March 30, 2021

March 30, 2021

53 Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour—when darkness reigns.”         – Luke 22:53

The more we learn and understand about the law of Moses, the more we begin to understand the events that happen on the night Jesus was betrayed and handed over.

Leviticus 16 spells out for the priest of the Hebrew people an order for the atonement of sin, for it to be acceptable to God and true for the people. The Yom Kippur sin offering must be delivered over to death by the high priest himself, otherwise the sins of the people would not be covered.

So on the night after the Passover meal, after Judas betrays Jesus with a kiss, he is handed over to temple officials with the help of Roman guards and taken to the house of Annas, a former high priest, and member of the Sanhedrin, but who is also father-in-law of Caiaphas the high priest for that year.

3 Trials of Jesus take place before the sun ever comes up.  1.  Jesus is taken from the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives by temple guards, to Annas who calls together a few temple administrators and they have court.  Even though it is the middle of the night, even though it is still the day of the Passover.  Both forbidden under Levitical law.  All courts are to be held in the daylight, and no court is to be held on a feasting or festival day.  Ignoring both of these Annas holds court, but though he has arrested Jesus, he has no charge of which to hold him, so he must catch Jesus or trap him into saying something worthy of accusation, trial, and condemnation.

Annas can get no confession out of Jesus of which to accuse him, so rebukes him and denounces his honesty and sends him to Caiaphas.

2.  Still in the early morning hours before the sun is up, Caiaphas now has the charge and goal of producing a formal accusation at the second trial.  Jesus by Annas is charged with religious insubordination.  So, Caiaphas assembles priests, the council and witnesses to come up and corroborate charges against Jesus.  Nothing seems to match up, so in a moment of desperation to end Jesus, Caiaphas does something both illegal and unethical.  He introduces two new questions into the trial, and these questions essential compel Jesus to testify against himself, then to make matters even more unethical Caiaphas adds an oath to the mix, making Jesus situation in answering, “damned if you do, damned if you don’t.”

According to Matthew 26, Caiaphas asks: I command you by the authority of the living God to say if you are the Messiah, the Son of God”

To which Jesus has no other choice, but to respond as he does in Mark 16:62. “I am”

Done. Now it’s time for the 3rd trial.

Just as the sun was coming up and Peter has denied his Lord now for the third time, the third Jewish trial convenes. 

3. The Sanhedrin is gathered with chief priests Anna and Caiaphas at the helm.  They have Jesus for a religious crime for claiming to be the Son of God.  But they knew that the roman authority could care less about these claims. Many of their own persons in authority were claimed to be ‘sons of gods.’  This would not be enough for Jesus to be handed over and put to death, they needed more.

The Sanhedrin council questions Jesus, and ask him: “are you the Messiah?”

Jesus responds: “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”

He replied, “You say that I am.” This is the “gotcha” moment.

Jesus has now made a political claim that he has a right to the throne as the Messiah, the anointed one of God.  This is all they needed, now Jesus can be bound and taken before Pontius Pilate, the governing authority in Judea for a criminal charge of treason and he is to be executed.

These events of Maundy Thursday and Good Friday have significant meaning, for the people of God, and for the fulfillment of the law. When we see it, we begin to understand the Passover lamb, the lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

March 29, 2021

March 29, 2021

31 “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.”

33 But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.”

34 Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today, you will deny three times that you know me.”         – Luke 22:31-24

Simon, called Peter, is at the meal of the Passover with his Lord.  He is not only a disciple of Jesus, but probably considers himself to be the Lord’s best friend.  He hangs on every word that Jesus says, Peter always has a response to what Jesus would ask.  Peter is the prime example of the “teacher’s pet.”

I don’t thinks there are any huge issues with being a “teacher’s pet” other than perhaps by your peers who do not like the attention you get, or the smugness that you feel as though you might be better than them. But one thing is for sure, if you are the one to whom the teacher shows appreciation, everyone knows who you are.

In the moments after Jesus arrest, people knowing Peter was not to Peter’s advantage.  He followed Jesus to the house of Caiaphas, the High Priest, wanting to know what was going to happen to his Lord, while keeping his distance.

The home of Caiaphas would have been near the temple complex, and quite possibly as Jesus and his disciples headed to the east gate to make their way to the Mount of Olives, they would have walked right past it.  I wonder, if as Jesus walks past the place where he will soon be charged and accused in a completely illegal trail that his heart broke for Peter who would deny him on those same grounds.

Peter follows, and the gospel of John tells us that the other disciple, the one whom Jesus loved was also there, indicating that John was with Peter in the courtyard.

Peter warms himself by a fire, because it is the middle of the night, and perhaps from such a vantage point he might be able to see Jesus, and/or hear the outcome what is taking place.

It’s there by the fire, that Peter gives into fear and doubt, but he does not turn over his Lord, instead denies ever knowing him.

First, a servant girl, notices is face in the firelight.  She looks at his face, tries to remember where she has seen that face before, perhaps when Jesus was teaching in the temple she had seen this man with him, so she speaks up, this man, he was one of those who was with Jesus.  He is one of his followers. Peter exclaims, I don’t know him.  1.

