Posted on by Dave Aucremann

Tuesday

Jesus spends Tuesday engulfed in conflict and controversy. His entrance into Jerusalem on Sunday, the movement of the people toward Him in faith, and the leaders’ predetermined rejection of Jesus created an environment for repeated attacks against Jesus. These were subtle–even pious–sorties against the Son of God. Religious people often hold onto their polite piety, even while resisting the glory of God staring them in the face.

Some of Jesus’ most famous remarks are given on Tuesday of Holy Week. Jesus responds to a question about taxes (Matt 22:15-22; Mark 12:13-17; Luke 20:20-26) with His famous “Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the thing that belongs to God”. Another famous Jesus quote is found in response to the Sadducees question about the resurrection, “You are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.” (Matthew 22:29; Mark 12:24) Roasted! Jesus’ summary of the law in two great commandments is given on Tuesday in response to a Pharisee’s question (Matthew 22:34-40; Mark 12:28-34). Jesus gives His famous Olivet Discourse on Tuesday (Mathew 24-25; Mark 13; Luke 21:5-36). This teaching, looking forward to His impending return in glory, have comforted the suffering church, confronted the sleeping church, and honestly often confused the waiting church.

In the midst of all of this conflict and controversy, seven combined verses in Mark and Luke are given to celebrate a woman who captures the wisest and best use of Tuesday in the temple. Mark records it this way:

Mark 12

41 And He sat down opposite the treasury, and began observing how the people were putting money into the treasury; and many rich people were putting in large sums. 42 A poor widow came and put in two small copper coins, which amount to a cent. 43 Calling His disciples to Him, He said to them, “Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the contributors to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their surplus, but she, out of her poverty, put in all she owned, all she had to live on.”

Here is a woman devoted to God. She is who Jesus notices. A simple woman. A woman who honors God. What type of worship stands out to Jesus in the swelled population of Jerusalem that Tuesday? Not that of the rich. Instead, it is the gift of the least by the least that gets Jesus most. His most attention. His most respect. His most commentary.

In a world overwhelmed by anxiety over a virus that has become a widow maker and a poverty generator, Jesus sees and notices the poor and the widow. He sees the heroic efforts of the medical community too. He looks past the loud talkers, the interrogators,  the doomsday prophets, and sees the least of these. He may be on to something. Join Him. Sit down and notice the least of these around you doing things to express simple devotion to God. Celebrate with Jesus and you might get caught up in the movement of the least of these, the sinners, the hurting, and the helpless. You’ll be under the watchful eye of Jesus, which is the best place to be.

Posted on by Dave Aucremann

Monday

On Monday, early in the morning, Jesus walks the 2/3 of a mile back into Jerusalem. On Sunday Jesus had visited the temple and during His visit we saw that our King was righteous and weeping. As the righteous King Jesus is looking at the activities of the city and of the temple. As the weeping King Jesus is broken hearted over the rejection of the people and the judgment they are bringing upon themselves because of their unbelief.

As Jesus returns to the city on Monday there is no weeping. Instead Jesus brings judgment against unbelieving Jerusalem. We see this in His dramatic display in the temple area (Matthew 21:12; Mark 11:15; Luke 19:45). Along the way Jesus stops to speak in front of a fig tree.

In the Old Testament prophets God uses the imagery of a fig tree to depict Israel. With a night of reflection on what He has observed in the city Jesus sees the fig tree and is reminded of what the Father longed to see in His people. God wants to see His people bear fruit. The Father is just like Jesus, He hungers for His people to bear fruit (Micah 7:1). But, as the Father sees no fruit in Israel in the days of Micah the prophet, Jesus sees none. In an object lesson of judgment against Israel, Jesus says never again will this fig tree bear fruit.

On Tuesday Jesus will return to the fig tree. His disciples are amazed at the withered tree. How could it happen so quickly!? Jesus delivers the lesson, “Whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” (Mark 11:24). How can judgment be turned into the blessing of answered prayer? Because Jesus is to become the suffering King. Jesus Christ would become our curse so that we could be forgiven (Galatians 3:13). He would be withered so that we could become healthy with the fruit that comes by faith.

