Following God

Passion Week, Day 5

/ Don McGarvey / 1 Comment

Day 5 of Passion Week is traditionally known as Maundy Thursday. It also has been known as Holy Thursday.

The word “maundy” comes from the Latin and means “command.” On this day, Jesus spends several hours with the disciples in the Upper Room. They celebrate the Passover Meal but during the meal, Jesus institutes the Lord’s Supper. He also commands them to “love one another as He had loved them” and He demonstrates what it means to be humble and to be the servant of all.

This will be a little different than the previous Passion Week writings, but I hope and pray you will be challenged by it.

We know from Scripture that Jesus kept the Jewish holy days. From the time He was a child, He would travel to Jerusalem to keep the feasts. In some ways it makes sense because they were all about Him.

This day of the Passion Week was the time spent in the Upper Room, the Passover Meal which became the pattern for the Lord’s Supper was instituted.

 Perhaps the most impactful lesson was when Jesus demonstrated what it meant to be a servant to all. He put on the servant’s apron, took the basin and towel, and proceeded to wash the feet of each disciple. You can read about this in John 13.

While I think this was hugely impactful, it is obvious that this too zoomed over their heads because just a little later, they broke out in the old argument about who among was or would be the greatest.

Earlier, Jesus sent two disciples to prepare the “Upper Room” for their celebration of the Passover Meal. Tradition says the man they encountered was the young man Mark, and the home they ate the Passover Meal was his mother’s Mary upper room.

It was during this time at the meal, Jesus announced that one of them would betray Him.

I’ve always been intrigued over the concern that each one expressed about who the betrayer would be. In Matthew’s account of this, Matthew 26:22, it appears that each of them asked1 the question, “Surely not I, Lord?” They were appalled at the thought of one of them would betray Jesus. But they all asked if it was going to be them.

It appears Judas was not part of this conversation because it was several minutes until Judas addressed the issue by saying, “Surely, not I, Rabbi?”

In John’s account of this, John 13:27, this was when Jesus told Judas, “What you are about to do, do quickly.”

They finished the meal, Jesus taught on the ministry of the Holy Spirit John 14-16. He also prayed His High Priestly Prayer, the actual Lord’s Prayer in John 17. They sang a hymn, probably one of the Hallel Psalms (perhaps Psalm 116, 117 or 118), and left for the Garden of Gethsemane where His arrest took place.

Before moving on, I’d like to make an observation regarding the disciples. The evening started with Jesus taking the servants apron and performing the act of washing the feet of the disciples. This would have normally been done by the youngest servant, or the lowest servant of the house.

An interesting thing happens here in Luke’s account. Luke 22:24 tells us that at this point in the evening, the disciples once again began arguing among themselves as to which one of them was the greatest. This was not the first time an argument like that had broken out.

I realize they were young, but they just witnessed their “Lord” and “Master” put on the servant’s apron and wash their feet. They missed it. It “zoomed” right over their head. Jesus’ response was to teach how they were to all be like the youngest, assuming nothing. He also taught that the one who rules, also serves.

The commands of the evening were to love one another; serve one another; and never forget the broken body and the shed blood of Christ, who willingly gave Himself, as a ransom for all.

What areas of your life do you see yourself as a servant? Are there areas of your life where you see yourself as “being served?” How do you think that would fit into the teaching of Jesus to His disciples? Could it be there needs to be a change in your thinking?

Always in Pursuit!

Don

Passion Week, Day 3

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On the day following the clearing of the Temple, Jesus returned to the Temple. He started teaching in the Temple Courts. It is apparent from Scripture (Matthew 21:23) that a meeting was going on in another part of the Temple. In this meeting were the chief priests and other leaders of the Temple. When they discovered Jesus, they posed two questions to Him. They asked Him, “By what authority are you doing these things?” “And who gave you this authority?” They knew of no school He attended, nor did they ever give Him instructions about what He taught on.

Here’s what lies behind their question. Based upon rabbinical tradition, those who taught received their authority from one of two places. The first could have been the rabbinical school they attended. There were two. The other source of what they were teaching could be the edicts issued by the Sanhedrin. The Sanhedrin was the ruling body of Jews. It was led by the High Priest and consisted of either 23 or 71 Pharisees, Sadducees and scribes. A member of the Sanhedrin was known as an elder. Most elders would have been highly educated rabbis. All recognized teachers of Israel drew their authority from one of these places, their rabbinical school or the Sanhedrin.

