Easter Sunday 2015 - New Life!

Bible Passage: Mark 16:1-8

We weren't looking forward to it, for all sorts of reasons. We'd been His followers, and in a way more faithful than any of the men - we'd been with him all the way, and we were there at the end, when he died; it was only the few of us who had seen where Joseph took him. So we knew as well that all that was necessary, the anointing with spices, hadn't been done properly. We'd had a talk, and reluctantly decided that we should do this. It was only right really, but it wasn't going to be good; none of us were looking forward to going there, reminding ourselves what they'd done to him, and the fact that it had been two days... well, let's say that didn't help. We didn't want to tell anyone what we were doing, and that created another problem; these tombs usally have a stone rolled across the door, and even with all of us pushing we weren't sure that we'd get very far.

So we talked as we walked, although not much. The sun began to rise; it was a beautiful morning although I was almost angry about it; how could the sun continue to rise, how could there still be any beauty in the world when the only one that had made sense of it for us had been so cruelly snatched away? I almost longed for the sun to be eaten up, as it had been in that strange way on Friday when it all went dark; how could God allow the day to dawn so brightly when the light of the World had been taken away?

And then we reached the tomb. To our confusion, the stone was to one side; we had to check, make sure we were in the right place, but there was no doubt. We approached cautiously, and there was this sort of glow... and as we looked in - no body, but a man, all in white, shimmering! And he spoke to us, told us that he - Jesus - wasn't there - that he'd been raised from the dead, and to tell the others!

I was terrified. And I was confused. None of us expected this - were we seeing things? Would people think we were mad? But at the same time, there was this sort of warmth, like someone had kindled a fire in my heart; and as we went away, headed back to the city, that flame consumed me: I know that my Redeemer lives!

Holy Saturday 2015

Despite everything, the world carried on and no-one thought anything had changed. People went about their lives, marking the special Sabbath as they should; the Romans kept an eye on the crowds, but they weren't seriously concerned: cut off the head, and the movement collapses. So maybe he wasn't a rebel like they made out; one man dying was a small price to pay for the peace and security they wanted to enforce. One man, for the greater good. They'd kill dozens for the same cause without hesitation.

The Authorities relaxed at the thought of a job well done. It had maybe been a bit in the balance at times, but he was gone now; the last thing they wanted was to annoy the Romans, and now they could concentrate on what was important. All that remained was to find out who had torn the Temple Curtain in two.

The followers kept quiet. Nothing for them to say or do; everything at an end. They recognised when the battle was lost.

In the grave, where Joseph of Arimathea had placed him, lay the body of Jesus. The stone was across the door, and nothing stirred. Why should it? Dead is dead, and the only thing remaining was for the women to come to prepare the body properly once the Sabbath was over. They alone made plans; what had been started at Bethany, just a few short days before when the woman had anointed the living Jesus, would be completed on his dead body as it lay in the tomb.

No-one was waiting. No-one was expecting. No-one thought that there was anything to wait for. With Jesus' last cry, it seemed all was lost - or won, if you opposed him - one man's life for the greater good.

And yet......

Good Friday 2015

Bible Passage: Mark 15:25-47

We'd been with him so long, but in the end, he was pretty much alone. It was unbearable for us to see it, and even those who did stay for a while couldn't stand to see him there, lifeless and bloody.

I remember the day he called me. I was there, in my boat with my brother Andrew, and he just said "Come with me - you'll be fishing for people from now on" - and we just did. You couldn't help but do what he said - there was that authority there, that assurance, and you just knew that there was no better place to be than with him.

All over now. All gone. Finished.

I was there, when he healed people, even raised them from the dead - the awesome power, it was amazing to see but also a bit scary at times - you just knew that you were with someone that wasn't just a teacher, but a true Man of God - maybe even more. One time he asked us - who did we think he was? And it just sort of burst out from me; "You're the Messiah, the Son of God"! He wouldn't let us tell people, and then he started talking about how he was going to have to suffer and die; I couldn't believe it, I went to him and told him it wouldn't happen - how could he be the Messiah and let these things happen? I don't mind telling you, he really let rip at me. And he was right.

