D-V's Desk

  Jesus reminds me of a teacher just before finals.   Jesus is trying hard to remind His friends of what is important.   What they’ll need to know for after Jesus is gone.   This is not the first time that Maundy Thursday evening that Jesus has reminded them of the importance of love.   Earlier, just after washing their feet, Jesus says: “Let me give you a new command: Love one another.   In the same way I loved you, you love one another.   This is how everyone will recognize that you are my disciples—when they see the love you have for each other.” (John 13:34-35; MSG)   Now, after supper in an extended teaching moment, Jesus tells His friends: “If you love me, show it by doing what I’ve told you. . . The person who knows my commandments and keeps them, that’s who loves me” (vs. 15, 21).   This begs the question of what Jesus means.   Just what are Jesus’ commandments? In Mark chapter 12 , we read the two great commandments ar...

  “Don’t let this rattle you.   You trust God, don’t you?   Trust me.   There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home.   If that weren’t so, would I have told you that I’m on my way to get a room ready for you?   And if I’m on my way to get your room ready, I’ll come back and get you so you can live where I live.” John 14:1-3 (MSG)             Here I love the King James Version.   “In My Father’s house are many mansions” (v. 2a).   Mansions.   Not just a closet or a spare room added on but a mansion.   To me, that speaks of the lavish abundance of God’s grace and mercy.   There is room enough and to spare in God’s kingdom.   Room for you and for me.             Jesus speaks these words of assurance just hours before His own death.   Here a little context may be helpful for us.   Jesus is gathered w...

              1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. 2  He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. 3  He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Psalm 23:1-3 (KJV)             Psalm 23 is a familiar and favorite psalm for many of us.   Psalm 23’s words are full of comfort and assurance.   Generations have found hope in the reminder of God’s faithfulness and love, even in the most challenging of times.   Sheep and shepherds are not a common image for us.   We are far from our farming roots.             Shepherds and sheep were common in Jesus’ time.   They are still frequent sight in the Middle East and in parts of the British Isles.   In the Hebrew Scriptures, as in Psalm ...

  Grief                             Shock Doubt                            Fear Uncertainty                     Anger These are just a few of the emotions that I’m sure filled the Upper Room that first Easter afternoon.   The women have come with their strange report- the tomb was empty.   But those gathered together do not yet believe.   Suddenly, the resurrected Jesus is with them behind the locked doors of the room. In the midst of pain and confusion, in the middle of fear and doubt, Jesus offers His friends the gift of peace.   We tend to think of peace as an absence of war or conflict.   Pea...

  In the Greek myth of Pandora, Pandora is given a box.   She is told NOT to open the box under any circumstances.   Curiosity eventually gets the best of Pandora, however, and she opens the box to see what is inside.   All the ills of the world come flying out: envy, sickness, hate, disease.   Quickly, Pandora snaps the box shut. Too late, the only thing that is left inside the box is hope.   Hope, that fragile thing with feathers. [1]   The Pandora myth teaches us about the persistence of hope.   Even in the face of challenges and obstacles, hope endures and pushes us on.   Hope encourages us with the way things should be as opposed to the way things are. What brings you hope?   What keeps you going in the face of life’s obstacles?   Maybe it is the support of family and friends.   Perhaps it is the promise of a fresh start a new day brings.   Maybe it is the joy of an ocean breeze and the tang of salt in the air. ...

          Epiphany comes from a Greek word that means a manifestation or realization.  The word can also mean to show or to reveal.  As when we have an AHA! moment of clarity or insight.  Everything about the season of Epiphany points you and me to Jesus’ identity.  Jesus is revealed in word and deed as the Son of God Incarnate.             A close reading reveals that Jesus is about two years old at Epiphany.  You may remember that shortly before this, Herod orders the killing of all baby boys under the age of two (Matthew 2:16 ).  If the Magi left when they saw the star announcing Jesus’ birth, then their journey took about two years from the East to Nazareth, via Jerusalem.             Even at this young age, Jesus is recognized as being for all people.  This is proclaimed as strangers from afar come to honor Jes...