Today we are reading John 13:21-32 where Jesus predicts his betrayal. It can be found here.
We don’t like to think of things like this. Many of us have this idea of church and of community where everything is always perfect. Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote a lot about community in his book “Life Together“. He wrote:
No sooner are people together than they begin to observe, judge, and classify each other. Thus, even as Christian community is in the process of being formed, an invisible, often unknown, yet terrible life-and-death struggle commences.
A Christian community either lives by the intercessory prayers of its members for one another, or the community will be destroyed. I can no longer condemn or hate other Christians for whom I pray, no matter how much trouble they cause me. In intercessory prayer the face that may have been strange and intolerable to me is transformed into the face of one for whom Christ died, the face of a pardoned sinner. That is a blessed discovery for the Christian who is beginning to offer intercessory prayer for others. As far as we are concerned, there is no dislike, no personal tension, no disunity or strife, that cannot be overcome by intercessory prayer. Intercessory prayer is the purifying bath into which the individual and the community must enter every day.
Those who take refuge in community while fleeing from themselves are misusing it to indulge in empty talk and distraction, no matter how spiritual this idle talk and distraction may appear.
Whoever cannot be alone should beware of community… But the reverse is also true. Whoever cannot stand being in community should beware of being alone.
As you read John 13:21-32 and the quotes from Life Together…
what stands out?
why are we so surprized by conflict?
why is the last quote from Bonhoeffer so vital for us to understand?
21 After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.”
22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.”
25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?”
26 Jesus answered, “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, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him.
So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night.
31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him,[a] God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once.
Today we are reading John 12:20-36 The Son of Man must be lifted up. It can be found here.
Some of you might remember the song “We Want To Jesus Lifted High“. My daughter used to sing that song and “Lift Jesus Higher” as loudly as she could as she swung on our backyard swing – that was her evangelistic method! I not sure, that’s exactly what this passage means, but you have to like the intent.
Jesus is teaching that death is the way to life. And that to follow Jesus is to be with Jesus.
Jesus says in v27-28“Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!””
I’m sure most of us can identify with Jesus. Our souls are troubled in these days. There is so much unknown. We don’t know about tomorrow let alone next month, or this summer, or the fall.
It’s OK to cry out to the Lord, to lament, to tell God that you don’t know.
As you read this passage,
What stands out to you?
What do you sense Jesus saying to you?
What comfort do you take from this passage?
Are you putting “your trust in the light“v36? Are you walking in the light?
What does that mean? What does that look like in your life?
20 Now there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the festival. 21 They came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request. “Sir,” they said, “we would like to see Jesus.” 22 Philip went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus.
23 Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me.
27 “Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? ‘Father, save me from this hour’? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. 28 Father, glorify your name!”
Then a voice came from heaven, “I have glorified it, and will glorify it again.” 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him.
30 Jesus said, “This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. 32 And I, when I am lifted up[a] from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” 33 He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die.
34 The crowd spoke up, “We have heard from the Law that the Messiah will remain forever, so how can you say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this ‘Son of Man’?”
35 Then Jesus told them, “You are going to have the light just a little while longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. Whoever walks in the dark does not know where they are going. 36 Believe in the light while you have the light, so that you may become children of light.” When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from them.
Today we are reading John 12:1-11. You can find it here.
It’s the account of a woman, breaking a valuable jar of expensive perfume and pouring it over Jesus’ feet, wiping them with her hair.
There are many things that could be said about this, but the point the text makes is that
This was worth a lot of money.
Judas suggested this was a waste, it should have been sold and given to the poor.
But Jesus said that this was in preparation for what lay ahead.
One of my favourite book titles on worship is “A Royal “Waste” of Time: The Splendor of Worshiping God and Being Church for the World” by Marva J. Dawn.
What is sometimes seen as waste, is not waste from God’s perspective.
As you read and reflect on John 12:1-11
What do you have of value that you can offer to Jesus today, even if others see it as a waste?
Will you offer it?
How can / will you encourage others in their journeying with Jesus in this time of physical distancing? When you get that nudge (and you will get nudges, if you are listening) from the Spirit to give someone a call, let me encourage you to do it (You know they will be home!)
If you feel comfortable doing so, share that in the comments. Let’s encourage one another.
21:1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.
4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.
7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you,[Deuteronomy 15:11] but you will not always have me.”
9 Meanwhile a large crowd of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and believing in him.
21:1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:
5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[Zechariah 9:9]
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,
“Hosanna to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[Psalm 118:25, 26]
“Hosanna in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”
11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
Here is a link to worship songs for Palm Sunday, selected by pastor Brent.
Praying for others
those at OCC & in our family and friendship circles with health needs, especially for those whose tests and procedures have been delayed.
those at OCC & in our family and friendship circles who have family/friends in nursing homes and hospitals
those at OCC & in our family and friendship circles with anxiety, depression and other mental health struggles
those at OCC & in our family and friendship circles who have lost loved ones
for all of those who are working in the health care field
for those who are still working retail, so the rest of us can get the supplies we need
for those who are learning to work from home, especially those who are learning to homeschool at the same time
for children and youth whose lives are being changed
Palm Sunday
The Normal Christian Life… life is not normal… but we can enter into what God is working in us in this not normal time.
Here’s the song I referenced: Learning To Sit With Not Knowing – Carrie Newcomer
Lament… when you hear that word, what do you
think,
hear,
feel
imagine?
In these days of lament when we are missing so much…
what is God doing in your heart?
what is God teaching you about himself?
Check out this page every day this week for Scripture and some reflection questions as we walk through Holy Week.
A reminder as well that we are meeting tonight (5 April) via Zoom at 6:30pm to prayer. Go to this post to get the link.
Who are the people around you who need reaching out to you in this season?
Are you connecting with them? Making some phone calls? Sending some messages?
family
neighbours
friends
Who are the people the Holy Spirit is nudging you… “give them a call… see if they need anything… find out how they are doing… do they need some encouragement, someone to talk to.“
All of this is part of the normal way of life for followers of Jesus, all of the time, but especially in a time that is anything but normal.
Giving – Finances
Expenses at OCC continue. The Leadership Team at OCC wants to thank you for your faithfulness in giving to the ministry of OCC.
There are several ways you can give during this time:
You can drop your offering off at the OCC building, either when there is someone in the building or through the mail slot (in the front glass panel, nearest to the driveway).
You can mail your offering to
OCC
64 Colborne St E
Orillia, ON, L3V 1T6
You can give by e-transfer. Use the following email address when using e-transfer for your offering: finance@occweb.org.
You may be asked to provide a security question and answer, however, you do not need to send this to OCC.
Our e-transfer is set up with security so that we can receive it automatically without needing to answer the question.
You can give via PayPal. The easiest way to go to occweb.org/online-giving/ and click on the donate button.
