Thank you to those of you who have sent me a Christmas Card. I have never sent out a card but I'm doing my online this year.
2012 has been a great year for me personally, professionally and spiritually.
I am still working at KWAY radio in Waverly, Iowa. I am on air from 5:00 to 1:00 everyday and I enjoy the opportunity my job gives me to be involved in my community. Working at the station has enabled me to meet so many people; in fact, it's hard to go anywhere in town without saying hello to at least one person I know. Another aspect of my job that I love is broadcasting sporting events. I get the opportunity to do: volleyball, football, basketball, soccer, softball and baseball at the high school level and college football for my alma mater Wartburg College. This year alone I did 139 games/matches.
2012 was also a fantastic and full year for me in other organizations. I was this year's president of the Waverly Jaycees. While it was a lot of work it was also a lot of fun. We put on a number of fun, community minded events like: the G.R.A.B. (Great Ride Around Bremer) biking event, the School Supply Drive, Santa Callers, and many more. The Jaycees is another way I get to be involved in my community positively.
Of course, my involvement in my church, Grace Baptist, has been a joy of mine. This year we hired a new worship and outreach pastor and I'm seeing a lot of spiritual growth in Grace because of that hire. I'm also still involved with the youth. I covet the opportunities I get to work with them and teach them; they are a huge passion of mine. It is hard though watching them move off to college but I'm glad I get to be a part of preparing them for life on their own. The youth group this year has been full of kids who really desire to know God more and that has fueled me this whole year. Also, in Grace I get the opportunity to be a part of our young adult Bible study. My friends in this study have helped grow me, ground me and spur me on to more. I thank God for them.
Personally 2012 has been a great year. It began much like any year. In fact, on my birthday (Jan. 3) I remember thinking, "Here we go again." I had the feeling that 2012 was going to be just like 2011 for my personal life. However, in January of this year I was given an opportunity to speak to a group at our church that puts on an Easter Passion Mime. When I got up to share a short message from Ephesians I realized I knew everybody except a UNI student sitting in the front row just left of where I was standing. I didn't think much about seeing her, but throughout the months I was able to be around her. I saw her all Spring as she prepared with the group for the mime. I saw her many times during the summer at our friends' house. I got to see her impecable character, immense kindness, service-minded attitude and fun-loving nature. Long story short she kept hinting and I eventually got the courage to ask Christine out in September. Thank God I did. We've been dating ever since and I'm so happy 2012 is ending differently than it began. I'm thrilled to have Christine with me this year as we make the rounds to see everyone this Christmas.
Finally and most importantly, 2012 has been another year of spiritual maturation for me. Through the input of others and some personal disciplines I've been able to grow closer to my God. This blog is one of those disciplines because it helps me think critically about what I read. I hope it is in a small way helpful to you, too. Another thing that has helped me grow this year were some fantastic books like: Whatever Happened to Worship, Messy Church, The Knowledge of the Holy, and studies like Surprised by Hope have stretched my thinking. It has been a great year of growth in 2012 spiritually.
That is a brief glimpse into my year. I know I'm missing some major milestones but my memory is only so good. I hope you've had a great 2012 and I thank you for the impact you've had on my life this year.
Merry Christmas and have a Happy New Year friends,
Matt Ray
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Advent- Jesus Came to Make Us New
Jesus came to make us new. When we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are made new... both later and now. Later we will be perfectly new but now we are becoming new. I've found a couple of great ways to tell the now part of the story. One is a poem and one is a short video. Please watch the video and read this poem and think about how the Master takes our broken pieces and makes beautiful music today.
'Twas battered and scarred,
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.
And the auctioneer thought it
hardly worth his while
To waste his time on the old violin,
but he held it up with a smile.
"What am I bid, good people", he cried,
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
"Who starts the bidding for me?"
"One dollar, one dollar, Do I hear two?"
"Two dollars, who makes it three?"
"Three dollars once, three dollars twice, going for three,"
But, No,
From the room far back a gray bearded man
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.
Came forward and picked up the bow,
Then wiping the dust from the old violin
And tightening up the strings,
He played a melody, pure and sweet
As sweet as the angel sings.
The music ceased and the auctioneer
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.
With a voice that was quiet and low,
Said "What now am I bid for this old violin?"
