Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

Holy Week - Good Friday

 

Holy Week - Good Friday

Perspective is valuable; it shapes and informs our thinking and how we see our circumstances and the world. Just the other day, I was painting a room, and being close to the wall painting with a roller, everything looked great. I thought I was just about done. I took a few steps back, gained a different perspective and view of the wall and noticed many areas on the wall that were not covered well, and needed another coat of paint. This is one way we perspective can help, getting a different view. 

Another way I see perspective is more around life happenings and our situations. I think back many years when I was in ministry in the Dallas area. I recall one day when my role at the church radically changed without my involvement or real understanding. One day my role was one thing, then immediately, my role shifted, and my world was turned upside down. This impacted my family, we relocated, my days looked different, and honestly, I hated and struggled in my new role. Nothing was clicking, and life became really, really challenging.  In the middle of it all, up close and personal in the trial was not pleasing, not much joy, and just downright miserable. But, what I didn't have at the time, or what I didn't choose to appreciate, was perspective. 

You see, a few months, maybe a year or so later I was able to see it a bit differently, I was able to gain some perspective and realize that it was this move, this role change that ultimately leads me to be able to do what I am doing now. God used those months in the valley and darkness to refine and shape me, and ultimately prepare me for what He had in store for my family and me. Perspective is an essential thing. 

Today is Good Friday, and in all honestly, there was nothing good about this day for the disciples. This day was full of guilt from disowning Jesus, gambling for his clothing, doubting of Jesus at every level. As well as watching unjust trials, unimaginable floggings, a horrific parade to Calvery where Jesus carried his death device, the cross, and was ultimately executed between two criminals. 

Good Friday, as we know it today, didn't look that good at the time. But what we know now, what you and I have the opportunity to have is perspective. We have the full story of the risen Christ Jesus, the understanding of what looked reckless and tragic at the time was necessary to fulfill the gospel. Because of this final fulfillment of God’s plan, the blood of Jesus that was shed, we have the ability to draw near to him. 

“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have the confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” - ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭10:19-22‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What we read here in Hebrews is the command to draw near to God. Becasue of what happened on this tragic and horrific Friday a few thousand years ago, we can now call this Good Friday. We do not have to settle for life at a distance from God, and we can have fellowship with Him and experience Him.

“Jesus called out with a loud voice, “Father, into your hands, I commit my spirit.” When he had said this, he breathed his last.” - ‭‭Luke‬ ‭23:46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What looked to be a horrific and tragic Friday turned out to be the most beautiful and great Friday of all. The full story give us the proper perspective of the day and the event. This Friday, may we fully embrace the whole story, the full understanding of the reckless love of God. He is pursuing us, coming after us, and calling us to be in communion with Him. I pray these lyrics from Reckless Love bless you as they did me today. 

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God

Oh, it chases me down, fights 'til I'm found, leaves the ninety-nine

And I couldn't earn it, I don't deserve it, still, You give Yourself away

Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God, yeah

———

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

There's no shadow You won't light up

Mountain You won't climb up

Coming after me

There's no wall You won't kick down

Lie You won't tear down

Coming after me

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch