Author: tbc

No Crying He Makes, Luke: 23:50-56

Verses 50 and 51 describe Joseph of Arimathea is beautiful terms. “ÖJoseph, who, though a member of the council, had not agreed to their plan and action”. He was a believer who “was waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God.” (v 51b). Believers must bring the truth of Jesus and his teaching to government, rather than “baptizing” the “righteousness” of oppressive and unjust laws. Waiting expectantly for the kingdom of God must affect how we live and relate to the kingdoms of this world. Indeed, the kingdom of God is at hand. This lesson from Joseph is too often lost in the story of his offering his own tomb for the burial of Jesus.

Joseph asked for the body, then properly wrapped the body “in a linen cloth, and laid it in a rock-hewn tomb where no one had ever been laid” (v 53). Strange echoes fill our ears and hearts.

No Crying He Makes

Again, God’s Son sleeps.

Again, no crying he makes.

Again, his body is wrapped against the cold.

Where are the shepherds?

Where are the kings?

Joseph, where are you?

Angels guard the door, but not one angel sings.

Where is the hay for this cold room?

Every manger knows a tomb, my Jesus,

Every manger knows a tomb.

God does not slumber,

But God’s Son sleeps

Death’s cold dark sleep.

God’s Son sleeps.

No crying he makes.

His body is wrapped against the cold.

Again, we thank you for the gift of your Son.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

Father, into Your Hands, Luke 23:44-46

Jesus died. There is nothing divine in this death that kept it from being a real and final human death. Jesus wasn’t asleep; he was dead. The whole creation seemed to know, for there was darkness at noon, at a latitude on our globe where this was not normal. Two sounds accompany this scene that had become quiet with the darkness. The first was Jesus’ cry, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit” (v 46). The second was the sound of the curtain of the temple ripping in two, from the top down. And there was, of course, the sound of weeping.

Jesus’ death was as real as the death of our loved ones. His death was as real as the death we face. Jesus knew he was dying. Friends and family saw him die. Enemies and distracters suddenly sensed the significance of this death, and all death.

This Mid-Day Night

The Savior’s grief, a healing sorrow;

His night a womb for our tomorrow.

His tears, his water, and his blood;

This mid-day night, a womb for our tomorrow.

The Savior’s death, the Parent’s loss, the Spirit’s leaving.

How long this darkness, death, and grieving?

The temple veil rips as for birth.

He speaks his last in shouted, labored breathing.

The Savior’s pain, a human shouting;

The Savior’s death, the Spirit parting.

He cries our tears, he bleeds our blood;

This mid-day night, the life in death concealing.

The Savior dies, a stillness creeping;

A quiet darkness, save for weeping.

No jeers, no insults, no more taunts;

This mid-day night, no hope for dawn revealing.

Let us receive the Savior’s death with humility and find in it transformation of our living.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

God Knows, Isaiah 53:10-12

“Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him with pain” (v 10). We can hardly read the sentence. We search for a way to explain the words and the image, and the God. Jesus’ physical, emotional, and spiritual pain is described in this passage as anguish.

Pain and anguish are familiar words to many people.They experience anguish in our world and, often, the suffering is private and unknown to others. On the cross, Jesus’ anguish was on display for all to see. Indeed, God sees anguish wherever it exists. Those in physical anguish and mental torment are not alone. God the Creator sees the anguish; Jesus has experienced the anguish. What those who suffer in private must know is this, “God knows.” For many, it is true that only God knows.

Yet in this passage there is “light” (v 11). Jesus bore our sin and experienced our pain. He knows. Pain becomes a spiritual matter.

Only God Knows

Only God knows

The pain of nails in hands and feet.

Only God knows

The pain of bending neck and knees.

Only God knows

The pain of nails that will not cease.

Only God knows;

God the Parent, God the Child.

Only God knows

This pain that’s running wild.

Only God knows

The pain beyond the cries.

Only God knows

The pain through which I hear and see.

Only God knows;

God the Parent, God the Child.

Only God knows

The pain of arms outstretched.

