May 2017 - Pastor Roy's Article to the Newsletter

Below please find my article for the Woodlawn Christian Church May Newsletter.

Be a blessing to someone today!
In His Grace,
Roy

Pastor's Ponderings

Well, another Easter has come and gone, and this year it was a wonderful Holy Week.  We had a great service on Maundy Thursday with the reenactment of the Last Supper, I want to thank everyone who played a part in the performance, and especially thank Jodi Frank for chairing the project.  It was a great reminder of the significance of the Last Supper and it was great fun as well.  Thank you, everyone!

Then we had the Cross Raising Service on Good Friday. The weather tried to dissuade us with rain but we persisted and the rain let up just enough that we got the cross up and there was even a good turnout for the event.  As always, we included the other local Churches in the event and those that chose to participate were the First Baptist Church, the Union Church, and the Methodist Churches in Lanesboro/Lohrville/Glidden.  It was a very meaningful service and I honestly think the discomfort from the weather actually added to the significance and impact of this solemn ceremony.  Thank you to Clyde for all that he did in preparing for this service.  We also need to thank Clyde and his grandson for getting up early Easter morning and draping the cross with the white cloth.

The "Celebrate You" event (Congregational Dinner) was a wonderful evening!  Thank you so much to Roxy Crandall, Kim Anderson, and my wife Gail Karlen for all the hard work that you three put in!  But, don't kid yourself, they had a lot of fun doing the planning and preparation.  Kim worked so hard she managed to break her arm, so lift up a prayer for healing for her as well.  We thank Kathryn Myers for coming and playing the piano for us that night, it made for a wonderful mood and a peaceful evening.  Let's also thank all the members of First Baptist who came over and joined us for the event, we enjoyed having you with us!

On Sunday we, of course, had a full morning of events.  The Sunrise service was great! Thank you to Jeff Frank for providing his car to power up the sound system when the boom box decided to die on us.  Thank you also to Ryan Daisy for manning the sound.  It was a wonderful outdoor worship experience and made all the more powerful by being held at the foot of the cross erected on Good Friday.  We were also blessed to be joined by several members of First Baptist Church. The breakfast was wonderful and as always it was a thrill to see all the little people out scampering around at the Easter Egg Hunt.  Our regular service was very well attended and it was such a blessing to hear all those voices lifting up songs of praise and worship.  There is nothing quite like the sound of a full sanctuary lifting up their voices together. We were glad and blessed to be able to host the members of First Baptist Church. Kathryn Myers blessed us with her playing on the organ, Diana Arkland richly blessed us with her rendition of "In the Garden" (Diana has such a BEAUTIFUL voice), Nathan and Katie Burley both played the piano for us and both did an absolutely wonderful job!  Thank you all, for sharing your talents!

Last but not least, we had two baptisms that morning.  Kolton Hildreth and Briley Sharkey were both baptized into the body of Christ.  I just cannot express to you the great joy that I felt that morning, there is nothing so sacred in all that we do as Christians than baptisms.  Acknowledging the witness of two young believers and welcoming them as equals into the faith is just beyond words and expression.  Blessings always to both Kolton and Briley... I for one can scarcely wait to see how God will use you both to serve His Creation.

The sermon that morning was a call to each of us to remember our own baptisms and to remember that a baptism is a covenant just as much as a marriage is a covenant.  In fact, the act of baptism is the symbol of the "New Covenant" in Christ.  A covenant is a contract between us and God, and within that contract is an understanding of responsibilities and obligations on the part of both parties.  I eluded to but did not specifically state "That we expect God to uphold His end of the bargain, but are we upholding ours as well".  The sermon was a reminder that we are baptized into the 'Body of Christ' and as such, we need to be in contact and community with the rest of the body.  This means staying in community with the local church as well as the local church staying in community with the Church (the entirety of Christianity).  A church cannot be part of the Church if it exists in isolation, and the individual cannot be a part of the body if they exist in isolation as well.  We are called to be in community and connection with one another on all levels.

On Easter Sunday we had 100 people in worship, this last Sunday we had 60 people in attendance.  We also had at least five new faces with us this past Sunday.  I am very optimistic and excited for what the Lord has in store for us all here at Woodlawn Christian Church.  A large part of why God asks us to be in community together is that together we can accomplish so very much more than we can alone.  The Christian and Church Councils are both filled with a new enthusiasm and drive.  I'd like to invite any of the members to sit in on any of the Council meetings, all are welcomed (though only Council members can vote during the meetings) at these gatherings and all can contribute.  It's this contribution of ideas and knowledge that helps to feed the enthusiasm and excitement.

Let us all be in prayer as to where and how God would have us serve the Lake City community and beyond!!

Be a blessing to someone today!

Pastor Roy

Are you and I a "Doubting Thomas"? John 20:19-31

Last Sunday's sermon followed the Lectionary (as I normally do) and found us in the story concerning 'Doubting Thomas'.  I love the comment that I saw somewhere asking why does Thomas get such an awful moniker, we don't call Peter "Denying Peter"... it's a valid point and one worth considering. The story of 'the Doubting Thomas' isn't about Thomas not believing in Jesus and His ministry.  Remember that in John Chapter 11, in the Story of the resurrection of Lazarus we see that it's Thomas that is willing to go to Judea with Christ, and even to his death in support of Jesus' mission and work.