Jesus said He would answer their question if they answered His question. Jesus’ question was, “John’s baptism—where did it come from? Was it from heaven or from men?” According to Scripture, they were afraid to answer His question. (Matthew 21:23-27)

Jesus proceeds to tell three stories or three parables. The first was the “Parable of The Two Sons” found in Matthew 21:28-32.

This was an important use of the word “sons” since the Pharisees considered themselves to be “sons of God” by reason of their descent from Abraham. Jesus was teaching that “sonship” was not based on their lineage but on their obedience to God’s Word.

The underlying issue was the Pharisees were more concerned about appearing to be righteous than being righteous. (Take a moment or two and read through Matthew 23 noting the harsh rebuke of Jesus.)

The second parable is found in Matthew 21:33-41. This parable is called, “The Parable of the Tenants.” It was about an absentee owner of a vineyard who hired some locals to tend to his vineyard. When the owner sent his own servants to collect the profit, they “beat them, stoned them, and killed them.” Every time the owner sent someone, they attacked them. Finally, the owner decided to send his son. He thought “Surely they will respect my son.” But the tenants attacked him and killed him, thinking they would steal the son’s inheritance.

The concluding question was, “What do you think the owner will do to the tenants when he comes.” The answer was, “He will come and kill those tenants and give the vineyard to others.”

This parable was a reminder of how many of the prophets of God and others who had been sent to speak on behalf of God had been killed. And now, God had sent His “One and only Begotten” Son. And they were plotting to kill him as well.

The belief is that Jesus was announcing the Kingdom is now available to the Gentiles since the leaders of the Jews rejected it.

The third parable is found in Matthew 22:1-14. It’s the “Parable of the Wedding Banquet.”

In the culture of the day, when you were invited to a wedding, you would need to give up living your life for at least one or perhaps two weeks. (That’s how long weddings lasted.)  As an invited or chosen guest of the wedding, you would devote your full attention to the festivities, eat the food provided and even wear the clothing which was given to you. Everything you needed to live for the duration of the wedding…think Kingdom with me…was provided for you.

Jesus said the “Kingdom” is like a wedding. He didn’t say it was a wedding but was like one. This meant you gave yourself over to the agenda of the Kingdom. The wedding or the Kingdom is to become primary focal point. Once that happens, everything else will be provided. (Matthew 6:33, 34)

One thing sticks out to me in this parable. In Matthew 22:11-13, the king or the host of the wedding, walked about and noticed someone not wearing “wedding clothes.” This person was quickly removed and thrown into the “darkness.”

I believe Jesus included this in His parable to help us know that being part of the Kingdom would require a total “makeover” and not just maintaining the appearance of being part of the Kingdom.

As we give our lives to God, we will be changed, by His Spirit, from the inside out. It’s always our choice. Do we accept His invitation to be part of the Kingdom or do we continue to live as we see fit?

Always in Pursuit!

Don

Passion Week, Day 2

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Today marks the second day of Passion Week. On the first day, Jesus entered Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. He was proclaiming Himself to be both Messiah and King. In addition, He was presenting Himself as the once-for-all sacrifice to be offered for the forgiveness of sin.

On the second day Jesus returned to Jerusalem and entered the Temple. Once inside, he encountered the marketplace owned by the former High Priest, Annas and run by his sons. It was set up in the Court of the Gentiles which was the only place non-Jews and infirmed could go.

Clearing the Temple: Jesus went through marketplace, overturning the tables where money exchanged, and animals were purchased for sacrifice.

This was the second time Jesus cleared the Temple. There are a few differences in the two times. In the first (John 2:13-25), Jesus fashioned a whip and drove the moneychangers out. The second time (Matthew 21:12-13), it would appear He did not use a whip but overturned the tables and benches that held many of the animals.

There is one major difference, in my mind. During the first clearing, Jesus referred to the Temple as “my Father’s house.” But the second time, Jesus referred to it as “My house.” Why the difference? The day before, Jesus presented Himself as the Messiah, the King of the Jews. It was time for Him to be revealed as God.

