The walk toward Jerusalem is over. The disciples are in the city with Jesus, taking in the sights, hearing his words, wondering what will happen next. Perhaps they remember the words of Isaiah:"Take a good look at my servant.
I'm backing him to the hilt.
He's the one I chose,
and I couldn't be more pleased with him.
I've bathed him with my Spirit, my life.
He'll set everything right among the nations.
He won't call attention to what he does
with loud speeches or gaudy parades.
He won't brush aside the bruised and the hurt
and he won't disregard the small and insignificant,
but he'll steadily and firmly set things right.
He won't tire out and quit. He won't be stopped
until he's finished his work—to set things right on earth.
Far-flung ocean islands
wait expectantly for his teaching."
God's Message,
the God who created the cosmos, stretched out the skies,
laid out the earth and all that grows from it,
Who breathes life into earth's people,
makes them alive with his own life:
"I am God. I have called you to live right and well.
I have taken responsibility for you, kept you safe.
I have set you among my people to bind them to me,
and provided you as a lighthouse to the nations,
To make a start at bringing people into the open, into light:
opening blind eyes,
releasing prisoners from dungeons,
emptying the dark prisons.
I am God. That's my name.
I don't franchise my glory,
don't endorse the no-god idols.
Take note: The earlier predictions of judgment have been fulfilled.
I'm announcing the new salvation work.
Before it bursts on the scene,
I'm telling you all about it."
(Isaiah 42:1-9, The Message)
Look for the Meet and Greet next Monday, and have a blessed Holy Week.
Head of Christ attributed to Rembrandt.
I like this Rembrandt face of Christ. He looks strong and sad at the same time. I'm wondering this morning about how that Monday felt to Jesus.
ReplyDeletefor those of you who would like to explore Songbird's query, I invite you to check out Josh Brown's sermon from yesterday. He's my friend and collegue presenting serving as pastor at West Richmond Friends Meeting, in Richmond, IN...
ReplyDeletehttp://www.westrichmondfriends.org/4-1-2007.htm
I am going to try and post a YouTube meditation every day this week on here The first one is:
ReplyDeleteA Lenten Meditation on the Passion of our Lord, Jesus Christ
I really liked this Message version...gaudy parades and far-flung ocean islands
ReplyDeleteThanks for that reminder of where we're at and where we're going. I posted my own Holy Week thoughts earlier today.
ReplyDeleteAt small church we use The Message for all of Holy Week -Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and The Great Vigil...
ReplyDeleteI find these readings to be particularly powerful and dramatic while at the same time using language we use...My hope is people really get the message....