John 11:7,8 & 16
and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.”
“But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?”................
Then Thomas (also known as Didymus) said to the rest of the disciples, “Let us also go, that we may die with him.”

He wasn't questioning the message of Christ he was questioning the bringing back to life of a body killed by the Roman Empire (and as it has often been pointed out the Romans were pretty efficient killers, after all, they'd had a great deal of practice).  I discuss in the sermon the idea that some Scholars put forth, that Thomas was actually one of Jesus' siblings.  If this is true, then one can understand all the more the 'doubt' that he might have had, was this 'doubt' a way to protect himself from getting his hopes too high?

I also touch in the sermon on a different angle of the idea of being a 'Doubting Thomas'.  Many, many sermons have been crafted discussing how we all are at times doubters of God and Christ.  At some point in nearly every Christians life there comes a moment of doubt in the concept of an all-loving God.  Sometimes this doubt is brought on by faulty theological teaching by far too many ministers, but that's a sermon/blog for another day.  In the sermon, I discuss that if you or anyone is holding to the idea that the 'Church' (not an individual church but the Body of Christ as a whole) is dying, then you are yourself a 'Doubting Thomas'.  Christ... the Church, the Body of Christ... will 'resurrect'.  There have been many times in the last 2,000 years where the Church has taken some serious hits (far too many self-induced) and it has always been 'resurrected'.  But each time it's come back, like Jesus the Christ who is risen, not exactly as it was before.

There are changes lying ahead for the Church, we can either be involved in discerning those changes or we can sit on the side and vainly and egotistically try to hold onto the traditions that we have grown up with.  The traditions that we cling to whether they be pride in our denomination, or the love of an old church building (and I confess a tremendous love for old churches as is evident from the photos in this blog), or the songs we sing on Sunday morning, none of these would have been the traditions of Christians a thousand years past.  As I mention in the sermon, the communion table itself is not what it was in the time of Paul.  I suspect Paul would throw a hissy-fit if he could see how we celebrate the blood and body today.

I hope you'll take a few moments and watch/listen to the sermon.  It is just under 22 minutes long so it's not a terribly long sermon.  My opinion is somewhat biased but I think there is a good point or two in the mix...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His constant care & grace,
Roy

 John 20:19-31  New Revised Standard Version

19 When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 20 After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22 When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

24 But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe.”

26 A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. 31 But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Funeral for Vernerd Victor Visner, April 20, 2017 - Woodlawn Christian Church

I've updated the blog with the Manuscript from the Funeral Service for Vernerd Visner.  Vernerd was Donna Jenkins' brother, and the two passed away less than a month apart.  God bless them both.

Order of Service – 
Funeral for Vernerd Visner, April 2017
Processional – Joey & Rory – Take My Hand, Precious Lord

Call to Worship
You, O God, have been our dwelling place in all generations.  Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.  (Psalm 90:1-2)

Greeting:
We have come together this morning to praise God for the life of Vernerd Victor Visner; to mourn our loss with one another, to console each other in our moment of grief; to celebrate Vernerd's life and all that he meant to all that loved him; to celebrate God's love for Vernerd, and His love for each of us; And to commend Vernerd to God's everlasting love and care.

Opening Prayer:
Let us pray, Eternal Spirit, before whom the generations rise and pass away, even in the presence of death our first words to you are in praise for your unnumbered mercies.  For the memory of loved ones now departed, we praise you.  For their victories of character over trial, of courage over difficulty, of faith over sorrow, we give thanks, and for all those who have done justly, loved mercy, and walked humbly with their God, we sing joyfully to you.  Grant us now this same joyful thanksgiving as we remember your child Vernerd, and give to us that sure knowledge that you have won the victory over death in the resurrection of Jesus Christ.  Amen.

Music:  Johnny Cash & Family - Will The Circle Be Unbroken 

A reading from the Old Testament:  
Psalm 23  King James Version (KJV)
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
3 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5 Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Music: Where the Soul Never Dies – Oak Ridge Boys 

A reading from the New Testament:
Matthew 20:1-16 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
20 “For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who went out early in the morning to hire laborers for his vineyard. 2 After agreeing with the laborers for the usual daily wage, he sent them into his vineyard. 3 When he went out about nine o’clock, he saw others standing idle in the marketplace; 4 and he said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard, and I will pay you whatever is right.’ So they went. 5 When he went out again about noon and about three o’clock, he did the same. 6 And about five o’clock he went out and found others standing around; and he said to them, ‘Why are you standing here idle all day?’ 7 They said to him, ‘Because no one has hired us.’ He said to them, ‘You also go into the vineyard.’ 8 When evening came, the owner of the vineyard said to his manager, ‘Call the laborers and give them their pay, beginning with the last and then going to the first.’ 9 When those hired about five o’clock came, each of them received the usual daily wage.  10 Now when the first came, they thought they would receive more; but each of them also received the usual daily wage.  11 And when they received it, they grumbled against the landowner, 12 saying, ‘These last worked only one hour, and you have made them equal to us who have borne the burden of the day and the scorching heat.’ 13 But he replied to one of them, ‘Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage?  14 Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. 15 Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?’  16 So the last will be first, and the first will be last.”

