Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

Our trusty Avalon has surpassed 300,000 miles!  Almost 20 years old. We had our Buick Le Sabre 326,000 miles before we gave it to Salvation Army. We are so thankful that they make cars to last these days.

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.”

The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise?’”

And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Matthew 21:12-17

The Sabbath Day was over, the first day of the most sacred week of the Jewish holy days, the Passover.  Jesus dismounted from his small ordinary donkey and entered the Temple, the court that was designated for Gentile who wished to worship there.  There he found Jewish merchants setting up shop hoping for a week of handsome profits as they sold doves, lambs and so forth, for offerings in the Temple itself.  The Jews would not buy or sell in their own sections so they took over the place designated for Gentiles.  Since the Temple had its own currency, people changed Roman money for Temple money.  It is important to note all this to get the full impact of what then happened.

Jesus, obviously unhappy with what he saw, quoted Isaiah 56:7, “For my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”  As he did so, he interrupted their preparation for a day when they hoped to make nice profits. Note, first of all, they were not praying, and second, there was no one from the “nations,” the despised Gentiles, to be seen.  Jesus interrupted their early trading by turning over some tables.  The rulers of the Temple were infuriated, not impressed with Jesus’ remarkable healing of the blind and lame who were now rejoicing but angry with this Galilean, Jesus.

As I ponder these events I see life as it actually is.  I am far more interested in my own people than in strangers.  They are a nuisance.  But they are loved of God and I must not only invite them to Jesus but then love them as different from myself or my people.

This is a powerful mission message but one that we must hear.  Jesus said the we should go into all nations and make disciples. Really?  Is that no the jist of this first day of Passover?

For me, spring time, Easter and the Resurrection of Christ just seem to go with the solid beauty of the ordinary, extraordinary daffodil. An explosion of life?  A bugle announcing the New Day in Christ?  An invitation to pause and wonder at the wisdom of our Creator?  Probably this and much more.  Thank you, Lord, for daffodils!

Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them.  As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”

 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”

 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.  As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.  Luke 19:32 – 35

I stand amazed by the symbolism of Jesus choosing to enter Jerusalem at the beginning of this week of weeks riding on a simple household donkey, a colt in fact.

While I do not disparage Muslim believers I do recall that Mohammed chose a quite different way to announce his arrival in Mecca in 630 AD.  He rode into Mecca as a military commander of an estimated 10,000 armed soldiers, prepared for battle!

Contrast the two entries, Jesus entry to Jerusalem on a common donkey, without arms or an army with that of Mohammed’s entry into Mecca. It is striking.

I get uneasy when the followers of Jesus look to military or political power to provide spiritual security.  Jesus did not take that way. He chose a donkey that he borrowed.  He did not own even a donkey!

As we reflect on this holy week, may we take note of the fact that Jesus relied only on the care of his Father in Heaven, not on any political or earthly power.  When Peter drew his sword later in the week Jesus told him to put it away.  The way of the Cross, the way we are on by the grace of God, is the way of peace.

It was about this time last year when dear Anna Ruth slipped on a spot of butter on the kitchen floor, fell and broke her arm. Here is the brace she wore for quite some time.  A reminder of God’s goodness.  She is now peeling potatoes, a bunch of them, for our Friday family lunch time, almost a tradition by now.  Her healing is complete. What a woman, what a wife!

Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.  Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon. Isaiah 55:6, 7

If the Scriptures teach us anything it is that God is close to us and will continue to love us to the end. The amazing truth is that God wants to be close to us, to love us and direct our lives, but he cannot do that without our complete submission to him.

The Scriptures also teach us that mankind is rebellious and sees no reason to love God and to give their entire lives to him, to place their welfare in the hands of God.

Another thing is clear, we were made not to control our own lives as we wish but we were made to run to God and place our all under his control.

So what happens when we make one decision after another as though there was not God at all?  It must be like running away from our creator and redeemer God.

That was the story line of the sons of Abraham that Isaiah was addressing here.  They sought their own ways to prosper, doing their very best, following the gods of the cultures that are no gods at all, but devils in disguise.  It is a life of tragedy and disappointment.

So in this blessed chapter 55 our loving God pleads with those who are chasing after everything but him, to turn to him, to seek him, so to speak, even though he is not far off nor is he hidden!  The Lord must have detected at least a little desire in them to seek God, because the Word says, “seek him while he may be found, call on him when he is near.”  Of course God never moves away from us.  His love is constant.  I believe he is appealing to those who have not given up completely on God to finally, at last, turn to Him!  He will receive all who come to him in full surrender.

I love this invitation. I responded to it years ago and respond to it today as then. I can do no better than to seek the Lord for everything even in my old age, especially in my old age, I might say.

Praise the Lord for speaking to our need during this Lenten season of 2016.

Anna Ruth, bless her, is shaping her much desired chocolate covered peanut butter, etc., eggs.  Last thing is a rich chocolate covering.  We look forward to these Easter treats.  Anna Ruth works best while mildly biting her tongue! Last year at this time she slipped on a buttery patch on the floor and broke her arm!  She is trying to be very careful, of course.

How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!”  

Isaiah 52:7

I love this picture!  When things in the valley of life seem confused we need to see ourselves as mountain people, so to speak.  Sure, we live in the valleys of struggling humanity, but we also, by the grace of our saving God, dance on the mountains from which all that is happening below is made evident because we see from above.  We happily gain perspective when we rise above it all and begin to see things as God does.

But the primary reason for rising above has to do with the feet!  Not necessarily the head or the heart for that matter.  The beauty of these feet is that they “bring good news.”  They are Gospel feet, mission feet, moving about with the message of hope, Jesus is Savior and Lord. The ordinary feet become beautiful because they carry the most beautiful message imaginable – come to Jesus and be saved, live in Him and rejoice.

The message is of peace with God and neighbors, good news, and that salvation is for all who love and follow Jesus.

Isaiah lived in desperate times, Israel was fading as a nation and also fading as a servant of God.  Despair filled the air. Isaiah realized that but God helped him to rise above it all for a moment, to get things into perspective. He saw that Satan is not reigning, but God himself. This vision of reality burst forth from the heart of Isaiah and encouraged the people who were depressed and fearful.

So, in this Easter season, may our feet take us to where God wants us to go and may our proclamation be clear, “Your God reigns.”  It may be hard to believe but it is God who is speaking. We respond with a heartfelt “Amen.”

I hear the Word of God.

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord rises upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.”  Isaiah 60: 1 – 3

This is how chapter 60 opens, following the litany of judgement – “But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear.  Your lips have spoken falsely, and your tongue mutters wicked things.  No one calls for justice; no one pleads a case with integrity.”  As the Scriptures says, “Thick darkness is over the peoples.” 

Then, in the darkness the light appears!  His name is Jesus the promised Christ. God has not deserted his people. He will shine on them with redemption and hope.  On those who love him with all their hearts and do his bidding the glory of the Lord, the Light of lights, will appear over them.  They will shine so brightly with His light that the nations will know that blessed salvation has appeared for all mankind.

When we got up this morning it was dreary outside but soon the clouds will part and the warm sun of promise will shine.  So it is in our lives of faith – we know that the sun will shine and the earth will be glad to receive the gift of warmth and gladness. In our spirits, because of the atoning work of Jesus, we can experience the warmth and light of the Son of Righteousness always, now and forever.

Let us rise and shine for our Light has come.  Praise the Triune God this morning.