Only faith in Jesus brings this freedom from sin that bursts forth in faith-filled prayer and forgiveness of others. We dare stand in the path of God’s justice without the fruit that comes from repentance and faith in Jesus. In His death He takes the judgment we should have received. In His resurrection He offers new fruit-bearing possibilities (1 Corinthians 15:20). Lean into Him, repent of your sin and fruitlessness, believe in His work for you, and experience the liberating power of His resurrection.

Posted on by Dave Aucremann

Following Jesus through Holy Week 2020

The days between Palm Sunday and Easter Sunday in the church calendar are called Holy Week. Holy because they are unique and set apart in all of the Christian calendar. A week because they trace the path of Jesus in the seven days from His final entrance into Jerusalem to His triumph over death in a garden outside the city.

Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem is recorded in each of the histories of His life (Matthew 21:1-17, Mark 11:1-11, Luke 19:29-44, and John 12:12-19). On that Sunday, crowds of people were moving into Jerusalem in preparation for the Passover Feast. Crowds began assembling for ceremonial cleansing prior to the Passover (John 11:55). Everyone had Passover on their minds. The Passover with all of the historical, religious, national, and spiritual significance was joined in the minds of many in the crowd by something new: a miraculous resurrection.

Many of the gathering crowds of worshippers were looking for Jesus and His friend Lazarus. News was spreading of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (see John 11:1-44). Because of this miracle, many among the crowd were “going over to Jesus and putting their faith in Him” (John 12:11). Sacrifice and resurrection were in the air. Crowds were gathering. Worshippers were primed. Enemies of Jesus were irate. It was fear of these enemies which had made His disciples question a return to Judea (John 11:16).

Jesus travelled the road from Jericho toward Jerusalem and arrived at the village of Bethphage and Bethany. Here, on the Mount of Olives, Jesus is 2/3 of a mile from the city of Jerusalem.  Jesus will return to this area throughout this final week.

This day Jesus secures a colt from a resident of the village. The circumstances of this exchange seem strange to us. But to Jesus and His disciples events like this are the normal life of dependence on the Father. They were accustomed to these provisions from the Father as they have walked with Jesus over the past three years. The colt is more than convenience. It was critical to the story of this week, the story of the crowning of a king (Zechariah 9:9).

Mounted on this colt Jesus travels the final mile into the city of Jerusalem. Crowds gather with shouts of acclamation. “Hosanna!,” they shout (Matthew 21:9, Mark 11:9). Hosanna is an Aramaic word meaning “Save, I pray!” Into the mix of preparation for sacrifice and the stories of resurrection comes shouts of prayer for salvation. To this prayer the crowds reach into the book of Psalms for another cry:  “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord.” (Psalm 118:26) Read the full text of Psalm 118. It is a Psalm of thanksgiving for the people of Israel in a day of deliverance. Salvation, deliverance, and a king!

Luke 19 adds a detail about our King. Luke 19:41-44 depicts our weeping King. Jesus is the promised King. He is the one who saves! Pray to Him for salvation! But Jesus is no king like Israel or any other people group of the world have ever seen. Jesus is a weeping King! Jesus knows that many in the city will miss the salvation he will bring. Because of this, Jesus weeps. Jesus is no tyrant. He weeps for those who reject Him.

Having come into the city of Jerusalem Jesus goes the temple. In the temple Jesus does two things. He heals many in the temple area (Matthew 21:14). Jesus is a healing King. Second, Jesus looks around the temple area (Mark 11:11). Jesus is a righteous King. What does He see? We won’t learn that until Monday. Now, it is late in the day. Jesus and His disciples return to the Bethany for the night. The King will be back in Jerusalem on Monday.

Posted on by Dave Aucremann

new old hero

The church I go to has been reading through the Gospel of John together. As I have been reading chapter after chapter I am amazed at one of the first characters presented in the book. His name is John. He isn’t the same John who is listed in the title of the book. But he is a big deal and not at the same time. How’s that?

John is one of my heroes. He was a big deal, but he chose not to be a big deal. It is hard to find many big deals not interested in being a big deal. I want to be a big deal. It is why I don’t respond well to criticism and I crave approval. I have a lot to learn from John.

John was a big deal. He was Jesus’ cousin. That’s a big deal. He was in Jesus’ family. Imagine that on his Facebook profile! Family….Jesus. He had a big ministry before Jesus came on the scene. He had a sweet location for his group of disciples. His church plant had a killer view of the Jordan River. You could show up just as you were. After all, the preacher was dressed pretty casual. Check it out (it’s in Matthew 3:4). Dressed like that, his Instagram would have been crazy good. He had a lot of new believers in his group. That would have given him credibility on Twitter. He preached a message of repentance. The bloggers would have been down with that. Then Jesus showed up.

