Ecclesiasties 1 

As is my practice, I go back and forth between the New Testament and the Old.  So, I finished the wonderful story of the life, death, and resurrection of our Lord Jesus as told by John.. so that we can know and believe and live... and return to the Old Testament.. to the Book of Ecclesiastes, and read, "Vanity of vanities! All is vanity."

It is a startling, pessimistic and yet honest account from the "Preacher". Setting his mind on "wisdom and knowledge".. the Preacher makes these observations.. 

"A generation goes and a generation comes."

".. the sun rises and the sun sets.."

"Blowing towards the south, then turning toward the north, the wind continues swirling along."

"All the rivers flow into the sea, yet the sea is not full."

His conclusion is stark.. "All things are wearisome; Man in not able to tell it. The eye is not satisfied with seeing, nor is the ear filled with hearing. That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So, there is nothing new under the sun." 

We cannot argue with his point there.. but.. we can look ahead.. 

The Preacher says, "I have seen all the works which have been done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind. What is crooked cannot be straightened, and what is lacking cannot be counted.. "  And we say.. "Nothing is impossible for our God!"

He didn't see the day that Jesus came.  He didn't know.. with all his wisdom and knowledge.. that God would do a new thing.. something far above anything he could have imagined!

Oh how thankful we are that there was something "new" under the sun!  There was Jesus!  He can make the crooked straight.. He can fill what is lacking!  He is above the wisdom of all men.. indeed His "foolishness" is greater than all the wisdom of mere men.  As Paul wrote, "For the word of the cross is to those who are perishing foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." ( I Cor. 1:18)

Paul goes on.. "Where is the wise man? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe." ( v20-21)  And.. ".. God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to shame the things which are strong." (v27)

Father, all we can say is "thank You!"  Thank You that life is not "vanity".. we have a purpose.. we have a Savior who came to free us from the wearisome ways of the world.. and to give us abundant life in His love and grace. We do not strive after wind.. we strive after Christ.. clinging to the One who gave His life that we might truly live. Praise God! Amen!

 John 21  "After these things Jesus manifested Himself again to the disciples... "   John says that this is the third time that Jesus came to them.. twice in a closed room.. and this time by the shore of the sea.  Apparently,  7 of the disciples were fishing that night, catching nothing.. until Jesus tells them to throw in the net on the right-hand side of the boat.  When they immediately caught a large haul of fish, John recognized the Lord. 

Peter, ever spontaneous, jumped into the water and swam to shore.  He couldn't wait to be with Jesus.  He didn't care about the fish.. or the others.. just about getting to Jesus as quickly as he could.  As it was, Jesus already had fish and bread prepared for them... cooking on a charcoal fire. 

Jesus had a specific purpose in meeting Peter that morning. "Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?"  He asked Peter.. three times if he loved Him..  Each time Peter responded "yes".  And each time Jesus instructed him what he should do:  "Tend My lambs... shepherd my sheep... Tend my sheep..."   Peter's love for Jesus would lead him to care for those that belong to Him.  

Peter had once promised to die for Jesus.. and now Jesus tells him that he would grow old.. stretch out his hands.. and be taken where he did not want to go..   John tells us that this signified " by what kind of death he would glorify God".   

Peter was given one last instruction, "Follow Me!"   He tried to ask about John.. but Jesus wanted to Peter to focus on himself for that moment.. "You follow Me!"  No matter what happens to any other person.. we each have the same calling and responsibility as believers.. to follow Jesus.. to love Him.. to love others.. to care for the lambs and the sheep.. to glorify God.. in life and in death. 

Father in heaven, give us each that same desire.. to be with Jesus as much as we can.. to say yes, we love You.. to love and care for others.. to follow Jesus wherever He takes us. Come and fill us with Your love and grace that we might glorify You.. in life and in death.. in all that we do and say.  Let Your good and perfect will be done in us today we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen. 

 John 20  Early that Sunday morning..still dark.. but dawn is just about to break through.. Mary and the other women headed to the tomb.  Though Joseph and Nicodemus had wrapped the body and used the burial spices.. the women wanted to do more.. but they found the stone rolled away and the body of Jesus was gone... 

Each of the gospels emphasize a different part of this wonderful story.. 

Matthew and Mark tell of the angel and the command that the women go tell the disciples.   They tell of the women.. or at least Mary meeting Him.  Of His  assurance that He would see His disciples in Galilee.