Then someone else begins to examine the face of Peter, how he is dressed, looks at his body language, and begins to think about if they have ever seen this man before, and then they too accuse.  You are one of them. Peter exclaims, I am not.  2.

An hour or so goes by, Peter getting anxious trying to see what is going on in the courtyard, now even in view of Jesus, another person who has probably been watching him this whole time, seeing how he reacts to what they are doing, noticing that by the way that he looks and is dressed, that he is a Galilean, like so many who had followed Jesus were.  And this man exclaims that he must be one of Jesus followers. And Peter exclaims, I don’t know what you are talking about.  3.

We all have weak moments in our faith, but it is not by our weakness nor by our times of denial that set us apart from those who are called on to be saints.  It is by the grace of God in which we are forgiven and reconciled, that we join with Christ and are remade in his image of love.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

March 28, 2021

March 28, 2021

To join our online Palm Sunday Service please visit: stmarkknox.org/sermons

37 As [Jesus] was now approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,

“Blessed is the king
    who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
    and glory in the highest heaven!” – Luke 19:37-38

Today, we celebrate the palms, the parade, the time when Jesus along with a great multitude of people are there as Jesus enters into Jerusalem.  It’s one of the high points of the church calendar year, and marks the beginning of Holy Week.

As I think about all that happens this week, we should be reminded that we may have more in common with Jesus and the disciples than what we realize this week.  The celebration of today is marked with the grand parade of Palm branches. We missed out of that grand parade last year, and even as we enter this holy day in 2021, we know that we aren’t fully here yet.  We know there are still restrictions around our gatherings, and the ever-reminding of our mortality in the masks we wear to keep ourselves and others safe, especially among the crowds. 

However, the rest of the week the disciples are in places away from the crowds. They are at a home in Bethany, in a private upper room, in the garden of gethsemane.  These places show times of solitude, times of intimate gathering as Jesus gives his disciples their final instruction before Jesus ultimately fulfills the law of God and becomes the sacrificial lamb.

It has been a hard, long year to get to this point again, and we may find ourselves a little emotional at the celebration because it has been missed, even if only for a year.  We may also feel a saddening in our hearts for those who did not make it with us to this point.  Still, we know the power of praise and adoration for the One who comes as our king, and so we gather, going out to meet him along this path to shout Hosanna! And know that Jesus comes to a place of ending this week, but rises to a new beginning next week as we celebrate Easter.

May the overwhelming joy of the Lord, meet you today, singing “blessed is He who comes in the name of the lord.”

Grace & Peace,
Sam

March 27, 2021

March 27, 2021

Sharing from the Congregation – David Petty

Turn to me and be gracious to me, for I am lonely and afflicted. — Psalm 25:16

John Donne was an English poet and an Anglican priest in Shakespearian times (late sixteenth to early seventeenth century).  When he was 51 he suffered from a severe mysterious illness, from which he eventually recovered.  During the illness he wrote a series of devotions which were published shortly thereafter.

Donne’s illness was not pandemic related, but because no one knew how infectious he might be, his friends, family, and even his doctors were keeping socially distant.  This prompted him to write about loneliness, a subject not unfamiliar to survivors of this past year.

Donne believed that just as nature abhors as vacuum (I’m paraphrasing all his words due to changes in the language), it considers solitude to be almost as bad.  He points to the fact that everything in nature occurs in plurals — plants, animals, even (as he believed) angels.  He suggests that God, even though existing in three persons, was lonely and that this was why humanity was created.

He argues that our own experience demonstrates that we, too, are not meant to be alone.  He goes so far as to theorize that our interest in life on other planets (this was in 1623) is based on our need for company.  

As in his case, sometimes we have no choice but to be lonely.  But he places ending the loneliness, as soon as possible, high on his list of things to pray for.   Perhaps our own time of distancing is coming to a close; we have reason for optimism.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

March 26, 2021

March 26, 2021

Sharing from the Congregation – David Petty

About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.  Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison ere shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were unfastened. —Acts 16:25-26

A prison escape always makes for a good story.  Luke, that great storyteller, tells two such stories in the book of Acts (Chapters 5 and 12.)  This is not one of them.  Paul, Silas, and others, imprisoned at Philippi and given an obvious chance for escape, chose to not do so.  We might wonder why. 

The result of that choice was, as we know, that their jailor and his family were converted to Christianity.  Perhaps Paul had reason to believe that would happen.  Or perhaps the Holy Spirit told the prisoners to remain where they were (although usually in Acts the Spirit gets credit for what it does.). 

But here could be another reason why they did not escape. Maybe they did not seek freedom because they already felt free.  Maybe they realized that, whatever their earthly situation, their spirits were free from all bonds. That may have been why, like the sparrow on that old song, they were singing.

Years later, when Paul was in another prison, he sent a letter back to the church in Philippi, which by that time was flourishing.  I wonder whether his previous jailer was present when the letter was read.  In the epistle to the Philippians Paul speaks of joy rather than freedom, but under his circumstances it probably meant much the same thing.

