WATCHWORD:
3 There was a time when I wouldn’t admit what a sinner I was. But my dishonesty made me miserable and filled my days with frustration. 4 All day and all night your hand was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water on a sunny day 5 until I finally admitted all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide them. I said to myself, “I will confess them to the Lord.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.6 Now I say that each believer should confess his sins to God when he is aware of them, while there is time to be forgiven. Judgment will not touch him if he does. Psalm 32:3-6
Meditation:
Easter? Are We There Yet?
Yes, and no. The days of Lent have begun and we are traveling with Jesus, soaking up His ministry, reveling in the mighty works we have witnessed and, yet, we are not sure who He is, this Carpenter we have known and followed for two years.
Some marker events are behind us. We heard about that turning water into wine, at a wedding in Cana. Was it true? Probably. That was before we met him. We were amazed when he healed lepers, and what a performance on the hillside there near Bethesda! I can still taste the fish and the bread. And later that day, remember? He came walking to us on the water! We were so afraid of the storm all around us that we thought he was a ghost. Impulsive Peter, tried to walk to Jesus and almost drowned! Remember?
Then we went to Caesarea Philippi. That was scary, dangerous territory. We stood where those heathens sacrificed humans, their own children. We wondered, what are we doing here? Then we climbed Mount Hermon, and could not believe our eyes when Moses and Elijah appeared and talked with our Jesus. We went a little crazy until the Voice of God told us that Jesus was His Son. Oh, my!
It was after that experience that we traveled through the villages on the east side of the Jordan, the Gentile side. At first, we could not understand why we were ministering to Gentiles, of all people, but gradually the meaning became clear.
Some of us are getting worried about the large crowds that kept following us, whole families, including children, listening to what the Master had to say. He often paused in his travels and walked among them, just talking to them, smiling, supporting, and encouraging them. After a while, we did the same thing, and it felt right.
We’re walking along the Jordan, the cities of the Decapolis are behind us. On the other side of the river we can see Jewish families traveling to Jerusalem for the Feast of Unleavened Bread, known as Passover. Some recognized Jesus and crossed the River to join us and listen to what He has to say. Strange, that, too, felt right. People welcoming and accepting others that had long been adversaries? Unheard of.
What have we learned in these travels? I wonder about that. I’m not sure we fully understand where we’re going and what Jesus is going to accomplish. Most of us are convinced that Jesus is going to overthrow the domination of Rome and free us. I don’t know how that’s going to happen. Just when we think we know about something, Jesus comes and tells us that we are slow-minded, that we’re not paying attention, that we do not understand. This caused some of our number to leave and not follow. Yet, He trusts us to continue to be his disciples. And, so, we continue to learn and follow, even though we are often confused.
So, we walk on. Our sandals are dusty and torn from long days and weeks of walking. A few of us who know this road realize that Jericho is still weeks ahead of us at this pace, and we look forward to being there. We’re heading for Jerusalem that’s five or six weeks of walking ahead of us. The Passover crowds are beginning to get larger, but we follow the Master for we know no other way.
And He says to us: “Follow me, for am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). We may be slow-minded, but we get it — Without the way, there is no going; without the truth, there is no knowing; and without the life, there is no living. So, we follow on. Won’t you join us? Sunday must be coming soon.
Love with Legs?
Don’t miss the Special Watchword this Saturday, March 11.
Pray — from the Beginning of Time:
Jesus, you have known us from the beginning of time, you have known us in the depths of our dreams and in the darkness of our shame, you know us as your beloved. Help us to own that core identity more and more in this season of repentance and mercy. Give us the rock-solid assurance of your unwavering faith in us as we seek the same in you. Amen.