Luke includes the account of Peter running to the tomb and looking in.  But, John tells us that he was there too.  He ran to the tomb.. "he saw the linen wrappings lying there and the face-cloth which had been on His head, not lying with the linen wrappings, but rolled up in a place by itself."  John tells us that "he saw and believed." 

John tells us about Mary standing and weeping.. about Jesus coming to her and saying her name.  He tells us of the announcement she made.. " I have seen the Lord." 

John tells of being in the closed room that night.. when Jesus "came and stood in their midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' "  He saw the Hands that had been nailed and the side that was pierced.  He received the commission to go.. to tell others.. to forgive sins.. to testify so that others might believe and be saved. 

John tells of Thomas.. who was not there that first Sunday night.. and who still doubted until Jesus appeared again.. inside the closed room.  Jesus made an incredible offer to Thomas.. "Reach here your finger, and see My hands; and reach here your hand, and put it into My side; and be not unbelieving but believing."   Thomas did not hesitate.. "My Lord and my God!"  No longer unbelieving!

These thing have been written, John says, "that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God; and that believing you may have life in His name." 

Father in heaven,  may we not hesitate.. but only.. thoroughly.. completely believe and find life in Jesus Christ the Son of God.. the Lamb that was slain.. the Resurrected King!  Thank You for the words of life that Your servants have preserved for us through the ages.  Sanctify us through Your Word, for Your Word is life. Fill us with Your Spirit that we might go and tell what we have believed, even though we have not seen it as Thomas and John and Mary did.  We proclaim the words of truth.. that Jesus is the Son of God and that those who will believe are given life in His name.  Hallelujah! What a Savior! Father we pray for those who are still unsaved.. that You will open their eyes and their hearts to turn away from their unbelief and "be not unbelieving but believing"!

 In Jesus' name we pray. Amen!

 John 19:16-42  Jesus carried "His own cross, to the place called the Place of the Skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha."  

The old rugged cross, as the song goes.. "a wondrous attraction to me".... " a wondrous beauty".. yet a symbol "despised by the world".. of "shame and reproach".. stained with His blood.. and cherished by those who love the "dear lamb of God." 

They crucified Him between two thieves.

They divided His clothes and cast lots for His cloak. 

They pierced His side.  But, they did not break His legs. 

They took Him down and laid Him in an unused tomb. 

Every single thing that was done to Jesus fulfilled prophecy.. proving over and over that this was God's plan for Him.. that He is the Messiah.. the Lord's anointed One.  "After this, Jesus, knowing that all things had already been accomplished in order that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, 'I am thirsty.'"  He received the sour wine.. bowed His head and proclaimed, "It is finished".  

Standing at the cross.. Mary watched.  I can't begin to imagine the agony. All the words and experiences stored up in her heart... did she know that she would see Him again in just a few days?  Was her faith strong enough to bear it all?  We know she was in the room at Pentecost... as were Jesus' brothers.  They believed and were filled with the Spirit of God that day. But, what about that day at the cross?  Mary stood there with John and a few other women.  The cross was not a wondrous thing at all... it was not cherished and she would not cling to it. But, Jesus, her son.. the Son of God.. she cherished with all her heart. 

Father in heaven,  we remember the cross.. we know the height and depth and width and length of Your love.. in the sacrifice of the Precious Lamb of God.  How can we ever thank You for this gift of perfect love and grace.  Jesus, our Savior, we  cling to You.. You are truly Wonderful and we exalt Your Name. Praise to the Father and to the Son and to the Spirit forever... Amen. 

 John 18:28 - 19:16   Jesus was taken to Pilate... who tried every way he could to not have to do what the Jews wanted him to do.. 

Pilate asked for a valid accusation.. (v29)

He told them to judge Him themselves.( v31)

He tried to get Jesus to say something incriminating.. "(v33-37)

He pronounced Him not guilty..(v38)

He offered His release.. (v39)

He scourged Him.. perhaps trying to satisfy the crowd.. (19:1)

Again, he declared Him not guilty..(v4 and 6)

He presented Jesus one last time.. a crown of thorns on His head.. a robe of purple around His beaten, bleeding body.. "Behold, your King!"

Yet, the crowd, led by the chief priests, still cried out, "Away with Him, away with Him, crucify Him!"

