Tag Archives: John

Today’s Prayer

Posted on March 27, 2013 | 1 comment

JESUS-NETWORK-MARKETING

We see in the Bible Jesus taking time and finding someplace quiet in order to pray. It’s a safe bet that prayer was part of His daily routine.

What might His prayer been like on this particular day many years ago?

“Well, Father, it starts soon. At sunset tonight it will be Thursday and …, well, let’s not talk about that until We have to. Today is My last normal day.

“I’ve tried to be a devoted son. I have spent my life among your Chosen People. I’ve reached out to Your other children, too, but I tried to do it in a way that didn’t minimize Your love of the Jews.

“It has been both strange and wonderful to spend My time here. Some of these people are really, really special, and it has been a joy to have spent my time with them. John has been a very good friend. I’m planning on asking him to look after My mother. Peter will be a great manager after, well, in the future.

“I plan on sharing the Passover preparation with my closest disciples tomorrow. Your special feast to share with those who have been special to Me. I’m focusing on the good things and trying not to dwell on what follows.

“Please, Father, let me enjoy my last normal day, if that is your will, and give me the strength for what I need to do after that.

“I love you, Father, and I know you love Me. For a few more hours, I am going to celebrate your love and the love of my friends. I’m afraid that when we talk tomorrow, I’ll be completely distracted by the task ahead of me. But for now, just know that Your Son loves you.”

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Posted in Communications, Culture, Family, Friends, History, Holidays, Leadership, People, Philosophy, Religion

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The Women of Holy Week

Posted on March 26, 2013 | 2 comments
Vladimir BorovikovskyThe Crucifixion

Vladimir Borovikovsky
The Crucifixion

Holy Week teaches us many things. Peter, James and John couldn’t even stay awake while Jesus prayed.

Peter, the “Rock” crumbled at the hint of danger and denied that he even knew Jesus.

Caiaphas the High Priest used his influence to maneuvers procedures so that Jesus was tried and condemned in an illegal proceeding before most people were even aware of it.

Herod was so shallow he that all he wanted was signs and wonders. In other words, he wanted Jesus to perform some entertaining magic tricks.

The most powerful man in the area, Pontius Pilate crumbled before the crowd. If their discontent had been aimed at Rome, he would not have hesitated to have the soldiers take care of them in a heartbeat. In Jesus case he took the easy way out.

Judas – and we can only wonder about Judas – betrayed Jesus, despaired and then died.

So many weaklings. Who was strong for Jesus?

The women.

His mother, of course. How heartbreaking for her to see her son treated this way, especially since she had known all along who He really is.

Mary Magdalene – who was as devoted a disciple as any of the men.

Veronica – who wiped the sweat, blood and dirt from Jesus face.

The women of Jerusalem who wept for Jesus on his trip to Calvary.

The only man we know to have stuck it through to the end was John, the apostle “Jesus loved” – Jesus’ his best friend. He entrusted his mother to John’s care, and John, friend that he was, took her into his home.

When Jesus cured the ten lepers, only one returned to thank him. Of the eleven remaining apostles, only one remained with Jesus throughout His ordeal.

But the women were there.

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Posted in Communications, Culture, Family, Friends, Holidays, Leadership, People, Philosophy, Religion

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Who Is This Man, Jesus?

Posted on February 14, 2013 | 2 comments

JesusPortrait

It’s surprising how little we know about Jesus the person. He was named Yeshua, the Aramaic for Joshua, the loyal scout and military leader who was allowed to pass into the Promised Land when even Moses was denied entry.

His public ministry was only for a few years. Except for His last two days, the scriptures tell us little about Him. We don’t know if he was tall or short. Nowhere do the Scriptures describe Him physically. However, it’s a pretty good bet he looked like we see Him in paintings and sculpture, with white skin and long flowing hair. Men native to the Middle East tend to have darker skin, and St. Paul in his first letter to the Corinthians is quite critical about men with long hair. An unlikely comment if that was how Jesus looked.

What the scriptures do tell us is His message and his purpose. Look at the beautiful beginning to John’s gospel, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

He taught us to love God and to love one another. To extend that love to even the least among us. To be willing to give up life itself out of love.

It was a good message, and just as He subjugated Himself to the Father’s will, He placed the message first. After all, He was, and is the Word.

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