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Published: 26 March 2015

Well, actually, I don't always love parades. Some of them are just boring. The song by that title came out in the 30's and I think there was a cartoon and movie by the same name. Parades have been going on for a long time. They serve as occasions of celebration for one thing or another. Many years ago, parades were for the return of armies with their captives humbly in tow. In our day we have people driving tractors, fire trucks and old cars. We have Shriners, Bands, Politicians and dancing children. The parade we'll be studying this coming Sunday is often called "The Triumphal Entry." It wasn't very triumphal in reality because that wasn't the purpose. Jesus was a King for sure but He wasn't coming for conquest even though many would have been happy if He had. The first day of the week was the day set aside for the selection of a sacrificial lamb. John the Baptist had forecast Jesus' role in the redemptive plan several years earlier when he said, "Behold the Lamb of God that takes away the sin of the world." Jesus came to Jerusalem that day as the Lamb of God. His first arrival to earth was for the purpose of redemption, His second arrival will be for triumph. Jesus will indeed have a Triumphal Entry and every eye will see Him! But the entrance to Jerusalem just prior to the Passover Celebration was to provide the once for all sacrifice for sins that had been symbolized by the death of animals for over 1500 years. Peter later wrote, in 1 Peter 1:18-21, "For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your forefathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake. Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God." Our faith and hope are indeed in God and that is something to celebrate! Pray for and cultivate a tender heart for the week before us—remember what has been done to secure your forgiveness and "be ye thankful."

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Published: 19 March 2015

Have you ever heard someone say, "I don't get mad, I get even?" I've not only heard it, I've said it! It sounds virtuous on the surface, as if getting even is somehow better than a temper tantrum! There is no virtue in getting even. In fact, according to Jesus, it is contrary to the atmosphere and character of the Kingdom of Heaven. Imagine how different the world would be if we took Jesus' advice. How different would you be in your inner life, if you left those things that you are mad about at the foot of the cross? How would your stress lessen if you chose not to take everything so personally? What if you resolved today that, as a follower of Jesus, forgiveness would be your paradigm no matter what? It probably goes without saying but I feel I need to say it, Jesus was not laying down a new rule for a utopian society. In our text for Sunday, (Matthew 18:21-35), we'll see that Jesus was teaching us how to live with one another as Kingdom citizens in the "every-day." Of course there will be consequences for law-breakers and violators of moral conduct. The "powers that be" are responsible before Him to see that justice is carried out. Truthfully, most of us don't live in that realm every day. We do however, have husbands, wives, kids, siblings, parents, neighbors and work associates that intentionally or unintentionally hurt us. We live in a broken world and offenses are sure to come. What do we do? How do we respond? When we have been cranky, we want people to understand and "cut us some slack." But when people are cranky to us, are we quick to extend the same grace? It would be better for them AND FOR US if we did. We must never forget that the teachings of Jesus are not burdensome. The apostle John meant that Jesus' commands are not to make our lives worse but rather, His teachings are for our good. As we have sometimes said, Jesus came to give us a flourishing life. That life will not be possible if we disregard His good teachings. His teachings about forgiveness are good...good for us...and good for others. As we will see Sunday, if we are quick to take offence and slow to forgive, we should really question whether we have received God's forgiveness. Once we really understand and experience God's grace, it will change us. When we understand the magnitude of our sins to God, the sins of others against us will begin to seem pretty small. Don't get mad, don't get even...forgive as you have been forgiven.