Only God knows

The pain in every breath.

Only God knows

This pain that’s sacrament and prayer.

Only God knows;

God the Parent, God the Child.

Through our pain we pray and sense Your presence.

Help us know and respect the pain of others.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

Father, Forgive Us, Luke 23:32-38

Now, on the cross, in the painful process of crucifixion, Jesus hangs between two thieves. He is their fellow victim in this cruelty. Jesus knows the plight of the prisoner and the humiliation of the criminal. He knows what it is to be the brunt of jokes and sarcasm. Yet, he loves and forgives those who are so weak as to do these things and say these things.

What Was That He Said?

Strip him of his clothes,

Soon he will be dead.

What was that, what was that,

What was that he said?

Nailed upon the cross,

He dies with the thieves.

Roll the dice, roll the dice

For the clothes he leaves.

Shame upon shame,

The people stare.

Name upon name,

The people sneer.

Are you now a savior?

What is that you say?

Can he save himself

If he’s dressed that way?

Strip him of his clothes,

Soon he will be dead.

What was that, what was that,

What was that he said?

“Father, Father, forgive them, forgive them,

They know not what they do.”

Father, forgive us for what we do and say, for what we fail to do and say.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

Do Not Weep for Him, Luke 23:27-28

There were women in the crowd who fell in step behind Simon of Cyrene, who was walking behind Jesus, carrying his cross. Jesus turned to the women in the crowd and told them not to weep for him, but to weep for themselves and their children. Women and children were among the oppressed of the society of that time. We, too, are to weep for the oppressed of our society. Women and children remain overly represented in that category. We are to weep for the poor and the oppressed as if we were weeping for Jesus, for he relates to them and walks among them. We are to weep for the oppressed and for those who, in their ignorance and arrogance, oppress them. Jesus brings grace and mercy into the picture, even though the world seems to cultivate oppression. Weep, says Jesus, for your children are being born into such a world. Weep and live grace and mercy into the world. The condemned Jesus knows the plight of the oppressed. He calls us to kinship with the oppressed.

Daughters of Jerusalem, Weep

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep.

Weep not for me,

But for yourselves and your children;

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep.

Weep for yourselves,

For the sources of your tears.

Weep for your children,

For their fate in coming years.

Weep for yourselves,

Your destruction and disgrace.

Weep for your children,

From their fate you’ll turn your face.

Sing your lament; sing your sorrow and oppression.

Sing your lament; sing abuse and its frustration.

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep. I know your tears.

Daughters of Jerusalem, weep.

Let us feel kinship with the oppressed of the world.

Let us work for mercy and grace.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

Simon of Cyrene, Luke 23:26; Matthew 11:28-30

Finally, Jesus fell beneath the load. The weight of the cross brought him to his knees. When that happened, those in charge of the processional pulled a black man from the crowd of on-lookers. They forced him to carry the cross behind Jesus, the rest of the way up the hill. Burdens in the moment are burdens, even if later they are seen to have been a blessing in disguise. It was not an honor at the time for black Simon of Cyrene to be pulled from the crowd and to be tainted by association with the condemned Jesus.

Simon of Cyrene was seen as little more than a donkey, a beast of burden. Jesus was in the process of fulfilling his role as the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. The trafficking of humans as nothing more than animals or slaves is still a cancer spread around the globe. Jesus, Lamb of God, still walks among the slaves and offers forgiveness to the slaveholders.

One does not have to own slaves to possess a slaveholder mentality. Letting others suffer for our own comfort is a philosophy that is common in conscious and sub-conscious forms throughout the world. God, in Christ, counters the sin with grace and mercy.

In our day, the yoke of slavery still brings the innocent to their knees. But the yoke of the gentle and humble Jesus is offered to those who are oppressed and weary. It is easy and light. The shoulders of Jesus and his disciples are to be found lifting up the yoke of the oppressed. At least, that is how it is supposed to work.

Black-skinned Simon

Black-skinned Simon,

Tote the cross.

Dark-skinned Simon,

Bear the load.

