Thought for March 23, 2024

  •  1743: Handel's "Messiah" premiers in London
  • 1775: Patrick Henry says "give me liberty or give me death"
  • 1839: First recorded use of "OK"--oll correct
  • 1857: Otis installs first elevator at 488 Broadway NYC
  • 1903: Wright Brothers file patent for flying machine
  • 1929: First telephone installed at the President's desk
  • 1933: Hitler granted dictatorial powers
  • 1945: the Swallow Sidecar Company changes its name to Jaguar
  • 1965: Gemini 3--1st 2-man US space flight--Grissom and Young
  • 1981: Supreme Court allows states to require parental notification before teen-age girls have abortions
  • 2020: World Health Organization says Covid is accelerating
  • Born: Fannie Farmer, Joan Crawford, Werner von Braun, Roger Bannister [4 minute mile], Craig Breedlove [land speed record], Carl Pickens [UT], Kyrie Irving
  • Died: Peter Lorre, Barney Clark [1st artificial heart recipient], Elizabeth Taylor, Joe Garagiola
Thought:
In chapter 21 of Luke, Jesus talks about the future and tells us to guard our hearts and minds, expect opposition, and be alert for His coming. Makes me ask, how do I stay alert and where do I find the strength and courage? Jesus must have known that the disciples would keep talking about the future and speculate about what was going to happen. There are books written every year by someone telling us that all the signs are right for His coming or that these are the very last days.  For me, I understand Jesus saying that I should not be spending my time trying to decide when He is coming. My job is to be ready for His coming and to help as many others be ready as possible. 

Jesus in His grace put chapter 22:1-23 in my Bible to tell me how to be ready for His coming. He invites His disciples to the Passover. How perfect! Right before the cross, let's reflect on the Passover. The people were in slavery in a foreign land. They were suffering bitterly--make bricks without straw. And then the strange order---the first born will die unless the blood of the lamb is on the door. So, here is Jesus the first born who will shed His blood on the cross so that those who accept His sacrifice will move from slavery to freedom and from death to life. 

How would you have liked to be in that room? The King of kings washing your feet. The celebration of the greatest event in Jewish history--the Exodus. Then Jesus speaks. You have been eating from the old covenant. Tonight I create a new covenant in My blood. No longer the blood of lambs and goats. No longer the repetitive offering of sacrifices by a priest who seeks atonement for his own sin. A new covenant---take of the Bread of Life, drink of the Living Water, be covered in the cleansing flood. That is how you prepare for My coming. 

The Greatest Week in History. A new covenant. And think about the last teachings from jesus we have looked at this week. Often we think about the seven last words of Christ from the cross, but I think we should consider what Jesus thought was so important that He would include it in His last lessons. Next week we will continue to look at Passion Week and the lessons Jesus taught. Have a blessed day of rest and worship tomorrow on Palm Sunday. 

Blessings
Larry

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