Have you ever had to leave family or friends and said something like, “Don’t worry _______ will be here with you.  You will have a good time, they will keep you safe and it will be even better.”  I remember the first time I had to leave my kids.  It was difficult but I knew that they would have a great time with their grandparents and do lots of fun stuff.  I knew they would be safe and I knew that I was ready for a break, lol. Jesus doesn’t need a break from us but that is essentially what Jesus says in John 14 and again in John 16 when He promises us the gift of the Holy Spirit.  Let’s look at His words to us together today.

15 “If you love me, keep my commands. 16 And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”…  25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. 26 But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.

We are not like Kevin McCallister in Home Alone.  Jesus didn’t leave us to fend for ourselves.  He left us with the Spirit of Truth, the Holy Spirit.  He encourages us, advocates for us, teaches us, is always with us, and leads us in the truth.  We need to all learn to lean into the great gift that we have been give which is the Holy Spirt.  The more we grow in our relationship with God and the more that we be still and take time to listen.  The more we will benefit from having the Holy Spirit within us.  Take time today in prayer and just listen.  Allow God to speak to you through His incredible gift to us all. 

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

The last few days of Jesus’ time on earth He teaches the disciples a lot.  Let’s look together at the first of those teachings found in John 14. 

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. 4 You know the way to the place where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” 8 Philip said, “Lord, show us the Father and that will be enough for us.” 9 Jesus answered: “Don’t you know me, Philip, even after I have been among you such a long time? Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? 10 Don’t you believe that I am in the Father, and that the Father is in me? The words I say to you I do not speak on my own authority. Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work. 11 Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the works themselves. 12 Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13 And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.

Jesus makes it plain to the disciples that He is the way to the Father and that He and the Father are one.  Even after three years with Jesus Phillip is struggling with this.  He wants to be shown the Father.  Jesus lets him know that if He has been paying attention he has seen the Father.  Jesus has been doing His work and teaching His words the whole time.  Jesus shows us what the Father is like by how He speaks and lives and acts.  As followers of Jesus we are called to do the very same for the world today.  Others should see what Jesus is like by how we live, speak, and act.  We cannot do it as well as Jesus obviously, but He calls us to be His representatives here on earth.  May we all be filled with Him and represent Jesus well.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever had someone who was close to you let you down or betray you?  It is an awful feeling to know that one of the people closest to you would turn their back on you.  Jesus experiences this not just through Judas but the reality is that all of the disciples, with the possible exception of John, abandon Him as He is being tried, tortured, and crucified.  Let’s look at the account found in John 13 where He tells them what will happen. 

After he had said this, Jesus was troubled in spirit and testified, “Very truly I tell you, one of you is going to betray me.” 22 His disciples stared at one another, at a loss to know which of them he meant. 23 One of them, the disciple whom Jesus loved, was reclining next to him. 24 Simon Peter motioned to this disciple and said, “Ask him which one he means.” 25 Leaning back against Jesus, he asked him, “Lord, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I will give this piece of bread when I have dipped it in the dish.” Then, dipping the piece of bread, he gave it to Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot. 27 As soon as Judas took the bread, Satan entered into him. So Jesus told him, “What you are about to do, do quickly.” 28 But no one at the meal understood why Jesus said this to him. 29 Since Judas had charge of the money, some thought Jesus was telling him to buy what was needed for the festival, or to give something to the poor. 30 As soon as Judas had taken the bread, he went out. And it was night. 31 When he was gone, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will glorify the Son in himself, and will glorify him at once. 33 “My children, I will be with you only a little longer. You will look for me, and just as I told the Jews, so I tell you now: Where I am going, you cannot come. 34 “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 35 By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” 36 Simon Peter asked him, “Lord, where are you going?” Jesus replied, “Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later.” 37 Peter asked, “Lord, why can’t I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Then Jesus answered, “Will you really lay down your life for me? Very truly I tell you, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times!

It would have been one thing for the disciples to simply flee because of self-preservation while Jesus was going through everything that He did for us.  Jesus, unfortunately, knew it was going to happen.  He knew that money hungry Judas would trade Him for some silver.  He knew that big, bold Peter would deny even knowing Him three times.  He knew the others would head for the hills and I’m sure many of them had “Peter” moments as well.  This must have been tough for Jesus especially knowing that this was His group.  This was who He was counting on to carry on His work once He was gone.  Jesus spends the next several chapters of the book of John imparting last precious bits of knowledge to encourage the disciples for what’s next.  Perhaps as we walk through that this week we will be encouraged for what God has next for us as well.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave

Have you ever had a friend or loved one do something to really serve you?  There is something special about someone doing something out of the ordinary just to show how much you mean to them.  Jesus does this at His last meal with His disciples.  Let’s look at the account from John 13 together today. 

2 The evening meal was in progress, and the devil had already prompted Judas, the son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. 3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him. 6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?” 7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.” 8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.” Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.” 9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!” 10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean. 12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you.

Jesus does this not only as a way to show His love for the disciples but also as a way to teach us how to love and serve others.  If anything, culturally the disciples should have offered to wash Jesus’ feet.  This is why Peter objects at first.  Instead Jesus, the leader, the Messiah, humbles himself and washes their dirty feet.  He is showing us that we need to humble ourselves and serve others.  This is the heart of Jesus’ ministry showing love to others who don’t deserve or expect that. Samaritans, lepers, tax collectors, women of ill repute.  Jesus was constantly loving those who others overlooked.  Perhaps you won’t wash anyone’s feet today but look for an opportunity to humble yourself and serve someone else who might not be shown lots of love by others. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Hello Advent Family,

Throughout the gospels the reactions to Jesus are mixed.  The religious leaders for the most part dislike Him from day one.  The people are curious and amazed and go from wanting to follow and worship Him, to making Him King, to claiming He comes from demons.  After Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead people are really starting to follow Jesus and those who were there are sharing the news.  This makes the religious leaders even more determined than ever to kill Him.  Let’s look together at John 12 to see what happens next.  