The Marketplace: The vendors of the marketplace weren’t wrong. What they did with the money and where they put it, made it wrong. Travelers were required to purchase animals for their sacrifice. They probably would need to exchange their money for Roman money, but since Roman money was not permissible for Jews to have, the presence of Roman money in the Temple was sacrilegious. Scholars believe the former High Priest Annas and his sons owned and operated the marketplace that was functioning in the Temple. Most believe there was price gouging happening. After all, there were close to two million people visiting Jerusalem for the Passover and they would all need some Roman money plus they would all need to purchase animals for their sacrifices. Prices went up. Fees for changing money increased. This all happened in what was known as the Court of Gentiles.

Warren Wiersbe wrote, “The Temple Court was being used for mercenary means rather than missionary business.”

The Court of Gentiles: The most grievous part of this event is that the Court of Gentiles was the only place were non-Jews or those who were blind, lame or otherwise unfit for the Temple could come. But there was no room for them. Based on what happens in Matthew 21:14, I would assume the lack of ministry to these folks was as much of a heartache for Jesus as the lack of integrity of the merchants.

Once Jesus had cleared the area, Matthew 21:14 makes it sound as if the blind and lame immediately appeared. (Matthew 21:14 “The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.”)

Here’s my take-a-way: Once we get our lives cleaned up, once we get our ministries cleaned up and start doing business like we are supposed to do business, we are going to see ministry start to happen like never before.

As fast as the Court of the Gentiles filled up with the blind and lame, I must assume they were all standing nearby just waiting for a chance to be ministered to. I believe the same is still true. There are many folks who are “blind” and “lame” out there, just waiting for someone to come along and help them see and walk a new path.

Always in Pursuit!

Don

Passion Week Day 1

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There are two events from Jesus’ life recorded in all four Gospels. The first the miraculous feeding of the 5,000. (Matthew 14:13-21; Mark 6:335-44; Luke 9:10-17; john 6:1-14) The second is the Triumphal Entry (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; Luke 19:29-40; John 12:12-19)

In feeding the multitude, Jesus found a creative way to remind us of His sufficiency. In the Triumphal Entry, Jesus reminds us He is our Messiah, Coming King, and our once and for all sacrifice for our sin.

In this second event, the Triumphal Entry, Jesus is presenting Himself as the Messiah; as the King of the Jews; and as the “once and for all” paschal lamb.

Prior to this, He wouldn’t allow anyone, including demons, to announce who He was. But now, it was time.

Jerusalem was overflowing with visitors from around the world in preparation for the Passover celebration. Plus, I’m sure the city was buzzing with the news of Lazarus’ resurrection and this formerly blind guy, Bartimaeus, who would have, no doubt in my mind, been running around town telling how “Jesus, the Son of David” had mercy on him and healed him of blindness. (You can read about Lazarus in John 11 and you can read about Bartimaeus in March 11:46-52.)

Everyone wanted to see this miracle worker. Could He be the Messiah?  Could He be the source of everything they had dreamed of? Could He be the answer to all their problems and questions? Could He be the one to set them free? Could He be coming to establish His Kingdom?

As Jesus entered the city, riding on the back of a previously unridden colt, the foal of a donkey, the folks lined the parade route, shouting “Hosanna” which when translated means, “Save us or save now.” It was a cry for deliverance, much like Israel cried out to God while they were enslaved in Egypt. They waved palm branches, which was a sign of national pride and victory. Could it be that Jesus was the King, their deliverer who was to come and overthrow the Romans and establish a new Kingdom?

Scriptures don’t tell us what the Romans thought of all this. It wouldn’t have been the first time someone tried to overthrow them during the Passover. Passover was a celebration of freedom from bondage, dating all the way back to Egypt. But they weren’t impressed. This newly proclaimed king came riding on a humble donkey instead of a war horse. And instead of heavily armed soldiers marching with Him, He was being followed by Galilean fishermen.

I believe there were three responses to Jesus on this day. The Romans ignored Him; the Jews embraced Him, at least for now; and the Pharisees wanted Him out of the way. He was challenging their long-standing “standard of normal.”

I see these same responses today. Some ignore Him, some try to push Him out of their minds, while some embrace Him.

What will be your response? Will you invite Him to establish a new normal? Or will you ignore Him?

Always in Pursuit!

Don

Passion Week

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Someone ask me a long time ago, “What are you passionate about?” I had to think about it for awhile. Eventually I wrote out nine things that I was passionate about.