As he held it aloft with its' bow.
"One thousand, one thousand, Do I hear two?"
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
"Two thousand, Who makes it three?"
"Three thousand once, three thousand twice,
Going and gone", said he.
The audience cheered,
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."
But some of them cried,
"We just don't understand."
"What changed its' worth?"
Swift came the reply.
"The Touch of the Masters Hand."
And many a man with life out of tune
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin
All battered with bourbon and gin
Is auctioned cheap to a thoughtless crowd
Much like that old violin
A mess of pottage, a glass of wine,
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.
A game and he travels on.
He is going once, he is going twice,
He is going and almost gone.
But the Master comes,
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.
And the foolish crowd never can quite understand,
The worth of a soul and the change that is wrought
By the Touch of the Masters' Hand.
Myra Brooks Welch
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Mary's Treasure and Our Pain
For today's post I need to tell the story of Jesus' birth. I want to spend extra time looking at Luke 2:19. In order to tell the rest of the story I've invited my friend Linus to share.
"When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.' So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen Him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told"
Luke 2:15-20
This is a very familiar story, one that I've heard hundreds of times. I want to look at one verse because I recently read it in a new way.
"But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart."
Why is this verse so important? Why is this included in the middle of a story about the shepherds rejoicing at seeing God's glory and sharing their story of God's glory?
Mothers treasure up the moments surrounding the birth of their children. Ask your mother, if she is still with you, to tell you about the day you were born. I'm sure she could tell you detail after detail. Mothers treasure these moments.
But I believe that Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart for more than just the typical reasons. Mary needed to remember these moments because, unbeknownst to her, she would have to watch her son die and be laid a tomb. Mary was going to go through a hellishly tough time. God prepared her for that by having her store up the good moments with Jesus.
God still does this. I recently read a book by a local woman named Ranae Krull. She wrote about a terrible accident her son Isaiah had. She wrote about watching him in a coma and watching him struggle through a long, long recovery. She wrote about watching him live his life in a much different manner than she expected. But she also wrote about how God's Word and songs got her through that time. She explained how in moments of intense suffering God would remind her of verses and truths that she had treasured earlier in her heart.
When we have times of pain it is difficult to begin to search God's Word and find comfort. Our minds can be in a fog. What happens so often is that the verses, songs and truths that we memorized and pondered previously in our heart rise to the surface to kiss us in the tough time. Thank God that He helps us store up evidences of grace in our good times to be used in the tough times.
So, be like Mary. Treasure up Jesus and His words and ponder them in your heart. I'm sure that in your dark days those treasures will rise up like a comforting kiss. But they can't rise to the top if they aren't there. Treasure the Word of God and ponder it in your heart today.
Sunday, December 2, 2012
He Dwelt Amongst Us
"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."- John 1:14
We are now in a season of Advent which is a fun time. People are busy buying gifts, planning parties and enjoying beautiful lights all around town. Advent and the anticipation of Christmas is a special time. But we need remember what Christmas is all about.
"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."
Use your imagination with me. Imagine Jesus, who was and is and always will be. Jesus who created the universe and ruled it. Jesus who lived in perfect loving unity with God the Father and God the Spirit. Jesus who was constantly praised and worshipped by the creatures in heaven. This Jesus became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
Jesus abandoned all the glory of heaven to dwell amongst men. But He didn't just live with us; He lived as one of us. Jesus subjected Himself to the limitations of a human.
Imagine with me: Jesus, the aforementioned king of the universe, unable to express the fact that He had made a mess in His pants so He cries uncontrollably. Martin Luther wrote in the song "Away in a Manager" this line, "But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes." Sorry Martin but I'm sure Jesus cried like a normal baby. He subjected Himself to the limitations of an infant.
Imagine this with me: One day Jesus walks up to Mary and starts asking questions about some changes in His body. I can just picture this: "Joseph! You need to have a talk with your son. You know 'THE talk'." I'm sure Jesus went through puberty as awkwardly as all the other Jewish boys in town. Sinlessly but awkwardly. Sinlessly but within the limitations of His human body.
Jesus can relate with us. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."
