To Those I Love

Palm Sunday in Jerusalem courtesy google images

Before I tell you what has happened, I want you to know that I am okay. For now.  I have been in hiding with several others since the Passover.

I will describe the events to you as best I can, but please forgive me if I miss anything. My hands shake as though I am feeble. But frailty has not overcome my body.

Fear, however ...

It didn't start out that way, though.

We came to the city to be part of the festival. Our arrival was a few days before. We didn't want to miss anything. I don't think anyone could've anticipated the week would end the way it did.

The week's events began with unimaginable fanfare. Travel across town was impossible. The streets were flooded with a sea of people, carrying palm branches, and some threw cloths on the ground. Everyone shouted, some sang. Children bounced with excitement.

And the Man came through the gate, riding on a donkey, looking regal yet dressed like a servant. 

The celebratory atmosphere didn't last, though. The church leaders followed Him around town, seeking ways to discredit Him.

He didn't appear to fear the leaders. Instead, He withstood every challenge. Answered every accusation with words that left them stumbling over their tongues.

Frustration painted on their faces.

Rumors of conspiratorial efforts to end this man floated like low-hanging clouds.

As the week progressed, the crowd splintered into differing opinions. Some backed the church leaders, spewing accusations and wishes that this man would stop his heretical tour of the great and beautiful Jerusalem.

The Cross Courtesy Google Images

I didn't know what to think. I'd seen Him up close. We'd made eye contact once, after He'd finished turning over tables in the temple. A mix of fury and heartbreak seemed to crease his brow. I wanted to understand. And because I wanted to know more, I drew close to His group of followers, if only to hear what they would say about Him.

Some believed Him to be something of a Messiah. Others knew He was a rabbi. And yet, a few, like me, followed closely to learn who this man was.

I never expected to be awakened late one night to the shouts echoing and torch flames lighting the sky. Initially, I thought it was a terrible dream. Then the others in our household began moving about, whispering, fear sparking the air with an energy I didn't like.

Linking arms, we left our home and followed the crowd to see what the commotion was for. The tops of heads bobbed ahead of us, leading towards Gethsemane.

And there we were. Numbers I couldn't pretend to count, standing against the one man. He had his disciples with him, but still ...

Tensions increased. Peter produced his sword, using it against a servant's ear. The Man put it back on. My mind spun wildly trying to keep up, but it wasn't to be. The Man went with the mass of people.

We followed, treading nervously behind, wondering how this night would end.

The next 24 hours staggered ahead like a soldier drunk on the blood of his enemies.

The road to Golgotha courtesy Google Images

I sought out His mother and watched. What was she thinking? His disciples fled. He had no one. But her. And she stayed close, following, weeping, speaking words I wasn't close enough to hear.

He was marched up the hill to Golgatha, his back ribbons from the lashes he'd received. His face was painted red and dripping from the thorny crown. His blood left a trail marking his path.

It was as if the more blood the soldiers saw, the more their appetite expanded, demanding to be filled.

I couldn't tear myself away. To the bitter death of this man, I remained on the periphery.

But when we heard him speak, "It is finished," and his breath left his body, the earth and sky responded with such force that everyone ran for cover. Those I traveled with grabbed me by the arm and pulled. Had I not complied, I am certain I would've lost said arm.

Once everything calmed, reports floated into our hiding spot. The curtain hanging between the most holy place and the Holy of Holies had ripped--top to bottom. The man was placed in a borrowed tomb. And soldiers were on the hunt for his followers. There needed to be actions taken to ensure he remained in the tomb, where he'd been laid. 

He is Risen courtesy Google images

This brings me to my current state. I still can't make sense of this. I'm Numb. Stunned into silence. Or maybe it's fear. My mind races faster than I can process what I've seen. All that I've heard.

And now the rumors that this man is not dead are flying about among his followers. Excitement and boldness have been born in the hearts of everyone who's spent the past three years with him.

I haven't personally seen him, but I have hope. I was told his disciple, Peter, said he was the Christ. The Son of the Living God. That was before ...

Immanuel. God with us.

His mother, Mary, said she was told his name would be Jesus because He would take away the sins of the world.

