John 20:1-18
Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, "They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!" So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter, who was behind him, arrived and went into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the burial cloth that had been around Jesus’ head. The cloth was folded up by itself, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.)
Then the disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, "Woman, why are you crying?" They have taken my Lord away," she said, "and I don’t know where they have put him." At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus. "Woman," he said, "why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?" Thinking he was the gardener, she said, "Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him." Jesus said to her, "Mary." She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, "Rabboni!" (which means Teacher). Jesus said, "Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’" Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: "I have seen the Lord!" And she told them that he had said these things to her.
What strikes you about this passage?
Can you imagine this scene? What does Mary think, initially, has happened to Jesus? What about Peter and "other disciple" (presumably John)?
Why was Jesus unrecognizable to Mary?
Sunday, September 28, 2008
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I saw this story this afternoon:
(AP) It wasn't just the caffeine that gave an Iowa woman an extra jolt after she had her morning coffee. It was also the bat she found in the filter.
The Iowa Department of Public Health says the woman reported a bat in her house but wasn't too worried about it. She turned on her automatic coffee maker before bedtime and drank her coffee the next morning.
She discovered the bat in the filter when she went to clean it that night. The woman has undergone treatment for possible rabies.
Health officials say that the bat was sent to a lab but that its brain was too cooked by the hot water to determine whether it had rabies.
I always prepare my coffee before I go to bed, and it brews the next morning via a timer. I think I may need to re-think this practice.
I wonder if this lady's coffee tasted any different. Maybe it was a dark roast?
So how are you?
I had a great weekend! Luke came home. It was his first trip home since he left 6 weeks ago. I miss him terribly, but I am so pleased that he is doing well at Lipscomb. He is really enjoying his engineering study. He is getting to help build a mini baja-type car, which will be raced at Auburn in the spring. He is excited about that.
On Friday I smoked some baby back ribs for Luke's homecoming. I used mesquite wood.
Well, you know it was pretty windy on Friday afternoon. And I left my truck windows down. Evidently the smoke went right in the truck window and settled there, because every time I get in the truck I smell this beautiful fragrance of smokey mesquite. My mouth waters and pleasant memories rush to my mind.
OK, what about the resurrection?
Can you prove that it happened? How?
So what do think about the big financial mess?
I am getting really tired of the mean-spirited politicization of just about everything these days.
Here's a leftover from last Sunday's sermon. We focused on the phrase, "look at the One pierced."
We did not use this passage; just didn't quite fit.
Revelation 1:4-8
John,
To the seven churches in the province of Asia:
Grace and peace to you from him who is, and who was, and who is to come, and from the seven spirits before his throne, and from Jesus Christ, who is the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.
To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father—to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.
Look, he is coming with the clouds,
and every eye will see him,
even those who pierced him;
and all the peoples of the earth will mourn because of him.
So shall it be! Amen. “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty.”
THIS is worth reading.
Saw this and thought it was worth sharing.
Words of wisdom
by Anonymous
Health Food
An apple a day
Keeps the doctor away.
Proverbial Advice on Keeping Healthy
Early to bed and early to rise,
Makes a man healthy, wealthy and wise.
After dinner sit a while;
After supper walk a mile.
If you wish to live for ever,
You must wash milk from your liver.
He that would live for aye
Must eat sage in May.
Button to chin
Till May be in;
Cast not a clout
Till May be out.
Our fathers, who were wondrous wise,
Did wash their throats before they washed their eyes.
The head and the feet keep warm;
The rest will take no harm
Use three physicians' skill: first, Dr Quiet,
Then Dr. Merriman and Doctor Diet.
Untitled
When black snails cross your path,
Black clouds much moisture hath.
Evening red and morning grey,
Are the sure signs of a fine day.
Red sky in the morning,
Shepherd's warning.
Red sky at night,
Shepherd's delight.
I before E
I before E,
Except after C
(Or when it's 'eigh'
, As in 'neighbour' or 'weigh')
Stalagmites and Stalactites
The mites go up
And the tites come down.