If this was the end of the Christmas story it would still be an amazing story. God dwelt with His people to understand their predicament or maybe more accurately to prove He understood. No human can now say, "God you just don't know what it's like down here." God the Son understands completely because He lived it completely.
But here's great news... the Word didn't just live among us He died for us and rose again! Jesus in complete obedience to His Father and out of love for you and I came to earth and did battle with death defeating it once and for all!
This Advent remember what Christ did for us on the cross. But beyond that, remember what a sacrifice He made just to come and dwell amongst us. Thank God for His incarnation today.
We are now in a season of Advent which is a fun time. People are busy buying gifts, planning parties and enjoying beautiful lights all around town. Advent and the anticipation of Christmas is a special time. But we need remember what Christmas is all about.
"The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."
Use your imagination with me. Imagine Jesus, who was and is and always will be. Jesus who created the universe and ruled it. Jesus who lived in perfect loving unity with God the Father and God the Spirit. Jesus who was constantly praised and worshipped by the creatures in heaven. This Jesus became flesh and made His dwelling among us.
Jesus abandoned all the glory of heaven to dwell amongst men. But He didn't just live with us; He lived as one of us. Jesus subjected Himself to the limitations of a human.
Imagine with me: Jesus, the aforementioned king of the universe, unable to express the fact that He had made a mess in His pants so He cries uncontrollably. Martin Luther wrote in the song "Away in a Manager" this line, "But little Lord Jesus no crying He makes." Sorry Martin but I'm sure Jesus cried like a normal baby. He subjected Himself to the limitations of an infant.
Imagine this with me: One day Jesus walks up to Mary and starts asking questions about some changes in His body. I can just picture this: "Joseph! You need to have a talk with your son. You know 'THE talk'." I'm sure Jesus went through puberty as awkwardly as all the other Jewish boys in town. Sinlessly but awkwardly. Sinlessly but within the limitations of His human body.
Jesus can relate with us. "The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."
If this was the end of the Christmas story it would still be an amazing story. God dwelt with His people to understand their predicament or maybe more accurately to prove He understood. No human can now say, "God you just don't know what it's like down here." God the Son understands completely because He lived it completely.
But here's great news... the Word didn't just live among us He died for us and rose again! Jesus in complete obedience to His Father and out of love for you and I came to earth and did battle with death defeating it once and for all!
This Advent remember what Christ did for us on the cross. But beyond that, remember what a sacrifice He made just to come and dwell amongst us. Thank God for His incarnation today.
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Rebuilding the Temple
I love seeing the Old Testament and the New Testament connections. I love the reminders that God's plan did not change from Old Testament to New Testament. Today I was reading Haggai Chapter 2 when I came across this awesome passage:
"'This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty." Haggai 2:6-9.
Do you see this amazing news? God is going to shake things up and bring all nations into His temple! When you read this remember that He is talking about a physical temple. God is encouraging the people of Israel to rebuild the temple. But when you read this remember that He is also talking about the temple as a picture of the Kingdom.
God will bring the desired of all nations into His Kingdom and He will fill the Kingdom with glory.
The nation of Israel was a foretaste of what was to come. Israel was a microcosm of the Kingdom that was to come and that has begun but is not completed. To prove this point let's go to the New Testament.
"... remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:12, 13
"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22
You see, Paul, the writer of Ephesians, understood Haggai. God is shaking things up. What Israel was a microcosm of is happening now. God is rebuilding the temple to include the desired of all nations.
First of all, if you are a Christian you are one of "the desired". That should blow your mind, but I don't have time to write about that now.
Secondly, so what? What role do I have in the rebuilding of the temple, in the coming of God's Kingdom?
"The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty." According to Haggai God has all the resources needed to rebuild the temple, to make His Kingdom come. That being said we have a role in the job.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
Ok, what are these good works? What would God will us to do?
"He (God) has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure... to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." Ephesians 1:10
See, God has the resources and He has prepared us for the task of building His Kingdom. We are to bring all things together under His rule. Now, He is with us doing this too as He said in another part of Haggai Chapter 2. But we all have a role in doing this. Your role and my role in rebuilding the temple, making His Kingdom come, may be different but they are the roles we were made/prepared to do. That's awesome!
