Understanding Infant Baptism

In 2017, my wife Kathryn and I traveled to Ukraine. In the shadows of Russia, Ukraine has always had a strained relationship with what was once called the “Evil Empire.” Our host on that trip was an American missionary named Patrick. He was planning a baptismal service and was encouraging everyone who had never been baptized to participate. I don’t know how else to say it, spiritually, the Ukrainian people seemed confused. They had been part of the Soviet Union, so there has been a communist hangover. Some Ukrainians believe in nothing; during communist rule they were taught atheism. They are working hard to survive, so they have no energy left to think about eternity. Some Ukrainians profess to be Orthodox, but they have not practiced their faith in decades. Some Ukrainians have joined cults. When religious freedom came to that land, cults arrived like Mormonism which began teaching their false theology. The Protestants, like Methodism, are lumped together with the cults. Patrick’s baptism service was important because he was simply trying to lead the people back to their Christian core. He was not promoting his denomination, the United Methodist Church, he was simply promoting Jesus! In the life of the church, nothing matters but Jesus! Any form of baptism means nothing without Jesus. Baptism has been part of our world for a long time.

Baptism was not created by the early church, but it was redefined by the early church. Baptism began with God’s Chosen People. Never forget, the Jews are both a race and a faith. Some were born into the faith. Gentiles, non-Jews, were baptized into the Jewish faith. The symbolism was clear. The individual was held under water to symbolize a washing. It was like taking your Saturday night bath. They were washing away the sins of their old life and starting over again fresh and new. It has been called the sinner’s baptism, and this was the baptism that John the Baptist offered. Many left the city and went into the wilderness to be baptized by John. Everyone was encouraged to be baptized because everyone had sinned. Then, Jesus came, and everything changed. 

Jesus never sinned. I do not know why Jesus wanted to be baptized, but his baptism signaled the beginning of his earthly ministry. Like smashing a champagne bottle on a hull of a new ocean liner, Jesus went to work. The early church wanted to be like Jesus, so they baptized new converts. In the beginning, it took place on Easter morning. Men baptized men, and women baptized women. Everyone was in their birthday suits. The symbolism changed – when you were held under the water you were dying with Christ. When you were pulled out of the water you were being resurrected with Christ. We call this form of baptism “immersion” or believer’s baptism. Some churches, especially Baptist churches, continue to practice immersion.

Everyone would have been immersed if it wasn’t for the Dark Ages. For it was during that horrible period baptism changed. You can say it is based on poor theology. Mothers and fathers have always loved their children. Parents have always wanted to see their children go to heaven. The problem was, during the Dark Ages the infant mortality rate was sky high. Parents were afraid their children wouldn’t make it into heaven without baptism, so they ran their newborns to the church to be baptized, just in case the unthinkable happened. It is for this reason most of the western church practices infant baptism. The story of Lydia in Acts 16:11-16 illustrates how one believer can affect the lives of others.

In infant baptism two things happen. First, we wash away the original sin of Adam. Within each newborn is a flaw that leads them to sin. I have never met a perfect person. I have never met a single person who claims to be perfect.  Second, we recognize the importance of environment. Children are not born into isolation, they are born into communities. Part of that community is family, part of that community is the church. The goal of infant baptism is salvation. We are promising to influence the child toward Jesus, our only hope of salvation. We want the child to gently wade into the faith. Infant baptism is my norm, so I want to examine it in this blog. I will do that by looking at the ritual used in the United Methodist Book of Worship and by looking at three words.

The first word is faith. John the Baptist believed in Jesus from the very beginning. It is for this reason he was uncomfortable baptizing Jesus. When Jesus was baptized, something wonderful happened. God Himself suddenly appears. God says in Matthew 3:17, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”  In other words, God is endorsing Jesus as the Messiah. For the Jews, it meant the waiting was over. The Messiah had finally arrived. To us, it means more – it means that Jesus was the most unique life who ever lived. He was the very incarnation of God, the perfect sacrifice for the sins of the world. He is our only hope of salvation. Baptism reminds us that Christianity is the one true faith! Baptism is a witness. We are telling the world that Jesus is our only hope of salvation. Mohammed and Buddha were fine people, but they were not the son of God. They are both dead, but Jesus is alive. If you are reading this blog, then I am assuming you believe Christianity is the one true faith.

The second word is family. One of Paul’s traveling companions was Timothy. Who was Timothy? Timothy was several things. For one thing, Timothy was a product of a Christian home. Timothy’s grandmother was Lois, and his mother was Eunice (2 Timothy 1:5). Timothy was not a first-generation believer. He was at least a third-generation believer. I do not know how much Paul knew about family dynamics, but I do know this: Paul knew the greatest influence on your life is your family. The greatest influence on the child being baptized is his or her family.  

That is why in the ritual we ask the parents of the child these questions:  

Beloved, do you in presenting this child for holy Baptism confess your faith in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ? 

Do you therefore accept your duty and privilege to live before this child a life that becomes the Gospel; to exercise all Godly care that he be brought up in the Christian faith, that he be taught the Holy Scriptures, and that he may learn to give the reverent attendance upon the private and public worship of God?  

Will you endeavor to keep the child under the ministry and guidance of the church? 

The parents always say, “We do” or “We will.” However, on the day the parents answer, “No!” the baptism is over. Infant baptism means nothing if the faith means nothing to the parents. Let me ask you this question: how important is the Christian faith to you? If you want your child to take the faith seriously, then you must take the faith seriously.

The third word is fellowship. There comes a point in the baptism ritual that the attention leaves the baby and the parents. It is now the church’s turn to make the promise. I have recited these words many times.

With God’s help we will so order our lives after the example of Christ, that this child, surrounded by steadfast love, may be established in the faith, and confirmed and strengthened in the way that leads to life eternal.  

Don’t just read the words, look at their meaning. The church is promising to create a Christian environment to influence the child toward growth in faith and personal salvation. That is why Vacation Bible School is important. That is why Sunday school is so important. That is why Junior Church is so important. That is why confirmation is important. That is why the annual youth mission trip is so important. God has entrusted these young souls to us, so we must be at our best. How could you enjoy the riches of heaven if one of these precious souls was missing?

In a few weeks, I am scheduled to baptize a baby named Natalie. It will be a great day. Baptisms are great for three reasons. First, baptisms are great because they bring people to the church. It is no fun preaching to a half empty room. The more the merrier. Second, baptisms are great because they remind us of the goodness in younger generations. Sometimes we fail to see the goodness in other generations. Church is the last place where all generations mix. Third and finally, baptisms are great because we get to see a baby. How often do you get to see a baby? During infant baptism the spotlight will rest on Natalie. It will be a nice moment, but baptisms don’t just last a moment. The real work begins once the water dries. Chinese Church leader Watchman Nee (1903-1972) once said, “Baptism is an outward expression of an inward faith.”

Why Timothy?

Our scripture reading is Acts 16:1-5. Much has already happened. It will have to suffice to say that Paul had taken center stage. His first missionary journey is complete, and he is about to embark on his second. However, before he leaves, he enlists some help. His list of potential helpers was short. As a matter of fact, only one name is mentioned, Timothy. According to our text, Timothy was the product of a mixed marriage. His mother was a Jewess believer, and his father was a Greek, or Gentile, non-believer. His references spoke of him in glowing terms. Having just stated these facts, one question remains: why Timothy? What was it about Timothy that made him stand out? What made him an excellent candidate? Those are the questions I want to try to answer. They are the same qualities that God is looking for today. Could it be you have some of those qualities? Let me begin with the obvious.

