In Remembrance, Maundy Thursday, Part 1

Part One

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, 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.  (Matthew 26: 26-27)

This did not all make sense, but Jesus often spoke in ways they did not understand until later. In Luke’s Gospel, it is recorded that Jesus told us when we participate in the Lord’s Supper, “that we do so in remembrance of Him.” He broke the unleavened Passover bread, telling the disciples things they did not yet understand. We do this now, remembering the sacrifice made for us, when we take communion. As we do, we ask forgiveness for our sins and weaknesses.

And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.”  (Luke 22:19)

Music has a way of expressing things for us in simple terms. There was once a musical called, “Celebrate Life!” written by Ragan Courtney and Buryl Red, about the life of Jesus. It was new when I was in high school and our youth group went to various churches performing it with actors, musicians, and speakers. It is still relevant today.

The song about the Last Supper, this Passover Meal, is by far not only my favorite song from that musical, but one that is special on it’s own.  If Jesus were to write a song telling us what to do, this just might be it. Do these things, in remembrance of Him.

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Part 2 of my Maundy Thursday message is, A Hint of Things to Come, Maundy Thursday, part 2
The words to the song are below and here's a link so that you can enjoy the music. In Remembrance of Me

In Remembrance
In remembrance of Me eat this bread, In remembrance of Me drink this wine
In remembrance of Me pray for the time, When God's own will is done.

-In remembrance of me heal the sick, In remembrance of me feed the poor
In remembrance of me open the door, And let your brother in, let him in
 

Take eat and be comforted, Drink and remember too
That this is my body and precious blood, Shed for you, shed for you
 

In remembrance of me always love. In remembrance of me don't look above

But in your heart, in your heart. Look in your heart for God
Do this in remembrance of me.

Of Preparation and Prophecy

As they approached Jerusalem, at Bethpage and Bethany, near the Mount of Olives, He sent two of His disciples, and said to them, “Go into the village opposite you, and immediately as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, on which no one yet has ever sat; untie it and bring it here.  If anyone says to you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ you say, ‘The Lord has need of it’; and immediately he will send it back here.”     Mark 11:1-3

Palm Sunday, the day we celebrate Jesus' entry into Jerusalem, didn't just happen by chance. No, even small details such as the use of a donkey colt had to be arranged. Like many others, they were coming into the city in order to celebrate Passover.  Coincidence? I think not.

It reminds me that Mary rode a donkey into Bethlehem... when it was time for Jesus to be born. And while the disciples did not realize it then, this trip would end in a most unexpected way, one that changed history. But there's more...


 "Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion! Shout, O daughter of Jerusalem! Behold, your King is coming to you; he is just and having salvation, lowly and riding on a donkey, a colt, the foal of a donkey."       Zachariah 9:9
 
Long before the birth of Christ, His entrance was foretold in prophecy. This seemed odd to people hoping for a Messiah that would enter like a mighty kind to rescue them. This king would surely ride a fine horse, wouldn't he? Yet, they were told it'd be on a lowly donkey.  It wasn't even a normal donkey, but one that had never been ridden on. I guess you could say that it was pure, just as the one riding it.  Donkeys are beasts of burden, so appropriate for carrying the One that would bear the burdens and sins of all mankind.

But the Messiah did arrive on a donkey, and to the cheers and celebrations of the crowd... the same crowd that turned on Him just a few days later. He came to observe Passover with the disciples, and did so much more... so very much more.

The Undercurrent

Sitting in the quiet room, my body slowly wakes up and shifts into gear the same way the sun rises. The sky gradually lightens and at one point, turns pink before shifting over to a hazy pale blue. Slowly, the day begins... But as I watched out the window, I thought about how deceiving it is. It would seem to be a nice warm 70 degrees, but I know that it is likely cold, maybe even below freezing. Things are not always what they appear.

Someone I know, Susan Breeding, shared this picture of a swan on her facebook wall this morning. She wrote, "This swan looks peaceful, but maybe the feet are working hard under the water."

The picture reminded me that life is often that way. You may see others and think, "I wish my life was like her life. She has it made, no worries, it's all good." But you might not know how it is under the public surface. You do not know her worries and concerns, how she feels, or the ordeals she faces daily.

