It’s Saturday before Easter, a very dark day if you were a follower of Jesus back in the first century. Jesus was dead. Death is real and feels very permanent. As the two in Luke 24 said:

Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. (Luke 24.19 – 21, ESV, emphasis mine)

As we get older, death comes closer to home. I wrote in my “Unsung Heroes” series about Jo Newell who was going through treatment for cancer. I am pleased to report that she completed her treatment successfully and is doing well. HOWEVER, hardly before she and her husband, Ed, had time to celebrate, Ed was diagnosed with terminal cancer. Here is some of what Jo wrote on Friday, April 3:

Ed and I reached an excruciatingly hard decision today. He is going to stop treatment and we have connected with local hospice care. Ed was willing to try treatment, as far advanced as his cancer is, for my and the family’s sake. But he gets weaker every day and just can’t fight anymore. The doctor told us on Wednesday that without treatment he would probably live less than two weeks. Of course, God alone knows his days, but his time is short. 

I asked him what he would want to communicate to all of you who are praying for him, many of whom have walked with him for years and even decades. He said he wants people to know what a privilege it has been to enjoy the friendships he has and to do life and ministry together. He had looked forward to many more years of ministry work and life’s adventures. He is a little scared of this journey, but he knows that at the end of it Jesus will meet him and that all will be well. He is finding that the hardest thing is saying goodbye. He has had conversations with several of our daughters, who may not make it here before he dies because of the pandemic. It is so sad for all of us to know that he will no longer be here with us to share in the family’s joys and sorrows, that this is goodbye for this life.

Words are ridiculously inadequate to express the depth of sorrow and confusion I am experiencing. I know from grieving Nathaniel [their son who was killed in an accident, maybe 10 years ago] that this is going to be a long, tough road. Please pray for my strength/health and the ability to love Ed well to the end. Pray for our [six] daughters as they say goodbye to their dad.

It is times like these that we find out if we really believe the verses we love so well and whether the Lord really is the compassionate Savior we have claimed Him to be. Today, with no power of my own to rely on as I move farther into the valley of the shadow of death, I want to affirm that Jesus IS our Good Shepherd and that in Him we truly do have all that we need. Psalm 46 is true: God IS our refuge and strength and a very present help in trouble. My prayer (one of many) is that His faithfulness to us might help others to trust Him more completely.

Here is what she posted on Caring Bridge on April 6, just three days later, right after he passed:

My dear friends, my dear husband of almost 42 years, got to go home to be with his Lord Jesus about two hours ago. It was peaceful, and I was alone with him, which was a sweet gift for me. Thank you for all the kind words you have shared in the last days about the impact he had on your lives. It is amazing to me how God uses our lives to bless one another, and I don’t think Ed had any idea of how special he was to so many…You are a great blessing to us, now to me. I love you all more than I can say!

God bless you and yours on this Holy Saturday. May we think deeply about Jesus’ death and death in general so that we can wholly enter into the joy of the resurrection.

Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned. (Romans 5.12, ESV)

The last enemy to be destroyed is death. (1 Corinthians 15.26, ESV)

[As Jesus goes to the cross, ] A large number of people followed him. (Luke 23.27, NIV)

Jesus always had no shortage of “followers.” Some were even said to “believe on him.” (See John 2.23 – 25 or John 11.45, for example.) Who is in this crowd? Maybe some of the same from the triumphal entry? Maybe they were expecting something spectacular? Like Popeye eating his spinach, Jesus would suddenly be infused with power, turn on the Romans who were herding him to his death, kill them, and start a revolution? And they didn’t want to miss it? But when Jesus died?

Then Jesus cried out with a loud voice, “Father, I surrender my Spirit into your hands.” And he took his last breath and died…The crowds that had gathered to observe this spectacle went back to their homes, overcome with deep sorrow and devastated by what they had witnessed. But standing off at a distance were some who truly knew Jesus, and the women who had followed him all the way from Galilee were keeping vigil. (Luke 23.46, 48, 49, Passion Translation)

All along I have been contrasting those who “truly knew Jesus” from those who just watched. I think at least some of the crowds that “gathered to observe this spectacle” were expecting a come-from-behind victory. They were still looking for the wrong kind of Messiah.

