April 15, 2024 — The Coffee Shop Devotions: A Black Eye A Day….

“Simon Peter followed Jesus, and so did another disciple. Now that disciple was known to the high priest, and went with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest.  But Peter stood at the door outside. Then the other disciple, who was known to the high priest, went out and spoke to her who kept the door, and brought Peter in.  Then the servant girl who kept the door said to Peter, “You are not also one of this Man’s disciples, are you?”  He said, “I am not.”  Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself.”  John 18:15-18

I mentioned a “secret” menu that exists at a local coffee establishment.  Another drink they have on the “secret” menu is a “Black Eye”, which like the Red Eye is regular coffee, but instead of just one shot of espresso the “Black Eye” has two shots of espresso added to the regular coffee. These must be some jittery coffee drinkers. I have also heard that drinks from the “secret menu” are not supposed to be called out from the coffee bar – I guess they have things that they want to keep hidden for some reason or another – sort of the same way Peter would have liked to remain hidden at the time of Jesus’ arrest and trial. Peter is called out by one of the local by-standers as he awaits the fate of Jesus, and this makes him really nervous.  He is afraid that if he is identified as one of Jesus’ followers, he too may be arrested and put on trial.

Have you ever found yourself wanting to hide the fact that you are a follower of Jesus? How did you feel afterward? Did you feel as if you had a black eye afterward – or literally had given Jesus a black eye? Are you with me…..can I get an Amen? One of the more difficult parts of being a follower of Jesus is learning how to be a follower each and every day – on those days where we are burned out, and the days where we are afraid. But remember this: just like Peter is redeemed by Jesus for denying him, Jesus also redeems us even before we deny him, or desert him. Jesus calls us out, not to embarrass us, but to remind us that G-d loves us so much we are forgiven even before we act, or refuse to act.  And that reality should sustain us and compel us to stand up for Jesus – even if it gets us a black eye.

Pastor Dave

April 14, 2024 – Easter +2

“Jesus himself stood among [the disciples] and said to them, “Peace be with you.” They were startled and terrified, and thought that they were seeing a ghost. He said to them, “Why are you frightened, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet; see that it is I myself. Touch me and see; for a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.” And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While in their joy they were disbelieving and still wondering, he said to them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate in their presence. Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you—that everything written about me in the law of Moses, the prophets, and the psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures, and he said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Messiah is to suffer and to rise from the dead on the third day, and that repentance and forgiveness of sins is to be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.” Luke 24:16b – 48

The Gospel lesson we have today comes immediately following the appearance of Jesus to the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus, three days after the death of Jesus.  In fact, the part of verse 36 that is not included this morning is the fact that the disciples were talking about the events that happened to the two disciples on the road to Emmaus, when Jesus came and stood among them. So, two disciples had come to tell the others that they had this incredible encounter with the risen Jesus, and the other disciples were trying to make sense of their story. And then Jesus comes and stands among them. It is no wonder they were scared and confused. And while they are in the moment, they are trying to make sense of it all. They know Jesus died on the cross.  They know he was laid in the tomb. They know his body is missing – and they still have not made the association between Jesus trying to teach them that he was going to rise from the dead, and the fact that he actually did rise from the dead. So they are confused – and frankly, they are scared – and so you can imagine the disciples saying to one another “What is going on here?”

So what would Jesus do before he left his disciples? Well, once Jesus convinced the disciples that he was not a ghost, that it was the risen Jesus among them, Jesus decided there were two more things to do before he left.  Before Jesus left this earth, He opened their minds to understand the scriptures – and He gave them a mission – Jesus told them to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins in his name to all the world. Jesus wants to make sure there are people like you and me who can tell his story without wanting anything from Jesus – because Jesus has given us all that we need.  There is nothing more we could get from Jesus. We just have to fight the fear of what others think of us for being his disciples – his children – and are willing to be there and tell his story without wanting anything else. 

Pastor Dave