Tag: Mirror of the Passion

Posted in 2022 Lent Devotions

One last miracle

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Mirror of the Passion” Lent devotion for March 15, 2022. Photo by Megan Bagshaw on Unsplash

“And when those who were around [Jesus] saw what would follow, they said, ‘Lord, shall we strike with the sword?’ One of them struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his right ear. But Jesus said, ‘No more of this!’ And he touched his ear and healed him.” (Luke 22:49-51)

Great. All Jesus needs is someone else to heal. Crowds of people with every kind of ailment and demon followed him everywhere he went, and he healed them all. Lepers at a distance and blind beggars by the side of the road cried out for mercy. Roman soldiers and synagogue leaders came to Jesus for help. The flow of people into Jesus’ “clinic” never stopped. He had to sneak away at night to get away from them, to get some rest, and to say some prayers.

Sleepy, scared disciples think it’s time to fight. They start swinging swords and draw first blood. The moment has all the makings of a blood-fest, until Jesus makes them stop. There will be a struggle. And it will be bloody. But not here. Not now.

How often do we feel like we need to defend Jesus? We confess him to be almighty. Death has no power over him. He’s got plenty of angels for backup. And yet we get into fights over Jesus. Sadly, we get into fights with other believers over Jesus. And too often, when we start throwing words around, someone gets hurt.

It doesn’t take much to put us on the defensive. Simple comments like, “That’s not what Jesus said,” or “That’s not what Jesus meant,” or “I’m not even sure Jesus existed,” immediately raises our alert level to Defcon 5. Those are fighting words. We’ll prove them wrong. We’re going to set them straight. We’ll shut them up. Jesus can count on us!

When we feel that way, do we take a moment to understand why someone has a different belief than us? Do we listen to understand why they believe (or not believe) what they do? Do we know the story behind their comment? We start swinging before we even know what we’re up against.

The only casualty in the garden was the servant of the high priest. A servant. I’ll bet he didn’t even know why he was there. He was part of a mob sent to bring in Jesus, whoever that was. He found out real quickly who that was. But not from the disciples. From Jesus, who reattached his ear. It was Jesus’ final miracle before his passion.

Do you think someone asked, “Why is there blood on your neck and clothes? I don’t see any wounds.” Just think how many times the servant got to tell the story of that night.

Before you fight, think about this moment. Think of the servant’s ear. Listen to stories. And let us hear yours.

Thanks for doing one more miracle, Lord. Amen.

Posted in 2022 Lent Devotions

A kiss

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Mirror of the Passion” Lent devotion for March 14, 2022. Photo by Jonathan Borba on Unsplash

While he was still speaking, there came a crowd, and the man called Judas, one of the twelve, was leading them. He drew near to Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:47-48)

We kiss our babies. Our spouses. Those we love one last time before they close the casket. A kiss is a universal expression of affection and love. We think long and hard before we finally lean in to kiss a special someone for the very first time. And when we do, it’s the best thing ever!

Judas’ kiss is different. It is well thought out. It will signal a waiting mob so they know who to arrest. It will reveal Jesus to those who want to kill him. It is the ultimate betrayal.

Can you see yourself in this moment? Who are you in this scene? Are you the one being betrayed? Or are you the betray-er? Or are you simply there to watch this scene play out?

Our is a world of mixed signals. A nod might mean “how ya doing’?” rather than “Yes.” A wink can mean “just kidding” instead of “how you doin’?” Body language that says, “No,” as the person nods and says, “Yes!” Does the kiss mean, “I love you,” or “Buh-bye”?

There are some wonderful kisses in the bible. When Esau and Jacob reconcile, when Joseph reveals himself to his brothers in Egypt, and when a woman kisses the feet of Jesus after wiping them with her hair. There are terrible kisses in the bible, too. When Isaac thinks he’s kissing and blessing his son Esau, when it’s really Jacob (Genesis 27:26). Or when Absalom slowly but surely steals allegiance from his father, David (2 Samuel 15:5). Or just before Joab stabs Amasa (2 Samuel 20:8-10).

Jesus knew what this kiss meant. He got the message and so did the mob.

Do you get the message? It’s easy to say, “I love Jesus.” It’s not so easy to live like we do. Jesus said, “If you love me, you’ll keep my commandments.” But we don’t. Talk about mixed signals.

The only clear message is his love for us, a love we can be sure of because he came, was kissed and betrayed, was crucified and died for us. No mixed messages here. He is love. He loves us. He loves me.

Thank you for the love note, Lord. Amen.