"So he then delivered Him to them to be crucified,"  (v 16)

Jesus told Pilate, "You would have no authority over Me, unless it had been given you from above; for this reason he who delivered Me up to you has the greater sin." ( v11)   Pilate was not innocent in this death.. for he could have overruled the crowd.  But, he was unwilling to upset the Jews.. perhaps fearing his own potential loss of position.  But, the greater guilt would lie on the Jewish leaders.  "He came to His own and those who were His own did not receive Him." ( John 1:11)

Father in heaven, You sent Your Beloved Son.. set in motion these events.. put in place these people.. to accomplish the most incredible and  incomprehensible act of mercy and grace that has ever been done.  And Jesus, "....knowing all the things that were coming upon Him, went forth.. " He took the cup. He took upon Himself all our sins.  He took the punishment for us all.  He gave His life that we might live. We are His own and we do receive Him.. as our Savior and our King forever!  Jesus, the Son of God, be glorified and exalted!  Thank You!  Amen. 

 John 18:12-27  They found Jesus in the garden.. He was clearly unarmed and compliant.. identifying Himself to them.. and yet they found it necessary.. this large troop of Roman soldiers.. to bind Him.  To tie Him up and take Him away. 

  First, Jesus is taken to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas and the one who still held some power,  who questioned Him about His teaching and His disciples. 

Simon Peter and "another disciple" followed this procession.  Somehow, this other disciple was "known to the high priest" and was allowed in to the courtyard.  He went and brought Peter in also.  Here, is where Peter begins to fail.. he denies Jesus.. to a "slave-girl". (v17)  Then he denies Jesus again as he stands before a fire with slaves and officers. (v18,25).  A third time, Peter denies Jesus to a relative of  Malchus, the slave that Peter had attacked in the garden. (v26)   

Then the rooster crowed. The BKC comments on this. "A rooster crowing.. reveals God's sovereignty and the movement of all things in His plan and timing."  Jesus had warned Peter that this would happen.  Luke tells us that "the Lord turned and looked at Peter." ( Luke 22:61) And that Peter went out of the courtyard weeping bitterly.  Peter could not even handle being questioned by slaves... he had failed to follow through on his commitment to Jesus. In realizing his failure, Peter's heart broke. 

Jesus, in contrast to Peter, stood firm before the high priest. He spoke openly about His teaching. He was not an insurrectionist. He was not a heretic. There were plenty of witnesses that could testify on His behalf. But, the truth was not wanted here.  "Annas therefore sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest."

Father, we understand just how very weak we are without Your strength. We are thankful that You offer us strength and help in times of trouble.  Yet, we know that we sometimes fail to stand firm.  Please help us to put on the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of peace, the helmet of salvation.. today.  May we take up our shield of faith and our sword of the Spirit, the Word of God.. that we might stand firm in Jesus Christ.. for His glory and for Yours. May we be faithful in prayer and faithful in our witness.. proclaiming Jesus and never denying Him.  We are asking for the power of Your Spirit to work in us what we cannot do on our own. Fill us continually that we might be strong until the end. We ask this in Jesus' powerful Name. Amen. 

 John 18: 1-11 "When Jesus had spoken these words, He went forth... "  He was headed to the garden and then to a trial.. to a cross and a borrowed tomb.. and then, Hallelujah, to the Resurrection!  Every time we take this journey.. reading the old, old story.. remembering His death.. it thrills my heart that the cross is not the end of the story!  Thank God!

John doesn't linger on Gethsemane.  He doesn't record the prayer that Jesus prayed there.. or the fact that they all fell asleep.  He goes directly to the entrance of Judas with the Roman cohort and the officers of the chief priests who came with "lanterns and torches and weapons." 

"Jesus therefore, knowing all the things that were coming upon Him went forth... "  He went forth.. to the garden.. He went forth to the armed crowd.. and He identified Himself to them.  "Whom do you seek?" He asked.  "Jesus the Nazarene. "  they answered.  "I am He." was the answer.. so powerful that they actually "drew back and fell to the ground." 

"I am He."  Makes me think of Saul on the road to Damascus.. when "suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; and he fell to the ground.. "  When Saul asked "Who art Thou..?"  The answer came, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." ( Acts 9:3-5) 

We sing about the power of His Name.. "Jesus your Name is power".  But, do we really understand and believe this truth? 

Father in heaven, thank You for the One whose Name is above all names.. for Jesus Christ the Lord who "went forth"  knowing what was ahead... "who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." ( Hebrews 12:2) We have a mighty and blessed Savior and His Name is Wonderful!  Grant us understanding.. down in our hearts and fully in our minds.. of the power and greatness of the Name of Jesus. We bless His name!  We glorify His name! May all the earth rejoice in the Mighty Name of Jesus! Amen and amen.