Black-skinned Simon,

Back bent low,

Know what man-beasts know.

Black Simon,

Know what man-beasts know.

Tote it like a donkey; tote it for the Lamb.

Fully God, fully man, fully lamb, Jesus falls beneath the load.

Black Simon, tote it like a donkey; tote it for the Lamb.

Black-skinned Simon,

On your back

You carry the law’s own death.

Carry the trial; carry the verdict;

You carry the law’s own death.

Black Simon, you carry the law’s own death.

Tote it like a donkey; tote it for the Lamb.

Black Simon, know what man-beasts know.

Help me to not add to the burden of the oppressed,

but to bend my back with them, as if their burdens were mine.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

Our worship service focuses on Jesus procession into Jerusalem.

Who Is Our King? John 19:15-17

At the very center of this passage of scripture is the pivotal and fundamental question of who is our king. Jesus is our king, of course, unless his teachings make no sense in our situation; then, Caesar is our king because he’s more realistic. Jesus is our king, of course, until our lives or livelihoods are in danger; then, for a while, Caesar will be our king. He has the power that counts in this world. All that is too wordy for a chant, so it is boiled down to, “We have no king but the emperor” (v 15b). The slogan is printed on our hearts and held high by our actions and decisions.

One king: we know this is the only way to peace. One king: who controls power rather than is controlled by power. We know the right-ness of this. But we find ourselves in the mob-mentality throng shouting, “Crucify him.” We don’t want to say it, but our lives shout it. “We have no king but the emperor.” We don’t want to say it, but our actions shout it in times of crisis.

Yet, love will not allow Jesus to avoid the cross. He will die for us, not for himself or for trivial reasons. He is not a hero; he is more than that. He is the Savior.

Caesar is Our King

Crucify him!

Shall I crucify your king?

Away with this man,

For Caesar is our king.

Away with this man,

Whom it pleases us to hate.

Away with this man,

For Caesar is our king.

Away with this man,

For Caesar is our king.

Away with this man,

For his teachings make no sense.

Away with him; Caesar is our king.

Away with this man,

For Caesar is our king.

Away with this man,

For his claims amount to treason:

Away with this man, can there be more damning reason?

Away with him; Caesar is our king.

So Pilate delivered him,

And Jesus bore His cross to the Place of the Skull.

Lord, be our King, now and forever more.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

We Cannot Disengage, John 19:1-3

The Innocent is punished and the punishment is somehow cruelly relished.

His prison clothes mock him. Those in power over him use polite words of honor in ways that slight him and belittle him. “Hail, King of the Jews!” (v 3). Right words, wrong heart. How can such regal words be turned into profanity? What heart and voice can do such twisting? Power cannot resist opportunity. Once was not enough. “They kept coming up to himÖ” (v 3).

Pilate could not make a case against Jesus, but things bigger than Pilate had been set in motion. We cringe at the sight; we sense our participation in the noisy scene; we see innocence and guilt entangled and inseparable; we see fear build upon fear; we find ourselves present in the heart of Jesus and in the hearts of the false accusers. We can look away, but we cannot disengage.

Yet, the love of Jesus seems to engulf the whole scene. The love of Jesus seems to absorb all the vitriol and venom. Can love survive this environment of hate? Can love leave that courtroom and reach my soul? Condemnation and love launch from the scene and race toward us, and the trial proceedings take place in our hearts and lives.

Oh, how Lent and Passion week make Easter so necessary. Can Easter really blossom where hate so freely blooms? We can turn away from depictions and remembrances of this terrible week, but we cannot disengage from its message. Hope is on trial; love is on trial; mercy and grace are on trial. We are there.

The scene has a turmoil that seems to grow and spiral toward disaster. But the turmoil cannot break the embrace of love. Hope is, indeed, on trial, but it has not conceded to power or fear. We read. We close our eyes. We open our hearts and minds. We receive what Jesus offers. We anticipate what must come, lest we die.

Hail, King of the Jews

Rejection pierces his heart;

Thorns pierce his brow.