Timothy was not selected by Paul for any physical reasons. This was not like the NFL draft where the physically gifted are selected first. We do not know how much Timothy weighed. We do not know how fast Timothy could run. We do not know how high Timothy could jump. We do not know if Timothy was extremely quick or tall. We do not know if Timothy was short or overweight. Luke does not include any of this information for one reason — it simply doesn’t matter. Church history is filled with people of every physical description. Timothy was not selected by Paul for any physical reason. Your physical state does not eliminate you or include you for Christian service. That is a good thing. Did you know, according to the United States government, approximately 41.9% of Americans are considered obese?

Timothy was not selected by Paul because he was the right age. I know age is one of the factors in this story. We can assume Timothy was young, he must be young. Both of his parents and his grandmother are still alive. In First Timothy 4:12 Paul tells us that Timothy was young. However, age does not seem to be the driving force behind Paul’s choice. If he was a United Methodist, it would be a factor. Did you know the medium age in America today is 38.5 years old? Did you know the average age of a United Methodist is 57 years old? Did you know the United Methodist Church has intentionally decided to shrink that gap by promoting more youthful laity and clergy? I believe every generation has something to offer. After all, God loves and uses every generation. Timothy was not selected by Paul because he was the right age. Your age is no excuse for not serving God.

Timothy was not selected by Paul for any economic reasons. There is no mention of money in this story. However, I do know that money is important. If you don’t believe me, then try to live without it. Try to maintain your church ministries and building without money. It would have been easier if Timothy had some extra cash. He could have paid for everyone’s lunch. He could have paid for some traveling expenses. He could have paid for some advertising. If Timothy had some money, then they could have eliminated all the fundraising. The problem is, money isn’t mentioned in the story, so money wasn’t a major factor. Timothy was not selected for any economic reasons. So why was Timothy selected? Timothy was selected for one reason, FAITH!

Second Corinthians 5:6-9 says:

Therefore, we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord. 7 For we live by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. 9 So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it. 

In other words, Timothy was a man of faith. Faith isn’t a magic wand to get what you want. Faith is a deep trust in God, who knows what is best. Does your faith teeter on getting what you want? Is your faith rooted in trusting God? The two are a million miles apart. Martin Luther (1483-1546) once said, “God our Father has made all things depend on faith, so that whoever has faith will have everything, and whoever does not have faith will have nothing.”

When I was in high school, I had a friend by the name of Nancy. There was no romance, just friendship. We were in high school youth group together. The love of her life as a teenager was her horse. She was bright and attractive. As an only child, she was the apple of her parent’s eyes. To say the least, she was an extrovert. She made every experience fun. I spent hours with her acting silly and laughing. Years later, I attended her wedding and had too much fun at the reception. A year later, she told me she was going to have a baby. Her future seemed so bright. Then a horrible thing happened. Both she and her baby died during the birth. Her husband struggled for answers and her parents mourned. My parents told me her parents left the church because they didn’t believe in God anymore. Their faith was gone. I don’t want to be critical, but they didn’t get the memo. There is nothing easy about life or faith. Faith is not a magic wand to get what you want. Faith is trusting God to know what is best.

In 2016, my wife Kathryn and I visited Vicksburg, Mississippi. We love history, and in particular, Civil War history. Today, Vicksburg is a struggling community on the Mississippi, but in the 1860’s it was a booming metropolis. Do you remember your American history? As long as the Confederates controlled Vicksburg, they controlled the entire Mississippi River. It was vital that the Union take Vicksburg. Ohio born U.S. Grant (1822-1845) made that happen because of a forty-seven-day siege. Once Vicksburg fell, the Confederacy was cut in half and the Mississippi was opened to commerce again. That battle happened in 1863. However, the Union occupied Vicksburg for years to come.  

One of the great names attached to that battle was Ohio born William T. Sherman (1820-1891). In time, he would make it to Atlanta, and then complete his famous march to Savannah, the famous “March to the Sea”. You can say, in Vicksburg he practiced for his future success. Trying to isolate the state of Mississippi from the war, he traveled 180 miles from Vicksburg to Meridian, Mississippi. He destroyed railroad lines and private property along the way. Sherman was confident that he would succeed, but one thing did surprise him — he never expected freed slaves to follow him and his army along the way. That would happen time and time again, until the end of the war. They followed Sherman for one reason: they didn’t just believe in Sherman, they had faith in Sherman. They really didn’t know what the future held. There were no promises of free money, education, or a piece of land. The only thing those former slaves knew was life had to be better following him. Blindly, they followed Sherman because they believed he knew what was best for them. That is true faith. Timothy was selected because he had faith.

Are you a person of faith? I am not talking about magic wand faith. I am talking about the kind of faith that trusts God no matter how hard life gets. Christian author and clergyman Max Lucado (born 1955) once said, “Faith is not the belief that God will do what we want. It is the belief that God will do what is right.” Timothy was selected because he was a man of faith. What is the condition of your faith? Would you have been chosen? 

Examining Obedience

Any Bible student will tell you; the Book of Acts can be divided into two sections. The first twelve chapters comprise the first section and cover Peter’s efforts in the early church. Chapters thirteen through twenty-eight comprise the second section and cover Paul’s evangelistic efforts. Our reading, Acts 9:10-19a, is part of the second section. Saul, later Paul, was just converted in the previous chapter. He was traveling to Damascus to persecute Christians when he is confronted by Jesus, himself. In the end, he was hungry, thirsty, and blind. Once in Damascus, he was forced to do the most unnatural thing, wait! The scriptures do not tell us how long he waited. However, the scriptures do tell us that while he waited, God was at work. If Saul was going to fulfill his destiny and become the greatest evangelist in the history of the church, then he would need some help to get started. God drafted Ananias to help.

The name Ananias was a common name at this point and time in history. The name means “The Lord shows grace.” Ananias had the right name for the job. He would be forced to offer grace to a man who deserved no grace. Just think about it for a moment. Saul didn’t deserve a single ounce of grace. Because of Saul, people died. Because of Saul, countless lives were disrupted. Because of Saul, countless people were forced to leave their homes. Because of Saul, some mothers never saw their children again. Because of Saul, no one got a good night’s sleep. In his little corner of the world, Saul evoked the same emotions as Vladimir Putin (born 1952) in our world. Welcoming Saul into that early Christian community was like welcoming a Muslim Jihadist into our church. There is no other way to say it. Saul doesn’t deserve an ounce of grace, but grace was offered to him by a man whose name means “The Lord shows grace.” There is only one problem, Ananias was reluctant to show Saul grace. Anaias knew what God wanted him to do, but he was reluctant to do it. Don’t be too critical of Ananias. Obedience is a complex topic. It isn’t just true in the Bible; it has always been true.

The date was July 3, 1863. The place was Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. For two days, that small community of 2,400 residents had been ravaged by war. The Union army was led by George G. Meade (1815-1872). The Confederate army was led by Robert E. Lee (1807-1870). The day began with cannon fire. Both sides shelled the other for hours. The sound was deafening. They say the people of Philadelphia, 140 miles away, could hear it. Then, the cannons grew silent. The Confederates stopped firing because their ammunition grew low. The Union stopped firing because the smoke had grown so thick, they couldn’t see their targets. Lee thought the Union had stopped firing because they had run away, like they had done in the past. Desperate for a victory, Lee took a great gamble. He ordered General George Picket (1825-1875) to line up his soldiers and march up the hill in open view to confront the enemy. Standing shoulder to shoulder that line of 12,000 men stretched out for a mile. At first, their ascent looked promising. Those few minutes were called the high-water mark of the Confederacy. Then, in a moment everything changed. At a single point on the battlefield, the Union army opened fire on their enemy. Within an hour, it was over. Lee’s gamble failed. Only half of those 12,000 returned. The Confederacy had not just lost at Gettysburg, it was the beginning of the end of the war, itself.