God is shaking things up. He desires to bring you and the desired from all nations into His new temple, His Kingdom. Beyond that, He wants you to be a part of the holy process. Do you want to be a worker in the temple reconstruction? Do you want to be a part of making His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven? Do it. Let's do things that build the temple today.
"'This is what the Lord Almighty says: 'In a little while I will once more shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land. I will shake all nations, and the desired of all nations will come, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the Lord Almighty. 'The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty. 'The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,' says the Lord Almighty. 'And in this place I will grant peace,' declares the Lord Almighty." Haggai 2:6-9.
Do you see this amazing news? God is going to shake things up and bring all nations into His temple! When you read this remember that He is talking about a physical temple. God is encouraging the people of Israel to rebuild the temple. But when you read this remember that He is also talking about the temple as a picture of the Kingdom.
God will bring the desired of all nations into His Kingdom and He will fill the Kingdom with glory.
The nation of Israel was a foretaste of what was to come. Israel was a microcosm of the Kingdom that was to come and that has begun but is not completed. To prove this point let's go to the New Testament.
"... remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ." Ephesians 2:12, 13
"Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and aliens, but fellow citizens with God's people and members of God's household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus Himself as the chief cornerstone. In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in Him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by His Spirit." Ephesians 2:19-22
You see, Paul, the writer of Ephesians, understood Haggai. God is shaking things up. What Israel was a microcosm of is happening now. God is rebuilding the temple to include the desired of all nations.
First of all, if you are a Christian you are one of "the desired". That should blow your mind, but I don't have time to write about that now.
Secondly, so what? What role do I have in the rebuilding of the temple, in the coming of God's Kingdom?
"The silver is mine and the gold is mine,' declares the Lord Almighty." According to Haggai God has all the resources needed to rebuild the temple, to make His Kingdom come. That being said we have a role in the job.
"For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do." Ephesians 2:10
Ok, what are these good works? What would God will us to do?
"He (God) has made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure... to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ." Ephesians 1:10
See, God has the resources and He has prepared us for the task of building His Kingdom. We are to bring all things together under His rule. Now, He is with us doing this too as He said in another part of Haggai Chapter 2. But we all have a role in doing this. Your role and my role in rebuilding the temple, making His Kingdom come, may be different but they are the roles we were made/prepared to do. That's awesome!
God is shaking things up. He desires to bring you and the desired from all nations into His new temple, His Kingdom. Beyond that, He wants you to be a part of the holy process. Do you want to be a worker in the temple reconstruction? Do you want to be a part of making His Kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven? Do it. Let's do things that build the temple today.
Monday, November 19, 2012
Thanksgiving 2012
Thanksgiving is just a couple of days away as I write this. I hope all of you have plenty to be thankful for. Please comment with things you are thankful for because I'd love to read them.
Saturday I was reading Ephesians Chapter 1 with my girlfriend and we came upon a familiar passage that has great meaning this time of year.
"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:15-23
There is so much rich truth in this passage. This passage is a great one to pray for your church but I want us to look at reasons we have to be thankful according to this text.
1) We are to be thankful for the Church and our church.
Paul said he hadn't stopped giving thanks for the church at Ephesus. That church had many problems, as Paul would later detail, but he couldn't stop thanking God for it. The Church and our church is far from perfect but we have so many reasons to be thankful to God for it. I'm thankful, like Paul, for the love my church has for all the saints and for its incredible generosity and the way it is focused on the Gospel. What about your church are you thankful for?
2) We are to be thankful for the Spirit because it reveals God to us.
The Holy Spirit's main job is to point to God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is the person of God that allows us to see God correctly; beyond that He is the person of God that lives in us. How could we not be thankful for that?
3) We are to be thankful for what we have been given and not just hungry for more blessing.
Paul prayed that the church at Ephesus would have their eyes opened to the gifts God already had given them. Those being: The hope to which they/we were called to; that rich inheritance. The incomparable power we were given; the same sort of power that raised and exulted Jesus. The direct leadership of Jesus in our lives; His lordship for our well-being.
What an awesome blessing! So often we keep asking God over and over to bless us, which is a good and Biblical thing to do, but we've already been blessed to the hilt. Does God want to bless us? Absolutely. But in addition to that He wants to open the eyes of our hearts to the immense blessings He has already so richly poured out on all of us. These blessings are enough to live and die for.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. Count your many blessings this week. Thank God for the Church and your church. Be thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to open the eyes of your heart to see the blessings He has surrounded you with today.
