12 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him. 3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus’ feet, and wiped them[John 12:3 Gk his feet] with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said, 5 “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii[John 12:5 Three hundred denarii would be nearly a year’s wages for a laborer] and the money given to the poor?” 6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.) 7 Jesus said, “Leave her alone. She bought it[John 12:7 Gk lacks She bought it] so that she might keep it for the day of my burial. 8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.”[Complete Jewish Bible]
---------------------Often times when we hear messages of "good will" we realize they are from individuals whose motives are self-serving and deceitful. We identify these actions as having "hidden agendas," as coming from "wolves in sheep's clothing."
In today's reading, Jesus defends Mary's act of kindness and love but then calls into question Judas' deceit and self-serving motivations. As we read the passage, a little self-reflection will reveal to us that some of the same sinfulness that corrupts Judas is with us every day. To be sure we are capable of doing acts of kindness; however, our intentions may reveal that the "truth is still not in us" and in the end our good actions are compromised. That's when the Holy Spirit drives us to the cross, where the ultimate act of love and kindness is revealed through Christ's death and resurrection.
God of mercy, you have the power to forgive and with that power we ask for forgiveness of all our sins through your son Jesus Christ. Amen.
Peter Craig
Gift Processor, Luther Seminary
John 12:1 Six days before the Passover Jesus came to Bethany, the home of Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead.
2 There they gave a dinner for him. Martha served, and Lazarus was one of those at the table with him.
3 Mary took a pound of costly perfume made of pure nard, anointed Jesus' feet, and wiped them with her hair. The house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But Judas Iscariot, one of his disciples (the one who was about to betray him), said,
5 "Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?"
6 (He said this not because he cared about the poor, but because he was a thief; he kept the common purse and used to steal what was put into it.)
7 Jesus said, "Leave her alone. She bought it so that she might keep it for the day of my burial.
8 You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me."[New Revised Standard Version]
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The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion for Wednesday, 9 March 2016 with Scripture Philippians 3:4b-14Philippians 3:4 even though I certainly have grounds for putting confidence in such things. If anyone else thinks he has grounds for putting confidence in human qualifications, I have better grounds:
5 a b’rit-milah on the eighth day,
b by birth belonging to the people of Isra’el,
cfrom the tribe of Binyamin,
d a Hebrew-speaker, with Hebrew-speaking parents,
e in regard to the Torah, a Parush,
6 f in regard to zeal, a persecutor of the Messianic Community,
g in regard to the righteousness demanded by legalism, blameless.
7 But the things that used to be advantages for me, I have, because of the Messiah, come to consider a disadvantage. 8 Not only that, but I consider everything a disadvantage in comparison with the supreme value of knowing the Messiah Yeshua as my Lord. It was because of him that I gave up everything and regard it all as garbage, in order to gain the Messiah 9 and be found in union with him, not having any righteousness of my own based on legalism, but having that righteousness which comes through the Messiah’s faithfulness, the righteousness from God based on trust. 10 Yes, I gave it all up in order to know him, that is, to know the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings as I am being conformed to his death, 11 so that somehow I might arrive at being resurrected from the dead. 12 It is not that I have already obtained it or already reached the goal — no, I keep pursuing it in the hope of taking hold of that for which the Messiah Yeshua took hold of me. 13 Brothers, I, for my part, do not think of myself as having yet gotten hold of it; but one thing I do: forgetting what is behind me and straining forward toward what lies ahead, 14 I keep pursuing the goal in order to win the prize offered by God’s upward calling in the Messiah Yeshua.[Complete Jewish Bile]
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Paul states that he forgets what lies behind in his past and strains forward to what lies ahead in the future. He provides examples of his former life of strict adherence to Jewish law and customs. He does not deny those matters that have defined who he is, but rather lays them aside as something he does not boast about. In Christ Paul has come to see that righteousness, even when blameless, comes not through achievements of the law, but rather through the gift of faith in Christ.
As hard as we may try like Paul to forget what "lies behind us and strain forward to what lies ahead" we often feel like prisoners still chained to our past. Whether it is our efforts to maintain a healthy family relationship, good work ethics or avoid destructive behaviors, these efforts all seem to fall short of other people's expectations and even our own. Through Christ's death and resurrection, we are forgiven and unchained from our past to live a new life from this day forward.