From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. (Matthew 16.21, NIV)

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to our own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53.5, 6, NIV)

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2.24, NIV)

Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him. “He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’ ” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him. (Matthew 27.39 – 44, NIV)

And they divided up his clothes by casting lots…The soldiers also came up and mocked him. They offered him wine vinegar and said, “If you are the king of the Jews, save yourself.” (Luke 23.34 – 37, NIV)

As I wrote on Monday, it was me. Here Jesus is mocked by four different groups:

• The people
• The religious leaders
• The soldiers
• The crucified criminals

I could have been in any of those groups. I could have been part of the mocking crowd. I’m a religious leader, often concerned about truth and exposing imposters. If I had been part of the ruling body, with whom would I have sided? I was a soldier. Would I have done my duty as a soldier only or would I have entered into the “fun” of mocking someone and something I knew nothing about? If I were one of the two criminals crucified with him, which one would I have been?

Psalm 22 is a striking example of the Bible’s inspiration and accuracy in prophecy. Here’s some of what Jesus was experiencing during the mocking:

All who see me mock me; they make mouths at me; they wag their heads; “He trusts in the LORD; let him deliver him; let him rescue him, for he delights in him!”…Many bulls encompass me; strong bulls of Bashan surround me; they open wide their mouths at me, like a ravening and roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint; my heart is like wax; it is melted within my breast; my strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to my jaws…For dogs encompass me; a company of evildoers encircles me; they have pierced my hands and feet—I can count all my bones—they stare and gloat over me; they divide my garments among them, and for my clothing they cast lots. (Psalm 22.7 – 18, ESV)

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: “Aren’t you the Messiah? Save yourself and us!” But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.”Jesus answered him, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in paradise.” (Luke 23.39 – 43, NIV)

“Remember me when you come into your kingdom.” That required a lot of faith. That a man dying on a cross would be coming into a kingdom. And that a criminal dying on a cross would be able to come into it with him.

The criminal believed:

• In the true identity of Jesus
• In life after death
• That his performance (or lack of it) had nothing to do with his eligibility for Jesus’ kingdom

The criminal’s faith is a bright spot in this sordid tale of Jesus’ execution, and it’s recorded only by Luke. As I write, I’m reminded of flowers we had in the front yard of another house in Colorado. They often would bloom before the last spring snowfall, and you’d see something like this picture. Flowers in the snow. The promise of spring in what appears to be winter.

Even as he dies, Jesus imparts life…to a criminal!

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. (John 12.24, ESV)

And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12.32, ESV)

This blog is read by English teachers, so I apologize for the incorrect grammar in the title. Unfortunately, “it was me” sounds a little less pretentious than the correct “It was I,” and for this blog, I really don’t need pretentious.

We’re entering Holy Week, and we have a few more days to meditate on those events. Too often we seem to race through from Palm Sunday right to Easter even though the Gospels devote a lot of space to these few days.

They stripped off his clothing and placed a scarlet robe on him to make fun of him. Then they braided a crown of thorns and set it on his head. After placing a reed staff in his right hand, they knelt down before him and irreverently mocked him, saying, “Hail, king of the Jews!” Then they spat in his face and took the reed staff from his hand and hit him repeatedly on his head, driving the crown of thorns deep into his brow. (Matthew 27.28 – 30, Passion Translation)

The first thing that struck me was the unnecessary cruelty. Crucifixion is horrible enough, but these Roman soldiers added this. It’s always tough to see the cruelty of men. Soldiers, probably disgruntled at being stationed in Jerusalem, considered this fun. Jesus submitted himself to all the sin of men. And sin can be very ugly. And Jesus died for that sin, too.

But the second thing that occurred to me was this:

He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53.3 – 6, KJV)

He was despised, and we esteemed him not…we esteemed him stricken, smitten of God. BUT, he was wounded for OUR transgressions (not his!), he was bruised for OUR iniquities (not his!)…with his stripes WE are healed. WE have gone astray. WE have turned every one to his own way; the LORD has laid on him the iniquity OF US ALL.

