Taken from a Red Rock News Article
- Rev. Dona Johnson |March 16, 2025
Jesus is on a mission. Luke tells us that he is the region of Galilee but not yet in Jerusalem for the events of holy week (Luke 13:31-35). A group of Pharisees approaches Jesus to warn him that Herod Antipas wants to kill him. Not all the Pharisees were threatened by Jesus. But this is not the case with Herod. His displeasure and jealousy of Jesus runs deep. Jesus is gaining ground in his popularity. His miraculous healings and teachings are gathering quite an enthusiastic crowd. Jesus’ popularity is upsetting the power dynamics of Herod’s rule. Of course with all power struggles or impasses sooner or later something has to give.
Jesus does not flinch at the Pharisee’s warning. Instead he gives them a message to send back to Herod. “Go and tell that fox, ‘Behold, I cast out demons and perform cures today and tomorrow, and the third day I finish my course. Nevertheless, I must go on my way today and tomorrow and the day following, for it cannot be that a prophet should perish away from Jerusalem.’” Jesus is totally committed to his mission. In no way does he shy away from a threat against his life. For he has holy work to do, healing, exorcising demons, blessing, curing and restoring people to health and spiritual conversions. This deep desire to redeem humanity comes from his profound and sacrificial love for the whole human family. He saw with the eyes of his heart the prevailing brokenness and oppression of God’s people. He saw in the religious leaders a spiritual blindness. He also saw that humanity was caught in the crosshairs of its own sinfulness with no way out. Thus, no threat could change his mind or thwart his universal mission, to be the Savior of the world.
Now Jesus turns his attention towards. Jerusalem. Jerusalem represents the epicenter of God’s dwelling place, the Jewish religion and society. Pairing a fox on the prowl with a mother hen who is willing to sacrifice her own life for the safety of her chicks, Jesus mournfully cries out the name “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem. The city who kills the prophets and those who are sent to it!” Even to this day, pastors and priests are sent to lead troubled congregations who know all too well how to sabotage and kill those who God sends them. Those who have a message we don’t want to hear but need to hear, often their message, advice or warning is so painfully true that it triggers anger, fear and resentment. So, we succumb to the age old practice of killing the messenger.
In this season of Lent or in any season of your spiritual life, what message of truth is God speaking to you about your life, about your relationships? What truth do you need to hear but act as if you didn’t hear it? Jesus said the truth will set you free (John 8:32)? How does truth set us free? Well, it creates within us a life of congruency. Where the words we speak from our heart and our actions are in alignment. That means we don’t live with mixed messages. We get clear about who we are and we commit to things without an exit strategy. When we work out of a place of spiritual alignment, its as if our souls have hit the sweet spot of God’s love. And that is what feels so freeing. It is like peeling back the onion on our sin, and coming to terms with it—once and for all. It takes a lot of energy to hold together a lie. Even when the truth stings, if we embrace it, our souls feel freer and less heavy. It’s so life-giving to live with clearness in your heart. A consultant I was working with shared with me her motto in working with others: “to always be clear and kind.”
What are you a slave to right now and long to be set free – sin, guilt or shame (a troubled past)? As Henri Nouwen writes, “Are we willing to be fully seen by Jesus. Do you and I really want to be known by him?” Who is the messenger that God has put in your path to speak truth into your longings and the troubled places in your heart? Lent is an intentional time, a tender and life-giving time to listen deeply to your life, for the beauty and mystery that it is. It is a time to abide in hs truth, to be set free in God’s never-ending, never changing love for you. Amen +.
- Rev. Dona Johnson |March 16, 2025