The Good Shepherd

Reverend Debbie Cato

Ezekiel 34:11-16 and John 10:11-18

Peace Presbyterian Church

Fourth Sunday of Easter

April 26, 2015

The Good Shepherd

This winter, I got the crud that was going around. I got sick. For 2 ½ days, I ran a 102 fever and pretty much slept 24/7. I was miserable. I felt awful. I was really sick. I wanted my Mom. I wanted her to know that I was sick. I wanted her to fuss over me, to feel my forehead, and to puff my pillows. I wanted Mom. It didn't matter that I was 57 years old. It didn't matter that my Mom has been dead almost 4 years. I wanted Mom. I wanted her to wrap her arms around me and hold me. I wanted her to take care of me.

In John's Gospel, Jesus makes a number of “I am” statements. Statements that give us the character of who Jesus' is. He says,

   I am the bread of life John 6: 35, 48

      I am the light of the world John 8: 12, 9:5

         I am the resurrection and the life John 8: 58

            I am the way, the truth, and the life John 14:6

               I am the true vine John 15:1

And Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd.” John 11:25

I am the good shepherd. Very few of us have experience with the actual job of a shepherd. I have never met a shepherd; have you? When we think of God as our “shepherd” we use our imaginations to understand or we try to visual who God as our shepherd is. What does that mean? What does it mean to say “the Lord is my shepherd.”

Most people – even those not that familiar with the Bible, recognize the 3^rd Psalm  – a comforting psalm; a peaceful psalm. “The Lord is My Shepherd I Shall Not Want,” it says. This Psalm promises that when the Lord is our shepherd, we will lack nothing. We will have what we need. We will have enough to eat; enough to drink; enough safety and shelter to live; enough money to pay for what is necessary. Even though we may be in deep distress; even if we are in extreme danger; even if darkness surrounds us; God is guiding us and protecting us and providing for us. No matter what is happening in our lives, Jesus the good shepherd is with us.

The psalmist reminds us that we are utterly dependent upon our shepherd. God is the one who meets our needs. God is the one who slows us down and restores our very being. We are reminded that God suffers with us in our pain and in our sorrow and in our loss. God guides us. God fights off enemies that would harm us. The psalmist offers us God’s promise that: “goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD my whole life long.”

Imagine that. The All-Mighty, All-Knowing, All-Powerful God is our shepherd. He meets our needs, causes us to rest & be restored, leads us in the right way of living, protects us from evil, and honors and blesses us. He never stops pursuing us with goodness & kindness.

We find another Old Testament reference to God as a shepherd in Ezekiel. The prophet Ezekiel, living in exile in Babylon with the Israelites, invokes the notion of God as the shepherd of Israel. He portrays the people as “sheep” to be led and protected and cared for. God tells Ezekiel, “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep, and I let them lie down and rest” says the

Lord God. “I will search for my sheep; I will rescue them. I will bandage the injured; I will strengthen the weak.” How comforting to a people living in exile in a foreign land. How comforting to us to know that God will search for us; he will rescue us. He will strengthen us.

Deep in the Hebrew tradition is this iconic understanding that God will intimately shepherd His people. The prophet Isaiah said that the promised Messiah would “gather the lambs with his arm,” and “gently lead those that are with young.” Isn’t that beautiful? “He will gather the lambs with his arm.” God provides protection and identity for God’s own. He gathers us in his arms. He holds us close. This paints a beautiful, very intimate picture of God.

God is not off somewhere that He cannot be accessed. He is with us. He rescues us; he protects us; He holds us close. When I was sweating out my fever or shivering with chills as my fever went up; my Mom was not with me. But God was. God was there. God held me close.

In our Gospel lesson today, Jesus says, “I am the Good Shepherd.”  I am He. Jesus says. I am the one who gathers the lambs in my arms. I search for my sheep; I rescue them;  It is I who bandages the injured; who strengthens the weak.  “It is I.  I am He,” Jesus says.

I love that image: “I am He who gathers the lambs in my arms.” Jesus fulfills the hopes of Israel for a good shepherd. The One sent from above; God made flesh. The Messiah himself is the promised good shepherd.

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd because “I know my sheep and they know me.” This paints a picture of a relationship; of time spent together; of conversations. It paints a picture of trust and care. This tells us that our Lord has personal knowledge of each one of us and He is interested in us. This is no long-distance relationship.

The shepherd knows which of his sheep like to run ahead; which lambs are the most playful; which ewes are the most attentive; which rams are the most defensive. This is a shepherd who knows his sheep. He calls their names; he counts their heads when they enter and leave the sheepfold. This is a shepherd who loves his sheep.