You know what John did? He bowed out and left the scene for Jesus to take up the message. Jesus hung out for a while in the area, but then he moved to Capernaum in Galilee. People follow Him. John loved it. He still had questions, but he was convinced of one thing. Jesus was the Messiah and because of that, “He must increase and I must decrease.” (John 3:30). Drop the mic. Close the curtain. Exit stage left. Cue the credits. I’m out. Follow Jesus.

Jesus, do for me what You did for John. Make me a man who wants nothing more than for you to increase in my life, and in the life of those I lead. Deliver me from status seeking, approval sucking, and grandstanding. You are all I need. You are enough. Amen.

Posted on by Dave Aucremann

total life-change

Luke 24
44Then he said, “Everything I told you while I was with you comes to this: All the things written about me in the Law of Moses, in the Prophets, and in the Psalms have to be fulfilled.”
45-49He went on to open their understanding of the Word of God, showing them how to read their Bibles this way. He said, “You can see now how it is written that the Messiah suffers, rises from the dead on the third day, and then a total life-change through the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed in his name to all nations—starting from here, from Jerusalem! You’re the first to hear and see it. You’re the witnesses. What comes next is very important: I am sending what my Father promised to you, so stay here in the city until he arrives, until you’re equipped with power from on high.” (The Message, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 Eugene H. Peterson by NavPress Publishing)

What is God up to?  First, God is revealing Jesus, the Living Word, through the written Word. The Law, the Prophets, and the Psalms (also called The Writings) make up the Bible of Jesus’ day. These Old Testament books of our Bible are all about Jesus. When we read the Bible we are seeing Jesus revealed on every page.

Second, God is bringing total life-change to everyone who rests in Jesus for forgiveness of sin. This promise is available to people everywhere. Beginning from Jerusalem the men Jesus had trained would be witnesses of the good news of total life-change. God was going to send the Holy Spirit to equip the Church for the mission. As the disciples had been seeing and hearing Jesus while He was with them, people everywhere would be able to hear and see Jesus as the Holy Spirit makes Him real to them and forms His total life-change kind of life in them.

Posted on by Dave Aucremann

last last command

Matthew 28:16-20
16-17Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.
18-20Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

You have probably heard of Jesus’ last command. It is His confident command to His disciples to make disciples. But did you know that there is a second command in these final verses of Matthew.

The last last command may be the more important of the two. It is the command to pay attention, heed, remember. In many translations it reads simply “Lo.” Jesus wants us to pay careful attention to His promise to never leave the side of those who accept the challenge of making disciples.

Posted on by Dave Aucremann

sending savior

John 20:19-29
19-20Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.
20-21The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were exuberant. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”
22-23Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”
24-25But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”
But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”
26Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”
27Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”
28Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”
29Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”
Each of the gospels and the book of Acts record Jesus’ commissioning command to His disciples. John gives unique insight on the commission of Jesus.
Remember how John began His gospel? He began by telling the readers of his gospel that Jesus was the eternal Son who was made all things. In the beginning He breathed into man and commission him to go and fill the earth. Now, at the end of John’s gospel another breath comes to man.
Jesus breathes life into the disciples as He had breathed life into Adam. Like Adam the new creations of Christ followers are to go and fill the earth. Through His new community Jesus is going to turn back the rule of fallen Adam from creation establishing His new Adam rule through the church. Everywhere the gospel goes through the disciples there will be sins forgiven and lives transformed.
Posted on by Dave Aucremann