Paul’s joy, like his freedom, was beyond the ability of the world to control.  Most of us haven’t really been imprisoned recently — although it has felt that way just a bit — but it was Paul’s talent to use the extremes of his own experience to illustrate matters to others.  If we can do the same our present suffering is a blessing.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

March 25, 2021

March 25, 2021

21 “Lord,” Martha said to Jesus, “if you had been here, my brother would not have died. 22 But I know that even now God will give you whatever you ask.” 23 Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise again.” 24 Martha answered, “I know he will rise again in the resurrection at the last day.” 25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. The one who believes in me will live, even though they die; 26 and whoever lives by believing in me will never die. Do you believe this?” 27 “Yes, Lord,” she replied, “I believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, who is to come into the world.” – John 11:21-27

Why must we suffer? Why must suffering happen this way? But someone has said, that instead of asking why, the better question is “what?”  What can I learn from this time in my life, of trial?  Or even ask, “How?”  How does God want to see me grow through this pain?  We don’t always know the answers to these questions, but eventually God will work them out through us, and sometimes in spite of us.

In her first book, Joni, Joni Eareckson Tada tells of the tragic driving accident that left her paralyzed from the neck down.  She chronicles the agony she went through in the aftermath and how eventually she came to trust in Christ and submit to Him.  She ends the book by telling of speaking at a rally to hundreds of young people and her hope that scores of them would come to have a faith in Jesus Christ.  The she adds (p.228), “But I will be please if only on person is drawn to Christ.  Even one person would make the wheelchair worth all that the past eight years have cost.”  Even though it was many years ago, she dedicated her life to allow her suffering to help others find a faith in Christ. 

God teaches us that even in the midst of pain, even in the midst of suffering and grief, even in the midst of death, God can be glorified. 

These sisters, Martha and Mary did not understand the Lord’s delay.  Both of them cried out the same complaint, “lord, if you had been here, our brother would not have died.” They blamed the delay of Jesus for the death of their brother.

But the reason for Jesus delay was not disregard, it was love.  By delaying, the would see more of God’s glory in their Lord, and know even more of His almighty power.  Their faith in Him, and in His purpose would grow.  The Lord’s deliberate delay was from love, though they did not understand it. 

Paul writes in Romans 8:28: “And we know that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him, and are called according to His purpose.”

And how much more in Scripture could we read about our need to wait upon the Lord?  If God answered instantly every time, we might not recognize our need to depend on Him, nor our need to be surrounded by the communion of saints in our faith community. Here we learn to rely on God’s almighty power, and the communion we share by those who share in the faith, that we might find care and comfort, and Jesus in our midst despite our times of suffering and grief. We learn from this passage that delay in raising Lazarus from the dead is the precursor for our own resurrection.  Through this we see that although we will all die, one day we will all be raised, and we will be made like Christ.

Jesus is the resurrection and the life, if we believe in Him, then even though we die, we will live forever more.  And that is a certainty worth believing in.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

March 24, 2021

March 24, 2021

3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days… John 11:3-6

Anyone, who has ever lost, knows that even when death is inevitable, we don’t desire or expect it, we simply come to accept that it is this loved one time, and prayer for their comfort and peace as well as our own. Death remains a great mystery even today.  No matter how much we can explain and determine why one’s body has no life left within it, we cannot understand what happens to consciousness.  We are left with our faith in such times to help us through, to help our hearts makes sense of loss, and to give us a hope of knowing our loved one once more.

Death is a part of life, everyone will get there, but none are ever truly ready.  The hope we find in death, is that death is not the end, but we believe in a resurrection.  And because our Lord has overcome death, through him, we believe we shall overcome as well.

Here, in the gospel of John we see a third gospel account of Jesus raising someone from the dead back to life.  The others include the raising of the widow’s son in Luke 7, and Jairus daughter in Mark 5 & Luke 8.  However, in this account, we don’t see Jesus raising to life because he has compassion on the loved one’s.  Instead, in this account Jesus is a loved one.  Jesus is acquainted with Martha, Mary, and their now deceased brother Lazarus.  They all have spent time together, and they were considered disciples of Jesus.

How could Jesus let one of his own disciples perish before everything he came to do had been accomplished?  There are two things within the text, that I believe help us to understand Jesus hesitation to go to Bethany, or to raise Lazarus from afar.  After all if Jesus is God, he need not be present for Lazarus to be raised, he could have said the word, and it would happen.  Yet, part of what make our faith is Jesus so great, is our belief that he is present with us, even now.  For we believe the scriptures, that were two or more are gathered, there He will be in their midst.

In verse 4 Jesus says: “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.”  - and after saying this he decided to stay where he was for another 2 days.

Scholars believe that based on the end of John 10, that Jesus at this point was somewhere in the vicinity of Peoria some 20 miles away from Bethany.  Turning, and going to Bethany even at the moment of receiving word, chances are that Lazarus was already dead.  However, he stays for two more days before going back.