Music: Kitty Wells - Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet 

Message:  Pastor Roy Karlen – Woodlawn Christian Church
Vernerd Victor Visner, 83, died suddenly on Monday, April 17, 2017, at Stewart Memorial Hospital in Lake City.  Vernerd was born on July 6, 1933, at home on the family farm near Coon Rapids, Iowa.  His parents were Edward and Opal Visner.  On January 14, 1961, he married Maxine Hines at the courthouse in Jackson, MN.  The young couple had traveled to Minnesota to get married because Maxine wasn't old enough to get married in Iowa.  There they were married by the Justice of the Peace and though Maxine was very young it must have been a perfect match for they were married 56 years this past January.

Vernerd is survived by his young bride Maxine, by their son John and his wife Rebecca, by their daughter Cindy Heim and her partner Darin Leighter, by three grandchildren, two great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.  He was preceded in death by both of his parents, his brother Merle, and sisters Donna Jenkins, and Marge Cunningham.

At the time that Vernerd and Maxine were married, Vernerd worked in a gravel quarry running the rock crusher near Lake City, there he worked alongside Maxine's father.  Later he worked as a roofer for Floyd Wellington for several years, before going to work for the town of Lake City where he worked for over 28 years, later he also mowed lawns and moved snow with Jake Hiners. Unlike many in his generation, Vernerd was never in the military due to his having asthma and not being able to pass the military physical.

During the time that Vernerd worked for the City, he would often transport the Doctors and Nurses to the Hospital when a blizzard or snowstorm had struck the town.  He also hand dug the graves back in the days before the town had a backhoe.  He also built the first swimming pool here in Lake City, which is ironic since Vernerd never learned to swim.  Vernerd would run the street sweeper in Lake City, and Cindy told about being out when she wasn't supposed to be and seeing her Dad coming and having to run off before he saw her.

I heard a great many wonderful stories about Vernerd from the family and also from his long time friend Jesse Gorden.  I will share a few of these stories with you here today, but I encourage you to visit with the family later to hear and share more memories.

The family told me how much he enjoyed listening to the old time 'classic' country-western music.  Today, we have and will yet hear some of these old time favorite country songs.  I will confess that I enjoyed searching for songs for today, I too have always enjoyed the old country music and it was great to hear some of these wonderful voices that I haven't listened to for many years.  The song we just heard was Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet, sung by Kitty Wells who was called 'The Queen of Country Music' and was one of the original female country music stars.  

In visiting with the family I learned about how much Vernerd loved to garden.  He had a wonderful garden and he even sold horseradish and garlic to others.  Vernerd had the knack for growing upside down tomato plants and he planted “Ghost Peppers” which he enjoyed watching the boys try to eat.  He liked to play jokes on his friends and family by planting seeds in their gardens and have them be surprised at what had grown up.  He liked to call his rhubarb plants “pie plants” and he'd prepare the horseradish on the back steps.  Vernerd had to prepare the horseradish outside due of course to the distinctive smell involved.   The family talked about how much he enjoyed going to 'Thistle Down' nursery to get plants for the garden.  Vernerd talked to John just the other day asking him about his winter onions and garlic, he was already looking and planning ahead.

John talked about his father making egg sandwiches and potato pancakes.  I heard stories about picking wild berries, making homemade wine, shelling popcorn, making home-made ice cream, of finding fresh wild honey, and along with many of these memories, there were stories about him pulling gags on his brother Merle.  You really need to ask the family about these stories, ask them about the electric fence stories.

There were great stories about going to the Spencer County Fair, the Iowa State Fair, where he would always go on the “Old Mill” boat ride with his daughter Cindy.  They talked about memories of going to Demolition Derbies, and the Drive-Inn Theater near Lytton.  There was a particular story about an old girl's bike that Vernerd had and liked to ride around town, the story was that John talked Larry into helping him paint the bike Allis Chalmers orange, Vernerd still rode it... apparently it's still there at the house today and it sounded like it was still orange.

Vernerd loved to go hunting for mushrooms.  There were a number of great stories about mushroom hunts, and again there seemed to be some gags at the expense of Vern's brother Merle.  Ask the family about those stories as well.  His friend Jesse told me that Vernerd 'really had a nose for mushrooms' and that he could find them if they were out there.  Jesse said that just this past Sunday he was talking about calling Vernerd soon and seeing if he wanted to go out mushroom hunting.

When he was younger, Vernerd enjoyed hunting squirrels, pheasants, and jack-rabbits.  Jesse Gorden told me about them going out at night hunting jackrabbits and sitting on the front fender of the cars with their shotguns.  They went hunting with their friend Louie Weedrin and his brother Wilber.  The family had mentioned a story about an old Packard car that Jesse had and how Vernerd took Maxine for a ride in it, she didn't seem too impressed though, as the car only had buckets to sit on in place of seats (not bucket seats mind you... but actual buckets) and instead of driving on the road Vernerd went tearing through the ditch.  Jess told a great story about the group of them driving this car; which sounded like it wasn't much more than a frame, motor and transmission, to Lanesboro, the Sheriff stopped them and asked them what they were doing.  They told him they were taking it to a nearby junkyard and he told them they better do so because it wasn't legal to drive on the highway.  So they went into Lanesboro and hid the car until dark, then they drove home using flashlights to see where they were going.

Jesse also told a story about Vernerd and his brother Merle running in the ditch with their Dad's car.  So they went home and got the tractor to pull it out, the car wouldn't start after pulling it out so they then decided to just pull it home. They were thinking they could drag it home and that their Dad would never be the wiser that they had gotten stuck in the ditch and all.  Jesse said it might have worked but they forgot and left the car in gear... so they actually did 'drag' it home... and there were skid marks and of course a trail all the way from the ditch to home.  One would have to wonder just what their Dad had to say about that one.

