Archive for March 2006

Friday, 31st March 2006

LC Day 27

Luke 4-5 in the Lent Challenge

The passion, expectancy, ferver, love, enthusiasm shine through so strongly, almost to the point of anger sometimes.

Two things struck me today:

The two mentions of yeast. We had a Passover meal at house group this week (I know a bit early!) and before the meal, all traces of yeast had to be rid from the house. Such a potent force. I’m intolerant to yeast and know what it can do to me! The yeast of the Pharisees blew their pride up, but the yeast of God can make bread a kingdom rise! I need to careful what kind I am.
Ch12 v 49 is amazing. My version (ncv) says: “I came to set fire to the world, and I wish it were already burning.” Wow.

In ‘Consuming Fire’ by Third Day it says “Our God, He is a consuming fire and the flames burn down deep in my soul!”

Lord, let me burn more for you.

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Monday, 27th March 2006

We had a sermon on the temptations only the other week at Church. No podcast due to a number of reasons… but you can see the ppt used . Hopefully it might help to answer some of your questions Rob! It certainly opened my eyes in a new way. The devil tried to get Jesus in the same way he trys to get us!

Jesus comes back and gets the chance to read and wow does he ever choose the right passages! So much so he alienates his own people. You’re right Lanie, nothing new under the sun as far as that goes… (and although I’m no Bill Gates fan, he does spend in the USA as well!)

I guess it relates to a new way of thinking, back to those old wineskins!

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Saturday, 25th March 2006

LC Day 22

Luke 1-3 in the Lent Challenge

Luke 1 is one of my favourite chapters of the bible. The story of the Elizabeth and Zechariah and the incredible words of Mary and Zechariah.

This was probably a one-off for Zechariah. Although from a priestly family (by marriage to Elizabeth) he’d almost certainly never been in the holy of holies before and what a reception he got! Would I have that strength, trust and faith?

Mary and Zechariah’s words are simply beautiful, they sum up so much of the truth around Jesus and the Old Testament prophesies about him.

Wow to fully realise and understand what Jesus and John would do, amazing. In the Catholic daily Liturgy of the Hours, these two songs/prayers are said every day. (Zechariah in the morning and Mary in the evening.) I’ve used the praystation portable and these reminders are so helpful and meaningful. A bit of Christmas every day!

Also who were the first to be told about the birth of Jesus, the shepherds, the lowest of the low, the hicks and outcasts. I love the way is says ‘They were terribly frightened…’, yeah just a bit! It must have been totally terrifying!

Lord, help me to be more humble and realise who you really are.

sidenote:
Lamsa says that although it says Elizabeth was ‘barren’ she still might have had daughters. But coming from a Priestly family, this was almost the same as having no children as daughters couldn’t carry on the Priestly line!

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Friday, 24th March 2006

LC Day 21

Mark 15-16 in the Lent Challenge

Jesus went through so much in such a short space of time. A beating at the hands of the Jews, another trial and beating by the Romans and then he has to casse his own heavy cross piece on his shredded back.

It was normal for the scourging to happen a couple of days before the crucifixion. So the prisoner would feel all the pain, then get a chance to heal a bit, so they could feel as much pain all over again. But with Jesus it had to be done quickly.

What gets me is that Jesus would have known what would happen to him. He’d have seen crucifixions happen I’m sure, but he was still willing to go through with it all.

Simon was probably a Black Jewish Passover pilgrim, sleeping on the road side with his two sons. I can’t imagine what he felt being pulled into the procession. It’s thought that his two sons might have become leaders in the early Church: Romans 16: 13 & 2Tim 4: 14.

Myrrh is an embalming agent and anesthetic and is still used today (they’re now finding it might have some cancer killing properties!). It would have been one of the ’spices’ used in the quick embalming of Jesus’ body by Joseph of Arimathea and Nichodemas. The women would have been allowed to touch the body during this time.

In my bible (ncv) it says that 16: 9-20 are not included in two of the oldest Greek copies of Mark. That might account for the two endings.

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