not another minute

Luke 24:13-35
13-16That same day two of them were walking to the village Emmaus, about seven miles out of Jerusalem. They were deep in conversation, going over all these things that had happened. In the middle of their talk and questions, Jesus came up and walked along with them. But they were not able to recognize who he was.
17-18He asked, “What’s this you’re discussing so intently as you walk along?”
They just stood there, long-faced, like they had lost their best friend. Then one of them, his name was Cleopas, said, “Are you the only one in Jerusalem who hasn’t heard what’s happened during the last few days?”
19-24He said, “What has happened?”
They said, “The things that happened to Jesus the Nazarene. He was a man of God, a prophet, dynamic in work and word, blessed by both God and all the people. Then our high priests and leaders betrayed him, got him sentenced to death, and crucified him. And we had our hopes up that he was the One, the One about to deliver Israel. And it is now the third day since it happened. But now some of our women have completely confused us. Early this morning they were at the tomb and couldn’t find his body. They came back with the story that they had seen a vision of angels who said he was alive. Some of our friends went off to the tomb to check and found it empty just as the women said, but they didn’t see Jesus.”
25-27Then he said to them, “So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can’t you simply believe all that the prophets said? Don’t you see that these things had to happen, that the Messiah had to suffer and only then enter into his glory?” Then he started at the beginning, with the Books of Moses, and went on through all the Prophets, pointing out everything in the Scriptures that referred to him.
28-31They came to the edge of the village where they were headed. He acted as if he were going on but they pressed him: “Stay and have supper with us. It’s nearly evening; the day is done.” So he went in with them. And here is what happened: He sat down at the table with them. Taking the bread, he blessed and broke and gave it to them. At that moment, open-eyed, wide-eyed, they recognized him. And then he disappeared.
32Back and forth they talked. “Didn’t we feel on fire as he conversed with us on the road, as he opened up the Scriptures for us?”
33-34They didn’t waste a minute. They were up and on their way back to Jerusalem. They found the Eleven and their friends gathered together, talking away: “It’s really happened! The Master has been raised up—Simon saw him!”
35Then the two went over everything that happened on the road and how they recognized him when he broke the bread.
Good news  has to be shared. It really does. Tweet it, share it, post it, shout it, text it, or phone it. Good news gets going.
It took these two guys a while to catch on to what was happening. But, once they figured it out they “didn’t waste a minute. They were on their way back to Jerusalem.” Good news has to be shared. Jesus is alive!
I dream of people getting caught up in telling everyone they can the news. That we couldn’t keep quiet. That we wouldn’t waste another minute. We would run to tell others that Jesus is alive!
Posted on by Dave Aucremann

cover up? nice try.

Matthew 28:11-15

Meanwhile, the guards had scattered, but a few of them went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened. They called a meeting of the religious leaders and came up with a plan: They took a large sum of money and gave it to the soldiers, bribing them to say, “His disciples came in the night and stole the body while we were sleeping.” They assured them, “If the governor hears about your sleeping on duty, we will make sure you don’t get blamed.” The soldiers took the bribe and did as they were told. That story, cooked up in the Jewish High Council, is still going around. (The Message, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 Eugene H. Peterson by NavPress Publishing)

 

The power of God’s Kingdom is born of the empty tomb. It is fed by love. It is expressed in worship and witness. In contrast the kingdom of the world. It is born in lies. It is fed by greed. It is expressed in bribery and duplicity. Don’t worry about the kingdom of this world. Keep focused on the Kingdom of God. Judge its love by the cross and its power by the empty tomb. Let the expiring kingdom of this world fall back on itself. Cover-ups are its stock and trade. Covered sin of the Kingdom of God. Rejoice citizens of the Kingdom of God. His resurrection can’t be covered up by cooked-up stories or bought out by bribes. He is risen. Let it be seen all over your face.

Posted on by Dave Aucremann

risen

Luke 24

62-64After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with Pilate. They said, “Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ We’ve got to get that tomb sealed until the third day. There’s a good chance his disciples will come and steal the corpse and then go around saying, ‘He’s risen from the dead.’ Then we’ll be worse off than before, the final deceit surpassing the first.”
65-66Pilate told them, “You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can.” So they went out and secured the tomb, sealing the stone and posting guards.

(The Message, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 Eugene H. Peterson by NavPress Publishing)

 

Jesus didn’t hide His plans for bringing eternal life. Even those who rejected Him and reject Him now are aware of His promise. “I will be raised,” He said.  “He is risen!”, we say still today.

 

The religious and the powerful conspired to kill Jesus. They knew of His promise to rise. They conspired to cover up His resurrection. You can’t guard your unbelief too carefully.

 

But, nothing can stop Jesus. He rose. He offers new life, power, and  way of living. The religious and the powerful miss it. Those who admit their need and trust in His power find entrance into His new life.

 

The power of Pilate and the religious leaders didn’t have a chance. They contributed to His death and through that death Jesus won. They worked to discredit His promised resurrection and in so doing strengthened the faithful.