That was me in the crowd of soldiers in Matthew 26. I taunted him. I struck him with a reed. I put the crown of thorns on his head. Like Mel Gibson showing an actor how to drive the nail into the cross in The Passion of the Christ movie, it was Mel’s hand that went into the movie. He said in interviews later something like, “The Jews didn’t crucify Jesus; I did.”

Formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief…The saying is trustworthy and deserving of full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the foremost. But I received mercy… (1 Timothy 1.13 – 16, ESV)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (Romans 3.23, ESV)

What lesson should we take away from Peter’s denial of Jesus?

But Peter was adamant. “Listen, I don’t know what you’re talking about. Don’t you understand? I don’t even know him.” While the words were still in his mouth, the rooster crowed. At that moment, the Lord, who was being led through the courtyard by his captors, turned around and gazed at Peter. All at once Peter remembered the words Jesus had prophesied over him, “Before the rooster crows in the morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” Peter burst into tears, ran off from the crowd, and wept bitterly. (Luke 22.60 – 62, Passion Translation)

What was Jesus thinking? What about Peter? 

Was Jesus disappointed with Peter? I don’t see why he would have been. First, he predicted Peter’s denial after he predicted that all the disciples would run away. He needed them to run away, to lay low, so they would be around to carry on the work after the resurrection. Jesus loved Peter, of course, but he also may have communicated with that look, “Peter. This is the second time you’ve doubted by word. First, you said I wouldn’t go to the cross. Then when I said you would run away, you said you wouldn’t. Don’t doubt my words!”

The real lesson was for Peter. We know that Jesus restored Peter in John 21, but the restoration was for Peter’s sake. Peter needed to learn that his relationship with Jesus was not predicated on his performance. This is a truth we all sometimes have trouble with. 

Baseball can be instructive. At the professional level, the very best hitters fail 2 of every 3 times they come to bat. What do you do when you make the third out by striking out with the bases loaded? You pick up your glove and take your position in the field. If it was the last out of the game, you show up the next day and continue to play. Perfection is not expected nor is it possible. When you fail, get over it.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. (1 John 1.8 – 10, ESV)

This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am chief. (1 Timothy 6.15, NKJV)

I read recently the account of Jesus washing the disciples’ feet in John 13.1 – 20. The story of the final encounter between Judas and Jesus is in verses 21 – 30, but there are references to Judas in the foot-washing story. 

During supper, when the devil had already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray him,… Jesus said to [Peter], “The one who has bathed does not need to wash, except for his feet, but is completely clean. And you are clean, but not every one of you.” For he knew who was to betray him; that was why he said, “Not all of you are clean.”…I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But the Scripture will be fulfilled, He who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’

Maybe John wanted to make it clear that Judas was there and that Jesus knew what Judas was about to do, and he washed his feet anyway! Maybe Jesus was giving Judas one more chance to accept what Jesus came to do. Judas, like the crowd on Palm Sunday, knew and said all the right things. But the idea of a suffering, serving, foot-washing Savior was not what people had in mind. Nor do we, I’m afraid. 

I’m reminded of a time when I was on church staff and set up the chapel for a Friday morning, 6 a.m., Bible study the night before. I was more than irritated when I arrived at 5:30 Friday morning to find the chapel in disarray. The podium, overhead projector, and screen (these were the old days!) were nowhere to be seen. It turns out there had been a wedding rehearsal the night before, and the folks put our stuff out into the hall, not bothering to put it back.

While I was scurrying around (and thinking about who I was going to complain to), Terry the teacher came in. Terry was a leader in the community and the church, and a builder of high-end houses. He came in cheerfully, “Hi Bob. How are things going?” “Not too well, Terry. Somebody messed with our setup.”

I’ll never forget Terry’s instant response:

How can I help?

Terry understood that leaders are servants. I didn’t. I don’t mind serving as long as my position is respected, and I don’t have to do things twice!