Posted in 2022 Lent Devotions

Asleep

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Mirror of the Passion” Lent devotion for March 13, 2022. Photo by bruce mars on Unsplash

“And when [Jesus] rose from prayer, he came to the disciples and found them sleeping for sorrow, and he said to them, ‘Why are you sleeping?'” (Luke 22:45,46)

I can see myself in that group of sleeping disciples. I doze off watching TV at night. I’ve struggled to stay awake during conference presentations. And conference worship sermons. My eyelids get heavy every afternoon about 1:30. A nice big meal with a few glasses of wine (the Passover meal) must have made it difficult to stay awake for an evening prayer meeting.

Now sometimes, Jesus stayed up all night praying (Luke 6:12). He had met with Nicodemus after dark. Just a few years ago, the disciples’ routine was staying out all night, casting their nets from the fishing boats.

But this night was different. At the meal, Jesus told the disciples it would be his body broken and his blood poured out. Then he dropped the betrayal and denial bombs. On top of that, they would soon need moneybags, knapsacks and swords. I think they were emotionally drained. Exhausted. They found it impossible to stay awake.

As I shared with the congregation in a sermon just a few days ago, it’s hard to pray for an hour. I remember trying to fill a one-hour slot in a twenty-four hour prayer vigil. When I glanced at my watch after a long list of petitions, I saw I had only fifty-three more minutes to go. It’s a lot harder than it sounds.

At least it is when you feel like you have to do all the talking. But if prayer is actually a conversation, you can listen, too. Jesus can pray for an hour or all night. Let him do the heavy lifting. Listen to his voice. Read the word aloud. The red letters. Lots of psalms. Take some notes. Write down a few questions. Draw some pictures. Nowhere in the bible does it say you have to fold your hands, bow your head, and close your eyes to pray. I don’t even know who came up with that posture. In the bible, don’t people lift their heads, raise their hands, and shout to the Lord?

I know you’ve read about folks who get up early to pray for two or three hours each day. I’m not one of them. As I mentioned above, I’m lucky if I last seven minutes. Long texts on my phone. Sorry, I zone out after one screen. A more-than-one-page Christmas letter? I scan the pictures. If you ask me to pray before a meal, don’t worry. Your food will still be hot. I max out at 30 seconds. I get to the point.

Lord, I’m awake. But I might drift off any minute. Thanks for hearing my prayer. Amen.

Posted in 2022 Lent Devotions

Locked and loaded

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Mirror of the Passion” Lent devotion for March 12, 2022. Photo by Some Tale on Unsplash

“They said, “Look, Lord, here are two swords.” (Luke 22:38)

My friend Floyd was a retired insurance investigator who frequented our men’s bible study breakfast and helped out with ushering as much as he could at church. I remember him sitting in the back of the sanctuary one Sunday morning before worship, talking politics and handguns with a few other gentlemen. As I walked by, I heard him say, “Like this one…” as he pulled up the leg of his trousers so they could see his ankle holster and pistol. That’s the first time I realized members of the congregation were packing when they came to church.

After Jesus has the Passover meal with his disciples but before they get to the garden where he prays, he mentions that they’re going to need weapons. If you don’t have one, sell your cloak and buy a sword. They didn’t need to take anything when he sent them out to preach and heal. But that was all about to change. They are going to see the scriptures fulfilled before their eyes as Jesus is considered to be a criminal. It’s going to get rough. You might want to have some protection.

The disciples say, “Don’t worry, we’re ready. We’ve got a couple of swords.” They had swords? They had swords strapped to their legs as they reclined at the table with Jesus at the Passover meal? And when they started arguing about who was the greatest? What if one of them had a few too many glasses of wine and pulled that out in the upper room? That painting of the last supper might have ended up rated R for graphic violence!

I could not tell you exactly how many men and women kneel at the altar for holy communion carrying a concealed weapon. I know more than a handful are ready to shoot. They are ready to – how do you say it – “take them out.”

I have mixed feelings about all of this. On the one hand, I’m glad I’ve got some folks watching my back. On the other hand, I’m afraid of the majority who have had little training in using a deadly weapon.

So you’re ready to fight other people. But are you ready to fight the real enemy? Remember, our struggle is not with flesh and blood but with the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12). How well do you wield the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph. 6:17)? It’s going to be rough. You might want to have some of that protection!

If you are going to carry, you better get out on the range and do some shooting. It’s not as easy as you think. Same goes for the Word. Practice. Stay sharp. And pray (Eph 6:18).

Thanks for the Word, Lord. Don’t let me underestimate it’s power. Amen.

Posted in 2022 Lent Devotions

I do

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Mirror of the Passion” Lent devotion for March 11, 2022. Photo by Marco Chilese on Unsplash

 Peter said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both to prison and to death.” (Luke 22:33)

Pretty bold, huh?

At our church, when young people are confirmed or we receive new members, I ask, “Do you intend to continue steadfast in this confession and Church and to suffer all, even death, rather than fall away from it?”

And you know what? Everyone responds, “I do, by the grace of God.”