We know what transpires when Jesus does arrive. Martha weeps and wails that if only Jesus had been there, their brother would not have died. Jesus sees Mary with professional mourners surrounding her, and he weeps himself.  Truth is, we all would rather has something or someone keep us from suffering rather than help us through our suffering.  However, the power of God is found in knowing that even while we suffer we can bring our troubles before God, and in God’s mercy, grace, and love, we will know relief even if it is in God’s timing, and not our own.

May we always seek to know God’s timing, knowing in His infinite love and grace, God does hear our prayers and brings us comfort, forever.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

Holy Week Schedule

It's an exciting time as we get ready to celebrate Holy Week at St. Mark! Please make plans to join us. In addition to our celebrations, Pastor Sam will be joining community pastors at Sacred Heart on Good Friday for special service at noon.

Make your reservation to join us for Easter Sunday today!

March 23, 2021

March 23, 2021

I will thank you forever, because of what you have done.
In the presence of the faithful, I will proclaim your name, for it is good. – Psalm 52:9

Each day that passes this spring, I find more reason to rejoice. It’s hard to believe how much life has been affected over this past year, but God did not even once abandon us.

We can admit that there were times when it seemed that we were lost and in a dark place, personally and perhaps as a society, but the faithful continued to have hope, to pray, and to believe that better days would be ahead.  I know that we still are living with many restrictions that still hamper the full sense of ‘normal.’ However, as more and more people have the opportunity to receive vaccination, and as the spring weather allows us to spend more time outdoors, I have a great hope in the goodness of God who is leading us ever forward by his grace and love.

The psalmist reminds us that there is only one whose name is good. The opening of this psalm calls down those who seek more evil than good, or who love lying more than the truth. However, it is God who will break them down, and uproot them from the land. Those who believe they are the power of the land will one day be in laughter, and those who trust in God will be trusted with the abundant riches of His kingdom that will last forever.  I hope that we will stand on the truth of God’s grace, mercy and love as seen in the person of Jesus the Christ. Accepting and loving others as Christ first loved us, and believing in the truth of the eternal kingdom alive in us. Let us give thanks to God forever, for being accepted for He is good.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

March 22, 2021

March 22, 2021

Sharing from the Congregation – David Petty

For we are aliens and transients before you, as were all our ancestors; our day’s on the earth are like a shadow, and there is no hope. —First Chronicles 29:15

They confessed that they were strangers and foreigners on the earth, for people who speak in this way make it clear that they are seeking a homeland... but as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. —Hebrews 11:13-14,16

The peculiar history of the Israeli people is that they seemed destined, both in Biblical times and thereafter, to be travelers.  The Hebrew Bible often reflects this, and, as indicated above, it’s mentioned in the New Testament as well.  A traditional recitation of Jewish history begins, “a wandering Aramean was my ancestor” (Deuteronomy 26:5.)  The Hebrew word ger has been translated many different ways, depending on the version; the NRSV, used here and in our pew Bibles, often uses “alien,” or “stranger.”  Other versions use “traveler,” “pilgrim,” and “immigrant;”  I especially like the word “sojourner” used by the King James.

Scripture draws at least two lessons from this sojourner status.  God’s people are reminded to be kind to travelers, since they’ve been there themselves.  More importantly, our temporary status humbles us before everlasting God.

Do we think of ourselves as sojourners like the Jewish people?  I don’t believe so.  I know that we understand, on a spiritual level, that our existence In this life is temporary.  But I doubt that the issue has the same physical immediacy.  Even though we  live in a mobile society, we don’t, as a people, travel in search of a homeland.  On the other hand we do, individual and collectively, travel in time, because of rapid change.  Even if you live a mile from where you grew up, the world you live in is a million miles away from a few decades ago — or even a few years ago.  So perhaps we can learn something from what the Bible says about sojourners.

If we do think of ourselves as travelers, something else is worth observing.  If you read many travel books, you’ll note that one of the most common “tips” given in them is to travel light.  (That’s especially important, of course, if you’re hiking.)  The idea is that you’ll get the most out of the trip if you focus your attention on your surroundings rather than on carrying and keeping up with your stuff.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

March 21, 2021

March 21, 2021

Join the online worship service any time after 9 a.m. here: stmarkknox.org/sermons

20 Once Jesus was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God was coming, and he answered, “The kingdom of God is not coming with things that can be observed; 21 nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There it is!’ For, in fact, the kingdom of God is among you.”
– Luke 17:20-21

The midst of Jesus teachings about the kingdom of God, we see so much about the already and the not yet.  I know that phrase might be confusing to some, but the essence of that phrase “the already and the not yet” reminds us that we live in a faith that Jesus has already come, died on the cross for the sins of the world and risen again.  This means that the kingdom of God has already begun. For the billions of people who have believed and received the salvation of the cross, they know that the kingdom of God is real, and they have their reward in heaven, or are awaiting it the moment they leave this life.