Just as the swan appears to glide smoothly over the water, underneath, his feet are moving quickly. The water churns in response and it isn't smooth down where the action is. If you are feeling anxious, do not compare yourself to others. They may just be treading water, wondering how you manage to glide so smoothly.

In Paul's letter to the church at Philippi, he shared with them that he'd figured out that the secret to feeling contented, was to be content whatever the circumstances.  He wrote, ^"I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me."   (Philippians 4: 12-13)

Focusing on the Hills, An Epiphany

Due to various medical conditions, there are times when I am very tired... not the "Stayed up late and sleepy today" or "worked hard and it was a long day" kind of tired. We're talking so tired that even upon wakening, the arms feel too heavy to lift, feet drag along when walking, and the mind seems hazy. It's sitting up, noticing each breath's struggle kind of tired. Weak. Weary.  It's not my practice to bring that up very much, certainly not in that much detail, but sitting and gazing out the window, I had this reminder, an "I will be with you always" moment so that it matters how I felt when it happened.

My strength comes from the hills. Many know that I have a special fondness for the Smoky Mountains, and while a great deal of this fondness is due to the rushing Little Pigeon River, looking out over the hazy blue mountains also brings peace. Layer upon layer, they seem to go on towards infinity.  Likewise, I also enjoy looking toward the hills around here, as they remind me of the mountains.

So, in my weary, but calm, frame of mind, I am reminded, "I will lift my eyes upon the hills..." Yes, it connects to my love of the mountains, but there was a sudden insight that hit me as well. The thought, that reminder of that line in scripture, came almost as an energy bolt, lifting me up spiritually.  I didn't even know where this came from, as in, didn't know the location in scripture, nor did I know the rest of it. I just knew that it spoke to me, so I  had to look it up.

Psalm 121... I  should have suspected that it's in Psalms, as this book of poems and songs seems to sum up all of mankinds' thoughts, needs, and joys.  "I will lift up my eyes to the hills - from where comes my help? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth."  An epiphany, an ah-ha moment.

The Hebrew people looked toward the hills, toward the mountains, to where God spoke to them. Moses came down from the mountain with the commandments. Jesus spoke from the mountain, or hills actually, about how to live life. We call this the 'Sermon on the Mount'  and the series of lessons, the Beatitudes. (Blessed are they who...)

Like many, I draw strength from the mountains. This just came to me, not in a series of rambling thoughts,but all of it came, all at once. Before I could even consider this, I thought about the expressions that when we struggle we are in the valleys, but the moments of joy are mountaintop experiences. It is these experiences that give us the hope to carry on, knowing that even in the valleys, we are not alone. We look to the mountains for God's help, bringing us strength to continue. I lift my eyes upon the hills...

When one is discouraged, he tends to look down, towards the earth. He dwells on earthly woes and the despair grows. But if we look UP, look towards the mountains, towards God, our help comes. When we focus on God, the emotional blanket of sadness is lifted away. Whatever sad realities we are facing on earth, by looking up, towards God, we are given the help, and the strength, to continue.

Surely, God blessed me in this brief moment. Physically, my body is weary, but spiritually, my heart is light. 

Psalm 121 

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.

He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

   

About this picture: This amazing view is from earlier this morning, an actual view from the webcam at Purchase Knob, looking northeast. It's in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
http://nature.nps.gov/air/webcams/parks/grsmpkcam/grsmpkcam.cfm

Looking at Ourselves Through God's Mirror

Joey, one of my facebook friends, is a former student. While I knew him as a middle school student, he's all grown up now with his own family. I enjoy reading the inspirational posts he shares. Today, he shared a lesson from a book by Thomas Monson about how people can change, and seeing them in a positive note. It was a good read and I commented that it reminded me of something I'd written in my Lenten Devotional, Living What We Believe, about the way God sees us.  I also shared with him that it talked about a former student that he might know, even though they weren't classmates at the same time. He said I should post in in one of my blogs. He's right - it's a story worth repeating, even though some have read it before. It's a good reminder we all need from time to time.