Jesus says, “I am the good shepherd because I lay down my life for my sheep.” I lay down my life for my sheep. In this same passage, Jesus refers to himself as the sheep gate.  When sheep were out in the pastures, the custom was for the shepherd to usher them into the sheepfold each night. The sheepfold was typically a stacked stone compound, high enough to keep out predators, but without a door. When all the sheep had been safely gathered for the night, the shepherd would lay down in the opening to the sheepfold and literally become the sheep gate. That is how the shepherd would sleep. Nothing could go in or come out of the sheepfold, unless it came by the shepherd first.

But then, of course, Jesus really did lay down his life for His sheep. He died on that cross for us. Here in John, Jesus makes it clear that he will lay down his life of his own accord — he’s choosing to give his life for His sheep. He freely lays down his life because he loves his sheep – he loves us.

I think that deep down inside – even the most independent of us, realize that we need God's guidance and leadership. I think we recognize that we need shepherding to make our way down the road of life. We all need someone to help us get across the potholes, over the rocks, even down the nice smooth newly paved paths. I mean, think about it. How many times in the past week have you asked someone for their opinion on a decision that you faced...everything from...what to wear or where to eat or how to handle a work problem to how to handle some medical problem or some other major life issue? Jesus tells us, “Come to me. Let me be your shepherd. Let me guide you through this time.” Deep down inside, each and every one of us yearn for guidance in life. Jesus invites us to accept His divine guidance. Guidance from the good shepherd. We know to whom we belong. He calls our name. We can be comforted by the sound of his voice. We can trust that our Shepherd is always with us.

I think I’ve told this before but I’m going to tell it again. There’s a story about two men who were called on, in a large classroom, to recite the Twenty-third Psalm. One was a great speaker trained in speech technique and drama. He recited the 23rd Psalm in a powerful way. When he finished, the audience cheered and even asked for an encore so that they might hear his wonderful voice again. Then the other man, who was much older, repeated the same words--'The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want...' But when he finished, no sound came from the large class.

Instead, people sat in a deep mood of devotion and prayer. Finally, the first man, the trained speaker, stood to his feet. 'I have a confession to make,' he said. 'The difference between what you just heard from my old friend, and what you heard from me is this: I know the Psalm, my friend knows the Shepherd."

I know the Psalm. My friend knows the Shepherd.

There is no question that Jesus is the Good Shepherd. The only question that remains at this point is this: Do you know the Shepherd?

Just as God promised Ezekiel, He promises us “I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep,” says the Lord God. “I will search for my sheep; I will rescue them. I will bandage the injured; I will strengthen the weak.”

If you know the Shepherd, then you can rejoice in the fact that He will always be with you. He will always watch over you. If you do not know Him, then I invite you to come to Him right now. You do not have to, nor should you want to wait. Delay is dangerous! Come to Jesus today and He will save your soul. He will place you in the flock of God. He will save you from the wrath of God. He will give you a new life and a new birth. Will you come to Him?   Amen

From Locked Doors to Opened Minds

Debbie Cato

Luke 24:36 - 48

Peace Presbyterian Church

Third Sunday of Easter

April 19, 2015

From Locked Doors to Opened Minds

On this 3rd Sunday of Easter, it’s time for us to reflect on the meaning of the resurrection for ourselves. What does it mean for you that Christ was crucified, died, and three days later rose from the dead? The truth of the resurrection has life-changing - life giving implications. You see, we cannot just celebrate the resurrection – we must be transformed by the resurrection. The fact that Jesus rose from the dead must change us.

Easter Sunday, we read in John’s Gospel how Mary Magdalene’s arrival at Jesus’ empty tomb that first Easter morning transformed her weeping and fear into indescribable joy when she met the resurrected Christ. We learned that it was in the utterance of her name – Mary – that opened her eyes so that she was able to recognize Jesus. We felt her joy; her excitement as she rushed to the disciples, telling them, “I have seen the Lord! I have seen the Lord!”

But the disciples didn’t believe her when Mary gave them the news. Maybe they thought she was an hysterical woman, so distraught that she imagined seeing Jesus. Maybe it was just too hard to believe someone else’s testimony that Jesus was alive. Regardless of the reason, the disciples did not believe.

We find the disciples locked in a room because they are afraid. They are afraid because their rabbi, their teacher, their friend, their Lord is dead. I imagine the air was sucked right out of them. They gave up everything to follow Jesus. How could this happen?