Back in those days, Jesse said their friend, Mcchesney had a band and they would all travel around listening to the band play at various bars and taverns in the area.  They had a lot of fun he said... but, they never got into too much trouble... you'll have to visit with Jesse about that one too.  It seems Jesse and Jeannie were involved in Maxine and Vernerd meeting, and that above all is a story I best leave to the family or Jesse to tell.

Jesse and the family and everyone else I talked to mentioned that Vernerd loved, loved, loved to fish.  Jesse told me about them going up to 'The Lost Island' and fishing all night long.  It seems that normally, Vernerd would fish from shore, since as I mentioned earlier he never learned to swim.  But he would go out on a boat sometimes, one of those times was in 1995 when he got to go deep-sea fishing with his son John.  John said that the only fish that Vernerd was able to catch was a species called a “mud-toad”, which apparently is a pretty ugly fish.  When Vernerd caught the first one, and he caught nearly three dozen of them, they asked him what he'd caught and he said something to the effect that he didn't know but it was too darn ugly to come into the boat with him.  Vernerd switched poles and places with everyone on the boat and still he just kept catching “mud-toads”.  Eventually, he even used the rig that is designed to catch the really big fish... and all he got was a really big “mud-toad”.  Though it certainly had to have been frustrating and disappointing to Vernerd, it is, of course, a wonderful story and a great memory now for John and the rest of the family.

I first met Vernerd when I was preparing to perform the funeral for his sister Marge, and after that, I saw him around town at various times.  I always enjoyed visiting with him during these times.  Of course less than a month ago we lost his older sister Donna, and once again I saw Vernerd during a difficult time.  We're all surprised that we're here today so very quickly after Donna's passing to say goodbye to Vernerd.  To the family, I can only say, that I sincerely pray that it will be a long while before we have to gather again to say farewell to one of your loved ones.  But we do find some solace in knowing that today Vernerd and all of his siblings are together again.  Just maybe Merle, Marge, and Vernerd are busy picking gooseberries for Donna to bake up in a pie.

As we've discussed, Vernerd loved gardening and country-western music.  And as I said the last song we heard was  Kitty Wells - Gathering Flowers for the Master's Bouquet, now it may seem like an odd analogy to compare Vernerd to a flower... but he loved gardening and tending God's plants here in this world.  Our wonderful Lord's bouquet is made up of so very, very many different kinds of people.  Some of them are flashy, some of them are just plain simple good folks.  Jesse told me yesterday that Vernerd was a good guy, and knowing Jesse that would seem to be a pretty good endorsement.

When I asked the family for words that described Vernerd I heard; loyal, helpful, someone you could always count on, someone who'd talk to anyone, someone who never met a stranger, someone who knew the family tree, a man that was everyone's friend.  They told how he'd help anyone and not expect to be paid, in fact, John told how he'd once helped out a family friend and gotten paid for helping. When Vernerd found out, he made John take the money back, telling him that they were doing the person a favor and shouldn't have been paid to help.

It sure sounds like he was as Jesse said a “good guy” and again though it may seem an odd analogy, he indeed sounds like a pretty good pick for the Master's bouquet.  I'm sure Vernerd is getting ready to help till and plant a simply incredible garden in our Lord's Kingdom.  Springtime in Heaven what could be better than that?

Eulogy and Reflection:
If any of the family or friends would like to share a memory or thoughts about Vernerd, please come up to the microphone, or if you're unable to come forward, feel free to stand and speak from where you're seated.

Music: Kitty Wells – How Far is Heaven

Closing Prayer:
The family invites you all to gather with them in further celebration of  Vernerd's life and a time of shared remembrances and closure, by joining with them at a luncheon down the hall in the fellowship hall, here at Woodlawn Christian.  

Let us pray:  O God, our Strength and our Redeemer, Giver of life, and Conqueror of death, we open our hearts to you just as we are.  We celebrate your gift of life freely given but are grieved by a sense of loss in the face of death.  The love which binds us to one another leaves us aching as ties are broken.  Accept our tears as emblems of devotion, and transform them into waters of life to nourish us in the days ahead.

We trust you.  We love you.  We know in Christ that your love is everlasting.  Nothing can separate any of us from your abiding care.  With you is eternal life.

With confidence, we now entrust Vernerd to your unfailing love and overflowing goodness.  Through the power that raised Christ from the dead to live eternally with you, lift up this, your servant, to life fulfilled beyond our imagining.  We give you but your own, enfold him in your everlasting arms, hold him for he is your child.
Now strengthen us, through the gift of your Spirit, to face into the future with confidence that you stand with us.  Grant that the changes of life may leave us stronger as we journey through life.

Reassured of your abiding presence, help us to knit more firmly the ties that bind us one to another.  Renewed by your love, help us to love in ever larger circles so as to embrace your people everywhere till at last we are all united eternally through Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever.  Amen.

Benediction:

Music:  Joey & Rory – Amazing Grace 

Easter Sermon & Baptisms - April 16, 2017 - Kolton & Briley

This last Sunday, we, of course, had Easter Worship, but it was also a celebration of two baptisms.  Both Briley Sharkey and Kolton Hildreth were baptized.  These are the first baptisms that I've had since coming to Woodlawn and I was very excited and happy to perform them.