As a teacher for 25 years, some of the most important lessons were taught by students. Early in my career, Kathy not only taught me how to teach, but made a lasting impact on my life.

She was in my 4/5 grade class, barely able to read, and couldn’t write. I soon discovered that she seemed bright, but suffered from a very low opinion of herself.  Her “career goal” was to drop out of school as soon as she was old enough.

We had many “conversations” about her ability to learn and lack of motivation. At times, she was angry and refused to try. She yelled, “Of course you’d say I could do it. That’s your job.” Just as she was moving on, my job changed. Oh no! Three more years of arguing with Kathy!

Fortunately, all 6^th graders are given intelligence tests. As I suspected, she scored high. When I asked the counselor to tell her the score, he refused. It’s “not done.” Finally, I convinced him that Kathy needed to hear that she was smart from someone besides me.

After their conference, Kathy came in the room beaming. “Guess what?” she said. “I AM smart!”  By then, her skills were on 4^th grade level, still two years behind. It was quite an achievement considering where she started.

By the time Kathy left my classes at the end of 8^th grade, we were close friends. She not only caught up, but read above grade level and was a wonderful writer. Years later, she invited me to her high school graduation. I was so proud of her when I discovered that she would be making a speech! Proud, but not at all surprised.

She spoke of her attitude when she was younger, thinking she’d never amount to much, and didn’t care. She told them that she was hassled by a caring teacher until she was finally convinced that she was capable and thanked me for pushing her. She said that I believed in her long before she believed in herself.

Kathy had to learn to see herself as others saw her, not as she saw herself. All she could see were the flaws, not the potential. She is grown now, attended college, got married, and has three children. She’s an avid reader, too!She is not the same person she was when we met.

When God sees us, He sees our potential that we cannot even imagine at times.  God sees us as we CAN be, not as we are now.  He sees you whole, not broken. Look at yourself through God’s mirror and consider what He sees in you.  It could amaze you and change your life.

I Samuel 16:7 says, "The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Today's Path: Frustration

What a day. Here I am, DETERMINED to be in a good mood... or at least a decent one, and it's a challenge.  No, there's nothing in particular wrong... just one of those "hassled" days. You know what I mean? The cold gloomy day isn't helping, but I honestly don't think that's much of a factor.  (Hearing that our high today was 20+ degrees below our average certainly didn't help though!)

Each little thing seemed to be more difficult than it should have been, or at least, more complicated or took longer. Again, nothing big... but for that to happen over and over and over today.... UGH.

Some things were under my control, such as the laundry. (I chose to wash a tiny load of what was needed, leaving the rest. (No, I don't know why. The machine does the work - not like I had to beat it over the rocks...). Most of it was not something I could control, such as other people's expectations - strangers even, and even the cat was whining. I found  myself feeling way more annoyed than I should at the Kentucky Legislature and the US Congress... well, perhaps I "should" feel annoyed at Congress. I think it's time we pull out the "Do Nothing Party" label from sometime in the 1800s and get it tattooed across the forehead of almost everyone in Washington, DC. It seems the only thing they can agree on is putting themselves ahead of the American people. grrr... see? not happy.

So, then I sat here a bit when my plans didn't work out considering what to do. My plan was to offer to help my son with something, not that he asked. I just decided he needed help. (Moms do that sort of thing.) But then when I called him, he says he's taken care of it. Thanks, but no thanks. So I was left with some unexpected free time... which was spent pondering why it bothered me that I didn't have to spend time and money rescuing him, and thinking about various other moments of the day.

You know what I realized? That it wasn't such a bad day. Along the way, my thought processes were about as scrambled as the weather lately. I was annoyed standing in line to check out at the grocery store today. Although I went in to pick up a can of V-8 juice for the base of my vegetable beef soup, I ended up spending over $100. Expensive soup? No... seems it was even on sale.

Thinking about the annoyances of my day, it struck me that I am truly blessed. True, we had snow off and on all day but it's just snowing, not doing anything. It could be like sections of the mid-west that have had horrible deep snows recently. I have heat, a comfortable home, an overflowing pantry and groceries in the car. (I brought in the milk and freezer things, but left everything else in the car for someone else to bring in.) Sure, this damp cold air is doing a number on my arthritic joints, neuropathy, and fibromyalgia - but I can walk. I can move, can do things, even if slowly, and thanks to dialysis, have nice cleaned out blood for a few hours. For that matter, I'm still alive - that alone is something not to be taken for granted.