Here are some questions for you. Do you consider those 12,000 soldiers heroic because they obeyed their orders? Do you consider those 12,000 soldiers foolish because they obeyed their orders? If you were part of Picket’s Charge, would you have marched up the hill? If you were part of Picket’s March, would you have run for the hills? Obedience is a large part of the Christian faith. Speaking of obeying God, German-Dutch Christian writer Thomas a Kempis (1380-1871) once said, “Instant obedience is the only kind of obedience there is; delayed obedience is disobedience.”  

Obedience is a complex topic. In my time in the ministry, I have learned a few things. One of the things I learned was about obedience. What God wants us to do is not a mystery. We know what God wants us to do, but we just refuse to do it. You can’t claim ignorance. Are you surprised that God expects us to care for those who live in poverty? The Third World is filled with poverty. However, we are doing nothing to help them. As a matter of fact, we do an excellent job of ignoring them. Are you surprised that God wants us to love unconditionally? It sounds easy, but it is hard to do. God doesn’t see our differences (gender, age, race, nationality, education, and economics). God only sees what we have in common. Everyone needs love and acceptance! However, we only love and accept people who are just like us. Are you surprised that the Biblical standard for giving is the tithe, 10%? On the way to our next vacation, we cry “poor” and give about 2%. Are you surprised that God wants us to live moral lives? We are ambassadors of Jesus Christ! We are representing Jesus. The problem is, we have accepted immorality as proper behavior. The truth is, we may live in the most immoral times in American history. Do I have to go on? Do I really have to go on? We are just like Ananias. We know what God wants us to do, but we refuse to do it.

The problem is we just don’t want to do it – obeying God means we may be inconvenienced. That is why so many promote the fact that God loves us. He does, but that is not an excuse for being disobedient. So many want the benefits of the faith without any sacrifice. The great German theologian Detrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) of the twentieth century called it “cheap grace.” I hope that is not your story. Every day we are forced to choose. Are we going to do what God wants us to do and obey? Are we going to do what we want to do and disobey?

Fred Craddock (1928-2015) taught homiletics at Candler School of Theology at Emory University for many years. I consider him one of the finest preachers of the twentieth century. No one influenced my preaching more than him. No one could tell a story quite like him. Let me tell you one more of his stories.

During a school break, Fred decided to go back home for a visit. It is no place special on the map. It was just a little town in Arkansas. On the first morning of his visit, he ventured downtown. He walked into the diner that had been there for a hundred years. Fred just wanted to sit there, eat breakfast, and remember simpler times. He said the place had not changed. Everything was identical to his youth, even the owner. As Fred waited for his fried eggs, the owner walked up to him and said, “I know you! You used to live here. You went on to be a preacher! I need to talk to you.” Fred nodded yes, but he thought, “Just go away! All I want is breakfast and some quiet.” The owner pulled up a chair and began to talk. He said to Fred, “I don’t know what to do.” Fred said, “About what?” The owner responded, “About the curtain!” He motioned to the curtain and Fred looked. The curtain had been there for years. Fred remembered that curtain from his childhood. The curtain wasn’t there just for decorative purposes. It had a practical purpose. The curtain was there to separate the white customers from the black customers. The white customers would enter the restaurant through the front door and ate on that side of the curtain. The black customers entered through the back door and ate on that side of the curtain. Just then, Fred’s breakfast was delivered. He wanted the owner to finish up his story because his eggs were getting cold. To hasten it along, Fred asked the owner, “So what is the problem?” (Fred knew the problem.) The owner said, “Should I take the curtain down or should I leave the curtain up?” Fred gave him a blank look and the owner continued. “If I take the curtain down, I will lose my business. If I leave the curtain up, I will lose my soul!” The owner knew what God wanted him to do, but he was afraid. The story doesn’t change.

The owner of the restaurant, Ananias, and you and I are the same. We know what God wants us to do, but we refuse to do it. Sometimes we are afraid. Sometimes we just don’t want to be inconvenienced. Are you going to take the curtain down, or are you going to leave the curtain up? Charles Stanley (Born 1932) once said, “The bottom line in the Christian life is obedience, and most people don’t even like the word.” Take your curtain down!

God Esteem

History tells us Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865) was shot at Washington D.C.’s Ford Theater on April 14, 1865. Much has been written about the shooting and the political climate of America on that day. Very little has been written about the contents found inside of the pockets of our sixteenth president. This is what was found:

          1. A handkerchief, embroidered “A. Lincoln”
          2. A country boy’s pen knife
          3. A spectacles case repaired with string
          4. A purse containing a $5 Confederate bill
          5. Some old and worn newspaper clippings

One of the clippings was an article written by John Bright (1811-1889). He called Lincoln, “one of the greatest minds of all times.” Today, that is common knowledge but that was not the case in Lincoln’s time. In 1865, millions shared quite a contrary opinion. The President’s critics were fierce. The country was in turmoil and was ripped to shreds by hatred and a cruel, costly war. Lincoln kept Bright’s words because he couldn’t believe anyone would say he had a great mind. All these years later, we can confess the truth. Lincoln suffered from depression. He was crippled with self-doubt and haunted by a poor self-image. Do you know of anyone who is depressed, crippled with self-doubt, and haunted with by a poor self-image? Could that be part of your story? That takes us to our scripture reading.

We find ourselves instructed from the twenty-seventh chapter of Matthew. We usually hear these words during the season of Lent, Holy Week in particular. However, that does not mean it doesn’t have something to say to us today – they are powerful words all the time. You may remember the scene. Jesus is on his way to the cross. He is standing with the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate before the crowd. Pilate permits the crowd to decide Jesus’s fate. The crowd chooses Barabbas over Jesus. A short time later, Jesus is executed. Think about the scene for one moment.

Jesus and Pilate made a strange pair. They are exact opposites. Pilate had everything this world had to offer, fame, power, and influence. Jesus had nothing this world has to offer. Yet, it is Pilate who is riddled with self-doubt, not Jesus. What did Jesus have that was absent in Pilate’s life? The answer is God esteem. What is God esteem? It is the understanding that we cannot live our lives on our own and can only live up to our full potential through glorifying God. Jesus is the ultimate example of God esteem. As a disciple of Jesus Christ, I hope you have God esteem. The purpose of your life is not self-promotion. The purpose of your life must be to glorify God. To improve your God esteem let me ask you three questions. This is the first question.

Do you know who you are? Jesusknew who he was. The Gospel narrative is a little thin when it comes to Jesus’ childhood. We are told that Jesus was born in Bethlehem and lived in Egypt for a short time as an infant. He called Nazareth home. We are told he went to the temple in Jerusalem when he was twelve years old and amazed the Elders. We know nothing about his teenage years, but we do know he lived near his mother, Mary, until he was thirty. We know very little about Jesus’ life, but I am comfortable saying Jesus knew who he was from the very beginning. Jesus knew he was the son of God. Jesus knew being the son of God brought unique opportunities, however it also brought unique challenges. Jesus was not arrogant; Jesus was secure. Jesus knew who he was. How many secure people do you know? Do the people in your life consider you a secure person? All secure people know who they are.

