GETTING READY – Part 1

I am amazed at how long it takes to get ready to do --- to do... just about anything. 

Time to go on vacation means:  Decide where to go, make reservations, map out a route, stop the mail and the papers, pack, go to the bank, fill the gas tank, make sure you have all the kids, and depart.

Time to do spring cleaning means:  Check for cleaning supplies, go to store, decide where to begin, move all the items out of the room that do not belong there, and wait till tomorrow because, now, it is too late in the day to start.

Even an everyday chore can take time.  Time to fix a meal:  Decide what to fix, change the menu because no one else wants that, look for ingredients, change the menu again because certain items are not where they belong, finally reach for the eggs, and fix breakfast for dinner.

Time to prepare for Easter:  Look at the calendar, realize Easter is in two weeks, panic, order the ham or make reservations, go shopping, go shopping again because the perfect Easter outfit was not there the first trip, remember to go to Maundy Thursday Service but decide you can skip Good Friday Service, set the table, put the ham in the oven, spill something on the new outfit and change into the best you have (Why the best?  Because there will be people there you have not seen since last Easter.), and, finally, leave for church.

GETTING READY JESUS’ WAY

What an interesting thought.  Getting ready Jesus’ way. 

Time to prepare:  Tell the disciples again and again and again that I will be condemned to death, mocked, flogged, crucified, and raised to life.  I still have time to teach them with parables they can understand. First we have to get to Jerusalem and have the Passover.  Then my time will come.

Reading the scriptures, it struck me that Jesus spent his time making sure the disciples were prepared.  He even washed their feet.  He comforted them.

You know the way to the place where I am going.

Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father.

And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you

and be with you forever --- the Spirit of truth.

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name,

will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

Portions of John 14

GETTING READY

Time to prepare for Easter:  Honestly, there is not much wrong with the way we prepare for Easter.   UNLESS – Unless we spend more time preparing for the dinner after church than we spend time:

Finding the way to Jesus

Seeing the Father through Jesus

Receiving the Spirit of truth / the Advocate / the Holy Spirit

Having hearts that are not troubled and not afraid

How do you prepare for Easter?