Saturday I was reading Ephesians Chapter 1 with my girlfriend and we came upon a familiar passage that has great meaning this time of year.
"For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the Church, which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills everything in every way." Ephesians 1:15-23
There is so much rich truth in this passage. This passage is a great one to pray for your church but I want us to look at reasons we have to be thankful according to this text.
1) We are to be thankful for the Church and our church.
Paul said he hadn't stopped giving thanks for the church at Ephesus. That church had many problems, as Paul would later detail, but he couldn't stop thanking God for it. The Church and our church is far from perfect but we have so many reasons to be thankful to God for it. I'm thankful, like Paul, for the love my church has for all the saints and for its incredible generosity and the way it is focused on the Gospel. What about your church are you thankful for?
2) We are to be thankful for the Spirit because it reveals God to us.
The Holy Spirit's main job is to point to God the Father and God the Son. The Holy Spirit is the person of God that allows us to see God correctly; beyond that He is the person of God that lives in us. How could we not be thankful for that?
3) We are to be thankful for what we have been given and not just hungry for more blessing.
Paul prayed that the church at Ephesus would have their eyes opened to the gifts God already had given them. Those being: The hope to which they/we were called to; that rich inheritance. The incomparable power we were given; the same sort of power that raised and exulted Jesus. The direct leadership of Jesus in our lives; His lordship for our well-being.
What an awesome blessing! So often we keep asking God over and over to bless us, which is a good and Biblical thing to do, but we've already been blessed to the hilt. Does God want to bless us? Absolutely. But in addition to that He wants to open the eyes of our hearts to the immense blessings He has already so richly poured out on all of us. These blessings are enough to live and die for.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family. Count your many blessings this week. Thank God for the Church and your church. Be thankful for the gift of the Holy Spirit. Ask God to open the eyes of your heart to see the blessings He has surrounded you with today.
Monday, November 12, 2012
Unrequited Love
Take some time and read John 13:1-30.
This is the story of Jesus at the Last Supper and the washing of the disciples feet. It is also a story of unrequited love from Jesus to Judas Iscariot.
Let me show you a couple of ways that Jesus showed love to Judas:
Verse 1 "... He now showed them (all the disciples) the full extent of His love." Jesus was going to wash their feet as a visual parable of what he'll do at the cross. Jesus did this for even Judas whom the devil, verse 2, "had already prompted... to betray Jesus."
When Jesus took off his outer garment to wash the disciples' feet He was left with just His tunic on. This was how slaves dressed when they served the meal. Then Jesus washed their feet, which is something Jewish slaves wouldn't even do; only Gentile slaves were required to wash feet. Jesus was placing Himself in the place of servanthood to those that He loved, including Judas. However, slaves weren't the only ones that washed feet. Wives washed the feet of their husbands, children washed the feet of their parents and disciples washed the feet of their teachers. Jesus was demonstrating an intimate love for these men, including Judas.
Jesus humbly served these men, including Judas because of His deep love for them. He was showing them "the full extent of His love." Can you imagine that? Jesus physically kneeling in front of you showing the full extent of His love.
That's why this story of unrequited love is so surprising and sad.
"Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, 'I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me." Jesus was torn up inside thinking that one of His best friends would betray Him.
The unrequited love becomes even more shocking because Jesus shows the full extent of His love not just to the disciples as a group but He goes above and beyond for Judas Iscariot specifically.
When you think about the Last Supper you most likely invision the Di Vinci painting. Well, throw that image out of your mind. For this supper the 13 men were reclining on a couch. Their left arms propped them up as they lay sideways and used their right arms to eat. There were a few places of honor at the table. Three men sat at the head of the horseshoe-shaped table (this is according to scholars) while the other five sat on each side of the horseshoe. The three men at the top of the horseshoe were in the place of honor. The man at the very top had the most honorable spot followed by the man who sat to the left of the guest of honor. Because of how the dipping sequence goes, scholars assume that Judas was at the second most honorable spot. Jesus gave him this spot as an expression of love.