The most liberating words in my life are the words, “I don’t know!” When I was younger, I thought I had to know everything. There was a time when I wanted people to think I knew everything. The truth is I am ignorant about many things. I know nothing about plumbing, auto repair, foreign policy, sewing, crafts, and the finer details of physics. I can’t speak a word of Portuguese. It is extremely difficult to know everything. Then I learned to use those three little words, “I don’t know.” Saying, “I don’t know” doesn’t mean you don’t know anything. It means “I don’t know” about certain things. I don’t know anything about cardiology, but I know something about God, preaching, the Bible, church growth and group dynamics. In a few days I will turn sixty-seven years old. I like being my age because I have had years to learn about myself, my strengths, and my weaknesses. Do you consider yourself an expert on everything? When was the last time you uttered those three liberating words, “I don’t know?” Jesus knew who he was. That is the first step in having God esteem! This is the second question.

Do you know whose you are? Jesus knew whose he was. It has been over two thousand years since this Biblical scene. You know how the story ends. Pilate permits Jesus to be crucified and the Master is buried in a cave-like tomb. Jesus spent his earthly ministry surrounded by people, but when the end came, he was alone. The crowds of Palm Sunday disappeared. Jesus was alone except for God. Jesus had confidence because he knew he was loved by God. You can have self-confidence because you are loved by God.

One of the great preachers of yesteryear was Phillips Brooks (1835-1893). He was extremely confident and optimistic. A close friend asked him what the source of his attitude about life was. He replied, “It is really quite simple, I am a Christian.” Once you discover God’s love for you, everything changes. It is not just his story. It is your story too.  God claims you as a child. In the end, God will be victorious, and He wants to share the spoils of that victory with you! It really doesn’t matter what the world says about you. The only thing that really matters is that God loves you! That is the second step in having God esteem! This is the third question.

Do you know where you are going? Jesus knew where he was going. You know where Jesus went. The Apostles Creed tells us: He suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. Jesus knew he was going to heaven when it was all over. All he had to do was hang on. Jesus’ trials and challenges of this world were only temporary. All he had to do was hang on. He had to hang on through the tension of the crowd and the pain of the cross. Those experiences were temporary, but heaven was going to last for eternity.

Has there ever been a time in your life when you felt completely defeated? There doesn’t seem to be any escape and every day is a challenge. If you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, if you know him as your Lord and Savior, you can sink your roots into this part of the Good News. Someday the challenges of this world are going to be over, and you get to go to heaven! The only things that really matter are the things that will matter in one hundred years. The only thing that will matter in one hundred years is your relationship with Jesus. Someday we are going to heaven! That is the third step in having God esteem.Let me end with this story.

John Sargent (1856-1925) was an American painter. He once painted a panel of roses that was highly praised by critics. It was a small picture, but it approached perfection. Although offered a high price for it on many occasions, Sargent refused to sell it. He considered it his best work and was very proud of it. Whenever he was deeply discouraged and doubtful of his abilities, he would look at it and remind himself, “I painted that.” Then his confidence and ability would come back to him.

Never forget! You are a disciple of Jesus Christ. For that reason and for that reason alone you have God esteem. God can’t make a loser! Because you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you know who you are. You know your own strengths and weaknesses. Because you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you know whose you are. You belong to God, and He loves you!  Because you are a disciple of Jesus Christ, you know where you are going. The challenges of this world are only temporary. Someday you are going to heaven. You are so valuable Christ died for you!

Camp Gideon

Camp Gideon is in Aa, Estonia. The village is in northern Estonia, on the southern coast of the Gulf of Finland. One cannot help but be moved by the natural beau­ty. The camp itself was built prior to World War II by the Soviet Union. At that time, it was a Pioneer Camp, where communism and atheism were taught to the young. The fall of communism in 1991 changed everything. In time, Estonia became an independent country and Camp Gideon found a new purpose.

During the summers of 1993 and 1994, Camp Gideon was used by the Estonian United Methodist Church. On March 15, 1995, Camp Gideon was purchased by the Asbury United Methodist Church of Tulsa, Oklahoma and given to the United Methodist Churches of Estonia. On that day Artur Põld was named the Director of Camp Gideon. He still holds that position today.

From the very beginning, American friends have supported Camp Gideon – both spiri­tually and financially. Every summer, several groups of volunteers from the United States arrive at Camp Gideon to organize children’s pro­grams and help repair the time-worn buildings. Over the years, Camp Gideon has become internationally known in Latvia, Russia, Finland, Sweden, Belarus, Germany and beyond. Thanks to the ministries of Camp Gideon, hundreds of children hear about Jesus each camp season. Together with the guests of Camp Gideon, several mission events have been organized, including family camps, Walks to Emmaus, and the Sum­mer Conference of the UMC in Estonia.

In 2019, my wife Kathryn and I visited Camp Gideon for the first time. We were moved by the work of these people. Since that visit she has been raising money to help with the reconstruction of the buildings. Currently there are fifteen buildings on the 75-acre camp. Between July 24 and August 5, we are returning to Camp Gideon with a small Volunteer-in-Mission team. We will be helping with English Camp and are looking forward to traveling to Camp Gideon to see the progress that has been made. It is truly a resurrection story. A camp that once taught communism and atheism is now teaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.

You can help Camp Gideon in two ways. First, pray for Camp Gideon and for our team while we are there. Our prayers are more valuable than we will ever know. Second, prayerfully consider making a financial contribution to Camp Gideon. No amount is too small. It is amazing what God can do with a single dollar. Please make your check out to PROJECT ORPHAN OUTREACH and mail it to: 275 Bradford Drive, Canfield, Ohio, 44406. You will receive a thank-you note for your contribution and will receive a report on what was accomplished after our return.

In advance, I would like to thank you for your generosity.

Church Paralysis

When I first retired, I worshipped in a small membership church in eastern Ohio near the Pennsylvania line. I have nothing negative to say about them. They were nice people who took great pride in their church building. Weekly before worship, they would gather in a circle of chairs and visit. They talked about all kinds of things. They reminisced about the glory days of their church and how the community had changed. They talked about their illnesses and the latest news. They talked about the latest conquest of their high school athletic teams. They talked about everything, but they never talked about the future of their church. It was the big pink elephant in the middle of the room. Everyone knew it, but no one wanted to admit it – their days were numbered, their church was dying. Their pastor tried a variety of things to help them continue in ministry. She suggested they start a food pantry, but the idea was easily shot down. She held and paid for a Vacation Bible School for the community, but most members didn’t care. Some believed the denomination should write them a generous check to continue.

They got so desperate they asked me what they could do to save their church. They pulled me off to the side one Sunday and asked me what to do. I said, “do something! Anything is better than nothing.” I suggested updating their Facebook page, collecting school supplies for the local school, or talk to visitors. It would have been nice to change the paraments to reflect the correct liturgical season. They listened patiently, but in the end, they did nothing. They were suffering from what I call “church paralysis.” Churches are excellent at doing nothing. That small membership church in eastern Ohio is not alone. Many churches are excellent at doing nothing.

There is a blogger named Paul Alexander. He wrote a blog called Six Reasons Churches Refuse to Change. This blog has some merit. These are his reasons. Perhaps you can find your church in his list?

          Procrastination – Have you ever attended a church meeting where nothing happened? After ninety minutes of talking, nothing happened. The time was spent reviewing the members’ workday, family problems and medical conditions. In the end, a failed program from the past was brought back. The truth is no one expects it to be successful this time.

          Structure – Have you ever been part of a church where some committee acts as the ultimate authority. They vote down anything they don’t like or understand. They vote down anything that doesn’t benefit them or their friends. Committees should help people do, not frustrate, ministry.