Last week we talked about the conflicting emotions the disciples faced. Anger at leaving everything to follow Jesus and have it end like this. Deep grief at the death of their teacher, their friend. Afraid that the authorities will come after them. They are followers of Jesus and he was crucified. What will happen to them? Perhaps they were even fearful of being mocked and scorned by all those who said, “Some Messiah! Where’s your Lord and Savior now?” Imagine trying to process everything they had experienced. I don’t blame them for locking their doors! I don’t blame them for being scared. The last three days of the disciples’ lives has been the pits. The disciples were more than just afraid! A better translation of the Greek is that the disciples were paralyzed with fright. PARALYZED WITH FEAR.

Have you ever been “paralyzed with fear?” Paralyzed with a job loss? Paralyzed with a diagnosis? Paralyzed from bad news? A dying loved one? Loss of freedom? Most of us know what it means to be paralyzed with fear.

It is into this locked room that the disciples, paralyzed with fear are hidden away. Their nerves are raw. The tension is thick. And, in walks Jesus! Through locked doors! I doubt the disciples expected to see him that day.  It doesn't matter that the disciples are behind locked doors, Jesus will not be locked away from his people. A door cannot hold him back. He rose from the dead after all! He shows them his wounds – the holes from the nails that were hammered into his feet and hands. He shows them the hole where the spear pierced his side. He eats and drinks with them in order to convince them that he’s not a ghost. He accommodates his disciples' fear rather than condemning it. He is patient with their persistent doubt. Luke's description is stunning ... and it rings true: "in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering..." Even those who saw the resurrected Jesus had a hard time!

Jesus opens up the Scriptures so that they could understand how what had just happened fits into the larger story of God's salvation. Knowing what they now know, the rest finally makes more sense. But it isn’t enough for them to just understand. No. Jesus calls his disciples -- then and now -- to be witnesses. That's right. I'd love to soft-pedal it, but I just don't think there's any way to get around it: we are called to be witnesses to what God has done -- and is still doing -- for us and all the world in and through Christ.

Here's something that is particularly amazing about Luke's description of this scene: even though the disciples experience faith as this mixture of joy and doubt and wonder -- they are still called to be witnesses. Jesus did not expect perfect faith. He did not expect unwavering faith. Jesus called the disciples to go out and be witnesses in spite of their doubts. If that's true for them, friends, then it's the same for us. Part of being "resurrection people" is being witnesses.¹ Even though our faith is imperfect; even though our faith wavers. I don't know – maybe the fact that our faith is imperfect, makes us better witnesses.

We can witness to others that in spite of difficult circumstances, we feel the presence of Christ with us. We can witness that when we are paralyzed with fear, we somehow feel the peace of Christ surround us. We can tell others that we wouldn't make it through, if Christ was not holding us up when we didn't have the strength to go it alone.

Just like the disciples, we too have fears. We too have doubts. We all have them and we hide behind locked doors thinking we are keeping our fears at bay; keeping ourselves safe. Instead, we are prisoners; held captive by our fears.

Sometimes, I see us doing that as a church. We are afraid of change; afraid of being uncomfortable; afraid of doing something different; something new; something unfamiliar. We are afraid of losing control. And so we stay locked behind the closed doors of the church in fear of our survival.

We stay the same. And as a result, we grow older and smaller. We continue to bury our beloved members. We continue to watch as more and more of us become home bound, unable to attend. We continue to do things that make us feel good. We spend money to take care of our building which remains in pristine condition. And when everyone dies and the building remains empty, it will be beautiful. But it will be empty.

God is bringing opportunities to us to be involved in our neighborhood in new and exciting ways; to witness the love and hope of the gospel. He’s inviting us to unlock the doors and take risks. Risks that might result in growth and life for His church. Risks that will give us an opportunity to be good stewards of this building He has provided us with. Ministry is messy;  we'll make mistakes; we'll fail at some things. But we will grow in faith and grow in knowledge as we are faithful to Jesus' call to be witnesses.

The power of the resurrection is the power to plant the seeds of transformation. The hope of the resurrection is grounded in the experience of those first followers. Closed minds can be opened. The potential is for a release in a prophetic way.

Think about it. Jesus suddenly appears in the midst of his early followers. Locked behind closed doors in fear for their survival. He brought change to their lives as they moved from

            Fright and alarm to

                    Joy mixed with disbelief and puzzlement to

                                       Open and understanding minds and hearts.

Opening their minds and hearts began a shift in the core of their being. This shift led them to take great risks; witnessing to the risen Christ. Jesus did not bring them security. Rather, they risked everything in order to follow his call.

