Jesus' Fork in the Road

"Whoever welcomes one such child

 in my name welcomes me, 

and whoever welcomes me welcomes not me,

 but the one who sent me.” 

(from Mark 9.30-37)

Yogi Berra, the brilliant baseball player, reportedly said, “When you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

Robert Frost’s poem "The Road Not Taken", describes making a decision when coming to a fork in the road.

Frost’s poem discusses emotions that come with facing decisions, and how choices can often lead regrets or wondering what could have happened differently.

Frost implies making a wrong, regrettable choice, is unchangeable, so we must choose wisely.

In Capernaum, Jesus is teaching about his death and resurrection when an argument develops among the disciples about position, status, and greatness.

The disciples haven’t’ paid attention to what Jesus taught and they watched, his vision for the needy.

Instead, they’re arguing about power and status as a benefit for being a disciple of Jesus.

Jesus hears this tells them God’s new kingdom is different.

Jesus reteaches his kingdom lessons by taking a child – a first century image of property – sets it among them, takes it I his arms and says, “Whoever wants to be first must be last of all and servant of all.”

Jesus’ road is treating the most marginalized with care and respect.

When we come to the fork in Jesus’ road, when we encounter the vulnerable, the ignored Jesus calls us to share his road of love.

Choose Your Cross

"He called the crowd with his disciples and said to them,

“If any wish to come after me,

let them deny themselves and

take up their cross and follow me."

(from Mk.8:27-38)

First-century Jewish leaders had expectations and hopes of a messiah who would judge the wicked and restore Israel’s righteousness.

None of these Jewish leaders expected a messiah crucified by elders, chief priests, and scribes or that the followers would be given a cross to carry to their own execution.

In 66 BC Cicero said “To bind a Roman citizen is a crime; to flog him, an abomination. To slay him is virtually an act of murder. To crucify him is—what? No fitting word can possibly describe a deed so horrible”

It’s no surprise that when Jesus clearly explains to the disciples that the Son of Man must choose the cross of suffering, Peter doesn’t want to hear it. (vs.33).

Choosing this cross is hard to follow.

In 1993 the New Yorker reported on Macy’s cross boutique where you could buy the latest trending fist-sized crosses.

A sales associate may indicate one with a centered cameo surrounded by purple, green, blue, and pink semi-precious stones … extra-long antiqued-silver chain for wearing, bandolier style, with little biker boots.

Choosing these crosses is straightforward and painless.

The scriptures are clear:

          Choose the cross of Christ.

                   Or

          Choose the cross of “this adulterous and sinful generation,” (Rm. 1:16-17)

Arland D. Williams, Jr., chose the cross of Christ.

He was a passenger aboard Air Florida Flight 90 on January 13, 1982.

After take-off it crashed into Washington’s 14th Street Bridge, then into the icy Potomac River.

Fighting a lifelong fear of water, clinging to twisted wreckage, he handed over to the five other survivors one life-vest after another.

When all but Williams had been pulled ashore, the helicopter returned to the site to save him. He was gone.

We may never face such a dramatic situation, but we know in the situations we face, Jesus leads us.

 

God's Blessed Assurance

"Say to those who are of a fearful heart,

“Be strong, do not fear!

Here is your God.

He will come with vengeance,

with terrible recompense.

He will come and save you.”

(From Isaiah 35.4-7)

"Blessed Assurance", by Fannie J Crosby, is one of my favorite hymns.

Fanny, visiting her friend Phoebe, who was having a pipe organ installed, played a newly composed melody on the piano.

Phoebe asked Fanny, "What do you think the tune says?", Fanny replied, "Blessed assurance; Jesus is mine."

Because of Fanny’s words, the tune is now called "Blessed Assurance".

Aren’t there times when we all need a “blessed assurance?”

That was certainly true for the exiles returning to a promised, yet unfinished Jerusalem.

To picture a restored Jerusalem, the Lord sent Isaiah who wrote an oracle of salvation, “words of assurance”, to the exiles needing a vision of hope.

The vision is a transformed land from a desert to a fertile Way of Holiness leading to seeing the glory of the Lord.

Along this Way, the Lord removes all obstacles: the blind shall see, the deaf shall hear, the mute shall sing, and the lame shall leap.

This Way of Holiness will have streams, pools, and springs for the thirsty.

These visions of hope, these “blessed assurances”, allow people to accept God’s invitation to return home.

Isaiah’s oracle of salvation, “words of assurance”, says we’ll be safe traveling the Way of Holy living.

When things seem bleak or overwhelming, following the Way of Holiness through streams of living water leads us to joyfully singing in the Lord’s glory.

God's Unshakable Promise

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

Who may dwell on your holy hill?

Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,

and speak the truth from their heart;

Those who do these things shall never be moved.

(Psalm 15)

Traditionally in the Methodist Church, Conformation Class’ purpose is renewing one’s baptism covenant.

That makes the Apostles’ Creed the best curriculum for Confirmation Class.

I would begin the class asking a question such as, “Do You Believe in God?”

 The youth respond saying, “I believe in God the Father almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.” as our discussion for that day.

At the conclusion of the classes, the youth would stand before the congregation, say the vows and confirm their baptism a I responded, “Remember your baptism and be thankful.”

Psalm 15, is an affirmation of faith concerning walking in God’s way.

When the question is asked,

O Lord, who may abide in your tent?

  Who may dwell on your holy hill?

The answer begins in the next verse, “Those who walk blamelessly” which refers to a way of life.

“Walking blamelessly” is essentially talking about all of one’s behaviors and actions: all the areas of how one lives.

“Blamelessly” is about doing the right thing; living with integrity in all areas of human life, including civil, criminal, political, religious, moral, ritual, and familial issues.

People walking blamelessly know words matter, so they don’t use slander or say falsehoods, which disgrace others.

People walking blamelessly don’t exploit others to their own advantage by making a profit from other’s poverty.

Who may abide? Who may dwell?

Those who do these things.

“Being moved” in the Old Testament refers to security and protection by God as one “walks blamelessly”

The affirmation of Psalm 15 says that whatever it costs to “walk blamelessly”, God's unshakable promise is to uphold and protects you.