image 36.
scripture.
15The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John might possibly be the Christ.
~Luke 3:15
thoughts.
John the Baptist prepared the way of Jesus. plain and simple. he preached about the coming Messiah and foretold His majesty and might. All in all John, the cousin of Jesus, preached the good news before the good news - the incarnate Word - arrived on the scene. many people wondered and waited. wondered and waited.
wondered... and... waited.
despite all that we know, all that we have seen and all that we have heard, many of us are still wondering and waiting.
you've been to the doctor's office before. you know what it's like to sit there and wait for your name to be called. the waiting room becomes a consortium of anxiety, boredom and (at times) little action. after a while, you can get quite comfortable - read a magazine, watch the television or take a nap! i was in the waiting room the other day when the two people on each side of me were caught snoozing when there name was called! it is not uncommon to wait 30 plus minutes in the waiting room - and if you're not careful, you just might get caught up in the waiting that you end up missing your call.
unfortunately, once Jesus arrived on the scene, in the midst of the miracles and relationship building, love and kindness, some seemed to be comfortable sitting back waiting for the Messiah to show up... they got caught up waiting and missed the call. how many today are still waiting?
and so after three years of ministry, it was time. time for Jesus to do what he came here for. to go to the cross and willingly take upon his shoulders the sins of all humanity, past, present and future. no matter how much he told of what would happen... no matter how much he told why it needed to happen - many were confused and missed the point. perhaps that is why they turned on him so quickly. Celebrated during the Triumphal entry... put to death a few days later.
some waited for and expected the Messiah to be one thing - but when Jesus presented a different mission, they missed a chance to be at-one with the One, true Messiah.
it is Holy week. and it is appropriate that today, more than any other - we pause to reflect on Jesus' sacrifice for you and for me. why would he endure so much, even if for only me?
now is not the time to be caught waiting... and waiting... and waiting - with no action. for the Lord has done and is doing a new thing. do you see it or are you missing the call?
frankly, it's all about how we wait. stay awake. be ready.
scriptures.
15You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. 16And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.'
~Acts 22:15-16
When the Master Shows Up
35-38"Keep your shirts on; keep the lights on! Be like house servants waiting for their master to come back from his honeymoon, awake and ready to open the door when he arrives and knocks. Lucky the servants whom the master finds on watch! He'll put on an apron, sit them at the table, and serve them a meal, sharing his wedding feast with them. It doesn't matter what time of the night he arrives; they're awake—and so blessed!~Luke 22:25-28 (The Message)
31 but those who wait or hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.
~Isaiah 40:31
questions.
are you waiting on the Lord with hope in your heart?
is there action with your waiting? what do you expect from the Messiah?
or are you comfortably sitting back, missing the call of Christ, because you are caught up in the waiting process?
how are you waiting on the Lord during this Holy week?
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