Those first followers came to understand that Jesus had conquered the ultimate threat, death itself, and their fears were groundless.² Jesus’ words “Peace be with you!” came to fruition in their hearts and as a result, they were willing to risk everything to be witnesses, to pass on the good news as resurrection people to future generations. 

Jesus’ words, “Peace be with you!” are spoken to us. And like those first followers so many years ago, even though we may not completely believe or at least experience total faith; even though we may have a mixture of joy and doubt and wonder and fear-- we are still called to be witnesses. Through Christ, we are resurrection people to future generations.

How will being resurrection people transform us and our community and our future? Please be praying about what this means for you individually and for us as a church. Ask yourself the question: Am I willing to risk everything to live out my transformed faith?

                May the Peace of Christ Be With You. Amen.

1 Working Preacher: “Witnesses” Posted 04.15.12

2 Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 2. Nancy R. Blakely. Page 428.

Can You Believe It?!

Debbie Cato

John 20:19-31

Peace Presbyterian ChurchApril 12, 2015 - 2^nd Sunday of Easter

Can You Believe It?!

Just a week ago, we celebrated Easter – the resurrection of our Lord. We focused on Mary Magdalene’s response to the empty tomb. Mary Magdalene went to the tomb early that Sunday morning to mourn the death of Jesus. Her grief deepens and she becomes deeply disturbed to find the stone removed from the opening of the tomb. Grave robbing was common in those days and so her first thought is that someone has taken her Lord. Mary followed Jesus all the way to the cross. She witnessed His crucifixion. She saw him suffer and die on the cross. And now his tomb was empty. What else could she think but robbers had come during the night and taken his body?

The disciples, John the Beloved and Peter dare to look inside the tomb and find no proof of tomb robbing. Rather, they find everything calm and orderly. Jesus' grave clothes are folded and left behind. Puzzled and frightened, John and Peter run away. They go back to the others. Behind locked doors.

But Mary stays behind. And though she heard Jesus explain about his suffering and his death and his resurrection, she did not believe until the risen Christ appeared and spoke to her directly; until he called her name. With the sound of her name, she recognizes her Lord’s voice. Mary runs and filled with joy, she shares the good news with the other disciples! “I have seen the Lord!” she tells them. “I have seen the Lord!” But, they dismiss her words as foolishness. After all, how can it be?! They have not seen for themselves. They stay locked in a room, hiding.

It's easy for us to question their faith. Three times Jesus’ told them what was going to happen in Jerusalem. Yet, scared and confused they lock themselves in a room. It’s easy to criticize them for not getting it! But let's think about it. The Roman government was powerful and the disciples saw the harsh crudeness of the punishment they handed out. Their leader had just suffered unimaginable pain and suffering. Their teacher had been crucified. The man they believed was the Messiah, died on the cross. They were recognized as his followers. Were soldiers looking for them too? Would the soldiers torture and crucify them as well?

The depth to which the disciples’ spirits must have fallen is easy to understate. You bet they were scared. But I think they also felt guilty. They knew that Judas was not the only one who had betrayed Jesus. Peter denied 3 times that he knew Him. The rest of the disciples had fled in Jesus’ hour of need. Only John stood near the cross with the women. The others watched from a distance – where no one would see them. None had shown up for Jesus’ burial. They must have felt like cowards; like traitors.

In the Lenten study we just finished on Wednesday, Adam Hamilton says, “fear and guilt weren’t the only emotions weighing heavy on the hearts of the disciples. They left everything to follow Jesus. They believed that he was the Messiah. They believed that he would restore Israel. They believed that God was with him in powerful ways. They felt in their hearts that he had the “words of life.” Their hopes and dreams, even their faith, was crucified with Jesus. They must have sunk into utter despair.”¹

We know about utter despair, don't we? Those dark times that paralyzes us. Those times when fear overtakes reality. Those times we feel completely isolated and hopeless.

And it is into through those closed doors that the risen Christ enters. To his

frightened disciples, deep in utter despair, Jesus says, “Peace be with you.”  Peace be with you.

Do you recognize those words? Jesus’ spoke these same words to his disciples the night of His arrest; as they shared supper together.

 “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the

world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” He

told them.   “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

After all the drama; after all the pain and suffering; after all the fear and grief; after all the confusion and all the darkness; after all the anger; Jesus offers his weary band of followers His perfect peace. Jesus offers peace that comes from the knowledge that, in spite of all the hurt and harm the world can and does inflict; in spite of all the darkness we walk through, God’s compassion and care is embodied in Jesus; that's His peace. It applies at every point where we fear that God’s plan for the world’s well-being is a pious dream, out of touch with the chaos and hatred of everyday life.

