A SHEPHERD TO THE VERY END!

A SHEPHERD TO THE VERY END!

John 18:3-9

3 Judas then, having received a band of men and officers from the chief priests and Pharisees, cometh thither with lanterns and torches and weapons.

4 Jesus therefore, knowing all things that should come upon him, went forth, and said unto them, Whom seek ye?

5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am he. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.

6 As soon then as he had said unto them, I am he, they went backward, and fell to the ground.

7 Then asked he them again, Whom seek ye? And they said, Jesus of Nazareth.

8 Jesus answered, I have told you that I am he: if therefore ye seek me, let these go their way:

9 That the saying might be fulfilled, which he spake, Of them which thou gavest me have I lost none.

           Jesus showed himself to be the Good Shepherd to the very end by demonstrating great care for his flock. He “knew all things that should come upon him” but he did not panic and flee. He did not hide behind his flock in order to save himself, in fact verse 4 says “he went forth” which means that he thrust himself to the front.

Even the restoration of Malchus’ ear was an act of protection for the impetuous Peter. By restoring the ear he literally removed any reason to accuse Peter of any wrongdoing. Oh, how many times has he had to make right the foolish wrongs I have done?

John 10:11-14

11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

12 But he that is an hireling, and not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and fleeth: and the wolf catcheth them, and scattereth the sheep.

13 The hireling fleeth, because he is an hireling, and careth not for the sheep.

14 I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.

A man after God’s own heart was David in the sheepcotes. Forced by his occupation to spend lonely nights in the cold damps without complaining, when the enemy came he thrust himself to the front of the fray, grabbed the enemy by the beard and smote him. David the shepherd was well prepared to face giant challenges because of his love for the sheep. Jesus did not learn from David, rather David received his shepherd’s heart from his God.

1 Sam 17:34-35

34 And David said unto Saul, Thy servant kept his father's sheep, and there came a lion, and a bear, and took a lamb out of the flock:

35 And I went out after him, and smote him, and delivered it out of his mouth: and when he arose against me, I caught him by his beard, and smote him, and slew him.

           In a final act of caring, Jesus delivered his mother into the care of one of his more faithful followers. In John 19, Jesus looked at John and said “behold thy mother.” From that time on John assumed the care of Mary. Three verses later Jesus cries “It is finished!”

John 13:1

13:1 Now before the feast of the passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come that he should depart out of this world unto the Father, having loved his own which were in the world, he loved them unto the end.

Kind Shepherd, you have loved me with an everlasting love – and you love me still. You stand in the way of danger so that I might be safe. You took the blows that were meant for me. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life for I am cared for by The Great Shepherd of the sheep. Thank you Lord. AMEN

CONSIDER THE LILIES!

CONSIDER THE LILIES!

Matt 6:28-34

28 And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:

29 And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

30 Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which to day is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?

31 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

32(For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.

           Both Matthew and Luke (12:27) were so taken by this speech of Jesus that they included it in their gospels. It is a rebuke for me and perhaps for you in our time and culture. It is easy for us to worry and fret because nothing in our current economy seems sound and sure. The icy fingers of winter has choked and covered the lilies with a heavy weight of snowy death. But spring always returns the lilies to their glory! As soon as their feet are warmed they put forth their golden blooms. I’ve never seen one worry.

           Both Matthew and Luke accurately quote Jesus as saying “consider” which is the Greek word: katamanthano (kat-am-an-than'-o) which means to learn thoroughly, i.e. (by implication) to note carefully. So there must be much to learn.

           As we consider we see that the lily can not move. It does not have our mobility. If things become uncomfortable for us we can change our geography and many do. We are a people constantly on the move searching for a better place. Lilies do not and can not work. We can and we do. We labor, manufacture and produce. We market and sell and make profit. Lilies are peacefully idle.

           Lilies are completely at the mercy of the heavenly Father. So are we, although we do not think so! Lilies, if they think, never worry about the future. If they are able to trust then lilies have learned to trust in the NATURE and RESOURCES of the heavenly Father. Perhaps it is we who do not think. Perhaps it is we who can not trust.

           The point of Jesus’ speech is clear. The nature of the Father is kind and the resource of the Father is rich. Let us trust Him today.

Dear Lord, forgive me my fretting and my worrying. Help me to consider the lilies and to consider my safety and security in YOU. AMEN

A GIFT OF PATIENT GRACE!

A GIFT OF PATIENT GRACE!

Matt 18:23-35

23 Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.

24 And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.

25 But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.

26 The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

27 Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.

28 But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.

29 And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.

30 And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.

31 So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.

32 Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:

33 Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?

34 And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.

35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

           The word “patient” in verses 26 and 29 is the word makrothumeo and means “to bear with; to suffer long or to patiently endure.” Certainly I am not perfect and require many people throughout the day to patiently endure my faults. The story that Jesus told points this out and requires us to show the same kind of patient grace to others.

           We who are church people think we know the meaning of the word grace. Flippantly we will say it is God’s riches at Christ’s expense. This dismisses anyone who questions us without actually having to give an answer. Someone has said that grace is “the desire and ability to do God’s will.” However Merriam-Webster has a lengthy definition of the word which includes: “a temporary respite.” Grace, then, can be a temporary pardon until a better pattern of behavior is learned. That is certainly what I need!

           Today you will need others to extend to you patient grace. I know this is true because you are human and imperfect. Today you will be given many opportunities to extend patient grace to others. When we are tempted to cut someone short because of their imperfections – let us remember our own.

Dear Lord, thank you for the patient grace that you extend to me so many times. Help me to be gracious to others. Let others see Jesus in me today. AMEN

THE MASTER AND THE STUDENT!

THE MASTER AND THE STUDENT!

2 Tim 2:1-2

2 Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

2 And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

           Both First and Second Timothy were written from an older sage to a younger apprentice. Both seemed to understand the relationship and now Paul urges Timothy to gradually become that older mentor. The idea is that truth and tradition might be passed along unchanged. Merriam-Webster says that a mentor is: a trusted counselor or guide; a tutor or coach.

           Becoming a mentor presumes that you know something and that you have experience. There is also the presumption that you have accomplished something worthy of copying. There must have been something very attractive about Jesus to make Peter, James and John to leave their fishing careers to follow this itinerant preacher.

           Becoming a student presumes that you do NOT know as yet but that you are eager to learn. There was no challenge coming from young Timothy either of the truth or the traditions. At the end of the day Timothy wanted to be like Paul. Immediately following verses one and two we see a warning because there would be “hardness” to endure and options to filter through the net of reason.

2 Tim 2:3-4

3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.

           Today you know something that needs to be taught to another. Be a good teacher! You may also still be a student. Study hard! Learn both the truths and the traditions! There will be time to be innovative but for now learn the basics. There will be times of hardness. There will always be choices to make. Choose wisely.

Dear Lord, I know so much and yet so very little. Let me be a good teacher and a faithful student. AMEN