Betrayed? Yes, he was betrayed. Those scheming Priests found the one weak link amongst us and once they had him, the writing was on the wall. Though I suppose we all betrayed him, in the end. I did. I went to where they were holding him, to see what was happening, and I pretended I didn't know him. As he knew I would. And then, as they took him out this morning...... I wept again; I could hardly recognise Jesus. And as soon as they went to the Governer's Palace, I knew what they were doing.

I don't want to talk about it. It's just too much. No-one should have to suffer that; hour after hour. Though some of the women stayed; they told me that it was after that strange darkness, the end. And that Joseph went and got permission to..... well. at least he'll get a decent burial.

It's over. I really thought he was the Messiah, but he can't have been - not to suffer and die like that. God wouldn't allow it. But he was great, he was holy. I'm glad I knew him, even if I let him down; I can't bear the idea of never seeing him again. I just don't know how I'll carry on.

Maundy Thursday 2015 - The Last Supper

Bible Reference: Mark 14:17-25

They were an odd bunch that came for Passover this year. I don't quite know myself why I took them in - I do hope I'm not going to end up in trouble about this. There's no way I want to get caught in the middle, when all I did was let my room out at the last minute to some people wanting to celebrate Passover - none of this is my fault is it?

I knew I was going to get someone of course. You're supposed to eat the Passover Meal within the City itself, so if - like me - you have a large enough room, you can pretty much name your price. But for some reason, everyone that came and had a look found something about it that they didn't like, or there was a better offer. I couldn't understand it; it'd always done well enough in the past. So when these Galileans appeared, and told me the Teacher wanted it, I showed them the room straight away - they seemed satisfied, and so was I. Who was this Teacher they were going on about though? Some sort of Religious Scholar I supposed.

Anyway, all was made ready, and they came. Thirteen of them - enough to fill the room when they were all reclining at the table. Some bloke named Judas gave me the money, and I started to bring in the food.

I kept hearing bits and pieces of the conversation, and it confused me a bit to start with. They were getting a bit worried about something, and this Teacher was saying about how someone was going to betray him. He didn't say how exactly - maybe he was going to find another teacher - but none of them wanted to think that it might be them. Then, suddenly, I realised who he was; he must be this Jesus, the one who's been going around stirring things up. I've heard a lot of muttering about him; they reckon he's really got the Priests and Pharisees riled up. Now, me personally, I won't say a word against them - they've got their job to do, and it can't be easy having that sort of power. I certainly don't want them to think that I'm opposed to them - I like living in Jerusalem, and the best way to stay here is not to get on the wrong side of the powers that be. Keep your head down, pay your Temple Tax, keep your mouth shut - that's the best way. I'm just going to have to hope that they never find out that it was my upper room that they came to. After all, who would think that there was anything going on other than the normal Passover meal?

He did something very odd though, this Jesus - made this Passover different, and in a lot of ways very disturbing. To start with, he took the unleavened bread - the bread of affliction as we Jews call it at Passover - said the prayer of blessing over it, then broke it and gave it to the others - said something about it being his body. That was a bit alarming. But worse was when it got to the end, and the wine - the Cup of Blessing - was brought out; he said the blessing, got them all to drink, and said that it was his blood, poured out for many! Now I know full well that was red wine - I poured it myself - but even if he was trying to make some sort of joke he shouldn't have said that. We're not supposed to have anything to do with blood - it's the life of all creatures, and belongs to God. We must never eat it, or drink it, and what Jesus was saying was scandalous - no good Jew would ever have anything to do with drinking even an animal's blood, never mind a man's. If it hadn't been close to the end of the meal anyway, I'd have thrown them out - the Priests hear of that, and you're in big trouble.

Anyway, they left after that. Though there's a rumour going round that they didn't get very far - that Jesus has been arrested. I'm not sure why, I thought what he said was wrong and in poor taste, but then again if you've got the full might of the Temple against you they can always find reasons. I won't forget this Passover in a hurry, let me tell you - body and blood indeed. It made it sound like he was going to be the sacrifice - and whoever heard of that happening?

Wednesday of Holy Week 2015 - The annointing at Bethany

Bible Passage: Mark 14:1-9

So there we were, in Bethany, and what a strange evening it was!

