And What Would I Have Done? Lenten Ponderings....

This morning I came across a passage I have read countless times in my life, and yet today...it roused me from my aimless wandering to pointed wondering.

Having just finished the book of Leviticus and thinking through the laws prescribed for the Jews as well as the offerings and sacrifices that must be made, I was particularly intrigued by this verse:

<28 Then they led Jesus from the house of Caiaphas to the governor's headquarters. It was early morning. They themselves did not enter the governor's headquarters, so that they would not be defiled, but could eat the Passover. John 18:28>  Apparently according to Jewish law their entering the governor's headquarters would have left them ceremonially unclean and therefore unable to partake of the Feast of the Passover.  Hmmmm....They desired Jesus's death so much that they were willing to go to Pilate since he could sentence Jesus to death...something they were not able to do by their laws.  But they were unwilling to go ALL the way and potentially be unclean...break a law.  

Fast forward... John 19:38-42

<<38 After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body.39 Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight.40 So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews.41 Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid.42 So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.>>  Nicodemus--a member of the Sanhedrin, sympathetic to Jesus--he is described.

 John 7:47-51 

<<47 The Pharisees answered them, "Have you also been deceived?48 Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him?49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed."50 Nicodemus, who had gone to him before, and who was one of them, said to them,51 "Does our law judge a man without first giving him a hearing and learning what he does?">>

Again we see Nicodemus having thoughts toward Jesus as the rest of the leaders do not. 

Joseph of Arimathea --possibly a member of the Sanhedrin as well, a member of the Council as listed in Mark 15:43.

Both men were willing to defile themselves by touching, carrying a dead body (this would definitely have left them unclean requiring priestly assistance) in order that Jesus, the Messiah be buried properly while they discounted the cost to them personally.  Or maybe they already knew that their laws had been fulfilled....

Now my questions, my pondering meditation of the day...1 what set them apart? 2 would I have broken the law and become unclean for a man my peers wanted dead? 3 why haven't I seen this before?

1...Jesus! It's always the grace and mercy of Jesus that sets us apart. ALWAYS...they saw Him with unveiled faces (eyes)...The Messiah came for them...and for US! He came to fulfill that Law that was ruling the lives of their peers, and they must have been able to see and distinguish that.  Blessed revelation!

2...I certainly hope I would have!  What bravery, what humility...  I can truly only hope and pray that if I am called to such a task in this earthly lifetime that I would be found faithful to see past what 'we've always done' to what the Lord would be calling me to do so that HIS glory will shine forth.

3...I am still and always will be amazed that the WORD is ALIVE and Active all the time!!!  It will always reveal to us what God is ready for us to see when we study and seek Him in His living Word.

Praise Jesus for His remarkable gift! ♥

Miles nor time can separate...

This is my big 4-0 year...can't believe it, actually.  My sweet family allowed me to celebrate it in style even though we were MILES apart.  I've desired for a very long time to see Chris Tomlin in concert, but it just hasn't ever worked out.  This year seemed like it would yet again be a passing year that I'd miss that worship experience.  BUT NO!  Divine providence brought it to pass in way my heart could never have dreamed!  My sweet loving, sacrificial family cheered and supported me on as I flew to Edmonton, Alberta Canada last Sunday.  I was greeted at the airport by my sweet--much younger ;) friend, Justine who promptly treated me to a yummy Tim Horton's coffee!  (double milk, please!)  :)

We spent the next three days together and the night before I was to return home we went to see Chris and the band at Centre Street Church in Calgary!  Thanks to my sweet friend, Janet Reeves, we were able to see Jesse (Chris's bass player) and the guys after the concert {we did meet Chris too. :) Jesse introduced us.}  It was kinda funny...the whole intermission I was so excited!!  I told the girls I felt like I was about to see family.  And well, actually I was...they're my brothers in Christ, so... family for sure.  Janet and Jesse were such sweet friends of ours in Fort Worth many moons ago.  Love them dearly and loved visiting with Jesse.  He's as funny as ever, and it makes me miss them and that time in our lives more than I have in a long while.  If you know me or ever have known me well, I love to maintain relationships as much as possible (holla for FB!!).  Special times pass, but are never ever forgotten.  I am so truly thankful that through Jesus our bonds will Never be broken...no matter how many miles apart.  Jesse's parting words to me were, 'Edie, how bout you come see us a little closer to home next time? *wink*'  ( OK, so I secretly am scheming as to how I can volunteer at Passion!!)  Yeah well, now this story has come full circle.  

While my original intent was to see Chris Tomlin in concert, seeing Justine was the added bonus in going to Canada to see him.  I loved every minute of that hour and half of worship...truly inspiring!!  Seeing my Canadian brothers and sisters praising the Lord that way blessed my soul.  However, those three days of being with my sweet friend in her home and hearing her heart, sharing meals and laughter was by far the highlight of my trip!♥  That sweet hospitality of hers and her man's were precious.  I have my sweet Owen to thank for introducing us last November...he never lets me forget that either ;).  However that friendship has come to be what it is, it's truly a blessing to me.  Thank you, Justine for hosting and chauffeuring me ALL over creation!!

 Never ever underestimate the power of God's hand in who He places in your life...or what He intends to do.  Just love as you have been loved....

"Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."1 John 4:11

 Wherever you are, be fully there!

deep valleys, lush, green new growth

I've known the Lord for 32 years this last month. It seems sometimes like I'd have some of the hard stuff down.... Not so. Days bring contemplations of all kinds. Some contemplations that seem somewhat trivial...those you can handle on your own. Some days bring hard contemplation. The kind that forces you to act out what you believe even when you (and your heart) may not really feel like it. Do I trust Him? Do I believe He's sovereign even over this--whatever this is? Personally, I don't enjoy those times, but really, in retrospect, they are when my faith grows ever stronger and more personal. Mountaintop experiences are what we all love. Have you ever really thought about the fact the the extreme climate on mountaintops is not conducive to much growth...few trees, small clumps of sparse vegetation. However, the valley is lush and green and flourishing with water to nourish. Hear that? the valley! We all go there at sometime...it's the natural ebb and flow of life. I really don't like the valley, however I love what happens after I've been there. I'm refreshed and ready to climb again...stronger than before. The valley can feel really lonely. I know that I'm not alone, ever, no matter how I feel. The Lord is with me all the time. Sometimes that loneliness comes from too many things crowding Him out. While it's unsettling, it's so good to be alone in our struggles...they are so personal. No one can really understand what the Almighty already knows about me. When the feelings of isolation come for me it's usually because the seen has crowded out the unseen (2 Corinthians 4:18) I hope to be able to shed the scales and SEE with the eyes His Holy Spirit makes available to me...the unseen, the part I need not fear because He has seen it and holds it in His hands. When I am alone in these personal trials and times, He chips away the unnecessary and soothes me with His balm. He speaks to me in the quiet like no other time. His voice is worth the struggle...just to hear that which spoke the whole world into being...spoken to my heart! Amazing...the sound I'll never tire of no matter how many valleys or mountaintops lie ahead! ♥

"Now that I hear you Lord, I wanna know you more. Sing Your song to me...there's no better thing than to listen to the sound of your voice...when I hear your song, I wanna sing along...."