MARY’S LITTLE BOY

Mary heard a noise and when she looked up saw her son. He seemed so tall. When did her little boy get to be a man? Funny, she didn’t feel old enough to have a child in his 30s.

“Jesus,” she said. “I did not expect to see you today.”

Looking at his mother, Jesus began to speak. “Mother, I…”

Mary, feeling a sharp pain in her stomach, quickly cut him off. “Are you here to tell me you healed someone?”

Jesus tried to continue, “No, mother, I came to..”

Again Mary spoke, “I know. You walked on water again and Peter tried but failed. ---

“No, mother, I came to…” Jesus tried again.

--- Oh, how I laughed when you told me that story. All I could think about was when you were learning to walk and tried to escape to the courtyard. You must have fallen three or four times, but you were one determined child. You just got back up. Took a step. And fell again.”

Falling silent, Mary rose from her chair. She looked into Jesus’ eyes. Her tear quietly fell to the floor.

Taking his mother into his arms, Jesus said, “Mother, the time is near. Are you ready? Do you understand?”

Feeling the floor shake beneath her, Mary sat down. She dropped her head. Tears now streaming down her cheeks. Her heart about to burst. It was as if ….

As if what? She did not know what to feel? Pride? Dread? Humility? Anger? Confusion? Sadness?

Yes, that was it. Sadness.

“Are there any words I can use to make this easier?” Jesus asked his mother.

Mary simply nodded her head no. She was afraid to look into his eyes again. She knew that if she did that she would beg him to stay. Beg him to wait just a bit longer. He was so young. Wasn’t there more he could do here? Did he really have to do this?

Just then, Mary remembered. She remembered the angel. She remembered the birth. She remembered her son in the temple. She remembered the miracles. She remembered…..

Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour with God. And behold, thou shall conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son and shalt call his name JESUS. He shall be great and shall be called the Son of the Highest.

Only then was Mary able to lift her head. Only then was Mary able to stand. Only then was Mary able to take the hand of her son.

Only then was Mary able to tell her son goodbye.

And Mary watched the Son of God turn and walk away.

SCRIPTURE: JOHN 3:16

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. OH NO. IT IS TRUE!

TODAYS SCRIPTURES:

They kept asking, "What does he mean by 'a little while'? We don't understand what he is saying." John 16:18

Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. Mark 15:15

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, "This is what is written: The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem." Luke 24:44-47

I DO NOT UNDERSTAND. OH NO. IT IS TRUE!

When I am having a tough time understanding a passage, of the Bible, or I just cannot grasp a theological concept, I remember the disciples. They just did not get it.

They did not understand. Jesus had just washed their feet. He broke the bread. He took the cup. They had heard all of the parables. They had seen the miracles. They had been with Jesus when he prayed. When he read the scriptures. And they still did not understand. That is when Jesus used words they could understand. Jesus told them, "I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father." (John 16:28)

Wow. The disciples finally understood, but with understanding came reality. "I am leaving." What emotions and feelings and pangs of regret the disciples must have felt as that night and the next day moved before them. Have you ever felt like you were an observer at an event? Not part of it, but as if life was moving and all you could do was stand there? Stand there helpless. I am sure that is how they felt as they watched Jesus being taken prisoner. Being condemned. Being flogged. Being crucified. "I am leaving you." OH NO.

Then came Easter. The tomb was empty. Jesus was not there. Then Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene. And the disciples. And many others. Jesus is alive.

The Christ will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem.

Jesus is alive. IT IS TRUE!

QUESTION OF THE DAY

Do you celebrate a risen Lord?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Jesus is alive. Jesus is alive. I want to shout it from the rooftops. I want to whisper it into the ears of every baby. I may not understand every verse in the Bible. I may not comprehend theological concepts. But I know Jesus is alive. And he is alive for all. Thank you, my Lord Jesus. Thank you. Thank you. Jesus is alive! Amen

LAST MOMENTS FLY BY

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: MARK 14:41

Returning the third time, he said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!"

LAST MOMENTS FLY BY

In last week's devotional, the two disciples had prepared the Upper Room for Passover. I imagined their last comment to be, "I have a feeling this is going to be a very important evening with Jesus." They had no idea how important.

It seems life happens in slow motion and then, wham, life spins at lightening speed. It must have been like that for all involved in Jesus' life. I bet they thought they had many years with Jesus. Years to learn. Years to help him spread the good news. They thought they had years, when they only had hours.

