This Week With Jesus

Easter weekend acrivities mostly dont include Saturdays. Friday and Sunday get the press. The crucifixion and resurrection command our thoughts. But don’t ignore Saturday. You have them, too. Much happened on Friday. Man rejected God. A d God He made himself heard on Friday. He tore the curtains of the temple, opened the graves of the dead, rocked the earth, blocked the sun of the sky, and sacrificed the Son of Heaven. Earth heard much of God on Friday. But what about the silent Saturday "the day between the struggle and the solution? God knows Jesus is in the tomb, why doesn’t He do something? Think about this: if God had resurrected Jesus in 15 minutes after His death, would you have believed in resurrection? Or would you doubt He ever died? Saturday underscores the full conviction of death and underscores the resurrection. Or, in your case God knows your career is in the tank, your finances are in the pit, your marriage is in a mess. Why doesn’t He act? What are you sup

Maundy Thursday is the Thursday before Easter, believed to be the day when Jesus celebrated his final Passover with His disciples. Most notably, that Passover meal was when Jesus washed the feet of His disciples in an extraordinary display of humility. He then commanded them to do the same for each other. Christ's "mandate" is commemorated on Maundy Thursday---"maundy" being a shortened form of mandatum (Latin), which means "command." It was on the Thursday of Christ's final week before being crucified and resurrected that He said this last commandment to His disciples. Jesus and his disciples had just shared what was known as the Last Supper and he was washing their feet when he stated: "A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another" (John 13:34). Many people and churches observe Maundy Thursday with a Communion service and a foot-washing ceremony. These traditions

Get rid of the old yeast, so that you may be a new unleavened batch—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. Lent is nearly over, and different people have practiced different forms of sacrifice through this time. Fasting, giving up some things, making a change for the better are some. Bringing in change, overcome negative or bad habits, reviving faith and sacrificing self for renewal in God are some outcomes which we try and achieve during this time. For some, it ends at the end of the period, for a few it continues to the next lent when we further renew ourselves. It seems, every lent is Gods battle to renew us. For us, it is a battle between self-seeking motivation, self-will and folly on the one hand and God's expectation on the other. The human mentality which tells us to enjoy the day with physical pleasures as against our aspiration to enjoy the day with Gods peace. This has been depicted so well in the painting by Peter Bregel the Elder in his

R ead John 1 19-28  Here If someone asked you today, who are you, what would your reply be? Most of us would give our name, profession and maybe address. John the Baptist was asked the same question, repeatedly, and his answer can become a standard for us. Most of us, when questioned, focus on the creation rather than the creator. We would say our name, our occupation, or position and so on. But John introduced himself by his mission. He was clear on what it was and what he was committed to do. In our case our mission defines our focus. Is our mission to become a CEO or a political leader etc. Or is our mission to become an instrument of Gods work. And if so what exactly can I do in His kingdom? What is our role? The answer to that question will tell us whether we are "creation focused" or "creator focused". Whether we have made idols in our lives or not. Today, as an exercise can we craft an answer like John's which we can answer people with when asked "wh

Every time I think about life and all the numerous small and big miracles I have experienced, I recall Romans 5:5 where it says - "Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us". it follows then that if we want God's wonderous participation in our lives, through the Holy Spirit we need to relinquish control. But we confine the Holy Spirit, muzzle Him, constrain Him, all to remain in control. One thing is for sure: That Miracles are not the "normal" of today. They are acts of God - The Force Majeure. Even the law recognizes that. Miracles are always within the grand design of God the Creator and fall within the category of prophetic symbolism intended to draw attention to something beyond themselves that confirms the word of God. They are not isolated gestures on the part of God but play an important part in the execution of the grand design of the Creator for the redemption of His c

As we get older, we become wiser and we gradually realize that a $30 watch and a $300 watch show the same time...Whether we wear $30 or $300 purses, the same amount of money can fit in both..  Whether we drive a $150,000 car or a $30,000 car, the journey and the distance are the same, we always reach the same destination.. Wisdom is what we all want and need. It helps us to make the right choices, to make the right decisions, to know right from wrong. It gives us discernment. But wisdom is not easy to find nor get. It is a challenging process, requiring us to rise above our own selves. While wisdom is a keen desire of all, it requires us to work towards it. It is a process in steps. So what are they?  1. Desire - the first step is to have a consistent desire to get wisdom, throughout the process. Consistent because, frequently we will find that wisdom tells us to do something while not doing it is more attractive. Not to desire something, while that desire is so pleasurable. And so we

Ted Hughes, in his novel Iron Man, describes the fantastic story of a creature who finally saves the earth in spite of humans viewing him as an enemy. Sounds familiar?  Today let us look at David - another Iron Man. Where did David get his sustenance and strength?  Pastor Colin Smith explains this rather wonderfully in his  sermon, "He sustains Me" on what gave David that strength and is a promise for us as well.  As we know, David did not have a peaceful life like many of us do. He was plagued by a continuous stream of troubles, even death. Yet he was a man of God. In spite of his continuous troubles he fought on and accomplished what he was entrusted with. What gave him this strength? What did he have that we are missing?  Pastor Smith has explained all this and more in his message, "He Sustains Me" which we recommend you read/ hear. The message is available here