          Focus – Have you ever attended a church that was more interested in the members’ needs than the needs of anyone outside of the church? They are more concerned about seeing their birthday printed in the bulletin, than they are helping strangers obtain basic human needs.

          Desire – Have you ever attended a church that was consumed by the members’ likes and dislikes. Selfish individuals like things their way. They expect everyone to worship in a style they like. They expect everyone to sing the songs they like. They want to worship at a time that is convenient to them. There is very little thought about what others like or what others find beneficial.

          Money – Have you ever attended a church meeting where a new idea for ministry was shot down because of a lack of money or questionable insurance coverage? Money is an excellent excuse for doing nothing. Jesus spoke more about money than any other topic because money is important. How we spend our money reveals our priorities. Have you ever noticed there is never enough money for things we don’t like, and we can find money for the things we like?

          Fear – Have you ever been part of a church who is afraid they will upset important church members? If they leave, there is no one to replace them. If they leave, they will take their money. The important members like the status quo, so churches do nothing to keep key people happy.

I will admit it, every church I served had these elements. Every church, to some degree, suffers from church paralysis. This is painfully true. On the day any church becomes more concerned about themselves than the world, it stops being the church God intended from the very beginning. After all, the church is the only organization that exists for its nonmembers. All this takes us to our scripture reading, Matthew 21:18-22.

It is Monday of Holy Week. The events of Palm Sunday are nothing more than a memory, and the crowd had dispersed. It is early in the morning and Jesus was alone with the disciples. They are headed back into Jerusalem. The author goes out of his way to tell us, Jesus is hungry. He spots an innocent fig tree to satisfy his hunger. It is full of leaves, which means it should have been full of its fruit. However, there is none. Out of character, Jesus curses the fig tree, and it instantly dies. It is the only thing Jesus ever cursed. The meaning of the story is lost to our generation, but Jesus’ generation understands the point clearly. It is a judgement story. Like the bald eagle which represents America, the fig tree represented Israel. Its leafy state was false advertising. Israel was being cursed because she was not fulfilling her divine purpose. There should have been fruit, but there was none. Like the fig tree, God expects the church to fulfill her divine purpose too. It is not enough to just exist and look good – we must be productive. The dead tree must have acted as a reminder to that generation that existence is not enough. Through the eyes of God, they had to be productive. Many unproductive churches are suffering the same fate as the fig tree.

April 16, 2023, was a sad day for my small membership church in extreme eastern Ohio. That was the day they held their last worship service. That church existed for over one hundred years, but no more. The large check from the denomination never came, but the denomination did close her. Except for the few remaining members no one seemed to care, and they didn’t care enough to do something. The church died of church paralysis. That church is not alone.

According to the Barna Research Group, approximately 3,700 churches close in America annually. Scattered across America are countless repurposed church buildings. My area is no exception. Former church buildings have been turned into art museums, childcare centers, adult daycare centers, beauty salons, private residences, restaurants, distilleries, and breweries. Recently, I discovered a former church that had been repurposed into a meadery. The worst is when an old, closed church building falls into disrepair. It is my guess, most of these churches did not close because the people weren’t nice. They did not close because of some sin committed by the members or the clergy. They did not close because the Gospel was not relevant. I believe many of these churches closed because they suffered from church paralysis. They simply refused to do something.

Like the dead tree, those repurposed church buildings stand as a warning to every functioning church. It does not matter how large your church is today. It does not matter how active your church is today. Church paralysis can happen at any church. It is not enough to just exist – every church must be productive. What new thing has your church done lately? Churches were never meant to be monuments of some past glory. They are meant to be a productive part of society. LifeWay’s Thom Rainer (born 1955) once said, “Some churches would rather die than get out of the comfort of the past.”

Examining Missions

We find ourselves in the twenty-fifth chapter of Matthew. It is my favorite parable, so you may remember these opening words. There came a point in Jesus’s earthly ministry when he was no longer welcomed in the synagogues. With no other option, Jesus began to teach in the open air and began to tell parables. Parables are nothing more than illustrations from daily living. They are not analogies, where each character represents a contemporary character. Parables are not that deep; they are only told to teach a single divine truth.

So, what is the truth Jesus is trying to teach in the parable of the sheep and the goats? Jesus expects us to respond to human need. It is our way of expressing appreciation to God for saving our souls. We are not saved by our good works – we are saved by grace. Our only hope of salvation comes through our faith in Jesus Christ. That is why missions are so important to the life of the church. My goal in this blog is to help you appreciate missions. I will do that by making three statements about missions. I hope these statements make you think.

This is statement number one. Missions involve interpersonal relationships. Once you learn the name of the person you help, everything changes. Once you get involved in their story, missions come to life. Missions is not charity – missions is deeper. There is nothing wrong with collecting food, paper products or hats and mittens. There are many people who need them. The problem is, you never get to know the person who will eat that food, use those paper products, or wear the hat. Charity is fine, but the needy always remain at a distance. Missions involve interpersonal relationships. If you want to thank Jesus, get involved in someone else’s story.

My wife has spent much her life helping unadoptable Russian orphans. Through the years, three of these orphans came to the United States to get prosthetics legs and they stayed in our home. One year two of the boys came at the same time. Stas came to get his first prosthetic legs. Kolya came to get his legs repaired and adjusted. Stas was eight years old and stayed away from me. Kolya was sixteen and became my friend. He did what my daughters never did – he stayed up late with me and we watched the NCAA basketball tournament. He opened up during those late nights and we shared our lives. One night Kolya and I were talking. Wanting to give him a hard time about being Russian, I asked him a question just to get a reaction out of him. Knowing the Nazis nearly overran his town of Dmitrov during the war, I said to him, “Kolya, what did you learn about World War II in those rotten Russian schools?” Sixteen-year-olds are great in any country; they are just so unfiltered. Kolya rubbed the top of his head and gave me a smirk. He said, “We learned the American generals weren’t very good and that was why the war lasted so long.” We both laughed and I said, “I’ll tell all my veteran friends we had rotten generals during World War II.” I told a vet that story and he said, “The kid was right! We did have rotten generals”. The best thing about that night was that I got to spend time with Kolya. Another day, Kolya and I were driving in the country, and he asked me if all the houses we passed had electricity. I said, “Yes!” He said, “Wow!” Kolya is a fine young man, and he taught me something. Missions is not charity. In missions, we get involved with the needy. How involved are you with the truly needy? Missions is a great way to thank God for saving your soul. Missions involve interpersonal relationships.

This is statement number two. Missions expose our spiritual maturity. Spiritual babies think it is all about themselves. The spiritually mature understand life is about others. No activity in the life of the local church exposes spiritual maturity more than missions. Your response to missions says a great deal about your spiritual maturity. If it is true of people, then it is true of churches. If you show me a church that is not involved in missions, then I will show you a church that is on the way to extinction.

On the day missions takes a backseat to everything else, your church will start to die.

Listen to what I am about to say: if you want your church to close, then protest every mission opportunity. It is easy to do. You can justify your opposition based on sound business principles. You will get some support from fellow church members because the spiritually immature are always with us. They don’t get it. I heard it many times in the ministry. “We can’t afford it!” “The congregation won’t support it!” “The insurance won’t cover it!” This is the painful truth to the spiritually immature. Churches aren’t businesses. The churches were never meant to be a business. The church is the only organization that exists for the benefit of its nonmembers. The church was meant to be an extension of Christ in the world. When the winds of Pentecost blew, the only thing that mattered to those charter members was Jesus. The only thing that should matter to your church is Jesus. The spiritually mature understand when we care for the needy of this world, we are really caring for Jesus. When we ignore the needy of this world, we are ignoring Jesus. This is not my opinion. That is what the Master said in the parable. If you want to thank God for your salvation, then get involved in missions. Missions expose our spiritual maturity.