You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them. (John 13.13 – 17, ESV)

For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mark 10.45, ESV)

For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. (2 Corinthians 4.5, ESV)

This is the last of this series of “not enough.” We’ve seen that being fed is not enough, witnessing the spectacular is not enough, and even enthusiastic worship is not enough when it comes to the difference between knowing about Jesus and really knowing Jesus in a committed relationship not unlike marriage. So here’s the last one:

Hanging around in the inner circle is not enough.

Really? Where do you get that? Very simple. As we enter some meditations on Holy Week (a bit early, I know), read the texts on the last supper: Jesus initiation of the ceremony we call Communion or Eucharist or The Lord’s Supper. Judas was still there!

Tomorrow I’ll write more about the foot washing event from John 13, where Judas is explicitly pointed out as present. He was also there during the meal:

Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. (John 13.24 – 26, NIV)

Judas was not only there for the last supper, but he had also been there for years with the other disciples. There were times when “… many of his [wider circle of]disciples turned back and no longer followed him.” (John 6.66, NIV) But not the twelve, including Judas:

“You do not want to leave too, do you?” Jesus asked the Twelve. Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. We have come to believe and to know that you are the Holy One of God.” Then Jesus replied, “Have I not chosen you, the Twelve? Yet one of you is a devil!” (He meant Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, who, though one of the Twelve, was later to betray him.) (John 6.67 – 71, NIV)

Some people are active in their church. Very active. Members of boards. Singing in the choir. Faithful attenders. But, like Judas, they never really commit themselves to Jesus. These people, like many churches, treat discipleship as optional. As I wrote a few days ago:

Making discipleship an optional add-on is as silly as the bride and groom going back to their separate homes after the wedding ceremony. 

Therefore let us leave the elementary doctrine of Christ and go on to maturity… (Hebrews 6.1, ESV)

We are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ… (Ephesians 4.15, ESV)

For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 1.5 – 8, ESV)

We interrupt our series on “not enough” to bring you a “word from our sponsor.” As we get ready to move into Holy Week, our neighbor was kind enough to leave a small reminder in last night’s three inches of snow:

It reminded June and me of our love for each other, the love that exists in our immediate neighborhood, and the love that God has for us.

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5.6 – 8, NIV)

Continuing our meditation on a real, enduring relationship with Jesus in contrast with things that “aren’t enough,” I must add this one:

Celebratory Worship Is Not Enough

This principle seems especially appropriate as many pastors and their members are wringing their hands over not being able to gather on Sundays during the coronavirus lockdowns. I’ve already offered some observations and suggestions on that issue, but today’s blog is serious. It’s the fact I opened this series with:

The same people who lined the streets and sang songs of praise to Jesus were no doubt among the crowd clamoring for his crucifixion a few days later. Remember, only 120 faithful followers were in the Upper Room in Acts 1. What happened to those enthusiastically singing praises on Palm Sunday?

As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road. When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen: “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” (Luke 19.36 – 38, NIV)

Praises one day…a riot soon after:

Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested…The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. “Crucify him!” they shouted… They shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” (Mark 15.6 – 14, NIV, emphasis mine)

As important as gathering to worship is, including singing biblically-based songs, Palm Sunday’s crowd teaches us that that’s not enough.

I could have designed the blogs so that this one would come out on Palm Sunday, but I’m starting Holy Week a bit earlier this year to give us more time. We often seem to rush through the important, world-changing events of this week. So with most of us with more time on our hands, we’ll see what else we can learn from Holy Week events.

Not everyone who says to me, “LORD, Lord,” will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. (Matthew 7.21, ESV)

Bring no more vain offerings; incense is an abomination to me. New moon and Sabbath and the calling of convocations— I cannot endure iniquity and solemn assembly. Your new moons and your appointed feasts my soul hates; they have become a burden to me; I am weary of bearing them. (Isaiah 1.13, 14, ESV)

Quit your worship charades. I can’t stand your trivial religious games: Monthly conferences, weekly Sabbaths, special meetings— meetings, meetings, meetings—I can’t stand one more! Meetings for this, meetings for that. I hate them! You’ve worn me out! I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning. When you put on your next prayer-performance, I’ll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I’ll not be listening… (Isaiah 1.13 – 15, MSG)