Bethany was packed, of course. People always travel up to Jerusalem for Passover, and there's never enough room in the city itself; so Bethany, not too far away, became more like a town for those few days and you stayed wherever you could. We'd travelled in and found lodging, together with many others, with a man named Simon.

Anyway, come the evening and we're gathered in the room, not just us of course - there was a party from of all places Galilee staying there too. We assumed they were like us, pilgrims come up for the festival, but they were a bit different - there was one man who they kept referring everything to, he seemed to be their leader. I got chatting to one of them, bit of a sullen chap, said his name was Judas. He reckoned they'd been there a few days already, and that the leader - Jesus - had been causing some trouble in the temple. He didn't really say what, maybe he's just said something out of turn, I don't know, but you could see that Judas was worried; the rest of them were talking quite animatedly, but he was a bit on edge. I don't know why he's concerned to be honest - there's that many pilgrims around that so long as he keeps his head down a bit they'll never find him in the crowd anyway.

Suddenly there was a commotion. A woman appeared, carrying a jar; I wondered if she was one of the servants, but she went straight up to Jesus, who was sitting at the table. Then I saw that it wasn't a jar for wine or something; it was an Alabaster Jar, and that meant something precious. She broke it open, and before anyone could stop her she poured the lot all over Jesus head - not just a few drops, the whole lot! And when I got a whiff of it I was amazed - it smelt like it was nard, and you know how much that costs - most people would have to work for a year to buy a jar of it like she had. It was running down his hair, into his beard, onto his back... Complete uproar! None of us could understand what she was playing at.

I asked Judas about it, and he looked quite grim. Said that Jesus had been going around doing lots of teaching, and that there were quite a few followers now and she must be one of them. I wondered what sort of thing he must be teaching to inspire that - and you could hear a lot of muttering. If Jesus really wanted to help people, he'd have stopped her, got her to sell the nard, and used the money for something else - such a waste to just tip it over his head. There'd have been no bother selling it either - it's the sort of thing used a lot in burials after all.

But then Jesus spoke, quietened everyone down. He seemed... not exactly pleased, but appreciating what the woman had done. After all, whatever else it was, it was certainly an extravagant gift. You couldn't wonder if she was mad though - who in their right minds would use something like that on even a great teacher. Who would give so much for someone else? But like I say, he seemed to appreciate what she had done. He actually said that she would always be remembered, that she had anointed him ready for burial; why he said that I don't know, he looks healthy enough.

The other Galileans started talking amongst themselves, asking what this all meant, but I found that Judas wasn't doing much of the talking. He looked sick, like he couldn't believe what was going on; and I noticed, later on as we were getting ready to sleep, that he'd slipped away - though he was back by morning. I don't think he's going to stick with Jesus much longer - you really get the feeling that he's had enough of this, and that this might be the last straw. Still, it's time to think of other things now - such as where are we going to be able to celebrate Passover. There's not much time before the sacrifice, after all.

Tuesday of Holy Week 2015 - Debates in the Temple

Bible Passage: Mark 12:13-17

It was infuriating! Every time we thought we had him, he'd slip through the net and leave us empty-handed and foolish. How could he do this to us?

We'd all had a go, but they way he spoke was something else. After a while, you couldn't help having a grudging admiration for the man - even though he's dangerous.

When he arrived in Jerusalem we knew what he was up to. You can't expect Religious Scholars to miss it; that entry, riding on a colt? It was a message, a statement of intent - he was coming to take over, to rule. And much as we Pharisees dislike Herod, we can't allow this Jesus to rule in his place; for we dare not offend the Romans, and Herod's their man. They could destroy our whole way of life- what would become of our learning and our traditions? How could people worship God without the Temple? And then, the way he acted - disrupting the traders! What they provide is a very necessary service, allowing people to keep to the Law; so what if a few of those non-Jews couldn't hear? Aren't God's chosen more important? Isn't following the Law more important?

And where did he learn this anyway? None of us knew who he had studied with. So how could he be even suitable to be a Rabbi? Where had he learned our traditions? For we are the keepers of what is right - the Law and the traditions that make us God's chosen. Not like him.

