Tag: jesus

Luke 22:39-46

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            It’s easy to believe that we are people of prayer, that is, until we contrast ourselves with Jesus.  One of the problems we often run into when thinking about ourselves is that we make comparisons with the wrong people.  Compared to others, we look pretty good.  After all, I pray more than the next guy, right!?  But consider how Jesus prayed when faced with enduring the ignominy of the cross:  “Jesus was in great pain and prayed so sincerely that his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood.”
 
            Even Jesus, the Son of God, felt the intense need to watch and pray so that he could face his time of suffering and humiliation on behalf of humanity.  I would conjecture that even your most incredible time of prayer probably doesn’t compare to the experience of Jesus in prayer.  That isn’t meant to be a source of guilt, to try and somehow twist our collective arm to be more sincere and focused.  Rather, it is meant to show us that there is much more room to grow in this business of prayer than we ever thought.
 
            Perhaps there is so little church renewal, so puny personal revival, and such a paucity of revitalization and reformation among so many Christians because our prayers are so small and so far in between each other.  Jesus prayed because he needed it.  I pray because without God I am hopelessly lost.  I pray because I desperately need Jesus.  I pray because only the Holy Spirit can bring the empowerment to face the rigors of ministry in front of me.  I pray because I sincerely believe that humanity’s hope rests with the blessed Holy Trinity, the God whom I serve.
 

 

            Gracious Lord Jesus, I am eternally grateful for what you did on my behalf by enduring the shame of the cross.  I have much to learn in praying sincerely, earnestly, and effectively.  Teach me, Lord, so that I might be like you in all I do and say.  Amen.

Matthew 10:5-15

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            The compassion of Jesus is what caused him to send out his disciples into the world.  He told them to minister specifically to Jews.  Israel’s house needed to be put in order first before they could ever think of going to the Gentiles.  There were a host of lost Jewish people all around them, so Jesus made it a priority to go after them.  Our own backyard needs attention, to be reached, before the world can be tackled.
 
            Jesus told his disciples to do exactly what he had been doing:  preach, heal, and proclaim that the kingdom of God is near.  Furthermore, Jesus told them to leave all their baggage behind; don’t take anything with you.  The disciples were to be stripped of everything so that they could see people and be moved with compassion as Jesus was moved.
 
            If we take all of our pre-packaged stuff with us into relationships, we already assume we know what they need.  But if we have nothing with us, then we are able to see people for who they are, and listen to what they are saying.  People are not objects for our missional purposes; they are persons created in God’s image who have been profoundly touched by the world’s brokenness and desperately need the compassion of Jesus.
 
            Followers of Jesus have freely received compassion from God; therefore they are to freely give it away.  May you courageously rearrange your life so that compassion toward others can be your defining characteristic.
 

 

            Compassionate God, you have graciously saved me by your sheer mercy.  May I freely and compassionately give as generously as you have given to me so that Jesus is glorified, your church is encouraged, and your world is loved.  Amen.

Luke 5:12-16

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            A question I like to occasionally ask fellow minister colleagues is:  Was Jesus an introvert, or an extrovert?  First off, let’s just make clear that extroversion and introversion are neither sinful nor blessed – they just are personality traits that cannot be changed any more than tiger stripes.  So, setting aside the anti-reality kooky answers to my question, I’ve found that extroverted pastors almost without fail will tell me Jesus was an extrovert.  And they make a solid case for it.  Also, with solid consistency, introverted pastors tell me Jesus was an introvert.  And they give compelling reasons for it.  They are all correct.  Jesus, as the perfect human displays the best of both extroversion and introversion.  His personality comes through wonderfully in today’s Gospel text.
 
            The short story of healing begins with Jesus fully engaged in walking the city, a part of the people, interacting with the crowd, and attentive to even the most marginal of them.  His extroverted nature is on full display.  Jesus, as the perfect Son of God, is willing and ready to heal the man with leprosy.  As the word of Jesus spread, more and more people flock to Jesus.  An exclusively extroverted person would bask in the situation of having more people to connect with.  But the story ends with the note that, instead of engaging the mass of people, Jesus would withdraw to quiet and deserted places in order to pray.  No better description of an introvert could be said.
 
            Jesus operated on this earth in a way that modeled and demonstrated how humanity was meant to live.  Our Lord had consistent rhythms of human and divine engagement.  That is, he spent time with people – lots of them.  He talked and taught and healed and moved from one person to next with all the seeming random activity of the extrovert.  But he also consistently withdrew and spent healthy amounts of extended time alone with his heavenly Father, deeply connected with him.  We, too, need a good healthy rhythm of being with others in effective interaction, but also must spend time alone with God often and deeply.
 
            Perhaps we would encounter more of the miraculous in our lives if we emulated the healthy rhythm of Jesus.  For the Spirit works in and through us to continue the words and ways of Jesus on this earth to a mass of humanity that desperately needs him.
 

 

            Loving Lord Jesus, I am in awe of your capacity to engage all kinds of people, as well as the Father.  Let me be like you in the ability to move freely and effectively between human interaction and divine prayer so that the world is blessed.  Amen.

Matthew 20:29-34

On By Tim EhrhardtIn Daily Bible Reading Blog, Year CLeave a comment
            The word “irony” is a term used to describe an outcome of an event that is different from expectation.  For example, my family doctor’s name when I was growing up was “Dr. Fail.”  In today’s Gospel lesson, two blind men are healed by Jesus and can see.
 
            Please take a little time and read the short account over a few times and ponder these three ironic observations from the story:
 
·     —A large crowd followed Jesus, but only two persons are his actual followers.
·     — Out the large crowd, it is two blind men that actually see Jesus for who he is.
·     —The crowd following Jesus was actually trying to keep the two needy blind men from Jesus.
 
Although Jesus was surrounded by lots of people, he was attentive to two non-descript men.  He was listening for them.  He responded to them.  He touched them.  Listening, responding, and touching were the ways Jesus blessed people.  We, also, need to have our spiritual eyes wide open to see the great need of lost people around us who need our listening ear, our responsive selves, and our caring touch.  May it be so to the praise of Jesus.
 

 

Gracious Lord Jesus, you heal those who cry out to you.  Help me to be like you and be aware of those around me who need your healing touch so that they might know the wonder of following you.  Amen.