Betrayal slaps his soul;

Soldiers slap his face.

Laughter saddens his spirit

As those he deeply loves mock his name.

The Innocent stands condemned;

Hate stands to cheers.

Betrayal slaps his soul;

Hatred slaps Love’s face.

Cursing covers their fear;

Self-righteousness and pride mock his name.

Hail, King of the Jews.

Condemnation is the purple robe he wears.

A crown of thorns, fearful lies,

Tears and love flow from his eyes.

The Lord of Life condemned to die;

Crucify! Crucify!

Help us as we hold the burden in our hearts until we can lay it down.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.

 

Read the Whole Story, Luke 22:14-23:56

This is a long passage and, at first, we may balk at having to read so much scripture at one time. But it is good for us to see the whole story, the big picture. We have grown accustomed to receiving our information in small doses, sound bites, and video clips.

Information taken out of context is dangerous and susceptible to misuse and manipulation. In our reading for today, important scenes are given context; we see their place in the complete narrative. When we start with the Last Supper and read through to the burial of Jesus, we see the environment in which important events took place. We don’t see as separate occurrences the prayer on the Mount of Olives, Jesus’ betrayal and arrest, Peter’s denial, the trumped up trial, the crucifixion, and the burial. These dots are connected; each event sheds light on the other.

Reading a passage of this length works against our tendency to pick and choose isolated events that suit us in one way or another. It keeps us from avoiding difficult passages and scenes. The exercise, encountered here, carries over into our engagement with all of scripture. To pick and choose and ignore is to construct our own scripture.

Lent will not allow us to skip over scenes that contain blood and spit and sweat. Lent will not allow us to skip over accounts of betrayal by disciples, or of greed and cowardice. But, when we see such things in scripture, they relate to those same things within us. It hurts at first, but eventually those things are forgiven and redeemed. That won’t happen, though, until we read the whole story and see ourselves in that story. Would we skip over such an important pivotal point? We must read the whole story in order to find ourselves, as we really are, in that story. Picking and choosing will serve to make us look better than we are, perhaps not even in need of Jesus’ sacrifice. An encounter with the whole story reveals the whole truth.

When we reach the end of Luke 23, we join the friends and followers of Jesus in that day. The “end” they experienced was the end of a dream and deep commitment. We shout back to them that chapter 24 is coming, but they cannot hear us. Their grief and sorrow would drown out our cries even if the centuries didn’t. They could only see themselves in the context of loss and failure. They were heartbroken and maybe even a little embarrassed that they would ever believe Jesus could be their messiah. From the depths of our hearts we often join them there, at the end, not knowing or not believing that there would be a next chapter.

The whole story of Jesus’ last days on earth draws us into the emotions and world of real people, in real time, in a story as real as ours. Would we read a shorter version? Would we read a version we edited? We read of dark days that look very much like our darkest days. We see ourselves in Jesus’ life. We see Jesus in our life.

Help us to read the whole story and to see ourselves in each scene.

 

 

A word about the series

The Lenten season has always inspired many people to create everything from poems, art and music to a completely new direction in their lives.  This Lenten season Tabernacle will be exploring many of those creations in the hope of inspiring you to compose in a medium that is natural for you.   The paintings in the Sanctuary are of the Biblical Stations of the Cross.  The artist, Grieg Leach, completed them in 2010.  They will help us to visualize the events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus.  In addition to the paintings there is a Lenten devotional booklet, Return to Me, which is available in print or online.  The Stations of the Cross also inspired these devotions, written by Terry York of Baylor University.   Living with these two bodies of artistic expression based on the Biblical Stations of the Cross throughout the season of Lent should help us as we seek to return our lives to God by walking with Jesus though his final days.

Pray, read, think and return to God.

 

 

All scripture quotations are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible.

Copyright © 2013 Birnamwood Publications (ASCAP)

A division of MorningStar Music Publishers, Inc., St. Louis, MO

All rights reserved.  Printed in U.S.A.

www.MorningStarMusic.com.