The sermon focused on Baptism and the commitment surrounding a believer's baptism.  The symbolism of a believer's baptism is of course entirely different than a traditional infant baptism.  For us here as Disciples of Christ, we do not do infant baptisms and traditionally will baptize individuals sometime after their tenth birthday.  All candidates are to be at that stage in their life when they are ready to confess their faith and belief in Christ as their Savior, thus, the moniker of 'believer's baptism'.

The sermon which immediately followed the baptisms and which was given from the Baptistry focused upon the covenant agreement that is generated by the individual seeking baptism and God.  The covenant agreement created during baptism isn't entirely different than the covenant agreement in a marriage.  The candidate assumes responsibilities to God and to the Body of Christ.  One of these responsibilities is to "BE" a part of the body, that means not being baptized and then disappearing from church afterward.  There is an explicit responsibility to remain in fellowship and community with the rest of the body.  You simply cannot be a part of the body and fulfill your obligation to the body by isolating yourself.  You cannot be a C&E (Christmas and Easter) Christian and truly be upholding the commitments generated during your baptism.

Someone who receives an infant baptism might be able to claim ignorance to the covenant created by baptism, but one baptized by immersion in a believer's baptism simply can't.

The sermon was one of conviction and one of witness.

The entire video with the baptisms and the sermon is only 16 minutes long.  Take a few minutes and take a look.

Be a blessing to someone today!

In His Grace,

Roy

Service of Baptism - April 16, 2017 - Kolton & Briley:

Matthew 3:13-17 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. 14 John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. 16 And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved,[a] with whom I am well pleased.”

Baptism is one of the two sacraments given by Christ to his followers.  In baptism, through faith, we are made one with Christ.   We are buried with Christ and with him raised from the dead to walk in new life.  The washing of our bodies with water is the outward and visible sign of the cleansing of our inner being through the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ.  We are baptized not only with water but also with the Holy Spirit, and by this same Spirit we are baptized into Christ's body, the church, and made members of the whole people of God.

In obedience to Christ's command let us baptize these who have professed their faith in Him.

Briley Sharkey, do you before God and this congregation affirm through this act of baptism your faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and do you promise to follow Christ in word and deed throughout your Life?

(Briley – I do)

Kolton Hildreth, do you before God and this congregation affirm through this act of baptism your faith in Christ as your Lord and Savior, and do you promise to follow Christ in word and deed throughout your Life?

(Kolton – I do)

Loving God, may your Spirit fall upon Briley and Kolton and remain with them all the days of their lives.  And may the joy of this moment be theirs forever.  Amen.

Upon the declaration of your faith and in obedience to Christ's command, on behalf of this congregation I baptize you, Kolton Hildreth, in the name of God; Father, Son & Holy Spirit.  Amen.

Upon the declaration of your faith and in obedience to Christ's command, on behalf of this congregation I baptize you, Briley Sharkey, in the name of God; Father, Son & Holy Spirit.  Amen.

We have done as Christ has commanded.  As those who have been baptized have confessed their faith and committed themselves to discipleship, let us all renew our baptismal vows as we pray:

Gracious God, baptize us afresh with your Spirit.  May we know once again the newness of life so abundantly shown to these who have been baptized.  Open our hearts to receive them into our midst, that they may know among us the same spirit of love that was in Christ, who loved us and gave himself for us.  Amen.

Betrayal, Repentance & Forgiveness

Photo by Christian Begeman
https://www.facebook.com/prairiesanctuaries/

The Gospel reading for this week was a long one, stretching across two chapters in Matthew; Matthew 26:14 to 27:66.  I chose to preach to several of the characters in the narrative and have included both the video and the manuscript for the sermon.  If you look at the manuscript and listen to the video you'll notice that I dropped out some portions of the sermon.  This was done for time considerations, unfortunately, the service was running long and I had to edit a bit in order to keep from running over too far.

In this writing I will only hit upon one of the points from the sermon which revolved around this part of the reading:

Matthew 27:3 (NRSV) When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders.

This verse takes one past the old question of, "would Jesus have forgiven Judas if Judas wouldn't have committed suicide?" and to the much better question of, "was Judas reconciled to God?"  The verse in Matthew as translated by the NRSV indicates that Judas did in fact 'repent' and if he did so then by extension he must have been reconciled... in the sermon I stated the following:

"Since as you all know, I believe above all else that our God is a God of reconciliation, I also believe that since Judas repented and sought reconciliation, that he was then in fact reconciled to God.

This amazing display of grace has implications to us in our relationship with God. There is simply no betrayal severe enough, there is no wrong so grievous, no distance far enough, nor past anger so vile... as to separate us from the love of Christ, if we just turn... and return, if we just repent."

The idea that not only was Judas forgiven but that he was reconciled to God, is an interesting question and one that I will ponder more at a later time and perhaps at some point devote another blog post to it.

But for now, there is far, far too much to do for Easter, so...

Be a blessing to someone today!

In Christ,
Roy

Manuscript of Sermon given on April 9th, 2017 - Palm Sunday

On days like today, ministers the world over face a dilemma... how do we relate and relay a story that much if not all of our audience already knows by heart?

