Tag Archives: Mark

Jesus is the Suffering Servant

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 4:36 am on April 2, 2015
Tags: , Mark   

Maundy Thursday – Rev. David J. Schreffler

April 2, 2015
Maundy Thursday

“When it was evening Jesus came with the Twelve. As as they were at table eating, Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me…” They began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one after another, “Is it I?” He said to them, “It is one of the twelve.” And as they were eating, he took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to them, and said, “Take; this is my body.” And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, and they all drank of it. And he said to them, “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many.” Mark 14:18-24

“Among all the memorable events of Christ’s life, the most worthy of remembrance is that last banquet, the most sacred supper. Here not only the Paschal lamb was presented to be eaten but also the immaculate Lamb, who takes away the sins fo the world… In this banquet the marvelous sweetness of Christ’s goodness shone forth when He dined at the same table and on the same plates with those poor disciples and the traitor Judas. The marvelous example of his humility shone forth when, girt with a towel, the King of Glory diligently washed the feet of the fishermen and even of his betrayer. Oh how marvelous are all these things, how full of sweetness, but only for that soul who, having been called to so distinguished a banquet, runs with all the ardor of its spirit so that it may cry out with David:

“As the stag longs for the springs of water,
so my soul longs for You, O G*d.”

Bonaventure (1221 – 1274) “The Tree of Life”

On the night of the celebration of Maundy Thursday, not only do we remember the last supper, but we remember the commandment Christ gave to his disciples to “love one another”. It was not a holy suggestion – it was a command:

“I give you a new commandment – to love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. Everyone will know by this that you are my disciples – if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35)

This is one of the reasons we need Maundy Thursday – we need to be reminded that we are to love one another because we so often fail at love. And I am not talking now about love of a spouse or “Eros” love, I am talking about “Philia” love or love of brother and sister, and “Agape” love, love of G*d. It is so important in the Kingdom of G*d that Jesus needed to command that we love one another. In this season of Easter coming up, when you peer upon the cross on Good Friday, and then marvel at the empty tomb of Easter Sunday, remember to love one another. As Psalm 42:1 says, “As the stag longs for the springs of water, so my soul longs for you, O G*d”, it is in our longing for G*d that drives our love for one another. Love of G*d, love modeled by Jesus, forms our need for love, and our need to be messengers of love. G*d sent Jesus to do just that, to show us what is this inexpressible act of Love, so that we will then love each other.

Pastor Dave

Unknown's avatar Rev. David J. Schreffler 5:38 am on March 25, 2015
Tags: , Mark   

O Faithless Generation – Rev. David J. Schreffler

March 25, 2015

“Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a dumb spirit; and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid; and I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able.” Jesus answered, “O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?” Jesus continues, “All things are possible to him who believes.” Mark 9:14ff

“I think there is no suffering greater than what is caused by the doubts of those who want to believe. I know what torment this is, but I can only see it, in myself anyway, as the process by which faith is deepened. What people don’t realize is how much religion costs. They think faith is a big electric blanket, when of course it is the cross. It is much harder to believe than not to believe.” Flannery O’Connor (1925 – 1964) “For All The Saints” volume III, p. 963

“It is much harder to believe than not to believe”, says Flannery O’Connor. To that I say Amen. It is much harder to believe in the cross of Jesus Christ, in the teachings of Jesus, in the selflessness of Jesus than not to believe in all of these – just like it is easier to not believe in “Big Foot” than to believe. We only have a few eyewitness accounts of Big Foot – some relics like hair and footprints, and of course the fuzzy, grainy, shaky, brief seconds of video that purports to show the creature. But even with scant “evidence”, millions of people believe that Big Foot exists. So, what do we say to the “nay sayers” who dispute the existence of the death and resurrection of Jesus? We only have the written accounts of a few witnesses. We have just a few relics – the Shroud of Turin; pieces of the cross; the cave where he was buried and resurrected, (not to mention the site of his birth, supposedly). We have more “evidence” about Jesus than Big Foot – and yet people still do not believe in Jesus – it is easier to doubt than to believe.

Flannery O’Connor goes on to say, “When we get our spiritual house in order, we’ll be dead. Don’t expect faith to clear things up for you. It is trust, not certainty.” (p. 963)

Until we get a carcass of a Big Foot, there is no proof that this creature exists – we can only take the many eye-witness accounts as proof – whether credible or not. So at this point it is easier to say that Big Foot does not exist – to say that you do not believe in Big Foot – than to say that you do believe. But it does take faith and courage to stand up for your opinion about the beast.

So, will you have the courage to stand up for your faith in Jesus when others say he didn’t exist? We have nothing to stand on except for some eyewitness accounts about Jesus, and G*d’s promises from so many years ago. One thing that Big Foot and Jesus have in common is this: the accounts of their presence covers thousands of years even without much physical evidence. But Jesus’ presence is so powerful through the Holy Spirit that our faith will sustain us, even though our faith will not necessarily clear things up. That is where trust comes in. G*d promised to send the Messiah – we trust that Jesus is the One. For me, that is all I need. But as for Big Foot, I will need more….

Pastor Dave