Lord of mercy, forgive us our past transgressions and fill us with your love and compassion so that we might share this joy with others. Amen.
Peter Craig
Gift Processor, Luther Seminary
Philippians 3:4 If anyone else has reason to be confident in the flesh, I have more:
5 circumcised on the eighth day, a member of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew born of Hebrews; as to the law, a Pharisee;
6 as to zeal, a persecutor of the church; as to righteousness under the law, blameless.
7 Yet whatever gains I had, these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ.
8 More than that, I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things, and I regard them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ
9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but one that comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God based on faith.
10 I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the sharing of his sufferings by becoming like him in his death,
11 if somehow I may attain the resurrection from the dead.
12 Not that I have already obtained this or have already reached the goal; but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own.
13 Beloved, I do not consider that I have made it my own; but this one thing I d: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,
14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the heavenly call of God in Christ Jesus.[New Revised Standard Version]
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The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion for Tuesday, 8 March 2016 with Scripture Psalm 126Psalm 126:(0) A song of ascents:
(1) When Adonai restored Tziyon’s fortunes,
we thought we were dreaming.
2 Our mouths were full of laughter,
and our tongues shouted for joy.
Among the nations it was said,
“Adonai has done great things for them!”
3 Adonai did do great things with us;
and we are overjoyed.
4 Return our people from exile, Adonai,
as streams fill vadis in the Negev.
5 Those who sow in tears
will reap with cries of joy.
6 He who goes out weeping
as he carries his sack of seed
will come home with cries of joy
as he carries his sheaves of grain.[Complete Jewish Bible]
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Eleven years ago my Dad died of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. It was just one year after my wife's Mom and Dad had died, so our grief seemed unbearable. During these eleven years, God has given us two sons and a daughter whose middle names were chosen to honor their grandparents. Over the years tears of sorrow have been turned into shouts of joy!
Psalm 126 talks about how our Lord restores fortune. Where there were once tears and weeping, expressions have now been turned into shouts of joy! As we move through the Lenten season, we witness much sorrow and grief around us in our personal lives, community, nation and world. The death and destruction we witness may feel so unbearable that they bring a river of tears that seems endless. Because our hope and faith is in our Savior Jesus Christ, who through death brings new life, we can say in confidence that our tears of sorrow will be turned into shouts of great joy!
Lord of everlasting life, provide us hope and strength during our time of sorrow and grief until the day comes when we can shout for great joy! Amen.
Peter Craig
Gift Processor, Luther Seminary
Psalm 126: 1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, we were like those who dream.
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then it was said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them."
3 The Lord has done great things for us, and we rejoiced.
4 Restore our fortunes, O Lord, like the watercourses in the Negeb.
5 May those who sow in tears reap with shouts of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.[New Revised Standard Version]
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The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion for Monday, 7 March 2016 with Scripture Isaiah 43:13-20Isaiah 43:13 Since days began, I have been he.
No one can deliver from my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?”
14 Here is what Adonai, your redeemer,
the Holy One of Isra’el, says:
“For your sake I have sent [an army] to Bavel
and knocked down the fleeing Kasdim, all of them;
their songs of triumph are now lamentations.
15 I am Adonai, your Holy One,
the Creator of Isra’el, your King.”
16 Here is what Adonai says,
who made a way in the sea,
a path through the raging waves;
17 who led out chariot and horse,
the army in its strength —
they lay down, never to rise again,
snuffed out and quenched like a wick:
18 “Stop dwelling on past events
and brooding over times gone by;
19 I am doing something new;
it’s springing up — can’t you see it?
I am making a road in the desert,
rivers in the wasteland.
20 The wild animals will honor me,
the jackals and the ostriches;
because I put water in the desert,
rivers in the wasteland,
for my chosen people to drink,[Complete Jewish Bible]
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"I am about to do a new thing" says the Lord. Does this statement bring comfort or anxiety? It depends on how you view change, and what this statement means for us. When the Lord states a new thing is about to happen, be ready and hang on because it probably won't be a subtle change or go unnoticed. Because God knows our needs before we even ask, these new things can happen suddenly or unexpectedly.
I remember seeing a poster while in college in which an ostrich was depicted with its head stuck in the sand. The poster asked, "Is this how you face your future?" Sometimes we might feel like putting our heads in the sand and denying that a "new thing" is about to happen. However, we are invited not to fear these changes, but rather to declare God's praises because God has redeemed us and called us to be God's own children!
