Month: April 2017

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

Last Breath

Good Friday Hills.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

It was now about noon, and darkness came over the whole land* until three in the afternoon, while the sun’s light failed;* and the curtain of the temple was torn in two. Then Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’ Having said this, he breathed his last.
Luke 23:44-46, New International Version

 To the crowds elbowing their way
And to those trudging past
Jesus, and the sign above His head,
must have looked like just another notice
Stick-pinned to the bulletin board at the local Starbucks.

He had spoken of love;
He had spoken of peace;
He had moved many with the words and deeds
Of a gentle grace.

The Kingdom of God came bursting through
The rending Temple’s fabric
As Jesus’ voice echoed against the stone walls,
‘Father, into your hands I commend my spirit.’

As you suffered—they watched.
And then slowly, one by one,
They turned and walked away—
And left you cold and still
And very, very dead upon your cross.

+ Think on those two hills today—Golgotha and Zion, Cross and Temple—and consider where
God had chosen to be for you that day.

+ We are tempted to move too quickly to Easter morning.  Remain here for now, at the Cross,
with your Savior and the women and likely John.  He is here for you.  How much he loves you!

We Pray:  Lord Jesus Christ, as you led others in your most mysterious way, on that most
mysterious of days—Come and lead us, too, Lord.  Bring us to the cross, put us in
that crowd; let us see what you lost—and what you gained—what we gained.  Show
us, Lord.  And keep on showing us, so that we may show others.  Amen.

Text and picture, copyright Don Schatz

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

The Guest Room Is Ready

Betesda Church, Lepaterique, Honduras

Christ has prepared a place for us to experience him.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

And he sent two of his disciples and said to them, “Go into the city, and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him, and wherever he enters, say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says, Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’ And he will show you a large upper room furnished and ready; there prepare for us.”
Mark 14:13 English Standard Version

When our ministry team arrives in Lepaterique, Honduras, we know that a great deal of effort has gone into preparing for our appearance.

This year’s arrival was no different than others. We were greeted with a sign, a pine needle carpet, fireworks, and most importantly, the people of Betesda Church. This welcome can be overwhelming to first timers as they’re being hugged by children and adults whom they’ve never met.

Preparation needed to be made for Jesus and his disciples to celebrate the Passover. The two disciples that Jesus commissioned for this task had to pay attention to detail so that everything was ready for the most important night of the year. Did these disciples hear Jesus’ words? Did they actually expect the room to be prepared and ready for the meal?

The Scriptures don’t tell us, but I imagine that these two men were a bit surprised when everything happened just as Jesus had said it would. I say “a bit surprised” because this isn’t the first time that Jesus has told them to do a task where something would already be prepared for them. Remember the colt on which Jesus sat?

The meal that we share with Jesus and his disciples today is a meal that has already been prepared for us. Jesus’ sacrifice has guaranteed that when we eat the bread and drink the wine, he is present with us. His gift of forgiveness embraces us. Everything has been prepared, and we are invited to the feast.

Betesda Church, Lepaterique, Honduras

The people of Lepaterique eventually went home, the disciples left the upper room, and we will leave the table. There is much more prepared for us to experience. May we continue to journey with Jesus on his way to the cross and empty tomb.

Picture and Text Copyright Douglas P Brauner

Categories
PWTE Daily Devotion

An Innocent Meal

Now to do the Father’s Will.

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me … 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 Iscariot, son of Simon. As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.  “What you are about to do, do quickly,” Jesus told him, but no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the Feast, or to give something to the poor. As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.  When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified and God is glorified in him.  If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.”  
John 13:21, 26-32, New International Version

Betrayal preceded by dipping bread—
They had olive oil for sure,
But what about balsamic vinegar,
Italian spices and red pepper flakes?

So common a scene plays out,
Like many a restaurant visit of ours;
From the midst of this community of faith
Comes an insidious action.

“What you are about to do, do quickly.”
Not, ‘Hey Peter, this is the guy.
Take him out back and beat the #@&% out of him.’
Judas was determined, and so was Jesus.

Jesus was no glory-seeker;
He was a ‘thy will be done’ kind of guy;
He was about bringing glory to the Father.
Now.

We Pray:  Lord Jesus Christ, the relentless tidal surge of your ministry swept you uphill, like a spiritual tsunami, to Golgotha.  You rode the wave, to give glory to the Father, to save me.  Teach us to dip bread with others in true friendship, in sincere fellowship, in imitation of your own determined love.  Amen.

Text and picture copyright Don Schatz