Lazarus, Martha and Mary did not know they would never again have Jesus as a guest in their home. Those that followed Jesus, to hear him speak or to be healed, had no idea they would never hear Jesus tell another parable or see Jesus perform another miracle. Mary never realized the pain her heart would shortly feel. They thought they had years, when they only had hours.

The Last Supper. Praying in the garden. The betrayal. The trial. The cross. The grave. The resurrection. Life spinning at lightening speed.

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

How would you live your life if you knew you had -- not years -- but hours? What regrets do you think Jesus' friends had? The disciples? Mary?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

Dear Risen Lord, Easter is such a time of emotions. The elation of sharing the Last Supper. A lonely prayer. The chaos of an arrest and trial. The sound of a hammer on nails. The tears shed at the foot of the cross. The confusion of an empty tomb. The joy and triumph of a risen savior. Thank you, God, for sending your Son. Thank you, Jesus, for taking my sins. …… Amen

PREPARING THE UPPER ROOM

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE: MARK 14:12-17

On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus disciples asked him, "Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?"

So he sent two of his disciplines, telling them, "Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, 'The Teacher asks: Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?' He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready. Make preparations for us there."

The disciples left, went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them. So they prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve.

PREPARING THE UPPER ROOM

I like to use my imagination to fill in the gaps. This scripture says that the two disciples went to prepare the room. They were disciples, but they were men. Normal humans. I know when we set up tables, for a dinner at church, we talk. I think the disciples talked too. This is what I think their conversation would have been:

"This has been one crazy week. Could you believe what happened when Jesus entered town?"

"Yes, Jesus told us to go find a donkey. He told us where to look and what to say if anyone asked what we were doing. And the donkey and its colt were right there. Just like he said."

"I have never seen a crowd put their cloaks on the ground for a donkey to walk on."

"And tree branches."

"Did you hear what they shouted?"

"Hosanna, to the Son of David. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the lord! Hosanna in the highest."

"Do you think Jesus has been different this week?"

"How?"

"Reflective sometimes and like he knows what is going to happen. Just like finding the donkey, he told us exactly where to find this room for our meal. And have you ever seen him get as mad as he got at the temple?"

"I say! Stuff sure went flying when he overturned the tables."

"He called it 'His Father's House.' "

"Did you see the look on the chief priests face?"

"Yes, and the teachers of the law too. I am afraid they will be after Jesus even more now. We must keep our eyes and ears open."

"Have you seen Judas?"

"No, I don't know where he is."

"Another thing. Jesus has told us so many parables the last few days."

"I have learned so much, but he could have left out the part about paying taxes to Caesar."

"I agree about the taxes. Sure wish I didn't have to pay taxes."

"Did you see Jesus' face when he was telling us 'to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind'? He was so serious. I felt like he was speaking just to me."

"I was confused when he talked about the temple being rebuilt in three days. I thought I understood what Jesus was trying to teach us until then."

"Maybe, this evening, we can ask him to explain about the temple being rebuilt."

"What about when the woman poured the expensive perfume on his head? He sure set us straight on that. But why would she have been preparing him for burial now?"

"Is that everything? Are we ready for the Passover meal?"

(Judas comes in)

"Oh, Judas. Where have you been?"

Judas replied, "I. I. I had some business to take care of."

"I think we are ready. Let us go and find Jesus so we can come into this room with him."

"I have a feeling this is going to be a very important evening with Jesus."

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Does this sound like what might have been discussed during the preparing of the Upper Room? A lot happened between Palm Sunday and the Last Supper. Would you have had questions? Would you have wondered what was going to happen? What would you have asked Jesus to explain that night? Would you have understood why he was washing your feet? Giving you the bread? And the cup?

Please use this as a beginning of your prayer. Finish in your own words, words from your heart.

LET US PRAY

My Jesus, How you must have felt during that Last Supper. Thinking about all that had happened - Hearing Hosanna. Clearing your Father's house. Trying to open the eyes of the disciples so they would understand. And all the time knowing that the cross was ahead of you. All the time prepared to do your Father's will. Dear Jesus, give me a tenth of that loyalty and dedication to my Father's will. And when I go to the garden to pray, let my Spirit say, "Thy will be done." ………………………………… Amen