Almighty God, provide us the courage and strength to endure the changes that occur in our daily life. Amen.
Peter Craig
Gift Processor, Luther Seminary
Isaiah 43:13 I am God, and also henceforth I am He; there is no one who can deliver from my hand; I work and who can hinder it?
14 Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: For your sake I will send to Babylon and break down all the bars, and the shouting of the Chaldeans will be turned to lamentation.
15 I am the Lord, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.
16 Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters,
17 who brings out chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick:
18 Do not remember the former things, or consider the things of old.
19 I am about to do a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.
20 The wild animals will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches; for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people,[New Revised Standard Version]
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The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion for Sunday, 6 March 2016 "Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land," ELW 333
Refrain;
Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a weary land, a weary land;
my Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a shelter in a time of storm.
1. No one can do like Jesus,
not a mumbling word he said;
he went walking down to Lazarus' grave,
and he raised him from the dead.
Refrain;
Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a weary land, a weary land;
my Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a shelter in a time of storm.
2. When Jesus was on earth,
the flesh was very weak;
he took a towel and girded himself
and he washed his disciples' feet.
Refrain;
Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a weary land, a weary land;
my Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a shelter in a time of storm.
3. Yonder comes my Savior,
him whom I love so well;
he has the palm of victory
and the keys of death and hell.
Refrain;
Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a weary land, a weary land;
my Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a shelter in a time of storm.
---------------------
Let's think about feet. Did the disciples wear Doc Martens, Air Jordans or Vans? Did they benefit from gel insoles or a stiff shank? How did they cut their toenails? Not too many podiatrists in Jerusalem! Let's also think about transportation. How did Jesus and the disciples get from Galilee to Jerusalem? There were no planes, trains or automobiles--no megabuses either.
Disciples walked. They probably had a pair of sandals. Their feet were dry, dusty, mud caked. At the end of the day it would have felt good to soak your feet as you washed the miles and the grime away. Twenty four dirty, stinky feet would have meant several trips to the well, several buckets of water. What an odd scene it must have been. This great man--whose stories, miracles, compassion, life of prayer and teaching had transformed you, led you to leave your life to follow him--was now clad in a towel, down on the floor washing twenty four feet.
Thank you, Jesus, for this amazing, blessed memory of the time you washed my feet, showing me how much you love me. You are my rock in a weary land, you are my shelter in the time of storm. Amen.
Jennifer Bartholomew
Digital Resources, Instruction and Outreach, Luther Seminary Library
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The Luther Seminary of Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States "God Pause Daily Devotion for Saturday, 5 March 2016 "Jesus is a Rock in a Weary Land," ELW 333
Refrain:
Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a weary land, a weary land;
my Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a shelter in a time of storm.
1. No one can do like Jesus,
not a mumbling word he said;
he went walking down to Lazarus' grave,
and he raised him from the dead.
Refrain:
Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a weary land, a weary land;
my Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a shelter in a time of storm.
2. When Jesus was on earth,
the flesh was very weak;
he took a towel and girded himself
and he washed his disciples' feet.
Refrain:
Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a weary land, a weary land;
my Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a shelter in a time of storm.
3. Yonder comes my Savior,
him whom I love so well;
he has the palm of victory
and the keys of death and hell.
Refrain:
Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a weary land, a weary land;
my Jesus is a rock in a weary land,
a shelter in a time of storm.
---------------------
The lyrics "not a mumbling word he said" have appeared in many gospel songs from the 19th and 20th centuries. It shows up in lyrics from songs sung along the northern coast of England and in African-American spirituals. It is a memorable phrase. It is hard to contemplate anyone going through the trials Jesus experienced without comment, without complaint. In this hymn's first verse we also learn that Jesus went to his friend's grave and restored him to life.
As you journey through Lent are there times when you feel as though you are living in a weary land? Do you have a rock of strength and support in your life? Will you be restored? Can you live without complaint, without mumbling? Do you look to Jesus when you are weary and need "a shelter in the time of storm?"
Jesus, is it true? Not a mumbling word? Help us to know through your life and ministry what is important. Help us as we live in times of weariness and storm to support and strengthen those who need kindness and care. Amen.
Jennifer Bartholomew
Digital Resources, Instruction and Outreach, Luther Seminary Library
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