But that also offered us a way in. Debate and disputation - that's our way. And you can't deny, we're pretty good at it; skills honed through years of debate, looking at the traditions handed down, interpreting them. Maybe he had some learning - but he'd surely never pitted his wits against skilled disputants such as we had.

We started with the simplest question of all - but also the one that he couldn't avoid answering: "Where does your authority come from?" Either he'd have to admit that it was some obscure teacher, or even - horror of horrors - that he was self-taught, or he'd have to claim that it was from God - and we'd have him. There's words for the sort of person that claims authority from God - and I don't mean "Prophet".... He showed that he knew something though - because he answered our question with one of his own. It's the sort of thing we do, when we're engaged in disputation - you use the question you ask to give the answer to the original one, because the answer to your question gives the answer to theirs. But what he asked us! John, that wild man, who'd raged at us when we went out to see what he was doing - was he from God? Of course we were never going to say so. But if we didn't - well, there were plenty around who did think he was from God, and we could make ourselves unpopular very quickly. And that was the clever bit, you see; we couldn't answer, but we all knew what he was saying - that he was from the same place as John, claiming the same sort of authority. And then he told one of those stories, saying through it that we - WE, were setting ourselves against God's chosen! But that's what we are, how can we be against God when we're the ones who know the traditions, know the Law?

We were going to have to try something different, undermine him in the eyes of the crowd.

It was one of the Herodians that had the idea. Now, we don't really get on with them; Herod is a puppet for the Romans, and we'd much rather they weren't here. But needs must - and it looked like a cracker. After all, who likes paying their taxes? Especially to our hated Roman overlords? We all do, of course. The alternative is to be accused of being a revolutionary, a zealot, and that's a sure way to get the Romans interested in you - at least, for as long a time as it takes them to get rid of you. But it wouldn't go down well with the crowd.

And so we asked him. If he was so hot on what God wanted, then he knew the answer; how could God want these outsiders to be in charge? Hadn't he just ridden into the city, like a King about to take the throne?

And he slipped out of it. Worse, he made us look stupid. He asked for the coin to pay the tax with; a Silver Denarius. "Whose name, whose Picture?" Well, the Emperor's of course. "So give him what's his, and give to God what it God's" he said. Effectively, he agreed with us - keep the Romans happy - but he did it in such a way that it made him sound like the one who knew God's ways, rather than us with all our scholarship and learning.

That's why he's got to go. He's dangerous - you really get the feeling he could lead a revolution, and we can't have that - the Romans would destroy us. What would happen to our way of life then? What would happen to the Temple? He can't be allowed to put that at risk. He's avoided our traps, but there has to be a way. They can't all believe him, those followers - all we have to do is find the one whose prepared to break ranks.

Monday of Holy Week 2015 - The clearing of the Temple

Bible Passage: Mark 11:15-19

The temple was busy that day. It often was, in the lead-up to Passover; people had to pay their temple tax, and the sacrifices had to be made. That always made it worse for me, because I was in the thick of it - doing my best to worship God.

Yes, me. I know I'm not a Jew, and in a lot of ways that was the problem; but having lived there, and seen the way they lived their lives, I'd come to admire them and their way of life - and so I became a convert - what they call a Gentile. Though there were times when I wondered why; I was always second class as far as most Jews were concerned, treated with some suspicion, and then of course there were the restrictions when it came to the Temple.

You've never been? Well, like me, you won't be able to visit much of it. Only the priests are allowed in the central part, the Holy of Holies, and even then only on special days; there's more parts where the Priests are, then, a bit further out is where the men of Israel are allowed. Then there's the Court of Women. Finally, there's the Court of the Gentiles, where people like me are allowed to gather; and woe betide if you try and go further in - they're allowed to put you to death.

So no further than that did I dare to go. Normally it wasn't too bad, but with Passover so close it was a real problem - because the Court of the Gentiles was also where the traders and moneychangers were allowed to set up. It wasn't straightforward you see - the Temple Tax had to be paid in the right money, and normal Roman currency wouldn't do - you had to go and buy the special coin from them. And Animals for the Sacrifices had to be without blemish - for those in the cities especially, it was a lot easier to just buy the animal there, knowing that it would be acceptable and that you would be fulfilling the law and not offering less than the best to God.