The One offering the words of peace to those locked behind closed doors is the very One who endured the brunt of that chaos and hatred. Jesus stands once again in their midst. He stands knowing what it means to suffer; to be humiliated; to be falsely accused. Can it be? Is the Lord really alive? Can I believe it? These disillusioned, frightened disciples finally rejoice when Jesus’ shows them his hands and his side. These followers of Jesus’ see for themselves, and then they believe. It's true! I believe! The Lord is risen! The Lord is risen, indeed!

So, Thomas – who really has a bad rap as “doubting Thomas,” was not the only

one to have doubts when merely hearing about the resurrection appearances. Just like the other characters in the story, he wanted to see for himself:  "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe,"  Thomas tells the others. You see, Thomas was not in that Upper Room when Jesus first appeared. It was a week after His resurrection. But even though a week had passed, Jesus is not impatient with Thomas. Instead, He invites him to touch his wounds so that he that he can believe.

We are not told if Thomas actually takes Jesus up on his offer of tangible proof of his existence. What we do know is that Thomas’s response to Jesus’ offer is immediate. “My Lord and my God!” Perhaps it was enough for Thomas just to know that Jesus cared enough to give him what he needed; that Jesus did not despise his doubt. Thomas addresses Jesus with reverence and awe. “My Lord and my God!” This is one of the strongest declarations of faith recorded in all of the New Testament.

For me, it's awfully good news that Jesus blessed Thomas in his doubt. He was, and is, in the business of meeting people where they are. He is like a good doctor. He does not give the same prescription to everyone. Instead, he approaches his followers in different ways because, after all, our experiences are different and our approaches to life are different. Our struggle to believe is different. According to John, that is the way Jesus handles doubt. He gives us what we need. Jesus does not express impatience with his disciples’ skepticism. He does not get angry. Instead, He says, “You want to see for yourself? I do not condemn you. Touch. See. Believe.”

John concludes this passage by saying that Jesus said, "Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed." Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.”

That is the way most of us have come to believe. We did not see or touch. We

were not there. We heard. Someone told us the story in a way that invited us to say yes. We heard someone say something, perhaps even a small something that spoke to us, as if calling our name, from somewhere deep inside. There was a sermon, a passage, a prayer. A story. We heard. Perhaps you were a young child. A young adult. A mature adult. It doesn’t matter when. It doesn’t matter how.

With this first encounter between Jesus and His followers, we have four different faith reactions. Four! John demonstrates that there is not just one way of experiencing the resurrection; but many. For some, faith is as easy as it was for the Beloved Disciple, who merely looked in the empty tomb and believed. Others, like Mary Magdalene, hear their name called, whether it comes from great need or great pain or great beauty. We hear our name called and we respond. We recognize His voice. Others discover the risen Christ as he intrudes on an anxious and fearful church that in spite of locking the doors to the chaotic world, sees Christ come in and offer us His peace. His perfect peace. Others, like Thomas, feel they have missed something in all of the great to-do about Easter, but linger with the community nevertheless, waiting for evidence or maybe something even better. We want to believe but just can’t quite - yet.

Regardless of how we experience the resurrection, regardless of how we respond in faith to the risen Christ, the resurrection enables His disciples – and each of us today – to believe and to be brought into a relationship with Him whom death could not destroy. And it is through belief in the resurrection, that we have new life in His name.² Praise Be to God.

1 Hamilton, Adam. 24 Hours That Changed the World. Nashville: Abingdon Press. 2009. Pp118-119.

2 Last 2 paragraphs are from :Call to Worship, Volume 44.3. pg 6 by Patrick J. Willson

An Empty Tomb

Debbie Cato

John 20:1-18

An Empty Tomb

Peace Presbyterian Church

April 5, 2015 Easter Sunday

An Empty Tomb¹

“They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him.”

Why does Mary say this, especially on Easter morning? Isn’t she supposed to be full of hope? She notices that the stone has been rolled away from the tomb, and yet she weeps? Mary Magdalene was expecting Jesus’ body to be in that tomb. “They have taken away my Lord and I do not know where they have laid him,” she weeps.

We have spent seven weeks; 40 days, walking to the cross with Jesus. We have been focusing on piety and repentance, temptation and self-denial, obedience, servant-hood and sacrifice. For seven weeks we have focused on the depth of suffering and sacrifice that Jesus experienced on our behalf. For seven weeks we have anticipated the “Hallelujah!” of Easter morning. We have felt the momentum build for this day, knowing that today we can say with confidence and joy, “Christ the Lord has risen today! Christ the Lord has risen indeed!” And yet, Mary weeps.