As I looked at my list, I ask myself the question, what it was that made me passionate about these nine things?

First, they were things I loved. Like being a husband and a father.

Second, they were things I was intentional about. I deliberately set devoted time to these nine things.

Third, I did everything I could to become more proficient in these nine things. I wanted to be the best that I could possibly be.

Fourth, I devoted very little time to anything that wasn’t on my list of nine things. While I didn’t ignore other things or those who were passionate about things I wasn’t passionate about, I knew to be what God wanted me to be, I had to focus on these nine things.

I believe Jesus demonstrated these same values about what He was passionate about.

Sunday, Palm Sunday, begins what is traditionally referred to as Passion Week. Palm Sunday is the celebration of Jesus presenting Himself as the Messiah, the King of the Jews and as the once-for-all Paschal Lamb. The path into Jerusalem was packed with Jews, Romans and Greeks. Most them wildly cheering for Him. Loudly proclaiming Him to be their Messiah and their King.

Each day of Passion Week, I will be sharing about the recorded events of the day. There are many lessons for us to learn. But most of all, I want you to see how passionate Jesus was for each of us. He was intentional about returning to Jerusalem (Luke 9:51). He submitted Himself to the will of the Father rather than call angels to deliver Him.

It’s a great love story, this week of passion. He’s a great Savior who willingly gave His life for us so that we may live our lives in a way that goes beyond anything we can imagine.

Hope you will join me.

Always in Pursuit!

Don

He’s Willing!

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He’s Willing!

Another one of my favorite accounts from the Life of Christ comes from Matthew 8:1-3.

Right after Jesus preached the “Sermon on the Mount” he came down from the mountain and was met by a leper. This must have been quite a site.

There was a large crowd listening to Jesus teach and I’m sure they would have all been milling around trying to get closer or get that one on one time with the Teacher. But if we could step back and watch this scene unfold, we would notice people scattering. As we begin to search for why they were scattering we might have heard a voice crying out, “Unclean, unclean!”  A leper was approaching. Bloodied, heavily bandaged, missing fingers and toes, dirty and dusty headed straight for the Teacher.

I can picture everyone around Jesus scattering. Some would have been screaming warnings of “UNCLEAN, UNCLEAN!” Others would have reached for a rock to throw. Jesus never moved. He didn’t reach for His pouch of rocks to thwart the lepers form coming too close as some Rabbis were in the practice of doing. He just stood there, watching the leper move closer and closer.

As the leper neared Christ, he knelt. It was an act of humility and worship. The screams and scattering of people didn’t matter. As he is kneeling, he says to Jesus, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” Then Jesus did the unthinkable.

He reached out his hand and touched the leper. My guess would be that was the first time another human being had touched this man since he was diagnosed as a leper. But Jesus wasn’t afraid. Note the words with me that came from Jesus’ mouth and heart. “I am willing! Be clean!”

Matthew records my favorite part in the final sentence of verse 3, “immediately he was cured.”

As you probably know, lepers were outcasts. They couldn’t even live with their families. They had to live outside of town with the other outcasts. They were shunned. They had to warn folks they were coming by announcing they were “unclean.” Of course I’m sure the volume of their announcement was nothing compared to the shrieks and screams of others who helped announce their presence.

Have you ever felt like an outcast? Have you ever felt as if you were “unclean” or worse yet that others considered you to be unclean and treated you as if you were.

The leper had great faith in Jesus. We should too! He came, bowed and worshipped. We should too. He confessed his faith in Jesus by saying, “If you are willing you can make me clean.”  We should too.

Jesus will respond the same way to you as he did to the leper. He will touch you and He will make you clean because He’s willing.

In yesterday’s post we learned that Jesus had come to help! Now we learn He is willing to help no matter the circumstance.

What do you need Him to do for you today? He’s come to help and He’s willing. Will you bow and worship before Him! He will touch you!

Always in Pursuit!

Dad Joke #5: Why is corn such a good listener? Because it’s all ears.

Are you listening?

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

This past Sunday I spoke from Romans 8:28 and brought Part I of a teaching called, “That’s Good!” The second part will be coming on April 19, 2020, the Sunday after Easter.

I’ve really been thinking about what good God will bring out of this. I’m pretty sure there are things that I can’t even imagine at this time but in the meantime, there might be a couple of things that I can see.