Just like Peter, I doubt that we understand what we are promising. Kind of like looking in the eyes of our spouse at the altar and repeating the vow, “Til death parts us.” I believe we are sincere. I believe we believe we can do this. I also believe we have no idea what’s coming.

Peter might have been ready for prison and death. But he wasn’t  ready for a servant girl’s simple statement, “This man was with Jesus” (Luke 22:56-57). He had no clue how hard it would be to remain faithful.

I confess, I’ve become cynical. Too many people have said, “I do,” and never come to worship with us (or anyone else) again. Too many have come back and asked me to perform their second or third marriage. Many, dissatisfied with their church, went to another. Were they threatened with prison or death? No. They simply ran up against the challenge of being faithful.

Rarely do we understand the commitments we make. “I’m going to get up and exercise every day.” But then on day two you are too sore to move and you’re done. “I’m going to learn how to play the guitar.” But you had to work overtime and the dog got sick and there was no time to practice. “If we get a dog, I promise I’ll feed and walk him every day.” But it’s raining. And there was a meeting after school. And I forgot. Thirty-six payments in and you’re wondering, “Isn’t this car paid off yet?”

Peter, you’re not ready. Neither are we, really. And so we fail, and we fall hard on the grace of God. Those who haven’t missed a Sunday in years confess that we have failed to love God and love our neighbor. Those who have been married for fifty years or more confess that they have sinned and need God’s forgiveness. Those who preach and teach stand at a distance and say, “Lord, have mercy on me a sinner.”

The foundation of our faith is never our intention or our strength. It’s him. He’s our rock, our refuge, and our fortress.

There is no other.

I do – by your grace alone, Lord. Amen.

Posted in 2022 Lent Devotions

Sifted

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Mirror of the Passion” Lent devotion for March 10, 2022. Photo by Irena Carpaccio on Unsplash

“Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.” (Luke 22:31-32)

The biblical way of sifting wheat was to beat it, loosening the outer hull from the edible grain. It sounds like Jesus is saying that Satan wants to knock Simon around a little bit, much like he beat up on Job. Jesus doesn’t do anything to prevent this. He just says, “I’ll pray for you, Simon. I’ll pray that your faith holds out. But don’t worry, when you do fail, you’ll have a great ministry.

Gee, thanks Jesus. I thought you were on my side. I can get all kinds of people to pray for me. I was hoping a little more from you. If Satan is after me, I could use protection, like the shield of faith. Or a refuge where I can be safe. Or your word that commands the demons and makes them obey. Or that sword thing that comes out of your mouth in Revelation. How about this: I pray and you deliver me from evil? You be the lion tamer!

I don’t like what I see in this mirror. I don’t like seeing myself with a target on my back. Having lost the war in heaven, the devil is out to get the faithful (Revelation 12:17). Anyone who confesses that Jesus is Lord can expect sifting.

Scripture is filled with the failures of the sifted faithful. Moses hit the rock. Samson got a hair cut. Saul made up his own rules. David pointed his binoculars the wrong way. Solomon got carried away with wives. Jeremiah hated his job description. Habakkuk was fed up with divine apathy.

We’ve each got our own chapter of failed faith to add to the history of the church. Grief, anger, discouragement, frustration, fear have beaten the husks of false security from our lives leaving us with…Jesus. The one who intercedes for us at the right hand of God now uses us to encourage our brothers and sisters. Satan may attack everything we hold dear and take for granted, but he can never separate us from God’s love for us in Christ Jesus.

Thanks for your prayers, Jesus. This hurts a lot more than I thought it would. Amen.

Posted in 2022 Lent Devotions

He knows

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Mirror of the Passion” Lent devotion for March 8, 2022. Photo by Zach Reiner on Unsplash

[Jesus said,] “But behold, the hand of him who betrays me is with me on the table. For the Son of Man goes as it has been determined, but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed!” And they began to question one another, which of them it could be who was going to do this. (Luke 22:21-23)

This is a chilling moment. The betrayer is in the room. He is at the table with them. It is one of the twelve. Who is it? Who could do such a thing?

The room explodes with questions. “Where were you last night?” “Who was that I saw you talking to yesterday?” “That’s a pretty nice robe. Where did you get the money for that?” “Why are you looking at me? I didn’t do it!” “Look at Thaddeus. Yeah, he’s sweating. I’ll bet it’s him.” “Oh, yeah? Come over here and say that!”

When Jesus told his disciples he was going to be rejected, killed, and raised, they were shocked. They couldn’t wrap their minds around his words. They didn’t even know what questions to ask. And now one of them was involved in the plot? This really shook them up.

Who can you trust? It’s estimated that over half of all murders are committed by someone who knew the victim. A quarter are killed by a family member. Think about that the next time you attend a family gathering.

How well do you really know the folks you go to church with? We do background checks for everyone who works with children and youth. But what about everyone else? Think about that the next time you attend choir practice or take a big scoop of the green jello salad at the potluck or go out to lunch with that friendly couple you met at worship today.