Can you imagine how difficult it is to worship, when around you is a market with live animals in it? Forget hearing the priests, far away in their own courts; you could hardly hear yourself speak as you attempted to recite the prayers.

Suddenly, there was even more commotion than usual. There was a man there, anger in his eye, and he was shouting, raging, turning over tables, driving them out, and stopping the people who just used the court of the gentiles as a shortcut. "This is a house of prayer for all the nations" he was shouting, "Not a Den of Robbers!" I was amazed, and then delighted - because this was a Jew, someone who could have just strolled through the gate, and what he was saying, to my ears, was that he wanted people like me to be able to worship God as much as anyone else! And then it struck me - this must be this Rabbi they had been talking about, the one who had apparently arrived yesterday with a big crowd behind him. I could see why they'd follow him - what he was saying held me captivated, and not only because he seemed to be saying that I, and people like me, were important to God too; there was that something there, whether force of personality or something deeper than that, that just made you want to find out more about him.

Afterwards, they came back of course - the moneychangers, the men selling their birds in baskets ready for the sacrifice. They seemed more subdued somehow, as if they knew that this wasn't going to be the end of the matter - in fact, one or two of them actually moved further out, towards Solomon's Porch, rather than come back into the Court of the Gentiles. What was strange though was that even though there was an awful lot of muttering about what had happened, he was allowed to walk free - it was like they didn't dare lay their hands on him. A few would have liked to I'm sure - some of the Chief Priests looked pretty angry, and unlike this man - whose anger seemed a sort of holy thing - theirs seemed much more ominous. They didn't dare do anything to him, because there was a big crowd around and it was obvious that there were plenty that thought that what he was saying was worth listening to. This Rabbi, Jesus his name was, had better watch out though - you can tell that the Temple Authorities don't like him one little bit, and they'll be out to get him. Me though - I want to find out more about him. I wonder what he'll do next?

Palm Sunday 2015

(Scripture: Mark 11:1-11)

I don't know why I was there, really. I just got caught up in it. It was pretty amazing though.

I'd been to Bethphage, and was walking back towards the city when I saw them. Most of them weren't anything to look at, but there was one of them who had something about him; I don't know if it was the way he stood, or something in his face, but there was that sort of intensity to him - do you know what I mean? Anyway, a couple of them came up to them, leading a colt. It was a bit skittish, nervous; you could tell it had never been ridden before. Maybe they'd just bought it, but I don't know why - none of them looked like they'd much experience of animals. Then they put some of their cloaks on it, and the man sat on the colt; immediately it seemed to settle down, as if it was the most natural thing in the world for this man to sit on it. And then the shouts starting going up: "Hosanna! Save us!"

Suddenly it was like I was in the middle of a procession. There were quite a few people there, and they started putting cloaks down in front of the colt, and cutting branches in the fields to put on the road, and all the while were all of the shouts: "Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord!" I just got swept along. You couldn't help joining in - it was so joyful, so special. And then I realised something else: what this man was doing, he was saying that he was royalty! There he was, riding on something no-one else had ever ridden - well, that's a royal prerogative; there he was, being acclaimed by the crowd - some of them were even shouting something about restoring the Kingdom of David. And there he was, riding up to the gate of Jerusalem, a King come to take his throne.

Afterwards I got speaking to one of the crowd that'd come with him - a guy named Bartimaeus. He said he'd been with them since Jericho, and he had this amazing story - he was pretty much in rags, and said he had been blind and a beggar when this man, Jesus had passed by and healed him - and he was going to keep following him wherever he went. I have to say I was shocked; you don't get many miracles like that, and I'm not certain I believed him. But there must be something about Jesus, if people are prepared to follow him like that.

But now, it's almost like the whole thing was a dream. I suppose I'll hear more about him soon enough - you cant make an entrance like that and just fade into the background.....

Hello World!

If you're wondering what this is all about..... this blog isn't going to be about what's going on in my life, it's going to be reflections and meditations. One of the things I'm quite good at is words; and so I'm going to share some of the meditations and so on that I write here. The current idea is to go through Holy Week, starting with Palm Sunday, and then see how things go!

Rob