How do we proclaim the good news of the Gospels when for many of our hearers it may have become simply yesterday's news? We've all heard this before, countless times. This is the very real challenge that faces all ministers every Palm Sunday when year after year the cross stands before us, the pews are often more filled than normal, and our hearers are anxious to hear the gospel anew.
There is a challenge in preaching these old, old stories but also great opportunities. These stories have been told countless times and yet their power to convict and inspire us has not yet faded.
Today, as we listen to the Lectionary's Gospel selection, consider this... what if we draw our attention to those curious characters at the edge of the narrative? Is it possible that these characters, some minor and some major might point us to Jesus in some new way? Let us hear the reading and then, let's take a look at some of the actors involved in the Passion of the Christ.

Matthew 26:14-27:66

14Then one of the twelve, who was called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests 15and said, “What will you give me if I betray him to you?” They paid him thirty pieces of silver. 16And from that moment he began to look for an opportunity to betray him.

17On the first day of Unleavened Bread the disciples came to Jesus, saying, “Where do you want us to make the preparations for you to eat the Passover?” 18He said, “Go into the city to a certain man, and say to him, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near; I will keep the Passover at your house with my disciples.’” 19So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them, and they prepared the Passover meal. 20When it was evening, he took his place with the twelve; 21and while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.” 22And they became greatly distressed and began to say to him one after another, “Surely not I, Lord?” 23He answered, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24The Son of Man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that one by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been better for that one not to have been born.” 25Judas, who betrayed him, said, “Surely not I, Rabbi?” He replied, “You have said so.”

26While they were eating, Jesus took a loaf of bread, and after blessing it he broke it, gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” 27Then he took a cup, and after giving thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you; 28for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29I tell you, I will never again drink of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” 30When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

31Then Jesus said to them, “You will all become deserters because of me this night; for it is written, ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ 32But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you to Galilee.” 33Peter said to him, “Though all become deserters because of you, I will never desert you.” 34Jesus said to him, “Truly I tell you, this very night, before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” 35Peter said to him, “Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.” And so said all the disciples.

36Then Jesus went with them to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37He took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be grieved and agitated. 38Then he said to them, “I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and stay awake with me.” 39And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet not what I want but what you want.” 40Then he came to the disciples and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, “So, could you not stay awake with me one hour? 41Stay awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.” 42Again he went away for the second time and prayed, “My Father, if this cannot pass unless I drink it, your will be done.” 43Again he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were heavy. 44So leaving them again, he went away and prayed for the third time, saying the same words. 45Then he came to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? See, the hour is at hand, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 46Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.”

47While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, arrived; with him was a large crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the elders of the people. 48Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man; arrest him.” 49At once he came up to Jesus and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. 50Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you are here to do.” Then they came and laid hands on Jesus and arrested him. 51Suddenly, one of those with Jesus put his hand on his sword, drew it, and struck the slave of the high priest, cutting off his ear. 52Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place; for all who take the sword will perish by the sword. 53Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? 54But how then would the scriptures be fulfilled, which say it must happen in this way?” 55At that hour Jesus said to the crowds, “Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as though I were a bandit? Day after day I sat in the temple teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56But all this has taken place, so that the scriptures of the prophets may be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.

57Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, in whose house the scribes and the elders had gathered. 58But Peter was following him at a distance, as far as the courtyard of the high priest; and going inside, he sat with the guards in order to see how this would end. 59Now the chief priests and the whole council were looking for false testimony against Jesus so that they might put him to death, 60but they found none, though many false witnesses came forward. At last two came forward 61and said, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’” 62The high priest stood up and said, “Have you no answer? What is it that they testify against you?” 63But Jesus was silent. Then the high priest said to him, “I put you under oath before the living God, tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.” 64Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, From now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.” 65Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has blasphemed! Why do we still need witnesses? You have now heard his blasphemy. 66What is your verdict?” They answered, “He deserves death.” 67Then they spat in his face and struck him; and some slapped him, 68saying, “Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who is it that struck you?”

69Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard. A servant-girl came to him and said, “You also were with Jesus the Galilean.” 70But he denied it before all of them, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” 71When he went out to the porch, another servant-girl saw him, and she said to the bystanders, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” 72Again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” 73After a little while the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Certainly you are also one of them, for your accent betrays you.” 74Then he began to curse, and he swore an oath, “I do not know the man!” At that moment the cock crowed. 75Then Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the cock crows, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.

27When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus in order to bring about his death. 2They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate the governor. 3When Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4He said, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5Throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. 6But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money.” 7After conferring together, they used them to buy the potter’s field as a place to bury foreigners. 8For this reason that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of the one on whom a price had been set, on whom some of the people of Israel had set a price, 10and they gave them for the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”

11Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You say so.” 12But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he did not answer. 13Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many accusations they make against you?” 14But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed. 15Now at the festival the governor was accustomed to release a prisoner for the crowd, anyone whom they wanted. 16At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Jesus Barabbas. 17So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18For he realized that it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over. 19While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that innocent man, for today I have suffered a great deal because of a dream about him.” 20Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus killed. 21The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22Pilate said to them, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” All of them said, “Let him be crucified!” 23Then he asked, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” 24So when Pilate saw that he could do nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took some water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” 25Then the people as a whole answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

26So he released Barabbas for them; and after flogging Jesus, he handed him over to be crucified. 27Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor’s headquarters, and they gathered the whole cohort around him. 28They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29and after twisting some thorns into a crown, they put it on his head. They put a reed in his right hand and knelt before him and mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30They spat on him, and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31After mocking him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. 32As they went out, they came upon a man from Cyrene named Simon; they compelled this man to carry his cross.