Yet, we know that the kingdom is not yet complete. The world keeps on turning, new life come upon the earth every day, as families welcome new babies. We had a magnet on our refrigerator as one point which said “Babies are God’s way of saying he wants this world to continue.” Each new day we are reminded that this world still exists. So the time when heaven and earth pass away and the new heaven and earth are revealed has not yet happen, so we are in the “…not yet.”

In this time of “already and not yet,” however, we can still see the kingdom of God. Jesus, the verses above is attempting to teach the Pharisees about this. They do not yet understand. They believed the kingdom of God would put them on top, they would be set up as rulers and no longer under the oppression of Rome. However, Jesus says to them, you can’t say “here it is, or there it is.” Instead, you we must look among you. The beauty of seeing the kingdom of God, is when we look among us, and see the beautiful faces of those with whom we share this kingdom.

God’s kingdom isn’t about material riches, but the richness of relationships with those whom God loves, and whom we love. As I get the opportunity to see more of you coming back to in-person worship I’m reminded of the beautiful kingdom that is among us.  I know some will remain at home for now, and I honor you for your choice.  Please know that your church family is praying for you, and we continue to know you, too, are a part of this glorious community, and the kingdom of God.

May we continue to do all we can to expand the kingdom among us by sharing the love we have for God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen!

Grace & Peace,
Sam

March 20, 2021

March 20, 2021

Sharing from the Congregation – David Petty

Bear one another’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.  For if those who are nothing think they are something, they deceive themselves.  All must test their own work; then that work, rather than their neighbor’s work, and will become a cause for pride.  For all must carry their own loads. —Galatians 6:2-5

Dr. Thomas Lambie (1885-1954), according to a story I recently read, was for decades a medical missionary in Africa.  The area where he lived had many rapid, treacherous streams.  Bridges were few, and crossings  were difficult, with the risk of being swept away by the current and drowning or being dashed against the rocks.  Local people had developed an ingenious solution; they would carry heavy stones when they crossed; the extra weight gave them sure footing in the streams.  In one sense, the heavy loads made the crossing harder, but in another sense they made the crossing easier — in fact, in some cases they made the crossing possible.

We have no shortage of burdens in our world.  Some of these are obvious to anyone who follows the news; some are on a more personal level; and some may be closely guarded secrets.

In Galatians, Paul says that we should carry each other’s burdens, but shortly afterward he says that each should carry their own.  As is often the case in the Bible, we solve this apparent contradiction by the context.  You probably take this passage, as I do, to mean that we should carry our burdens when possible, but that we should also be willing to help others when needed, and be willing to let them help us when needed.

Carrying a burden may require more than just effort; it often  involves thought and planning (and prayer.)  Likewise helping others may require more than just saying “I’m available.”  Sometimes we need to summon up all our cleverness and empathy to figure out how to help.  We may have to spend more time and energy in understanding what to do than in doing it.  But if this heavy stone illustration is valid, it can be worth the effort.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

March 19, 2021

March 19, 2021

12 As he entered a village, ten lepers approached him. Keeping their distance, 13 they called out, saying, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were made clean. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. 16 He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? 18 Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” – Luke 17:12-19

I’ve said it before, but I always feel it is worth repeating.  Luke, being a converted Greek physician loves to focus on the foreigner, the outcasts, the non-Jewish as receiving the kingdom of God.  Luke’s focus is as such because he is one. Luke has no birth qualification to inherit the kingdom of God through the Messiah, however, he has believed in Jesus, and received the Holy Spirit. His gospel account is to help others like himself know and realize that they too can have salvation through Christ.

Jesus, still on his journey towards Jerusalem, somewhere between Samaria and Galilee is approached by a group of lepers. We might assume he has passed near a leper colony for so many to be together. Lepers did often live in community to help one another, as they would have been considered unclean and unable to stay in society.  These lepers must have heard about Jesus, because they approach him, but they are noble to keep their distance because they knew they were unclean. Jesus never touches them, he simply speaks to them from a safe distance, and they are told to show themselves to the priests as clean.  It is on their way that they become clean, simply by their faith, and the power of Jesus.  

For so many who still long to return to the faith community, I hope this message would be a relief, for we are strengthened by the community, but in times when we must be absent the power of the Holy Spirit is still uniting us and bringing healing to our weary souls.  What an amazing God to connect us in such a way!

