Being the presence of Christ is a great concept for me, much better than handing out tracts on street corners or doing the whole “angry bullhorn” thing to strangers at the mall or on the street. The problem, however, is my constant failure, my inherent lack of spiritual depth rudely shoving its way through my resolve and into the forefront. That’s when I fall short of being, as Paul puts it, “Christ’s ambassador” (see 2 Cor. 5:20), and I really am betraying Jesus in much the way that he predicted.
COMPLICIT IN BETRAYAL?
Betrayal is a tough concept to consider, and we usually are more than happy to pin the rap on Judas. But remember, Peter also betrayed Jesus. The difference seems to be that Peter accepted forgiveness and then moved on whereas, tragically, Judas was unable to let Jesus love him that way. As for me, I tend to be more like Judas. I need to be open with Jesus and let him love me too.
When we confess our shortcomings, God is faithful and just to forgive us those things that stand between us and God. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he who is faithful and just will forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us” (1 John 1:8-10).
The key word in this passage is not betrayal; it’s not even sin. The key word is forgiveness.
Re-read the questions on page 24. In what ways do you need forgiveness most today?
Prayer: We understand that we betray you every day, Jesus. Help us to walk more clearly in your light, and grant us peace as we walk in the truth of the forgiveness that you purchased at such enormous cost. Amen.
Day Six: The First Sunday in Lent
Read John 13:31-38.
The crowd answered him, “We have heard from the law that the Messiah remains forever. How can you say that the Son of Man must be lifted up? Who is this Son of Man?” Jesus said to them, “The light is with you for a little longer. Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you. If you walk in the darkness, you do not know where you are going. While you have the light, believe in the light, so that you may become children of light” (vv. 34-36).
The other morning Rebekah and I watched a home renovation show while sipping coffee and trying to ease slowly into what promised to be a very busy Saturday. The show focused on the disturbing fact that more often than we realize, contractors hired to do remodeling simply don’t do the job properly. Not only is work sometimes botched or in violation of building codes, but some contractors also knowingly cover it up, take the money, and move on to another job. The home owners are left with problems they are not equipped to deal with and for which they often don’t have the money to fix.
The one-hour show went on to document the problems that needed to be addressed, brought in a team of experts, pointed out what can be done differently and better, and then—my favorite part—the host literally intervened to rescue the home owners from the unfolding nightmare.
DEMOLITION!
Just about every intervention involves a period of extensive demolition. Floors are pulled up, walls torn down, ceilings removed, plumbing jack hammered out of the concrete and electrical wiring completely removed. One thing tends to lead to another until the full extent of the cover-up is exposed and the ultimate root of the problem can be corrected.
LENT TIE-IN
Today marks the first Sunday in the season of Lent. This is the time of preparation for the coming glory of Easter. But it occurs to me that I will never really be ready for anything that Christ offers until I’m first willing to look beneath the surface and deal with the shoddy workmanship—often cumulative over time—that too often characterizes the way I do business as a human being in the day in, day out living of my life.
Jesus did not come to work on my façade. Jesus lived and taught and suffered and addressed death head-on in order to set me free. Freedom goes a lot deeper than appearance.
The scripture for today talks about light. Simply put, we need light to see clearly or nothing really changes. Christ offers such light, providing a view of our need that is incisive, penetrating, and unconstrained by the niceties of social posturing. The light Jesus applies brings healing along with revelation. Instead of condemnation, Jesus offers liberation and love.
Earlier in John’s story of the good news, Jesus made his purpose clear: “Indeed, God did not send the Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him” (John 3:17). This weekend, if you’re reading along with any sense of seriously engaging this journey through Lent, why not ask Jesus to bring light to your dark places? And then have the courage to embark on some meaningful renovation work.
As the guy on the TV show likes to say, “Let’s make this right!”
Prayer: Sometimes fear comes in along with talk of renovation. God, Light of the universe, please bring assurance with your evaluation. Grant us courage, and the wisdom to get on with the work that needs to be done. Amen.
I Wish I Could Have Been There
Read John 14:1-8.
Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” (v. 5).
Back in the early 1980s I read a little book titled If You Don’t Know Where You’re Going, You’ll Probably End Up Somewhere Else. The central idea was not far removed from that of books like The Purpose Driven Life, or The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. Too many of us live without any clear sense of vision and, as the Bible points out, “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Prov. 29:18, KJV).
So Jesus talked with his friends, going over the highlights one more time, telling them about the place he is preparing for their future. And Thomas, never one to hold back his true feelings or his doubts, asks the obvious question: “We don’t have any idea where you’re going, so how can we know the way?” (author’s paraphrase).
Jesus must have paused in the moment, maybe raised an eyebrow or inclined his head, and reflected on all that he had said, all that he had taught during the years that he had lived with these men and women. And I can envision him leaning back and smiling knowingly, opening his hands expansively to take in every single soul in that room. They must have sensed it too, capturing the moment with rapt attention, leaning in as one body to hear the Jesus’ response to the question Thomas had posed.
“I am the way, and the truth, and the life,” Jesus says, his eyes overflowing with love and compassion. “No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6).
I can see Jesus pausing, making eye contact with each of his friends in the room, and deliberately and lovingly drawing them into his spirit. “If you really know me,” he continues, willing them to know him, “you would know my Father as well. From now on,” and here he too leans forward into the tightening circle, “you do know him and have seen him” (v. 7, author’s paraphrase).
I imagine that you could have heard a pin drop. It was one of those defining moments, an experience from which you emerge with more clarity than you ever imagined.
I WISH I COULD HAVE BEEN THERE
I wish I could have been there, sitting at the table, leaning in toward Jesus, hanging on to the words of