33And when they came to a place called Golgotha (which means Place of a Skull), 34they offered him wine to drink, mixed with gall; but when he tasted it, he would not drink it. 35And when they had crucified him, they divided his clothes among themselves by casting lots; 36then they sat down there and kept watch over him. 37Over his head they put the charge against him, which read, “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” 38Then two bandits were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. 39Those who passed by derided him, shaking their heads 40and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and build it in three days, save yourself! If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.” 41In the same way the chief priests also, along with the scribes and elders, were mocking him, saying, 42“He saved others; he cannot save himself. He is the King of Israel; let him come down from the cross now, and we will believe in him. 43He trusts in God; let God deliver him now, if he wants to; for he said, ‘I am God’s Son.’” 44The bandits who were crucified with him also taunted him in the same way. 45From noon on, darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46And about three o’clock Jesus cried with a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” that is, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” 47When some of the bystanders heard it, they said, “This man is calling for Elijah.” 48At once one of them ran and got a sponge, filled it with sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink. 49But the others said, “Wait, let us see whether Elijah will come to save him.”

50Then Jesus cried again with a loud voice and breathed his last. 51At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52The tombs also were opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 53After his resurrection they came out of the tombs and entered the holy city and appeared to many. 54Now when the centurion and those with him, who were keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were terrified and said, “Truly this man was God’s Son!” 55Many women were also there, looking on from a distance; they had followed Jesus from Galilee and had provided for him. 56Among them were Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the sons of Zebedee.


57When it was evening, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who was also a disciple of Jesus. 58He went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus; then Pilate ordered it to be given to him. 59So Joseph took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen cloth 60and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had hewn in the rock. He then rolled a great stone to the door of the tomb and went away. 61Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were there, sitting opposite the tomb. 62The next day, that is, after the day of Preparation, the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered before Pilate 63and said, “Sir, we remember what that impostor said while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ 64Therefore command the tomb to be made secure until the third day; otherwise his disciples may go and steal him away, and tell the people, ‘He has been raised from the dead,’ and the last deception would be worse than the first.” 65Pilate said to them, “You have a guard of soldiers; go, make it as secure as you can.” 66So they went with the guard and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone.

First, let's look at those responsible for Jesus' execution, it is a conspiracy of empowered cowardice and derelict duty. Caiaphas and his co-conspirators have predetermined the outcome of the show trial and now only need the pretense of "evidence." They arrange for false testimony but still cannot find a way to condemn the innocent Jesus. Ultimately, it takes Caiaphas' direct involvement to inflate already trumped up charges of blasphemy, but the office of the high priest cannot put someone to death. To achieve his ends, Caiaphas turns to Pilate whose primary job was keeping the peace. Pilate attempts to defuse an increasingly rabid crowd but eventually defers to their passions rather than justice. When Pilates washes his hands, he does nothing to minimize his complicity. The wheels of politics may be the proximate cause of Jesus' death, but Matthew's readers are fully aware that God continues to work in the background. The conspiracy around Jesus' death is a powerful reminder of the political implications of following Jesus to the cross.

It is important to note that the words in the Gospel of Matthew have often been used to support anti-Semitic activities. The true irony of this is that the Gospel of Matthew is actually the most Jewish of any of the four Gospels and any attempt to condemn Judaism as a whole through the use of Matthew's words is not only anti-Semitic but also unchristian. Let us never forget that our Lord was a Jewish Rabbi.

Next up, we have the actors in this drama that never intended to be a part of the narrative, I imagine that neither Jesus Barabbas nor Simon of Cyrene could have anticipated the role they would play in this story. As an insurrectionist, Barabbas could not and would not have anticipated a pardon after committing crimes against the political order. An immigrant or sojourner from northern Africa, Simon could not have anticipated being commissioned to help in the crucifixion of a presumed criminal. We know little about these two characters. Other than early church legend about Simon and his sons becoming Christians, we know very little about how their interaction with the passion affected either Barabbas' or Simon's lives. Whether as an innocent bystander or a jailed criminal, the path of God's Son may cross our own path at the most unexpected and remarkable moments. How will we react when we are freed from our prisons? How will we react when we are conscripted to carry the burdens of ministry and faith?

Many of you have heard me comment on the importance of names in the Scripture, and many have also heard me comment on the significance of Jesus Barabbas name and the decision by the crowd to choose Barabbas. Bar as a prefix in a name in Jesus time meant “son of” Abba meant “Father”. Barabbas is literally “The Son of the Father”, literally... Jesus “the son of the father”. We like the crowd that day have a choice to pick the path of violence and reliance upon our own abilities and efforts or to place our fate and faith in the hands of the one sent from our Father above, Jesus “the son of the Father”, the Father above... Jesus a man of peace and grace. The crowd that day picked the path of Barabbas, the path of violence, the path of self-reliance. Let us today pick the path of Jesus who is the Christ, the path of love, grace, reconciliation and peace.

It is worth mentioning that the cheering crowd that greets Jesus on that first 'Palm Sunday' is not the same crowd that calls for the release of Barabbas. The crowd in the Palace would not have been the common folks, the crowd would have been the upper crust, so to say of the Jewish nation.

