Stumps and Shoots

Advent Day 3

First Tuesday in Advent

November 29, 2011

Reading: Isaiah 11:1 (NRSV)

¹ A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse, and a branch shall grow out of his roots.

Theme: Stumps and shoots

Reflection:

I never cease to be amazed at how resilient plant life is. I have several junk trees that have grown at various places in my flower beds. If I were a better gardener, I might have pulled them out when they had weak spindly roots; however, by the time they attracted my attention, they were full fledged saplings. I have sawed at them, and my husband has hacked at the roots. But it seems that no matter what we do, there are shoots coming out of the sawed off stumps. I’ll think to myself—this time I’ve knocked that tree off. Yet the next time I look at the stump, lo and behold there is yet another green shoot emerging from the stump.

From this these words of the prophet Isaiah, it appears that God is promising that Jesse’s family line will have a resilience that resembles the junk trees in my garden. Despite the calamities that will happen to God’s people in Israel, as they are invaded by their Assyrian and Babylonian neighbors, a new leader will emerge, who will restore God’s people. Jesse’s descendents have already included the great King David (son of Jesse). Another great leader from this lineage is anticipated. This passage from Isaiah is viewed as a prophecy of a great Messiah (God’s anointed one). The Gospel writers, particularly Luke and Matthew, go to great lengths to show that Jesus is in David’s lineage, revealing that Jesus is God’s promised Messiah. From a Christian perspective, this Old Testament passage is viewed as pointing to Jesus Christ.

As I sit in this Advent time and hear these words from a prophet living 800 years before the birth of Jesus, I reflect on how much God’s people had hoped for a Messiah. They watched for the resilient shoot to emerge from the stump of God’s chosen people. We are blessed to live at a time when we know that God had made good on the promise of that shoot—our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Each Advent season, we watch and wait both for Jesus’ birth and the sense of Christ’s presence in our own lives.

Prayer:

God of the promises, help me to watch and wait for your shoot to emerge in my own life. Amen

Lent Day 40: April 23--Easter Saturday

This morning brings us to our last Lenten devotion. I thank guest blogger Susan Van Abs for her reflection on "Who do you say that I am?"

Lenten Reflection for Day 40

Date: Saturday April 23, 2011 (Easter Saturday)

Author: Susan Van Abs

Bible Passage:

Matthew 16:13–16 (NRSV)

¹³ Now when Jesus came into the district of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say that the Son of Man is?” ¹⁴ And they said, “Some say John the Baptist, but others Elijah, and still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” ¹⁵ He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

Reflection:

Who is Jesus to you? This passage asks this question of us as well as of the disciples. Do you believe in “the Messiah, the Son of the living God?”

In this passage, Jesus is giving his disciples a quiz. He asks them two very pointed questions. The disciples give him a variety of answers to the first question: John the Baptists, Elijah, Jeremiah, one of the prophets. If we asked some of our friends this question, we might very well get a varied answer about who Jesus is.

I often think about the life of the disciples and what life was like for them to be followers of Jesus. It was not easy. They witnessed Jesus’ life on earth by seeing him perform miracles, preach and teach using parables. They were mocked and even though they loved Jesus, Peter denied Christ, one betrayed Christ, and the rest abandoned him. Their faith waivered, just like ours does when we feel God is not with us.

Simon Peter answered the question, “You (Jesus) are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God.” Note Peter answered “the Messiah” – not “a Messiah” or “Messiah.” Jesus is “the Messiah” who is written about in the Old Testament.

On Easter Saturday, we know the outcome and the joy of victory following on Easter Sunday. We know that Christ was raised from the dead. The disciples, however, had to rely on their faith and belief in Jesus. We prepare for Easter Sunday during the Easter Vigil service this evening as we wait for the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The sanctuary will come alive with beautiful music, flowers, and lights symbolizing Jesus, the Light of the World. Tonight, there will be readings of the faithful who came before Jesus – Moses and the Burning Bush, Jonah and the whale, to name a couple of them.

Who is Jesus to you? As a disciple of Christ, how will you answer? Tomorrow we will be joyful and will proclaim your resurrection.

Prayer: Gracious Lord, we eagerly await the joy of Easter. We prepare ourselves for your glorious resurrection where we will sing with rejoicing! We thank you for the gift of your son, the Messiah, Jesus Christ. We will sing with all our being –“You are the Light of the World”. Amen

Reflection on God the Savior

Week 3 Lenten Devotions

Lent Day 16: Saturday March 6

Theme for the Week: The Apostles’ Creed as a Statement of our Faith

Passage for the Day: Matthew 16:15-17

¹⁵ Jesus said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” ¹⁶ Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” ¹⁷ And Jesus answered him, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.

Reflection: In this passage from Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus has asked the disciples who people think he is. After getting answers that range from John the Baptist, to Elijah, to Jeremiah (all raised from the dead), Jesus asks the disciples who they think he is.

Peter—active, always volunteering, “shoot from the hip” Peter—blurts out “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Peter amazingly has nailed Jesus’ identity. Or is it surprising! Jesus comments that Peter knows this because God has revealed it to him. Peter could not say or understand this on his own. God has chosen Peter as the one to speak this amazing good news.

Early on the magi knew that the baby born in Bethlehem was to be the Messiah. Jesus’ disciples, along with all the people who followed Jesus around heard Jesus’ preaching and teaching, and they saw all the things that Jesus did. The demons recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Finally God gives Peter the wisdom to understand exactly who Jesus is. But even Peter did not “get” what being the Messiah meant. Peter was thinking power and might, while Jesus knew that being the Messiah meant dying so others would live.

Jesus, the Son of God, died on the cross so that your sins would be forgiven and so you could be reconciled to God. This is the essence of the second part of the Apostles’ Creed: God in Jesus saves me!!!

Prayer Themes: Pray that Jesus will continue to be a presence in my life through God’s Word and the gift of Holy Communion. Pray for others to know Jesus. Thank God for Jesus’ sacrifice. Pray that as Peter was given the insight to know Jesus, I might also come to know him.