When we read this account of the women finding the tomb empty, we are filled with the joy of Easter morning. This is the ending we’ve been waiting for! We praise God that the tomb is empty! This is the ending that saves the world! Certainly the men and women who knew and loved and followed and learned from Jesus would be filled with joy. After all, Jesus himself told them at least three times that he would be killed by the religious leaders and secular leaders in Jerusalem. He told them three times that he would die and after three days rise again. Why don’t his followers get this?

Mary Magdalene came to the tomb early that Sunday morning and did not find what she expected. She witnessed His crucifixion. She watched him die. Mary expects to find the Lord’s dead body in the tomb. But instead, she is devastated to find the tomb empty. She is filled with horror, loss, and confusion. Mary bottoms out with sorrow when she finds the tomb empty.

They must have taken him away. Maybe he was never really there. Maybe he was only a rabbi. Only a teacher. Maybe he wasn’t the Messiah after all. Fill in the blank. Any explanation except the one that Jesus gave: “I am the resurrection and the life,” Jesus said.

May Magdalene is grief stricken. “They have taken away my Lord, and I do not know where they have laid him,” she cries. When she first met Jesus, she was possessed by seven demons - seven. Jesus healed her and gave her a new life. She literally owed Jesus her life. Mary became a devoted follower, entering into the close circle of those taught by Jesus during his Galilean ministry. She became prominent during the last days, accompanying Jesus during his travels and following him to the end; all the way to the cross. She was the leader of a group of women disciples who were present at the cross, when all the male disciples, except John the Beloved, fled out of fear for their own lives. She witnessed Christ’s Crucifixion and burial. And now, according to all four Gospels, she is the first person to see the resurrected Christ. In the midst of her despair, in the midst of her grief, she hears the voice of her Lord. “Mary!” he says. “Mary.” In the sound of her name, she recognizes her Lord’s voice.

“I have seen the risen Lord!” she announces to the disciples. Mary, this woman once possessed by demons, this faithful follower of Christ, brings the good news to the other disciples. “I have seen the risen Lord!” It is with this astonishing news, first announced by Mary to the other disciples where all Christian teaching

begins. This news is revolutionary! “Christ has risen! The Lord has risen indeed!”

Honestly, I'm not sure I really get it. What about you? How could Jesus, who after being beaten and mocked and crucified; how could Jesus, after dying on that cross and buried in a stone tomb, live? The resurrection defies logic. It's hard to explain. It's hard to understand. I cannot fully grasp what happened in that tomb. No one actually saw it. It was entirely between Jesus and God.

I have to admit – I probably would have reacted as Mary did. Devastated by the empty tomb. And yet, just as He promised, Jesus defeated death. He rose from the grave. He spoke Mary's name and she knew it was Him. And after that, the Risen One had people to see and things to do. In the days ahead, He talked with his followers; He ate with them; they touched Him. And every time He came to his friends they became stronger and wiser; kinder, and more daring. Every time he came to them, they became more like him. In the end, that is the only evidence we have to offer those who ask us how we can possibly believe. Because we live, that is why. Because we have found, to our surprise, that we are not alone. Because we never know where He will turn up next. We never know when He will call our name.

It’s these appearances that cinch the resurrection for me, not what happened in the tomb. For the rest of us, Easter began the moment Jesus said, “Mary!” and she recognized his voice. That is where the miracle happened and it is where it continues to happen. Not in the tomb, but in our encounter with the living Lord.  For Mary, for Peter and John, for Thomas and for the rest of the disciples, and for people like me and you, the empty tomb is indeed the cause for great rejoicing. Christ defeated death and rose from the grave. He is present with us, Emmanuel – God with us. He is present with us in all places and all times.

I'm thankful that human interpretation (or misunderstanding) of the empty tomb does not determine its significance. The empty tomb proves God's power over death. The empty tomb is the concrete reality of the presence of the risen Lord. The empty tomb means that the risen Lord stands before us; when we are fearful and troubled and scared, He is with us. He calls our name. When we are filled with joy and excitement – the risen Lord is with us. Christ walks among us just as He did the disciples. He is with us when we feed the hungry, help the oppressed, love one another. The empty tomb means that for us, death is not the end. The empty tomb promises those who believe, resurrection. The empty tomb means that the worst thing, is not the last thing.

The apostle Paul tells us that “Jesus destroyed our last enemy;² Jesus destroyed death.”³ The resurrected Jesus responds to our doubts about his presence among us every day of our lives with this question: “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen!” He has risen indeed! AMEN.

