Terry Storch

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

Holy Week - Monday

 

Holy Week - Monday 

Just days before the most significant event in human history happened, there was a bit of chaos in the lands. Quite honestly, it’s fascinating to me to understand the full context of this situation and ask what we can learn from this. 

Holy Week, the week leading up to Jesus' death, burial, and ultimate resurrection. These seven days now that we can read history and understand what is happening and what is coming gives us some unique context and insight. Jesus knew what was coming; he felt the weight of it and understood the gravity of the situation. 

It was like any other day. Jesus just healed a demon-possessed little boy, and all were amazed and marveling at what he did. On the heels of this, something odd happened. Jesus gathered his disciples and had a quick little meeting. But it wasn’t a meeting they were expecting, Jesus said this:

“Listen carefully to what I am about to tell you: The Son of Man is going to be delivered into the hands of men.” - ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:44‬ ‭NIV‬‬

In the midst of just a typical day, Jesus again predicts his death a second time. Just off a celebration of healing a little boy, Jesus got real and said, guys...I am about to die. The disciples didn’t understand. Honestly, looking at the text, they just really breezed right on past it. Think about it; in just a few days, Jesus was going to die, he knew it, and everyone else was just going along as a typical day. 

This also really jumps out to me. After the disciples were told Jesus was going to be delivered into the hands of me, they started arguing. See, they were missing the point of the situation and misread it all. The disciples thought Jesus was going to be king, and they wanted in on the action. Seriously, days away from resurrection and his closest friends and partners in ministry were doing this:

“An argument started among the disciples as to which of them would be the greatest.” - ‭‭Luke‬ ‭9:46‬ ‭NIV‬‬

To paint a broader picture of the situation, lets quickly take a look in Jerusalem. Jesus and his disciples were just about ready to head to the city...what was the vibe, what was happening in the city? Well, it was full of vacationers and travelers from all across the region because it was a Holiday, Passover. The city was full of tourists, and they were being taken advantage of. When I think about this, I think about port cities when a massive cruise ship rolls in. All the vendor seeing fresh meat of tourists with money, and the vendors were selling cheap, imitation items at a crazy markup. But this situation was a little bit different and much worse, you see. These vendors were setting up shop in the temple, God’s house, and selling and taking advantage in the name of the Lord. Can you imagine? 

Ok, get all this context into your mind. Jesus understands the reality of his situation, and what is coming...it’s days away from his death. All around is chaos; to some, it feels like just another day; to others, it’s a free for all frenzy in the temple courts cashing in, in the name of the Lord and radically dishonoring God while doing it. This was the climate just a few days before Jesus defeated death. 

I am not one of those Revelation and tribulation guys. We don’t stock up on pickles, guns, and essentials waiting for the end times, and that is not where I am going with this thinking. What I am feeling, and reading today takes me to a place of understanding the beauty in the midst of the chaos. You see, just days before the most significant event in human history happened, the world looked a little bit like it does right now. We have a choice to see and respond to how we decide. I believe the disciples could understand what was going on, and seeing the writing on the wall, but they were distracted. Just like us, are we going to be distracted by the COVID-19 chaos, and our circumstances, or are we going to have eyes to see what Jesus is doing in the midst of the chaos? I am not saying that Jesus is coming back on Easter Sunday, but I am saying Jesus is already here with us, alive in each and every believer right now. 

As we walk into the Monday of Holy Week, may we walk with our eyes wide open to the beauty all around us, with joy in our hearts knowing the full context and story and our own story? We have freedom and choices to make on our journey, and we are empowered. I desire to choose wisely, listen to the Holy Spirit, surround myself with the right people, and chase after Christ. Give us the eyes to see as you see God, and the will and determination to act according to your will. 

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