The second lessons is this, when discovering they had been made clean, only one, the Samaritan (the foreigner) returns shouting praise to God.  All have been made clean, but few give glory to God.  This lesson reminds us that while God’s blessings are meant for all, only few will give praise to God for what God has done.  May we be among the few, that whether we are able to return to the community, or continue to worship from a distance, we would shout praises to God for God has immensely blessed us.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

March 18, 2021

March 18, 2021

19 “There was a rich man who was dressed in purple and fine linen and who feasted sumptuously every day. 20 And at his gate lay a poor man named Lazarus, covered with sores, 21 who longed to satisfy his hunger with what fell from the rich man’s table; even the dogs would come and lick his sores. 22 The poor man died and was carried away by the angels to be with Abraham. The rich man also died and was buried. 23 In Hades, where he was being tormented, he looked up and saw Abraham far away with Lazarus by his side.  24 He called out, ‘Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus to dip the tip of his finger in water and cool my tongue; for I am in agony in these flames.’ 25 But Abraham said, ‘Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony. 26 Besides all this, between you and us a great chasm has been fixed, so that those who might want to pass from here to you cannot do so, and no one can cross from there to us.’ 27 He said, ‘Then, father, I beg you to send him to my father’s house— 28 for I have five brothers—that he may warn them, so that they will not also come into this place of torment.’ 29 Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the prophets; they should listen to them.’ 30 He said, ‘No, father Abraham; but if someone goes to them from the dead, they will repent.’ 31 He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’” – Luke 16:19-31

Despite what we might want to believe, not everything we consider good in life is actually good for us, in this life as we move towards the next. This parable may teach us a little about the equalizing effect of end of this life, but it may also have more to say about how to begin the abundant and enteral life now.

 Though we would think that the unnamed ‘rich man’ was an example of why one should give to the poor, this unnamed man is unnamed for a must simpler reason. His name is not written in the book of life, thus he remains nameless. The only thing the rich man has going for him is his good life on earth, where he is able to dress in nice clothing, and eat whatever he chooses each day. And when I read that statement about what made this man ‘rich,’ it really makes me stop and think. He was rich because he wore nice clothes every day, and could eat whatever he wanted. How many of us where nice clothes?  How many of us can eat whatever we want each day? I know it’s true for me, and makes me realize I might have more in common with the ‘rich man’ than poor Lazarus.

But there is still hope, and it’s found as this parable is less about how these individuals lived their life, and more about the exchange between the rich man and Father Abraham.

In the Jewish tradition in which Jesus is teaching, if one were a ‘child of Abraham, they would be a part of the promise to be a great nation, and one day would join Father Abraham, and be welcomed into his bosom, where there would be rewards forevermore. It’s similar to the ideas that we have heard that in heaven that awaits those who believe, there are untold riches and joys that await. However, that there is a chasm to see between the eternal places where one could speak across might be lost on us.

We must recognize that this is a story, a parable to illustrate a point. And we might get hung up on the separation of good and evil, but I ask that we let that go. Instead focus on the conversation of Abraham and the rich man.

Knowing that his place was fixed, the rich man pleads, if not me, then perhaps my family can be saved.  Abraham, could you send Lazarus to my brothers, I have five of them, and warn them about what is coming when they die? Abraham, according to Jesus, replies, but they have Moses and the prophets, they should listen to them.

Jesus is using this parable to speak to the people about the law and the prophets, which should have been taught to them by the Pharisees and Scribes, however, very few truly understood the nature of this teaching to Love the Lord their God, and love their neighbor as themselves. The rich man did not love his neighbor Lazarus, and now pleads that if Lazarus was raised from the dead to warn them, then they might believe and start to live right.

Jesus ends the parable simply with this.  If they don’t believe or listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead. This message predicts both Jesus resurrection, and how some still will not believe.

When Jesus died on the cross, he descended to the lower realms and sets the captives of death free, those who followed him. And after seizing the keys of hell and death, he rose again, returning to this world alive. If one can’t believe the words of Moses and the prophets, will they then believe one who came back from the dead?  Would someone rising from the grave make you consider showing mercy, and living in the love of God, and showing it to all your neighbors?

As we get closer to remembering the Jesus on the Cross during Holy Week, may we also grow in living a life resurrected in Him.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

March 17, 2021

March 17, 2021

…keep yourselves in the love of God; look forward to the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ that leads to eternal life. – Jude 1:21

God’s mercy meets us every day, and so today, on this St. Patrick’s day, I’m reminded of the prayer that reminds us to think on Christ in all things, to remember the mercy that awaits us, and to live as those to whom mercy has been shown, giving God honor and glory for the life we now enjoy, and later will inherit in eternity. So, allow me to share this portion of a prayer found on the breastplate of the venerated saint, and may we seek the goodness of God in Christ, always and forever:

Christ with me,
Christ before me,
Christ behind me,
Christ in me,
Christ beneath me,
Christ above me,
Christ on my right,
Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down,
Christ when I sit down,
Christ when I arise,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of everyone who speaks of me,
Christ in every eye that sees me,
Christ in every ear that hears me.
I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
of the Creator of creation.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

March 16, 2021

March 16, 2021

Sharing from our congregation: David Petty

Moses’s father-in-law said to him, “What you are doing is not good.  You will surely wear yourself out...You should. represent the people before God and bring their cases before God; teach them the statutes and instructions, and make known to them the way they are to go and the things they are to do.  You should also look for able men...Let them sit as judges for the people at all times” — Exodus 18:17-18,19-21,22

...like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood...
—First Peter 2:5

In 1215 a group of British nobles met with King John in a meadow west of London and signed the “Great Charter.”  The Magna Carta did not immediately establish democracy in England; that took several centuries, some of them quite bloody.  Similarly, the U.S. constitution, ratified 1787-1790, only established “democracy” for the upper class.  It has taken over two centuries for democracy to be extended to non-landowners, women, and minorities, and we’re still working on it.  Political change, like God, operates on a different time scale than the ours.