1 Resources used in addition to commentaries include:

Journey with Jesus, by Dan Clendenin @ www.journeywithjesus.net/Essays/20100329JJ

Escape from the Tomb, Barbara Brown Taylor @ www.christiancentury.org

Empty Tomb, Empty Talk, Thomas G. Long @ www.christiancentury.org

Completing the circle: The Resurrection according to John, Derek Tidball.

2 1 Corinthians 15:26

3 2 Timothy 1:10

Jesus’ Last Hours

Debbie Cato

Exodus 12:1-14; 1Co 11:23-26; John 13:1-17; 31b-35

The Way of the Cross – Maundy Thursday

Peace Presbyterian Church

April 2, 2015

Let us pray: God our helper, by your Holy Spirit, open our minds, that as the Scriptures are read and your Word is proclaimed, we may be led into your truth and taught your will, for the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.

Jesus’ Last Hours

We have been walking the “Way of the Cross” for nearly 40 days now. We've asked questions like, “Who are we? Who are we in our relationship with God?” We've talked about temptation; about self-denial and repentance. We've looked at the challenge of obedience, servitude and sacrifice. It's been some hard stuff; stuff that feels uncomfortable. We are getting closer. Today, we enter into three sacred days on our journey with Jesus to the cross. This is the ancient Triduum: Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday.

Three days of emotional peaks and valleys and plateaus that offer an exercise in intimacy and distance, along with hope and despair. If we travel well over these next three days, we will be left broken. Broken open and vacant and receptive for Easter morning.¹

Momentum shifts today. It is a day of transition. Things become darker. Shadows lengthen. Our vague, general ideas about Lent become specific items: a towel; a bowl; a cup; some bread; bare feet.²

Jesus knew his time to suffer and die on the cross was here. His hour had come.

He chooses to spend his last hours sharing a meal with his 12 closest friends; the disciples who have been with him since the beginning of his ministry. These were his confidants. These were the men who couldn't seem to get it. these were the men he was relying on to continue his ministry. These were the men who, three years prior, left what they were doing to follow Jesus. Simon (who is called Peter) and his brother Andrew; James son of Zebedee, and his brother John; Philip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus (called Judas); Simon the Zealot and Judas Iscariot. Jesus chooses to spend his last hours in fellowship with his travel companions. No more healings, no more miracles, no more crowds. Just Jesus and the twelve.

This inner circle intimately gather for a meal with Christ. On this Passover everything has been prepared according to Jesus' instructions. They gather in the Upper Room around 7:00 to begin the Passover traditions. They talk, they laugh, they recite the Passover scriptures and sing the hymns. They eat the traditional Seder meal. The disciples have good intentions; and yet there are impending betrayals. It's like a lull before a storm. It is a night of hollow voices – promising loyalty, perseverance, and boldness. Jesus' inner circle is in transition. Soon even their hollow words will be transformed. Even their decisions and fears and hopes will be turned to light. But first, they must experience the darkness.

What decisions, what losses, what needs are gathered in this sanctuary tonight? What fears and possibilities and even hopes are residing inside of you? Inside of the person sitting next to you? What are you too afraid to hope for? Too afraid to talk about? To repent from? To share?

Maundy Thursday – this night, is a time for us as individual followers and for us as the Body of Christ at Peace Presbyterian to remember our callings. It is the time for us to recollect our commitments to God. To make confessions and trust in a God who is bigger than our past hopes and our future mistakes.³

On that first Holy Thursday, Jesus spent his final hours with his closest friends. John the Beloved. Judas Iscariot, who would betray Jesus. Peter who would deny knowing Jesus.Andrew, James. Philip, Bartholomew, Thomas, Matthew, James son of Alphaeus, Thaddaeus (called Judas), and Simon the Zealot all betray Jesus. They abandoned Jesus when he needed them most. This gathering is a time to remember who exactly was welcome at His Table.

Tonight is a night to remember and name all who are welcome at this Table – this

table which through the ages is Jesus table. People like …… and ….. and ….. and

me. Those who have betrayed friends and will do so again, are welcome at the Table. Those who will deny and curse before the night is up, they are invited to this table. Those who claim their identity but not their behaviors are honored guests at this Table. To those who betray God over and over again; Jesus says, “Come. Come and dine with me.” To those who deny knowing Jesus through their actions or words or lack of actions or words; to those who run when God calls them; the Lord says, “Come my beloved. I love you. You are welcome”

In the middle of their meal together, while everyone is comfortably lounging, enjoying the meal and the conversation, Jesus gets up from the table. He takes off his outer robe and He ties a towel around himself – the dress of a lowly servant. Jesus methodically goes from disciple to disciple, kneeling down in front of them, gently washing the filth off their feet, drying them with the towel that is tied around his waist.