Yes, think about that the next time you kneel for communion. Look up and down the rail. You’re looking at those for whose sins Jesus died. Do you have any idea what they have done?

They are looking back at you. You were in on it. Jesus is the blameless one. He was nailed to the cross because of your sin. They don’t know what you did, but it must have been bad.

And yet, there we all are at the table. Jesus knows. He knows what you’ve done. He wants you to know that he knows. He wants to make sure you never underestimate how much it hurt when they crucified him in your place. He wants to be sure you never underestimate how much he loves you.

Lord, you know. I know you know. How could you still love me so much?

Posted in 2022 Lent Devotions

For you

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Mirror of the Passion” for March 7, 2022. Photo by Kostiantyn Li on Unsplash

“[Jesus] took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.” (Luke 22:19-20)

Someone returns from shopping, hands you a bag and says, “I got something for you.” Or they look at the name on the gift under the Christmas tree and say, “This one’s for you.” After paying for a meal, you hand a little extra cash to the server and say, “This is for you.”

There is something about the words “for you” that gets me every time. My heart skips a beat. I blush, just a little. “For me? What is it? Oh, wow, thank you. Hey, look what I got!” Other times I feel guilty. “You didn’t have to get me anything. I didn’t get anything for you.”

We look into this mirror a lot. We hear these words every time we kneel for holy communion.

This is for you – even if you’re a traitor, a coward, a thief, doubtful, or a deserter. (Like the disciples)

This is for you – when you worked hard, did a great job, and feel really good about yourself. (We all have good days.)

This is for you – even if you broke your promise, were caught red-handed, and then lied about it. Again. (We all have days like that, too.)

This is for you – even if you don’t know who you’ve disappointed, ignored, or hurt. (We can be oblivious.)

This is for you – even if you’re feeling disappointed, ignored, and hurt. (We know how it feels.)

This is for you – even though it didn’t make a bit of difference last time.

This is for you – even if it changed everything last time.

The words “for you” bring God’s amazing grace home to us. Grace means no conditions. No strings attached. Expecting nothing in return. Jesus’ body was broken for us. His blood was poured out for us. While we were sinners.

Listen for those words. Let the “for you” of the sacrament shock, surprise, and reassure you each and every time.

Lord, you shouldn’t have. But I am so glad you did it all for me. Amen.

Posted in 2022 Lent Devotions

Reclining with Jesus

Posted on by William Douthwaite

“Mirror of the Passion” Lent devotion for March 6, 2022. Photo by Will Porada on Unsplash

“And when the hour came, he reclined at table, and the apostles with him.” (Luke 22:14)

Doesn’t that sound nice? Just sit back, relax, and in good middle eastern fashion, actually lie down around a table of good food with Jesus. Propped up on one elbow, you run a piece of bread through some hummus or grab some ripe olives. As you refill your wine glass, smiles and laughter fill the room as Jesus tells stories about farmers or fields or fish.

Is that how you picture an evening meal with Jesus? Or do you think it would be much more somber, serious and intense? Would you joke and kid around with Jesus? Or would you be very proper and polite? Would you eat as you usually do? Or would you take a few extra vegetables so he would think you ate healthy? Paper plates or nice dishes? Would you let your dog sit there and watch him eat, waiting for something to hit the floor? Would you tell your kids to sit up straight?

I find it hard to picture myself at a table with Jesus in my home, at a restaurant or at a banquet. It helps to think of Jesus at Levi’s house, with a big group of other tax collectors (Luke 5:28). I imagine that group knew how to have a good time. When he ate at a Pharisee’s house, he didn’t go through all the formal ritual washings (Luke 11:37-38). When he told the parable of the great banquet, the room was filled with anyone and everyone off the street (Luke 14:21). When the lost son comes home, the father throws a big party, complete with music and dancing (Luke 15:22-25). I’m not saying that Jesus got carried away, but some people did call him a “glutton and a drunkard” (John 11:19). He simply enjoyed being around all the people he came to seek and save.

So let’s take that and run with it. If Jesus is comfortable around us, we can let down our guard and be comfortable around him. If he likes holding kids, he won’t mind them spilling drinks across the table. After the resurrection, Jesus ate fish on the beach with his disciples, so it’s ok to grill a few burgers and brats. He may be a little messy when he eats if crumbs of his grace fall to the ground for anyone and everyone. You don’t even need to clean the house. Jesus told Martha to relax. He’d rather just spend some time with her.

I like to picture myself reclining with Jesus in the recliners in my living room. Just sit back, talk, have a snack. He wants to spend time with us, too. Eternity, to be exact. Which is why he came.

(Oh, and if he brings a bottle of wine when he comes over, open that one first!)

Lord, I can’t wait to sit back and relax with you. Amen.