Moses usually took his instructions directly from God, but on one occasion he heeded the advice of his father-in-law.

By giving up some of his personal power to a group of others, Moses initiated the slow process of “opening up” the church to all, just as American and English democracy was slowly opened up.  Peter, who became the most powerful person in the church, proclaimed that all Christians are priests.  

It’s unclear who first used the term “priesthood of all believers,” although Martin Luther surely implied it.  John Wesley advanced the idea.  “Give me one hundred preachers,” he wrote, “who fear nothing but sin and desire nothing but God, and I care not a straw whether they be clergy or laymen...”   The later emphasis of the Methodist church on well-educated clergy might seem to contradict this, but only in the sense of suggesting specific roles for specific people; all are called to participate in the work of the kingdom.

So despite a few stumbles, there seems to have been a general movement in the church for participation by all.  Yet there is a force in the opposite direction.  Just as the idea of physical exercise has deteriorated to paid athletes being watched by people who main exertion is moving their fingers across the remote, there are folks for whom church has become a spectator sport.  It’s a performance by the pastor, some musicians, and a few others, observed in the sanctuary or via electronic devices.  Church is something to view, not something to do.

I know I’m exaggerating here.  In a smaller church like St. Mark, especially, most of us feel compelled to participate, sometimes in multiple ways.  But I find that I have to fight the temptation to say that since others can do a better job, let them.  As in so many cases, we need the support of each other and the power of prayer.  Armchair Christianity, like armchair athletics, spares us a lot of the pain of the struggle.  It also deprives us of a lot of the exhilaration of the game and enjoyment of the victory.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

March 15, 2021

March 15, 2021

Sharing from the congregation – David Petty

At the end of forty days Noah opened the window of the ark that he had made and sent out the raven, and it went to and fro until the waters were dried up from the earth. Then he sent out the dove...He waited another seven days and again set out the dove...Then he waited another seven days and again he sent out the dove. —Genesis 8:6-8,10,12

And you thought you had it bad being cooped up due to the virus.  At least you weren’t stuck on a boat with every kind of critter.

Noah had two great virtues: the faith to build the ark in the face of ridicule, and the patience to survive the time in the ark.  First he had to wait 40 days for the rain to stop, then 150 days for the water to start going down, then a while for the raven to stop flying, then — you get the picture.  And let’s not forget the patience of his wife and family on this critter cruise.

In the Bible patience is not just a worthy trait; it’s a recurring theme.  There’s the patience of Abraham and Sarah who waited until their old age to have their promised heir; Jacob who worked for 14 years to marry Rachel; Ezekiel who lay on his side for months; Zechariah who experienced nine mute months waiting for his son John to be born; the early Christians waiting for the day of Pentecost.  I could give many more examples, but you’d probably become impatient with me.

The details of our current problems are unique, with the consequence that the details of the solutions must be unique, but I think that on a spiritual level they are not.  The Bible suggests that situations that need endurance and patience are not just possible; they are to be expected. 

So it makes sense to learn from those who have gone before us.  Their response to comparable situations may tell us how to act or how not to act.  I said that Noah had two great virtues, but that’s not quite true, is it?  Truthfully, it might be just one virtue, for patience is an outgrowth of faith.  If we truly believe that great things are coming, it’s worth the wait.  But patience doesn’t always mean waiting idly.  Sometimes we are called to do what we can in the meantime.  

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

March 14, 2021

March 14, 2021

To join our online worship at 9 a.m. or later, please go to: stmarkknox.org/sermons

The blessing of the Lord makes rich… - Proverbs 10:22

Today, as we prepare for worship, I want to share a story from a little book entitled Life’s Extras by Archibald Rutledge. Rutledge writes:

I made a casual acquaintance on a train one day speeding across the autumn landscaped. The conversation seemed thoughtful, reflective, a little wistful as we talked about the things we saw from the car window.  At last we came to a big meadow wherein were grazing half a hundred beef cattle.  I said something inane about the prosperity of the country, the glowing future of the livestock industry, and so forth. “look at those little daisies,” he said, pointing to a bright patch of them in a far corner of the meadow.  Then he added, “cattle somehow can‘t thrill me.  There’s more hope for humanity in a wild flower than in tons of beef.”

Long after he left me, I kept thinking of what he said, wondering just what he had meant. His idea, of course, was that a wild flower is one of life’s extras, one of those things that we do not have to have but which we enjoy all the more for that very reason.

The more I thought about this, the more it appeared that Creation supplies us with two kinds of things; necessities and extras.  Sunlight, air, water, food, shelter – these are the necessities. With them, we can exist. But moonlight, the sunrise and sunset, the stars that twinkle at night, these are extras; music, flowers, beautiful fragrances, the song the wind makes rustling through the trees, all life’s extras.