Let's consider now the two criminals. We are told that Jesus dies between two bandits. These condemned criminals must have been found guilty of a crime far more serious than mere thievery. In some significant sense, they must have disrupted the fragile social order imposed by Rome, it's often believed that their crime was taking part in insurrection or plotting against Rome. I have often suggested that perhaps these men were followers of the Jesus Barabbas that we discussed a moment ago. Matthew 27:44 notes only that these two bandits derided Jesus along with the crowds that gathered to witness the executions on that fate-filled day. Unlike Luke, Matthew does not record the confession of guilt and hope for redemption of one of the two companions of Jesus on the cruel crosses.

In Matthew, the portrait is stark. At the end of his life, Jesus dies alongside two convicted revolutionaries who mock Jesus with their last gasps of breath. At the end of his life, Jesus faces a virtually unanimous public shaming (with the exception of course of the women disciples who are there), there is a veritable consensus around Jesus' guilt. We, however, know how the story ends. We know that Good Friday becomes Easter Sunday, that death does not have the final word but that life reigns through the resurrection. On Palm Sunday, all indications are that Jesus' guilt is evident, that Jesus deserves the shame of the cross. Easter is the ultimate redemption of Jesus' innocence and God's mission.

Now, we come to the witnesses on that awful day, the women disciples that I mentioned already and the centurion. One of the most striking consistencies among the Gospels is the shared tradition that a number of female followers of Jesus persevered to the very end. Though deserted by the disciples, Jesus is not totally abandoned in this moment of darkness. The light of recognition also emerges from an unlikely source. A centurion, a representative of Rome's willingness to deploy violence in the maintenance and expansion of its empire, is witness to both Jesus' death and his true identity. Having seen Jesus' body give out after a torturous and shameful execution, the centurion recognized who Jesus truly was: God's son. Though not a witness of Jesus' healing miracles, his impassioned mountaintop sermon, or the dazzling transfiguration, the centurion bears witness to the latest in a long line of crucifixions he has seen, and yet sees here in this crucifixion the hand of God himself, and declares that Jesus was no mere criminal, but “truly the Son of God”.

And last but not least, we have the Betrayers: Judas and Peter. These two may seem like an odd pairing, but their individual betrayals are there none-the-less. Peter, we know, will become an influential leader in the early church. In contrast, Judas has sold out the Son of God for the price of a common slave. And yet Matthew parallels their betrayals of Jesus. Both are one of the twelve. Both are present at the supper. Both betray Jesus. Their similarities then largely cease. Judas meets a famously untimely demise by his own hand. The fact that Peter's fall is not irreversible is relayed in the concluding chapters of Matthew, as well in the closing verses of the Gospel of John, and in the wider Christian tradition. At the moment when faith was most severely tested and the cost of discipleship was highest, both Judas and Peter fail. They remind us that at the cross there is but a thin line between faithfulness and treachery. We are constantly tempted to cross that line. In a very real sense we have to wonder... at the dinner, Jesus said “one of you will betray me”, was he speaking of Peter... or of Judas. We do know that later, Jesus specifically tells us that Peter will deny him... not once, but three times.

We must trust as followers of Christ that repentance is always possible, even for Judas. Both Judas and Peter regret deeply their betrayals of Jesus and yet their lives take wholly separate directions. What do we make of their divergent paths?
As we've already mentioned, Peter is 'reinstated' in the final verses of John, no call is made for forgiveness nor is any forgiveness asked for, it's just there freely given and almost given as a foregone conclusion. What there is though is that back and forth “do you love me” and then instructions are given of what should be done as a result of that love of Christ.

Of course in the case of Judas, the wheels of grace seem to be blocked by his suicide. Which brings forth that long debated point of would Jesus have forgiven Judas, and then even the debate of, has Jesus forgiven Judas. How we answer the first part of that query, certainly dictates how we deal with those around us who have wronged us. I for one firmly believe that had Judas not taken his own life, that he would have been openly forgiven after the resurrection and who knows, he may well have been reinstated as a disciple... much the same way that Peter was. In the second part of my query which was “has Jesus forgiven Judas”, remember in the scripture here in Matthew that it states that Judas “repented” before taking his life. As we have discussed before, in past sermons, to repent means to turn and return to God. Not just to simply ask for forgiveness as is often thought. Repent is much more that simply asking for grace it is an effort at the very least, for reconciliation. 

Since as you all know, I believe above all else that our God is a God of reconciliation, I also believe that since Judas repented and sought reconciliation, that he was then in fact reconciled to God. This amazing display of grace has implications to us in our relationship with God. There is simply no betrayal severe enough, there is no wrong so grievous, no distance far enough, nor past anger so vile... as to separate us from the love of Christ, if we just turn... and return, if we just repent.

Romans 8:31-39 New International Version (NIV)
31 What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? 33 Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. 34 Who then is the one who condemns?No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:
“For your sake, we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

We can look further and try and divine just what was Judas' motive for betraying Jesus. Certainly, there is the implication that it was done for greed, but the return of the money to the Temple seems to undermine that theory at least to some degree. I have to wonder if Judas didn't believe that once confronted by an armed force that Jesus would call down a legion of angels to initiate the first battle of the destruction of the worldly powers, namely the Roman Empire that had taken over the Holy Lands. In this way, he really wasn't much different in his understanding of who Jesus was then Peter, who drew his sword perhaps thinking he was going to strike the first blow in this angelic battle. It would seem to fit Peter's personality that he would want to be 'first'. But they both mistook what kind of Messiah Jesus was, a mistake that was all too common then... and sad to say still is today.

Let us please close with a prayer...