Making Preparations ...

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

Matthew 26:17-19 NIV

This afternoon has been a whirlwind of activity at the church.  A very different Thursday afternoon from most ... the cleaning crew was in to do their usual work ... but the worship director was also in setting things up in the sanctuary for this evening's service and a crew of ladies from the UMW were into to get things ready in the church for a Community Maundy Thursday Service and Easter Services this Weekend. 

Everyone was working with such great care and lovingly cleaned every spot and tidy every corner in anticipation of this evening and Easter.

While appreciate the extra effort to tidy up the church - the smell of 'lemony' clean is a nice addition to the church, part of me wonders why not every week?  But then I remember, the passage from Matthew and how it ends ...

Olive tree wood model of the Last Supper

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve.  Matthew 26:17-30 NIV

Perhaps our efforts are easier on a day like this ... in a week like this ... because we do our work knowing that Jesus will show up tonight as we gather around the table. 

We also know that the tomb will be empty come Sunday and we will celebrate the hope of resurrection. 

Maybe if we could keep the anticipation of Easter alive during the week, it would change how we prepare each and every week for Worship.  The anticipated encounter with the Risen Savior tends to change how you act.

 

Until then, I am thankful for the many hands that have been through the church making preparations for an evening at the Table with Jesus.

Guilt Free Bible Reading Plan: Deuteronomy 13-15 - Selling Jesus ...

If a prophet, or one who foretells by dreams, appears among you and announces to you a sign or wonder, and if the sign or wonder spoken of takes place, and the prophet says, “Let us follow other gods” (gods you have not known) “and let us worship them,” you must not listen to the words of that prophet or dreamer. The Lord your God is testing you to find out whether you love him with all your heart and with all your soul. It is the Lord your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him. That prophet or dreamer must be put to death for inciting rebellion against the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt and redeemed you from the land of slavery. That prophet or dreamer tried to turn you from the way the Lord your God commanded you to follow. You must purge the evil from among you. Deut. 13:1-5

We usually read these words and use them as a cautionary tale for those outside the church using miracles and signs as reason to listen to them.  But what if the caution was just as relevant to those inside the church - today!

I'm not here to sell you what you want ... just what you need.

Sounds like a sales pitch at the local used car dealer or flea market. But it should be the 'pitch' at your local church. Unfortunately, these days we have turned Jesus into a cure-all, fix-all, end-all, do-all ... for All your problems.  And that's great when Jesus works out like that, but it doesn't work like that all the time. Not all your problems go away (BTW, that was never a promise Jesus gave ... actually He promised quite the opposite).

Perhaps it is easier to see the claims of the false prophets as they masquerade while selling us false hope and quick fixes.  We are even drawn in for a short time, but we never stay long ... the promise never holds up to our reality.

But what about the church?  What about our own testimony?

How often are we left trying to sell "our church" or "our faith" as a means for someone to reid themselves of "their problems". 

The end result is that people will respond, but when the problems return ... they leave once again disappointed in a promise broken.

Perhaps we would better to tell the real story: 

I once was lost, but now am found ... but I still don't really know where I am. 
Maybe you could join me a journey to figure out this thing called faith. 
I don't have all the answers.  My problems haven't all gone away, but I know that God loves me
and I have hope - hope in a better future - a promise of better future - and I am not alone in my struggles.

Maybe if we stopped trying to sell Jesus and instead lived like we loved Jesus ... we would find a lot less people calling us Hypocrites and trying "to put us to death" according to the Law.