First, most of us are dealing with more time on our hands than normal. This frees us to do things around the house that we had been putting off. It frees us to read those books and magazines that we’ve stacked up. It also frees us to pray more and to read the Bible more.

Second, for many of us, this has been a time to slow down (okay, more than most of us wanted.)

Third, and I think one of the greatest things to happen is that more people are hearing the Gospel through all the on-line church services than ever before.

May I offer a suggestion for your prayer times?

Praying is more than talking to God. Praying also involves listening to Him. So, in your times of prayer, stop and simply ask God if there is something He’d like to say to you. Then listen. Just sit and allow God, by His Spirit, to speak to your spirit.

I don’t believe God will thunder His answer. It might simply be an idea; it might be a thought or two; it might be a picture that He wants to show you that will open a whole new realm.

Several years ago, I listened to someone share how God had been speaking to him in dreams. Someone asked him why he thought God was speaking in this manner. His explanation for why God was doing this was that since he was asleep and being still, God could finally get a word in.

One other suggestion I would offer is in these quiet times, make sure you have a notebook and something to write with. This will help you remember what it is that God wants you to know. It also might be a good time and place for you to write out some action steps about what God spoke.

Here’s a great question for you to consider: “What do you think would happen if we listened to God like we think He ought to listen to us?”

He’s speaking. That’s not the question. The question is, “Are we listening/obeying?” Listening and obeying are the same thing.

Always in Pursuit!

Don

Dad Joke #2: CASHIER: “Would you like the milk in a bag, sir?” DAD: “No, just leave it in the carton!’”

Busy Never Stops

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

For some of us, life has slowed down. I’m sure in some ways it feels as if life as we knew it stopped. In some ways, it did. Social distancing, self-quarantines, school closures and work at home orders have changed life as we knew it.

A highly valued and respected friend posted on social media this morning a short video of her playing the piano and singing. She preceded the segment by saying she hadn’t sat down to play the piano and sing for months due to a busy life. I know her and her husband. For them, busy never stops.

Some of the families I am privileged to pastor are finding themselves at home, both from school and from work. I’m sure they are facing new challenges of how to deal this. I’ve watched them deal with seasons of “busy on steroids” for several years now. I will be curious as to how they have dealt with this season.

Let me challenge you with a thought. I know there are some things you did that you can no longer do. When this over, ask yourself the question, is that something we really need to start doing again or can we go forward without it?

We have the opportunity to create a new normal, not only in this season of quarantine but in the season to come.

I’m hoping there are more folks who taking the time in this “new normal” to talk to one another, go for walks, play games, read books, including the Bible and other activities that perhaps being busy had robbed them of.

We have the potential to learn something from every season. Sometimes we learn from our mistakes while at other times we learn from new ideas or from new technology. What new ideas have you come up with during this season? Is something you’d like to continue?

If you would like, you can share some things you have already learned. I would imagine some of these things could be things you want to continue doing but I would also assume there will be some things you won’t want to ever do again.

I noticed one person said something about spending more time talking to their spouse and determined they really weren’t so bad.

My favorite was from a guy who was quarantined alone. He mentioned a conversation he had with a spider. He found out he was a web designer.

Always in Pursuit!

Don

In Pursuit!

/ Don McGarvey / Leave a comment

Many years ago a colleague would step into my office and ask the question, “So, how is God pursuing you today?”

I never really knew how to answer his question. He continued to do this for several days and finally I stopped him and asked him to explain.

He very quickly stated that most Christ-followers felt that pursuit was only a one-way thing. Most felt that it was them pursuing God and they never really gave a thought to the idea that God is pursuing us.

I mulled that over for a few days and finally, with the help of the Holy Spirit, began to see how God was pursuing me.

He was pursuing me through His Word (the Bible); through books I was reading; through relationships; through times of prayer both verbalizing things to God but also listening to Him; and even through the mundane events of my day.

It took me awhile to come to the point where I accepted the fact that God was crazy about me; that God wanted relationship with me because He loved me and not because it was His job.

Out of that came the title for my blog. I will be posting some of the original blog posts on this new (to me) site as well as posting new thoughts for you to consider.

I hope and pray you will come to discover God’s pursuit of you through these writings as I did.

By the way, thanks Dave for making me aware of God’s pursuit.