After Jesus showered all of this love and honor on Judas one would think that Judas would change his mind. The devil had prompted Judas to betray Jesus but to this point he had done nothing about it. I would guess, theoretically, Judas could have said "no" to Satan's prompting. Judas, however, did not say "no".
Jesus said when asked who would betray Him, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then Jesus dipped the bread and Judas accepted it. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him yet He showered His love on him. Judas could have backed out but he didn't.
Can you imagine this? One of my biggest fears and a big fear for many is unrequited love. Love isn't much fun unless it's mutual. Unrequited love is the theme of many great works in the genre of tragedy.
Jesus loved Judas even though Judas decided not to love Him back. Many wonder, "how could Judas do that?" Here's the truth: Judas is one of millions. Jesus has shown us all "the full extent of His love" at the cross. We have a more perfect vision of this love than Judas did. Here's the million dollar question: "How could we not love Jesus?" Yet millions will reject Him. Jesus knew that when He sacrificed Himself on the cross. If that isn't love, I don't what is.
Love the one who loved you first today.
This is the story of Jesus at the Last Supper and the washing of the disciples feet. It is also a story of unrequited love from Jesus to Judas Iscariot.
Let me show you a couple of ways that Jesus showed love to Judas:
Verse 1 "... He now showed them (all the disciples) the full extent of His love." Jesus was going to wash their feet as a visual parable of what he'll do at the cross. Jesus did this for even Judas whom the devil, verse 2, "had already prompted... to betray Jesus."
When Jesus took off his outer garment to wash the disciples' feet He was left with just His tunic on. This was how slaves dressed when they served the meal. Then Jesus washed their feet, which is something Jewish slaves wouldn't even do; only Gentile slaves were required to wash feet. Jesus was placing Himself in the place of servanthood to those that He loved, including Judas. However, slaves weren't the only ones that washed feet. Wives washed the feet of their husbands, children washed the feet of their parents and disciples washed the feet of their teachers. Jesus was demonstrating an intimate love for these men, including Judas.
Jesus humbly served these men, including Judas because of His deep love for them. He was showing them "the full extent of His love." Can you imagine that? Jesus physically kneeling in front of you showing the full extent of His love.
That's why this story of unrequited love is so surprising and sad.
"Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, 'I tell you the truth, one of you is going to betray me." Jesus was torn up inside thinking that one of His best friends would betray Him.
The unrequited love becomes even more shocking because Jesus shows the full extent of His love not just to the disciples as a group but He goes above and beyond for Judas Iscariot specifically.
When you think about the Last Supper you most likely invision the Di Vinci painting. Well, throw that image out of your mind. For this supper the 13 men were reclining on a couch. Their left arms propped them up as they lay sideways and used their right arms to eat. There were a few places of honor at the table. Three men sat at the head of the horseshoe-shaped table (this is according to scholars) while the other five sat on each side of the horseshoe. The three men at the top of the horseshoe were in the place of honor. The man at the very top had the most honorable spot followed by the man who sat to the left of the guest of honor. Because of how the dipping sequence goes, scholars assume that Judas was at the second most honorable spot. Jesus gave him this spot as an expression of love.
After Jesus showered all of this love and honor on Judas one would think that Judas would change his mind. The devil had prompted Judas to betray Jesus but to this point he had done nothing about it. I would guess, theoretically, Judas could have said "no" to Satan's prompting. Judas, however, did not say "no".
Jesus said when asked who would betray Him, "It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish." Then Jesus dipped the bread and Judas accepted it. Jesus knew Judas would betray Him yet He showered His love on him. Judas could have backed out but he didn't.
Can you imagine this? One of my biggest fears and a big fear for many is unrequited love. Love isn't much fun unless it's mutual. Unrequited love is the theme of many great works in the genre of tragedy.
Jesus loved Judas even though Judas decided not to love Him back. Many wonder, "how could Judas do that?" Here's the truth: Judas is one of millions. Jesus has shown us all "the full extent of His love" at the cross. We have a more perfect vision of this love than Judas did. Here's the million dollar question: "How could we not love Jesus?" Yet millions will reject Him. Jesus knew that when He sacrificed Himself on the cross. If that isn't love, I don't what is.
Love the one who loved you first today.
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