This is statement number three. Missions does involve a certain amount of risk. Can I state the obvious? There are many frightened people in the church. Whenever I have gotten involved in a mission project, well-meaning people try to stop me. When I went to the Philippines, people told me, “don’t go!” Their government was unstable. When I went to Mexico people told me, “don’t go!” I would be taken hostage. When I went to Haiti people told me, “don’t go!” I could get a disease. When I got involved in Mill Creek Workcamp, which brought 400 young people to Youngstown, Ohio, to help the residents with basic home repair, people said to me, “Aren’t you afraid to be in the city of Youngstown? Someone seems to be killed every day.” My wife Kathryn and I have gone to Russia several dozen times through the years. Every time well-meaning people tried to frustrate us. They said, “The Russians will arrest you and you will never return home.”

They are not all wrong, there is a certain amount of risk.  Yes, the plane may go down. Yes, the food may be bad. Yes, the residents may not like your brand of politics. Yes, you may fall in love with one of the orphans and get your heart broken. However, this is what I have learned: The reward is far greater than the risk. There is a world of needy people out there whom God loves. How can you turn your back on them? If God has not told you to go, then don’t go. But, if God has called someone to do something, then don’t discourage them. Pray for them. They will pack their common sense. Missions involve risk. Missions are the best way to thank God for your salvation.

I read this story years ago. Ernest Henry Shackelton (1874-1922) was born in Ireland on February 15, 1874. His father wanted him to be a doctor, but he wanted to be a sailor. At the age of sixteen, he joined the merchant marines and saw the world. His greatest desire was to travel to the North and South Poles. In December of 1914, he got that opportunity. He was the captain of a ship called Endurance, which had a crew of twenty-seven men. Most of those men were recruited from a simple newspaper advertisement. It read:

Men wanted for hazardous journey. Small wages. Bitter cold. Long months of complete darkness. Constant danger. Safe return doubtful. Honor and recognition in case of success.

Some have questioned the authenticity of the story, but it doesn’t seem to matter. The story still resonates in the heart of many. Why? Because, people long for an adventure. No one just wants to live and die. We long for an adventure and an opportunity to make a difference. I believe you long for an adventure and you want to make a difference in this world too. I believe, you are desperate to find a way to thank God for saving your soul. Founder of Saddleback Church Rick Warren (born 1954) wasn’t wrong. He once said, “The Only way to serve God is to serve other people.”  

Because You Believe

We find ourselves in the twenty-eighth chapter of Matthew. Much has already happened. It is impossible to summarize everything in a few words. It will have to suffice to say, Jesus was dead, executed Roman style on the previous Friday. He was crucified between two common criminals. The picture was not pretty. It is difficult to hear the details all these years later. However, Jesus was lucky in two ways: first, Jesus died quickly. Some lingered much longer on the cross; second, it was not uncommon for the crucified to be taken down and thrown into a pile of lifeless corpses; their bodies would be eaten by buzzards or wild dogs. Not so with Jesus. Arrangements were made by Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus that Jesus’ body would be taken down and placed in a new tomb. A large stone was rolled in front of the entrance to contain the smell and to protect it from thieves. The Roman government was persuaded by Jesus’ enemies to place guards in front of the tomb to eliminate any future problems. This was all done by dark on Friday because the law prohibited any burials on the Sabbath. Once this was completed, Jesus’ loved ones grieved because Jesus was dead! That takes us to our reading.

According to our story, early Sunday morning, Jesus received his first visitors – two women with the same first name. There is Mary Magdalene and another Mary. They were the supporting characters in a scene that would change the world. Three miraculous things happened. First, there was an earthquake. Only Matthew mentions this earthquake, but this earthquake is worth mentioning because it reveals to us that God had done something truly special. Second, the giant stone had been rolled away from the entrance of the tomb. Third, it was announced Jesus had been resurrected. According to verse three, it is made by an angel, whose clothes were white as snow, symbolizing purity. The angel tells the women about the resurrection, but the women experience the resurrected Jesus for themselves in verse nine. In time, Jesus would appear to others, including the disciples. It is important that at some time in your life, you have experienced the resurrected Jesus too.

Jesus was not the only one to be resurrected in the Bible. There are stories in both the Old and the New Testaments about others being resurrected. There are no fewer than eight, Lazarus being the most noteworthy. However, Jesus’ resurrection is different. The others had human fathers. Jesus was the son of God. That means the baby in the manger at Christmas and the man on the cross on Good Friday are the same. Jesus was the incarnation of God, who not just became one of us, but died for us. He was the sacrificial lamb for our sins. God’s love is deep. How can you question God’s love for us? Never forget it! You cannot earn your salvation. You are saved by grace, through faith in Jesus.

Your belief in the resurrection of Jesus Christ is not optional, it is indispensable. Many believe Romans 10:9 was the first creed in the history of the church. It says, “If you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord, and believe in your heart God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.”  If that is true, then the opposite is also true. If you don’t believe in the resurrection of Jesus Christ, then the fires of hell are waiting for you. The early church understood the significance of Jesus’ resurrection. They worshipped on Sunday morning because every Sunday morning was seen as a little Easter, or resurrection day. That is why most Christian churches still worship on Sunday mornings. Your belief in the resurrection is not trivial. It changed everything about your life. Consider these three things.

Because of the resurrection of Jesus there is forgiveness! Ephesians 1:7 says it clearly, “In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the richness of God’s grace.”  On the moment Jesus walked out of the tomb, mankind had the opportunity to experience forgiveness. One of the great hymns found in the church today is Amazing Grace. It was written by John Newton (1725-1807.) He was a former captain of a slave ship, who was saved by grace. The hymn reminds us we are all sinners, who are saved by grace. Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus you are forgiven!

Because of the resurrection Jesus your life has purpose! Philippians 3:13-14 says, “But one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.”  It has been reported only 10% of Americans feel like they know their life’s purpose. I do not find that figure surprising. In my time in the ministry, I talked to people regularly who were clueless about their life’s purpose. Many confuse their purpose with their vocation. Your purpose is to glorify God. The Westminster Confession of faith says the purpose of life is to glorify God. What are you doing today to glorify God? Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus your life has purpose!

Because of the resurrection of Jesus your eternity is bright! John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only son, that whoever believes in him may not perish but have eternal life.”  On the day I die, don’t cry for me. I am going to heaven, not because I am a good person. I am going to heaven because I worship and serve a perfect and resurrected Jesus. Because you believe in the resurrection of Jesus your eternity is bright too!

Located on an island in the Seine River in Paris, Notre Dame Cathedral is a piece of history. It is a “must see” in Paris. Construction began in 1163 and took two hundred years to complete. It has been the backdrop of French history for generations. They say on an average week 12,000 tourists visit Notre Dame daily. During Holy Week, that number swells to 30,000. I am fortunate. I have been there three times. The first time I was with my parents as a teenager. The second time I was with wife Kathryn fifteen years ago. It happened to be our wedding anniversary. The third time was recently. I insisted we visit Notre Dame.

We went to lunch in a nearby café. As we ate, we studied the ancient structure, and we remembered April 15, 2019. That was the day Notre Dame burned. Many grieved for Notre Dame that day. I remember being moved by the emotions of the crowd who gathered to watch the blaze, some praying, some singing, some crying. They feared the building would be lost forever. That did not happen. At first, they said it would be reopened by the Olympics in July, but that is not the case. Notre Dame is scheduled to reopen on December 8, 2024. It will be a wonderful day for the Parisiens. I will be honest with you, on the day Notre Dame burned, I mourned for the building and the history, but not the faith. The Christian faith cannot be captured in a building.