In those days, foot washing was not a symbolic ceremony, nor for that matter, was the breaking of bread or the pouring of wine. It's Jesus actions on this night, His last night, that changes them. In Jesus’ time, foot washing was practical. Dusty, muddy, manure-strewn roads made sandaled feet grossly dirty. The first-century household slave had the foot-washing task. It was one of the most demeaning and filthy tasks in their culture. And yet, the King of Kings, hours before his arrest and crucifixion chooses the servant’s role and this lowliest task as an object lesson for his disciples. The humbleness of Christ on this night is shocking. It's incredible.

After washing the disciples’ feet, including Judas' feet, Judas Iscariot leaves to

betray Jesus. Jesus knew he would. But he washed his feet in the same manner

he washed the others.

Jesus intentionality levels the playing field. He says, “For I have set an example for you. You also should do as I have done to you.” You see, Jesus calls us into down-ward mobility, bidding us to leave higher safety for a lower and broken world. There is nothing too lowly for us to do for another. Or for our enemies.

Sitting back down, Jesus gives them a new commandment, his final words of wisdom if you will. Jesus says, “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” A commandment of love, patterned on his love for them.

Maundy Thursday derives its name from this very moment of Jesus’ last hours– the mandatum novum – the new mandate or new commandment. Jesus says, if each and every one of you will just love one another the way that I love you, everyone will know that you are my disciples. He knows that this kind of outlandish love, flowing out of humility and service to one another will cause his followers to look different in the world; it will cause them to stand out. He says, others will be drawn to you just as people are drawn to me. All that I have done; the healings, the miracles, the teachings, and the foot washing – it has all been out of my love for you. It has no limits. It makes no demands. It doesn't discriminate. It’s unconditional. And soon, I will commit THE ultimate, amazing act of sacrifice, out of my love for you and then perhaps, finally then, you will understand.

On this night of his arrest, after the guests feet are washed and their bellies filled; Jesus takes two simple things from their meal – leftover bread and wine. In his last meal before his death, Jesus takes and shares with his disciples the bread and the wine, speaking of them as his body and blood, signs of the new covenant. The old law is out. The new covenant of love is in. Jesus commended breaking bread and sharing a cup to remember His death and to proclaim it.⁴

After we affirm our faith by reading one of our Confessions together, we will share the Lord’s Supper with one another; the same meal Jesus shared with his beloved disciples in his final hours. We will speak the same words He spoke that evening. And we will do it in remembrance of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.

Jesus spent his last hours in the fellowship of his friends. It started out as an ordinary Passover meal – at least to His disciples. It ends with three gifts to the Church – a Church that would not even begin to form for forty two days. Jesus leaves His legacy. Jesus left a legacy of humility and servitude and love. Jesus’ entire ministry – down to his last hours, exemplified these three traits. Jesus commands us; he mandates us to love; but not only to love; but to love as Christ loves. How can this be? Is love not a feeling? Can feelings be commanded? Of course not! However, choices – the choice of loving behaviors, Christlike actions – can be chosen in the strength of Jesus, the towel-girded Christ.⁵

I pray that as we prepare to come to the table, we will come with the humility of knowing how far we fall short. May we see the times that we have betrayed our Lord. The times we have denied our faith. The times we have run away, rather than follow Him. In the midst of your brokenness, may you hear the voice of Jesus saying to you, “Come. I love you. This is my body broken for you and my blood, poured out for you for the new covenant. A covenant of love.”

Let us pray:

Servant Lord, in Scripture you teach us how to love and serve, not just through words, but through your life and ministry. You show us how to stand in a servant’s posture and live with love as our call. Give us strength and wisdom and perseverance so that we may follow your example, serving you and others by sharing your love. Show us how to wear a servant’s towel. Use us to meet the 

deep needs of those near and far. Help us not to be afraid of getting messy, but to risk our own time and energy for the sake of following your call. When others serve us, may we accept their gifts with grace. We commit ourselves to your service, and ask all of these things in your name. Amen.

1 Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 2. Pastoral Perspective. James Lamkin. P276 – 280.

2Ibid.

3 Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 2. Pastoral Perspective. James Lamkin. P276 – 280.

4 BOO W.24

5 Feasting on the Word: Year B, Volume 2. Pastoral Perspective. James Lamkin. P276 – 280.