand but for her, it was serious.  Now, I understand better what she was trying to communicate with us.  There is nothing merry about that Friday’s crucifixion, unless you were Christ’s enemy.  By being humble and quiet we show ourselves to be on the side of those who loved Jesus, those who embraced his invitation to come to God through the merits of his suffering, death and resurrection. I believe this still.

Good Friday, a day that looked anything but good to the followers of Jesus, is a good time to do what my mother suggested, be quiet and listen to the voice of God.