Recipe for a Pleasant Dinner-Party
A round table, holding eight;
A hearty welcome and little state;
One dish set on a time,
As plain as you please, but always prime;
Beer for asking for—and in pewter;
Servants who don't require a tutor;
Talking guests and dumb-waiters; Warm plates and hot potaters.
How am I going to preach our passage this week? Hmmm I wish I knew. Today is the day I try to get my sermon finished. You may find it hard to believe, but it will take me most of the day to get it finished. Sometimes I don't get finished and continue to work on it Friday and Saturday. I wish I could get it done quicker and let some things go, but I just want to do the best I can. I figure if the angels and saints who have died in the Lord gather with us, then I want to say the right thing.
John's account of the Resurrection is so different from the synoptic accounts (Matthew, Mark, and Luke). I am going to stay away from the synoptics and just stick with what John says/describes, which has been my practice throughout our study of John.
John really focuses on Mary Magdalene. She is the first one to see the risen Lord and the first one to proclaim his resurrection.
Interesting. Why do you think MM is the first one to see Jesus?
You know MM had seven demons cast out of her (See Luke 8:1-3).
Allen, looks like you're doing a solo, this week. Sorry you're having such trouble getting your sermon to fall in line. Ever consider just skipping the sermon and showing a movie? ;)
Not sure what to think about the current financial crisis. I think there's plenty of blame to go around. I'm not a huge fan of the current admin. but I can't lay all the blame at their feet. I think (in my economic wisdom) that letting Wall St. go unregulated is unwise. I also think encouraging people to take on more debt than they can afford is unwise. Also, the democrats forced thru a lot of legislation that makes it easier for folks who can't afford a house to try and buy one. I wish there was a sensible, moderate political party a person could belong to. Anybody want to invent one?
Donna
Yes, I've been going along alone. It seems that way a lot lately, but I enjoy listening to myself and my own company. ha ha
I think the 3rd party thing has been tried, but maybe you should try it again, Donna. I'd vote for you.
The VP debate is getting to go, here in a few minutes. Should be interesting.
I agreed with Sarah Palin, last night when she spoke of personal responsibility and not jumping in over your head. It seemed as we were raising kids that necessary things broke in threes. It would take a while to get those things paid for before the next challenge arrived. We have seen times that it was tempting to juMp in over our heads but have held back and we are glad we did. I drive an old 88 Aerostar van to work every day but it is paid for and if it breaks tomorrow I got my good out of it and it served it's purpose--transportation. I have dealt with in the agency where I work with agressive loan brokers forcing closing dates and demanding proof of insurance before the loan was final. They even will say there is a closing and it actually does not take place. We have had to wait until we get signed proof that the insured did change mortgagees before doing the change to prevent having to do the work all over again to put the old one back on. This has gone on for several years but I think the chickens have come home to roost and it had to end. Greed is ruining our country and it is sad. I wrote a poem that I hope you enjoy. GOD BLESS -- SHERRON
EASY BUTTON
The commercials point to something—
They call it the EASY button.
Avoiding complicated solutions it normally takes—
Just push the BUTTON for goodness sakes!
Wouldn’t it be nice if it were just so,
If life were that easy as on we go?
Just sit in your chair and let it come to you,
No effort or thought required, push the button, and breeze on through!
Unfortunately life is not that way.
Nothing worthwhile is simple or easy, I say.
For in the struggles to accomplish and do,
You gained knowledge and wisdom; it broadened your view.
No, it wasn’t easy but you learned in the process,
As you tackled the problem and through it, success!
Now you have understanding but not an easy task,
You had to study, sort through it and ask.
There is no EASY BUTTON for anything we do;
No simple solutions, we know that is true.
So put your shoulder to the work at hand
Help others with what you learned to benefit your fellow man.
9/14/2008
Thanks, Sherron, for that!
You have such a way with your words. Good to see them here again.
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