It is life’s extras that make it enjoyable.

It is life’s extras that we experience the grace of the Holy Spirit, the divine love of God that surpasses all understanding.  The little extras of knowing someone and being in relationship, of falling in love, of holding a new born baby.  Oh for us to know the grace of God that each little extra has given.  And I look at you this day, and having known each of you. You have made my life a little extra special.

I’m always amazed at our Almighty God who could do all that needs to be done in an instant, in the flash of an eye, yet, God believes in the extras, calls us to enjoy the little things, and encourages us to put the pieces together, because there’s just more joy in doing the work, in creating, and assembling.  Because therein we get to experience the extras that make life worth living.

May God’s blessings richly bless you with all the extras you can imagine.  God love seeing you smile at his extras, and so do I.  Amen.

Grace & Peace,
Sam

March 13, 2021

March 13, 2021

Sharing from the congregation – David Petty, missions chair

UMCOR Sunday, Tomorrow March 14, 2021

They are to do good, to be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share.
— First Timothy 6:18

I grew up in a small town in Middle Tennessee, on the Cumberland River upstream from Nashville.  My brother still lives there on Riverside Drive.  You may recall that in 2010 a devastating flood hit Nashville.  The same flood hit upstream as well.  My brother’s house, which has the highest elevation on his street, was completely surrounded by water.  (He and his family had already evacuated.)  Fortunately no water got into the house; the only damage was that an outside air conditioning unit was ruined — it was fully insured.  Also, when he went to clean out his pool later, there were fish in it.

His neighbors were not so lucky.  All of them had evacuated too, but every other house on the street was flooded, some damaged beyond repair.

When the waters receded, the first people to show up, other than residents and local authorities, were volunteers from UMCOR, the United Methodist Committee on Relief.

Some were from Knoxville. They spent several days helping to clean up, repair and rebuild, and provide emotional/spiritual support.

UMCOR, which celebrated its eightieth anniversary last year, directs emergency relief efforts and ongoing projects all over the world.  It’s nice to hear about its work in Africa and Asia, but I can tell you that when it comes to your own home town it takes on a whole new significance. 

Methodism has made many contributions to theology, but it has never let that stand in the way of doing all the good we can.  March 14 is UMCOR Sunday.  Donations on that day go to administrative costs; all other funds go directly to relief efforts.  We preach with our hands, backs, and goods as well as with our mouths.

Gracefully submitted,
David Petty

March 12, 2021

March 12, 2021

4 There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; 5 one Lord, one faith, one baptism; 6 one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. 7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
- Ephesians 4:4-7

Around the year 1767 a man named John Silsbury was a mapmaker in London. One day he mounted one of his maps on a piece of hard wood, cut around the borders of the countries and made the first jigsaw puzzle as an aide for teaching children geography. In the late 1800’s with the invention of cardboard the idea really caught on as more than just a tool for education, but an enjoyable way to have fun and pass the time.

I’m sure everyone has put together jigsaw puzzles at some time or another. What starts out as a bunch of cut up pieces with persistence and time, with endurance and staying power, eventually comes together to form a picture. One strategy for working a puzzle is to start with the corners and the edge pieces first and work your way in. That defines the borders and the sets the framework for seeing the big picture. That creates the vision and the dream of what the finished goal looks like.

God the Father, through Christ the Son, and with the Holy Spirit puts us together in his kingdom.

Christ forms us into a holy body from an individual piece, a group of pieces who are united in purpose, mission, and love for one another and love for the Lord. The whole body fitting together, that is the kind of church we should want to belong to. One that Christ is directing, one that is relying on the movement of the Holy Spirit. A community of faith that God has brought together, and is leading and growing to reflect a heavenly kingdom. 

The kingdom is the overall puzzle, but each church is a little part of that puzzle. When we are directed by Christ, when we are following the leadership of the Holy Spirit everything fits together. Everything works when we allow Christ to join His divine life to ours.

In this way we become the pieces God uses to make a kingdom of the divine choosing. 

People tend to believe in the mantra 10% of the people do 90% of the work, but the truth is, if only 10% are doing anything, then everything isn’t getting done. God has a bigger plan in store, and the Holy Spirit is urging, we just need to open our ears and open our hearts and listen.

You, each of you, need to understand that what you do matters for the kingdom of God.  You can make a difference in the world, in this community, in this church. You are a leader, you just may not realize it yet. 

The way you live. The things you do. The things you say create a picture of what's possible. People look at you and will say, "If she can do it, I can do it." “If she can overcome that struggle, that temptation, that hardship” so can I. “As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow.”

John Wesley said, “Let me be employed by thee or let me be laid aside for thee.” That first part is honestly easier for some than the second part. But learn this lesson: There is untapped power in laying aside a work while you stand alongside, or know whom your successor will be.

Knowing who is following you is key.  Paul knew that he would not be there for the church every single day. Paul knew that his leadership was only temporary, but the work of the Holy Spirit inside the church is continuous and eternal.

Grace & Peace,
Sam