The Christian faith is found in the hearts of men and women who believe in the resurrection of Jesus. Your belief in the resurrection is not optional, it is indispensable. The resurrection of Jesus Christ changed everything. It changed the way you viewed your past – you can experience forgiveness. It changed the way you live today – your life has purpose. It changes your eternity – someday we are going to heaven. John Ortberg (born 1957) is a Christian author, speaker and pastor of Menlo Church in Menlo, California. He once said, “At the very heart of the Christian faith is the story of Jesus’ death and resurrection.” Never forget, we serve a risen savior!

The Ultimate Disappointment

The Mackenzie River is Canada’s largest river system. It runs through vast sections of the barren Northwest Territory and empties into the Arctic Circle. It was named after a Canadian explorer, Sir Alexander Mackenzie (1764-1820). He lived near the end of the eighteenth century and longed to lead an expedition across Canada to the Pacific Ocean. His incredible journey was completed in 1793, 11 years before Lewis and Clark. That was his second attempt. His first attempt ended in failure in 1789. The first attempt failed because the group traveled on the Mackenzie River. They hoped it would empty into the Pacific Ocean. Instead, it turned north. History tells us the original group was devastated. In his diary, Mackenzie himself, called the river that now carries his name, The River of Disappointment.

When was the last time you were disappointed? Have you ever been disappointed in your spouse? Have you have been disappointed in your children? Have you ever been disappointed in your parents? Have you ever been disappointed in your friends? Have you ever been disappointed in the government? Have you ever been disappointed in your church? Have you ever been disappointed in your pastor? Have you ever been disappointed in yourself? You can admit it, from time to time, we all do it. You turn your critical eyes inward, and you don’t like what you see. I will admit it, I have been disappointed in myself many times. We are not alone. Some of the greatest people in history have been disappointed in themselves. Consider these names with me:

          Did you know Alexander the Great (356 BC-323 BC) conquered Persia, but he broke down and wept in disappointment because his troops were too exhausted to push on to India?

          Did you know Hugo Grotius (1583-1645), the father of modern international law, knew disappointment? Near the end, he said, “I have accomplished nothing worthwhile in my life.”

          Did you know John Quincy Adams (1767-1848), sixth President of the U.S., knew disappointment? In his diary he wrote, “My life has been spent in vain and idle aspirations, and in ceaseless rejected prayers. I hope I did something beneficial for my species.”

          Did you know Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894) wrote words that continue to delight and enrich our lives, and yet he knew disappointment? He wrote these words for his own headstone, “Here lies one who meant well, who tried a little, and failed much.”

          Did you know Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902), who opened Africa and established an empire, knew disappointment? His last words were, “So little done, so much to do.”

          In 1858, the Illinois legislature – due to an obscure statute – sent Stephen A. Douglas (1813-1861) to the U.S. Senate instead of Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865), although Lincoln had won the popular vote. When a sympathetic friend asked Lincoln how he felt, he said, “Like the boy who stubbed his toe: I am too big to cry and too badly hurt to laugh.”

You are not the first person, and ours is not the first generation to experience disappointment. It is one of those things that links one generation to the next. Our scripture in this blog is not about disappointment, it is about the ultimate disappointment, death!

We find ourselves in the twenty-seventh chapter of Matthew. It is a chapter you must read this Holy Week. It tells is about the death of Jesus. The events of that first Palm Sunday, just days earlier, seem like years ago. The cheering crowd had disappeared, replaced by a grieving handful. The picture is not pretty. Jesus is being executed. In my station in life, I have witnessed many people die, and it is always hard. No matter how prepared we might be, the end is shocking. The person goes from being a human being to a corpse, in a matter of seconds. At each funeral, I was reminded of the fragility of life. It was no different for Jesus. The young man, full of life earlier in the day is now gone; he is now just another rotting corpse. The eyewitnesses of his execution are not just disappointed, they are devastated. Churches recall the death of Jesus annually, but it never changes. The death of Jesus is shocking. It must have been hard to witness. Annually the church is forced to answer the same question on Good Friday: Why was the death of Jesus necessary? There isn’t a single answer. There are several answers. Let me give you just three. Each one is a reminder.

  1. Jesus’s death fulfilled prophesy! The prophet Isaiah prophesied about the death of Jesus between the years 740 BC and 701 BC. The fifty-third chapter tells us of the “suffering servant.” We understand that to be Jesus. Isaiah said Jesus would be rejected. The death of Jesus was not an accident. The death of Jesus was part of God’s plan of salvation for the world. From the very beginning God had a plan to save the world.
  • Jesus’s death demonstrates the depth of God’s love! There was nothing pleasant about Jesus’s death. It was painful for the witnesses to experience, and it is painful for us to ponder today. However, the harshness of his death proves his love for us. We always sacrifice the most for the people we love the most. Jesus sacrificed it all for us.
  • Jesus’s death reminds us of the importance of eternity. How much time do you spend worrying about the problems of this world? How much time do you spend worrying about eternity? Billy Graham (1918-2018) once said, “Heaven is real and hell is real, and eternity is but a breath away.”

The theological reasons behind Jesus’ death cannot replace the sting of his death. After all, death is the ultimate disappointment. There is no way of ignoring the events of Good Friday. As Christians, we must wrestle with the truth. Jesus was dead. After all, there is no way of celebrating the resurrection of Jesus without his death.

Years ago, I decided to take my church to the local cemetery to worship on Good Friday. As the sun was going down, we gathered in the mausoleum. It was the perfect place for such a service. After all, Jesus was dead. For me, the first year was the most uncomfortable. It was something new, so I went to the mausoleum in the middle of the afternoon to just settle. The weather was perfect for Good Friday. It was cold and rainy. I stood at the back door and watched the rain come down in sheets. I was thinking about the death of Jesus, and I was humbled. I was completely alone, except for an elderly woman. She wasn’t inside, she was outside, holding an umbrella, standing next to a freshly dug grave. I didn’t know her story, but I had an educated guess. Her long-time husband had died, and she came to visit him. The rain and the thunder could not mask her crying. Listen to what I am about to say – she wasn’t just crying, she was wailing. Her heart was broken; the love of her life was gone. She wasn’t just disappointed; she was devastated. For a second, I thought about going out to comfort her, but she needed to be alone. With nothing else to do, I watched her grieve. Then, it hit me – it was Good Friday, and she was crying over the death of a loved one, just like Jesus’ loved ones cried for him.

How many tears have you shed for Jesus this Good Friday? How much do you really love Jesus? After all, Jesus is dead, and death is the ultimate disappointment. C. S. Lewis (1898-1963) once said, “It costs God nothing, as far as we know, to create nice things; but to convert rebellious wills, cost him crucifixion.” May God bless us as we wrestle with the painful truth, Jesus died for us.

Between Palm Sunday and Easter

One of the most beautiful buildings in the world is the cathedral in Milan, Italy. I had the good fortune to go there several years ago. Worshippers are welcomed by three magnificent doorways. Over one of the side doorways is a carving of a beautiful wreath of roses, and underneath are the words: “All which pleases is just for a moment.” Over the other side doorway is a sculpted cross with the words: “All that troubles is just for a moment.” But underneath the great central entrance leading to the main aisle is the inscription: “Only the eternal is important.” The message is clear – we should live with our eyes fixed on eternity. Let me ask you two questions: How much time do you spend worrying about the temporary? How much time do you spend worrying about your eternity? The only things that really matter are those things that will matter in 100 years. What matters in 100 years? The only thing that will matter in 100 years is Jesus. That leads us to our scripture lesson.