Going to the grocery store was very tiring. Yes, I spent over $100 even though my pantry is full... but  I did so because some of the things we often want were on sale. Not fantastic prices, but good enough I wanted to stock up. So, for all the bags, it was a lot of just a few things. See? While I was thinking of that stop as just another example of how something simple turned into a big, tiring deal... I should've been thinking about how lucky I was to have saved $50 on things we'd buy anyway.

I spent some "WWJD" time just before writing this... "What would Jesus do?" though it was really more, What DID Jesus do? and I thought about how annoying it probably was to encounter people that mistreated others, that put themselves above others, government hassles... Suddenly, I realized that not only would Jesus understand how I felt, He probably dealt with it a lot more often. The more things change, the more they stay the same? There have always been hassles, dumb people, and people that abuse others... if not physically, than in other ways. But that is what was put on my heart. "Just don't worry about it. Things have been worse and others have had much more to deal with than you ever even considered." It's true.

Well, it'd be such a wonderful witness if I could just say, "Well, I prayed and now feel so wonderful and overjoyed!" But that would be lying. Nope, not wonderful. But while the annoyance level is only slightly diminished, I realize that it's just not a big deal. You know what? I'm going to get some sleep. 6:30 pm - that's bedtime, right? I considered putting the TV on, but somehow, I think adding noise to the equation would put me over the edge. . So, I'm going to escape into sleep. Today's journey was one of survival, not insight. But survived it, I did.

(by the way - did you read my post this morning? "Just Had to Share This With You" It was something neat I read and wanted to share with you. I hope it touched you as much as it did me.  If you missed it, go back and read it. It's much more encouraging that this post! LOL)

Just Had to Share This With You!

Yesterday, I shared with you that although I'd agreed to participate with the group reading the Bible during Lent, it didn't take long for me to get sidetracked. It's not as if I haven't read it already, or that I don't know what's going to happen!  (Spoiler alert: The best part isn't at the beginning, or even at the end.... check out Matthew 28 or Luke 24! There's a lot of great stuff before and after, but wow...just read it!)

A few minutes ago I read today's blog post that goes with the reading group - and I just had to share what it said with you since I'd just shared about not reading in my own blog post.

Thousands of people have joined in reading through the Bible during the 40 Days of Lent this year. People have invited their small groups, friends, spouses, neighbors, and co-workers to join in. Some don’t even believe in God. I recently heard from one woman who invited a co-worker who isn’t a Christian to join her in reading the Bible through Lent.

After the first week she announced, “There are some really rotten people in the Bible. Noah gets drunk and can’t keep his pants on. Jacob is a liar and a cheat. Joseph’s brothers are a band of meanies. I thought I was going to be reading a book about Christians.”

The woman encouraged her friend to keep reading.

After the second week’s reading, the co-worker announced, “I don’t think reading the Bible is accomplishing what you wanted it to.”

“How so?” the woman asked.

“Well, I don’t really like God. He seems mean and gets angry a lot and kills a lot of people. Do you know what this book really needs?”

“What?” the woman asked.

“A hero. This book needs someone to come along and save the day and make God not so angry all the time.”

The woman smiled.  “Keep reading,” she encouraged. “The hero is coming.”

 

Reading this sent chill bumps up my arms. Yes, indeed, the hero is coming.... from the very beginning, even before birth, this hero is really special! So, if you happen to be reading the Bible for the very first time, don't get bogged down in the geneology, and try to remember historical context when reading some of the earliest parts. It's probably impossible to get through some parts (such as Psalms) without thinking, "Wow, I have felt that way before" even if you aren't a Christian! If it IS your first time reading, I don't even think this is what you should be doing. Reading it alone just straight through will just give you more questions than answer. If you have questions, send me a note. We'll talk.
 

The post A Response to the Complaint: “I Don’t Think Reading the Bible Is Accomplishing What You Wanted It To!” appeared first on Margaret Feinberg.