Sown in Weakness

It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power. 1 Corinthians 15:43 KJV

The year was 33 AD and the place; a barren hilltop outside of Jerusalem. Some of the crowd pressed in to watch the terrible details while Mary, John and Mary Magdalene stood further back shuddering to think of His suffering. Hands that once held bread to bless were now helplessly nailed to a wood beam. Feet that had walked on waves now painfully pressed down against the cross to lift Him just enough to take His next breath.

Even those who had sung His praises were now silent for fear of the Roman soldiers and  their spears. Others who had privately hated him now cursed Jesus openly as they watched His weak body writhing in pain on the cross. Finally at His very lowest moment He cried out, “Why have you forsaken me?”

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Often we think of our own weakness and struggle as if at that moment we are also farthest from God. But when Jesus was being sown in dishonor and darkness, there was being accomplished in Heaven the glory of our salvation. As in weakness He tasted the vinegar and took His last breath the power of sin was broken for anyone who came to Him. We must never accept that there is no purpose to our weakness; only that God’s purpose has not been yet seen. No matter that our friends fall silent or that our worst enemies seem to have the upper hand. At our weakest we are joined with our Lord and one day at the time of His choosing we will understand when we see His face in glory.

The World Stood Still

The World Stood Still

He had walked on water

Given life to the dead

He had fed five thousand

With five loaves of bread

But on that day

When the world stood still

Jesus gave His life

At His Father’s will

Then while soldiers gambled

For the clothes He wore

His disciples hid

Behind locked doors

But by His cross

One thief believed

And Mary wept

As He struggled to breath

And the thunder roared

And as darkness fell

He cried out “Forgive!”

And the world stood still

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 Biographical Sketch

Previously I served as a volunteer chaplain for more than twenty years at Allied Skilled Nursing in Scranton Pennsylvania. Last year my wife Nancy and I have retired and moved to Florida and are members of Generations Christian Church.  Together we have two sons, six grand-sons and one grand-daughter. Today I continue volunteering in three nursing homes in our new community.

All Things

I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. John 15:5 ESV

To be entirely honest the disabling helplessness brought on by this Covid-19 crisis rubs me like an ill fitting pair of shoes. It is frustrating being cooped up at home with important questions like, “How can one tiny virus turn our world upside down?” and, “How the heck can you shop on line for bananas?” On top of everything else I also stupidly walked into a chair leg and hence now have a broken toe. This morning as I look out the window I realize that I can’t bring in the garbage can, can’t trim the small tree in our back yard or even water my flowers. If you are like me hearing that word; “Can’t – can’t – can’t” is like the annoying jingle of a television commercial. It isn’t that I couldn’t ask for my wife to wheel our trash can back in and water the garden; it is that right now I am dependent and I really need someone’s help.

That dependence is what Jesus was pressing for His disciples to understand as He prepared Himself for His own hour of helplessness. Less than 24 hour later His hands which had once cleansed the lepers, would be nailed to a piece of wood; His feet which had walked on waves would be unable to take a single step and His head that had been anointed with perfumed oil would bleed from the piercings of a crown of thorns. The creator of the universe would hang suffering and unable to move in front of all the world and there He show us the power of His love and give us His life for us so that we could say:

I can do all things through him who strengthens me Philippians 4:13 KJV

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