Bible Reflections for April
Bible Reflections for April, 2006
(Ordinarily, but not always, these passages will be the sermon texts for the Sundays indicated.)
Sunday, April 9 (Palm/Passion Sunday)
Read: Mark 11:1-11
Consider: Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem triumphally but in a subdued,
"understated" manner, riding on a colt; cloaks and leafy branches are spread
before him as he makes his way, and shouts of "Hosanna!" are heard. It is the
beginning of the momentous final week of Jesus earthly life. Where will these
cheering crowds be on Friday? After entering the city, in an anticlimactic
ending, Jesus "looks around" and, the hour being late, returns to Bethany,
where he had begun his Palm Sunday ride.
Reflect:
Within a few days, enthusiasm and joy turns to disappointment and sorrow.
Have you experienced such sudden reversals in your life? How do you find strength to get through them?
Have you ever welcomed someone into your life (as the crowd did with Jesus as he entered the city), only to have that person let you down, fail to live up to your hopes? If so, can you begin to understand the sense of betrayal some of the Palm Sunday crowd must have felt by week's end?
Jesus enters the city in a subdued manner. Do you find God coming to you in more subdued, less-than-spectacular ways? If so, how can we prepare ourselves so that we don't miss God's low-keyed arrival?
How do you express your "Hosanna's!" - does your faith have an expressive, enthusiastic side to it?
Sunday, April 16 (Easter Sunday)
Read: John 20:1-18
Consider: Two stories at the empty tomb of Easter morning. Peter and John run
to the tomb, having been informed by Mary Magdalene that the sealing stone
had been removed. Peter enters the tomb and is confused by what he sees- the
burial cloths lying there. John then enters and sees and "believes." But what
does he believe? They return to their homes, leaving Mary alone, weeping at
the thought that some grave-robber has stolen Jesus' body. She sees two
angels in the tomb, then looks around and sees one she presumes to be the
gardener. He speaks her name and she recognizes that this one standing before
her is the risen Jesus. Jesus tells her to go and tell the disciples what she
has seen and what the risen Christ has told her. This is one of the most
moving "recognition scenes" ever told.
Reflect:
Peter seems to be the impulsive disciple...John the reflective one. Peter rushes in but can comprehend what has happened; John pauses before entering and seems to understand the meaning of the empty tomb. Would you characterize yourself as more "impulsive" or more "reflective"? What are the strengths and liabilities of each of these personality types?
Why do you think Mary did not recognize Jesus when she first saw him?
Why do you suppose that Jesus appeared first to the women..such as Mary...before he appeared to his closest friends, the disciples?
What hope does the empty tomb hold for you...beyond this life? within this life?
It has been said that Easter means little unless we have lived through Good Friday. What do you think this means? Did your Holy Week this year include Good Friday as well as Easter Sunday?
Sunday, April 23
Read: John 20:19-31
Consider: This is the story of the risen Jesus appearing to his disciples,
who were huddled in a locked room out of fear. All disciples are there but
Thomas. The resurrected Jesus appears with the word of "Peace be with you."
He breathes on them, saying, "Receive the Holy Spirit." Thomas is later told
of this encounter with the risen Lord but cannot believe without seeing for
himself. A week later, Jesus appears again, with the same greeting of
"Peace." He invites Thomas to touch the wounds, which are still present in
his resurrected body. Thomas doesn't need to do this - he is lifted out of
all doubt and proclaims, "My Lord and my God." Jesus indicates that many will
believe without seeing firsthand, like Thomas...and they are especially
blessed, because they believe in faith.
Reflect:
Why were the disciples so fearful following the resurrection?
Why do you think Jesus' very first words to his disciples, in both appearances, were "Peace be with you." What was "un-peaceful" about their situation and about seeing Jesus once again?
In what ways do you you need the peace of Jesus Christ in your life now? What aspects of your life are restless or "dis-eased"?
Do you find belief difficult without some "evidence"...like Thomas? Or does faith come easy for you, even though you have not "seen" firsthand?
Ponder the fact that the resurrected body of Jesus still contained the wounds of his crucifixion. What might that imply about the resurrection body?
What is the difference between affirming, as we do in the Apostles' Creed, belief in "the resurrection of the body" as opposed to "the immortality of the soul"?
Sunday, April 30
Read: Luke 24:36b-48
Consider:
Here is a passage that shares some similarities to last week's (John
20:19-31), but which also has its distinct characteristics. Jesus appears
suddenly among his disciples but they do not immediately recognize him and
think it may be a ghost. He shows them the wounds of his hands and feet, and
they respond with a curious mixture of "joy" and "disbelief" (see verse 41).
They share a piece of broiled fish with him, and then Jesus instructs them in
understanding the Hebrew scripture and himself as its fulfillment, including
his death and resurrection. And finally he names the disciples as "witnesses"
to be sent out with the message of forgiveness and new life. For Luke, the
importance of the Hebrew Scripture (Old Testament) in understanding Jesus is
essential; note the previous story in Luke 24:13-35, which also involves the
centrality of scripture in coming to understanding. Luke also wants to
emphasize that while the risen Christ is not merely a "resuscitated corpse,"
neither is he some kind of "spiritual being or ghost." He comes with a
resurrection body, what Paul calls in Corinthians a "spiritual body," two
words that seem to conflict but which point to the mystery of the resurrected
state.
Reflect:
Do you believe in ghosts? In spiritual beings? In angels?
Why do you think Jesus asked to eat a fish? Do resurrected persons get hungry..or was there another reason?
Do you study scripture regularly? If so how do you go about it? Alone or in a group?
Sunday, May 7
Read: John 10:11-18
Consider:
Who is the good shepherd? Read Psalm 23...then John 10:11-18... then John
21:15-19. Here Jesus calls himself a shepherd in contrast to "hired hands,"
whose concern is for personal well being above that of the flock. A portrait
of Christ as the one who continually cares for the well-being of his
followers is painted here; this is the "pastoral dimension" of ministry --
Christ's and the church's. The gospel is not only a message to proclaim; it
is a life to life in a community of mutual care and support as modeled by
Jesus the good shepherd. His care extends all the way to the cross. Jesus
then speaks of "other sheep that do not belong to this fold" that he must
attend to.
Reflect:
Does the image of shepherding still rings with any power in an increasing less rural society?
How can we be shepherds to one another?
Sheep tend to be thoughtless followers, some would call the "stupid." Is the image of Christ's followers as "sheep" too insulting for thoughtful, self-motivated people?
Who might these "other sheep" be, who belong to Jesus but are of a different fold? Is he referring to the Gentiles, who will be evangelized by
Paul in the early church? Does it point to the divisions among Jesus' followers, which today we label "denominations" Or might he be referring to future generations yet to come? In any event, these words may be a good corrective to drawing our circles too small and declaring who's in and who's out.
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