On a personal note:

Jesus came to the earth He created to pay a debt none of us could. His sacrifice was enough to cover our debts past, present, and future. This week, we celebrate, leading up to the remembrance of all that He did. It is my hope, my prayer that all whom we love will find themselves captivated by His great love for us. 

Jesus is the Christ. The Son of the Living God. The only One who can set us free from that which binds us, heal our diseases, and rescue our souls from the snare of the devil.

Have a blessed and fruitful week.

Until next time, Shalom. 🌿🌴 Karlene 🌿🌴

Burning Bridges

 In 2018, a mass layoff occurred, affecting thousands of individuals across the state of Michigan. My job was among those cut from the roster that year. Many took to social media with their thoughts and feelings about the situation. Some thought it prudent to maintain an impartial position, stating it was important to avoid burning bridges because "you never know which ones you might need to cross down the road." 

Courtesy Google Images

In recent months, it has become apparent that there is a bridge that needs to burn. It is connected to the road that leads back to the life we knew in our rearview mirror. Remember it? Some call it the good ol' days. While there is nothing wrong with reminiscing about days gone by, we should be cautious to avoid longing for those moments. In Genesis, we can read of the account surrounding Abraham's nephew, Lot, who had gone to live in the land of Sodom and Gomorrah. The people of the land had become depraved in heart, acting wickedly, and God was determined to destroy the land. Abraham interceded on behalf of the land's inhabitants, which prompted angels to be sent into the city and rescue Lot's family. We can see how depraved these people were as the men surrounded Lot's home, demanding that the men be released to them so they could have their way with them. 

Lot's family was then instructed to flee the territory. Lot had two sons-in-law who refused. They loved their lives too much. So Lot left with his wife and two daughters. They were also warned to flee and not look back.

"So He overthrew those cities, all the plain, all the inhabitants of the cities, and what grew on the ground.  BUT his wife looked back behind him, and she became a pillar of salt." ~Genesis 19:25-26 ESV

Lot's wife couldn't help herself.  Bible scholars and commentators believe that she wasn't taking a cursory glance into her rearview mirror to see what would become of the cities. Instead, she longed for the life she was leaving.

Later, Jesus warns His disciples: "No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God" (Luke 9:62 ESV).

OUCH!

Courtesy Google Images

But this is not the first time anything has been said about turning away from a past life (or livelihood) to follow God. Nor the second.

The prophet Elijah was instructed by the LORD to find Elisha and anoint him as successor to his ministry. Elisha was plowing his family's field when "Elijah passed by him and cast his cloak upon him. And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, 'Let me kiss my father and my mother, and then I will follow you.' And he said to him, 'Go back again, for what have I done to you?' And he returned from following him and took the yoke of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the yokes of the oxen and gave it to the people, and they ate. Then he arose and went after Elijah and assisted him" (1 Kings 19:19-21 ESV).

He kissed his parents goodbye, sacrificed his oxen, gave the people nearby the meat, ate with them, and then turned away to serve Elijah's ministry. And he served Elijah faithfully for 10 years before Elijah was taken by God to heaven, and Elisha's ministry began. Scholars say this act of sacrificing the oxen was Elisha burning a bridge. He was putting to death his old life, leaving him no fallback plan should things with the ministry go wrong.

Like Elisha, I believe answering the call of God to follow Him is to be without reservation. There is a cost, like any commitment. But it's worth it. Jesus promised that there will be people who will revile and persecute any who would follow Him, because of Him.

"And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, 'If anyone would come after Me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow Me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will find it.'" ~Mark 8:34-35 ESV

It's up to us to decide. The choice was given to us long ago.

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the LORD, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD" ~Joshua 24:15 ESV

The Story Behind I have Decided to Follow Jesus

Recently, I heard the story behind a favorite hymn, I Have Decided to Follow Jesus. The video above tells it so eloquently, be sure to watch it. Then go all in. No middle ground, one-foot-in-one-foot-out living will do. Eventually that will catch up to us and a decision will be required. Why not now? Persecution may come. Death threats could happen. Rejection and abandonment, perhaps. But hear the words of Jesus:

Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on My account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you. ~Matthew 5:10-12 ESV

The blessing of the LORD is far better than anything this world can offer.

The blessing of the LORD makes rich, and He adds no sorrow with it. ~Proverbs 10:22 ESV

Until next time, let God be magnified! 💝 Karlene J 💝