According to the Revised Common Lectionary, this Sunday is the Fifth Sunday in Lent. That means Easter is only two weeks away. The Gospel reading for this weekend is John 12:20-33. The story begins with a group of Greeks. It is a great way to begin a story. When I was a young, I was surrounded by a group of Greeks in school. They were great people, and they were all named Nick. In the Bible story we do not know their names, but we do know they wanted to see, or interview, Jesus. Their interest in Jesus leads us to believe they were God-fearing Greeks. The most assertive is a man named Philip. He is uncomfortable going to Jesus directly, so he goes to Andrew first. Perhaps, he knew him or heard of him. They were both from the town of Bethsaida. According to verse 22, Philip and Andrew together went to Jesus with Philip’s request.

We are never told if the Greeks ever got to talk to Jesus, but we are told the moment had come reveal his life’s purpose. Jesus cannot escape the painful truth; he is going to die! Jesus did not want to die nor was he surprised by his death. It was all part of the divine plan to save the world. The death of Jesus shows us the depth of God’s love. Comparing himself to a wheat kernel, he knew he must die, so others could live. His death would mean life for generations to come. We stand in the aftershock of Jesus’s death. Without the death of Jesus, there is no resurrection. Without the death of Jesus, there is no salvation. Without the death of Jesus, we have no hope of eternity. Never underestimate the death of Jesus, it changed everything. It is my experience people are uncomfortable with the death of Jesus. That is why good Christian people try to ignore Good Friday. No one wants to worship a dead savior.

That was one of my pet peeves in the ministry. Everyone enjoys Palm Sunday. It is a great day! Attendance is up and the weather in northern Ohio is improving. Everyone is in a good mood because everyone likes waving palms. The traditional scriptures are read, and a video is shown of Jesus entering the Golden City. Everyone is looking forward to the great resurrection day. Everyone enjoys Easter. It is a great day! The flowers are beautiful, the traditional hymns are sung, the traditional scripture is read, and the video is shown of the empty tomb. Everyone leaves happy because ham is waiting for them. (Who does not like ham?) Please do not misunderstand me. I have nothing against Palm Sunday or Easter. They are both great days, but there is so much more. Most miss the rich days of Holy Week. The crowds of Palm Sunday and Easter are replaced by a small group on Maundy Thursday and a smaller group on Good Friday. I hope that is not your story. I hope you do not just run from Palm Sunday to Easter. I hope you remember what Jesus did every day of Holy Week. Those days are important because they revolve around the death of Jesus. Do something different this year and remember what Jesus did for you each day of Holy Week.

Do you remember what Jesus did on Holy Monday? According to the Bible, two significant things happened on that day.  The first event of Holy Monday was the cleansing of the Temple. It had nothing to do with fundraising to help some good cause within the life of the church, but it had everything to do with using the faith for personal gain. The Temple was a place of prayer, not profit. The church is a place of prayer, not profit. The second significant event of Holy Monday is the cursing of the fig tree. It was the only thing Jesus ever cursed. Like the bald eagle which symbolizes America, the fig tree symbolized Israel. The cursing of the fig tree was an act of judgement upon Israel. God was doing something new. Never forget what happened on Holy Monday!

Do you remember what Jesus did on Holy Tuesday? According to the Bible, the disciples saw the withered fig tree and were reminded they must be productive. Jesus went back to the Temple where he was challenged by the Pharisees and the Sadducees. It was also there that he taught about the Kingdom of God. Two great stories came from that day. He taught about paying taxes to Caesar and he noticed a widow’s slim donation. He also told the parable of the two sons, the parable of the tenants and others. Then, he went to Bethany, near Jerusalem, where he was anointed. He was being prepared for death. Never forget what happened on Holy Tuesday!

Do you remember what Jesus did on Holy Wednesday? Some call it Spy Wednesday. It was on that day the plan to trap Jesus was conceived. One of his own, Judas Iscariot, betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. Some say he did it because he was greedy. Some say he did it because he had grown tired of being an outsider. He was the only non-Galilean of the twelve. Some say he did it to force Jesus’ hand – he never dreamed Jesus would not fight back. We do not really know why he did it, but he did it. In the end, Judas Iscariot regretted his betrayal and committed suicide. There is nothing else to say. Never forget what happened on Holy Wednesday!

Do you remember what Jesus did on Holy Thursday? We call it Maundy Thursday. That was the day Jesus washed the disciples’ feet, showing true servant leadership. Then, they observed the Seder. It was a meal with a message. Everything they ate and everything they drank reminded them of their ancestry. After all, they were God’s Chosen People. During the meal, Jesus changed the words and created a new memorial, holy communion. The bread is his body, and the wine is his blood. After the meal was over, Jesus comforted the disciples and went to the garden to pray. It was in the garden Jesus was arrested. Never forget what happened on Holy Thursday!

Do you remember what Jesus did on Holy Friday? We call it Good Friday. It was good for us, but bad for Jesus. Jesus had two trials. The first trial was in front of his own people. It was a “kangaroo” court. Jesus never had a chance. He was found guilty. They wanted to execute Jesus, but they lacked the legal authority. For this reason, they sent him to the Roman Governor, Pilate. He knew Jesus was innocent, but he feared the mob. The crowd rejected Jesus and accepted Barabbas, an insurrectionist. The order was given that Jesus must die. It was a public affair. It was a way of deterring crime. First came the whipping. Then came the crown of thorns. Each step came with ridicule. Finally came the cross, a Roman way to execute. Jesus was not tied to the cross; he was nailed to the cross. He was hung between two common criminals. In comparison to other executions on the cross, his death came quickly, and they put his body in a tomb. The sky grew dark, and the people wondered what would happen. His family and friends cried, because he was dead, and their dreams were gone. Never forget what happened on Holy Friday!

Do you remember what happened on Holy Saturday? Some call it, Silent Saturday. Others call it Black Saturday or Easter Eve. There is nothing to remember about that day because Jesus was dead. The people who loved Jesus, both family and friends, struggled with his death. Some of them were in shock. Some were in denial and some of them cried. Their great dreams of a bright future were over, Jesus was dead! How comfortable are you with the death of Jesus? You know what happened on Sunday. It is the worst kept secret in the history of the world. It is also the very foundation of our faith. It changed everything. Never forget what happened each day of Holy Week!

It became the tradition of my last church to go to the local cemetery to hold a Tenebrae service on Good Friday. It is our way to remember the death of Jesus. We were joined by other United Methodist congregations in the area. The truth be told, the group is always small. I really do not care, it is the right thing to do. The traditional scriptures are read, and the candles are extinguished. The service ended with the same words annually, May God have mercy on us because Christ died for us. I was always spiritually spent once the service was over. They reality of Christ’s death is hard for me to accept.

One year, on Easter morning one of the saints from my church wanted to talk to me about his experience at the cemetery. He had a bad experience. He could not hear because the woman next to him kept talking. He could not see because he sat in the back. He did not like his seat because it was uncomfortable. He did not like going to the cemetery because it reminded him of his own death. He did not like the music because it was too depressing. As he went through his list of complaints, I stayed quiet. When I finally got a word in, I said, “Good! If Christ hung on the cross for your sins for hours, then you can handle a few unpleasant minutes.” He responded a few seconds later, “I think you are right!”May we never forget Christ died for us! Reformed theologian Richard Allen Bodey (1930-2013) once said, “He drained the cup of God’s wrath bone dry, leaving not a drop for us.”