Jacobs Thoughts and Doings

One of my most delightful Spring flowers are snow drops, abundant just now as March approaches.  Among my favorites!

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome.

The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward.

Matthew 26:58 – 60.

Matthew, the disciple, is writing.  The Temple Guards took Jesus to the Jewish High Priest, their highest ranking Jewish leader, respected to a high degree by the Romans.   Matthew focuses on Peter, who followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the high priest.  This is the same Peter who declared he would defend Jesus, no matter what just a few hours ago.

As they took Jesus in, Peter abandoned Jesus, a startling development.  No disciple was as adamant about accompanying Jesus through all that is about to happen as Peter!  Where is he now?  He completely lost his courage. He slipped in and sat with the Temple guards, hoping to be unnoticed!  He was successful at hiding, at first!  He no doubt heard what was going on inside where the leaders of the Jews pelted Jesus with one question after the other.   Then they listened to people who witnessed against Jesus.  No one told the truth, evidently.  Maybe that encouraged Peter a bit.

I do not think that Matthew was trying to judge Peter.  He is telling the story of Peter as it unfolded.   It is an amazing story because it reminds us all of such times in our lives, perhaps, low-points.  But the story goes on.  It is a miracle of God Almighty.

Elizabeth and her mother, Tammy, spent last week in New York City  Their hotel was not far from Central Park, so they braved the rain that provide the perfect setting for Elizabeth.

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into.  So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.”

Matthew 24:42 – 44

KEEP WATCH!  These words of our Lord Jesus ring in our ears yet today.  Two thousand years have passed – the watch continues.

BE READY!  This is a matter of faith, of believing that God will do as he promised.  Jesus will appear when He knows the hour has come, the time when all believers dead and living will be raised and meet him in the air!  So, we stand ready.  We are ready for his appearance at all times.  All of us who love Jesus will rush to our Risen Lord. He, alone, knows the hour. It will be an Easter without sorrow or sighing.

 Easter forever!  So, may it be.

When Anna Ruth returned from her walk yesterday she mentioned blooming witch hazel on her hike.  Today I proved her right, as usual, and came home with one of the earliest Spring flowers, a beauty!  Full of life.  I purchased the beautiful Chinese vase on one of my trips.  It is so precious.  About 6 inches tall with that porcelain blue color.

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.

It seems as though every year during Lent I am amazed by this little event that has such a huge meaning!  The hour is drawing near when Jesus will be hanging on the Cross, atoning for the sins of all who will believe.   That will change everything!  Sinners will be forgiven; the Holy Spirit will have full access into the hearts and lives of those in whom Jesus lives.  These are momentous times!

Where is Jesus as the event approaches?  He is in the home of Simon the Leper outside Jerusalem.  Note – not in the hall of the High Priest but in the home of Simon, a person who, aside from Jesus’ healing, would be an outcast.  Perhaps in the minds of many, he is still one!

All eyes in heaven focused on this woman, kneeling before Jesus, pouring expensive perfume on Jesus, used only for anointing the dead.  To the disciples, this was a waste, pure and simple.  You know the story – Jesus received the anointing there in Simon’s house, ointment that is applied at death,  We have no idea what the woman was thinking, except that she was determined to give Jesus the costliest thing she had, oil kept for her own death.  It was an act of abandonment in worship!

We should not be surprised if we find ourselves overcome with thanksgiving and praise as we think about and even preach about this selfless devotion of this dear woman.

The woman did this in memory of Jesus, Jesus received it in memory of her!  Lord, receive my thanks for your unfailing grace and mercy today.

As February comes to an end, I broke off a wee branch of our forsythia and set it on our kitchen window sill.  In a few days they burst into magnificent flowers!  I identify the flower with the joys of Easter when new life stirs all around us.

“Then will appear the sign of the Son of Man in heaven. And then all the peoples of the earth will mourn when they see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory.  And he will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.”

Matthew 24:30, 31

Jesus reminds his disciples that they will face challenges that daunt the imagination.  As I read Jesus’ words I realize that I need to depend on Jesus only.  The centerpiece of the end times is Jesus, the Son of Man, who will appear for all to see.  He will appear in all his power and great glory.  He is Almighty, all-powerful, the glorious One.

Not only will the Lord appear but he will sound the trumpet call that will announce that the mighty host of angels will gather his elect from the four winds, from the one end of the heavens to the other.  In God’s embrace all believers of all times will be gathered together from all nations.  All believers will stand with the Lord, with the angels and with all who love Jesus unto the end.

We need not try to figure out how that will happen.  That is in the hands of God.  But all believers will be gathered together as united body in the Lord.

As Jesus is sharing with his disciples what God will do, we open our ears to listen, ever so carefully, as  we are overcome with the vision that pulls us along.  To be in that gathered group is worth everything.  All the struggles and challenges and set-backs that the believers experience all over the world will be rewarded!

May our meditations this season of lent rejoice our spirits by the vision, by the prophecy of Jesus, that the despised followers of the Lamb will be with their Lord forever and ever.  Amen.

Our son and daughter helped to identify the foamy mass on our oak tree that lasted several minutes.   It is called slime flux, a very common disease among our native deciduous trees.  I gather that as the bacteria grow inside the tree (usually in damaged areas of the wood), carbon dioxide gas is released as fermentation occurs.  This produces the bubbles!  Enjoy!

Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come.

Matthew 24:12 – 14

Stand firm to the end.  Jesus, who is facing suffering in those last hours before the Cross, tries to help his disciples see that believers face great odds, but if they endure to the end they will enjoy an eternity of peace in the presence of God.  So, brothers and sisters, let’s stand!

Something great is happening, And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations.  That is the secret of secrets, as clear as noon-time sun for those who believe and who have given their hearts to Jesus – the Gospel of the Kingdom will be preached and made clear to all nations.  All nations!

Surprise!  That is NOW!  The Gospel is spreading around the world as I write these words.  It is the great enterprise of all times, now and always.  Nations come and go, the Kingdom of God grows daily.  Why should we be discouraged when we see human affairs veer off somewhere?  The Kingdom of our God is forever!