Palm Sunday just makes everyone’s opinions on Jesus grow all the more.  Those who love Him are ecstatic.  Those who want Him gone now form a clear plan to get rid of Him.  Palm Sunday is the beginning of Holy week and also the beginning of the end of Jesus’ time on earth.  It is also the coming together of God’s plan to redeem His people forever.  Today take a moment and reflect on all that God has done so that He could redeem you.  

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Value is an interesting concept.  People value the things that are most important to them.  That’s why it is often said that you can tell what is most important to people by looking at how their money is spent or where their time goes.  Such is the case with the story found in John 12. Let’s look at it together today.  

Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, 5 “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. 7 “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.”

For Mary there was not a second thought about pouring the nard on Jesus’ feet.  The fact that it was worth a year’s wages didn’t matter.  Jesus was the most important thing to her and she was showing what she valued.  Martha was serving because that is how she showed value to others and that is what she was really good at.  Lazarus was spending time at the table with Jesus and His disciples because that was of value to him. (plus he is probably just glad to be alive at this point).  Judas, we know doesn’t really value Jesus.  Perhaps he really wants top give to the poor but more likely, as the treasurer of the disciples he just wants a piece of the money for himself.  The question for us today is what do we value most?  Does the use of our time, talents, and treasure reflect this?  Lazarus gave Jesus his time.  Martha gave Jesus her talent.  Mary gave Jesus her treasure.  They all did this because to them, Jesus was of first importance.  I pray that for all of us we would pour into what we value most and that would be Jesus.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Hello Advent Family,

When is the last time you were moved to tears?  Maybe it was an emotional moment in your life.  Something you were going through.  Perhaps a touching video or movie that choked you up.  Maybe it was even a moment of joy that brought tears to your eyes.  Crying is a very human and healthy thing to do.  Today I want to focus on one of the shortest verses in scripture – Jesus wept.  I’ve included a longer section for context but lets look at John 11 together today.

When Mary reached the place where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” 33 When Jesus saw her weeping, and the Jews who had come along with her also weeping, he was deeply moved in spirit and troubled. 34 “Where have you laid him?” he asked. “Come and see, Lord,” they replied. 35 Jesus wept. 36 Then the Jews said, “See how he loved him!” 37 But some of them said, “Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” 38 Jesus, once more deeply moved, came to the tomb. It was a cave with a stone laid across the entrance. 39 “Take away the stone,” he said. “But, Lord,” said Martha, the sister of the dead man, “by this time there is a bad odor, for he has been there four days.” 40 Then Jesus said, “Did I not tell you that if you believe, you will see the glory of God?” 41 So they took away the stone. Then Jesus looked up and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this for the benefit of the people standing here, that they may believe that you sent me.” 43 When he had said this, Jesus called in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” 44 The dead man came out, his hands and feet wrapped with strips of linen, and a cloth around his face.

To me it is incredibly comforting to know that my Creator, my God, my Savior wept.  It means that He understands the times in my life where I weep.  I have often wondered what led to Jesus weeping.  Perhaps it was seeing the pain of Mary and Martha.  Perhaps it was realizing that His friend, Lazarus had to have suffered before He died.  Perhaps He was even grieving over the necessity of death in general.  It certainly wasn’t because he thought it was permanent because He was about to bring Him forth from the dead.  Whatever the reason, Jesus understands when we experience deep emotions that lead to tears.  He experienced them himself.  Shortly after this he is even anguished to the point of sweating blood.  Whatever joy or pain or challenge you are walking through today know that you have a God who loves you, who is with you, and who understands. 

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

Hello Advent Family,

I often wonder what it must have been like to be one of the twelve disciples.  As we read the gospels we have the benefit of knowing the rest of the story.  They were just along for the ride.  The walking on water the feeding of 5000 water to wing multiple healings. Even raising his friend Lazarus from the dead.  Today I’d like to look at that story.  Let’s look at it from the perspective of a disciple who has no idea what will happen.  

Now a man named Lazarus was sick. He was from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. 2 (This Mary, whose brother Lazarus now lay sick, was the same one who poured perfume on the Lord and wiped his feet with her hair.) 3 So the sisters sent word to Jesus, “Lord, the one you love is sick.” 4 When he heard this, Jesus said, “This sickness will not end in death. No, it is for God’s glory so that God’s Son may be glorified through it.” 5 Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. 6 So when he heard that Lazarus was sick, he stayed where he was two more days, 7 and then he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” 8 “But Rabbi,” they said, “a short while ago the Jews there tried to stone you, and yet you are going back?” 9 Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours of daylight? Anyone who walks in the daytime will not stumble, for they see by this world’s light. 10 It is when a person walks at night that they stumble, for they have no light.”

I wonder what they thought when Jesus heard that his good friend was sick and then stayed around a few more days before He left to do anything about it.  Look at verse 6 carefully.  Jesus waits intentionally.  He isn’t too busy to come He waits on purpose.  Then He tells the disciples that they are traveling to where people tried to stone Him recently.  I’m sure this must have frightened them so Jesus simply responds with a mysterious statement about walking in the light as opposed to walking in the darkness.  You see that’s the thing, Jesus knew exactly what He was doing.  He knew if He waited that Lazarus would be dead and He would raise Him from the dead.  He knew this would be the last straw and the religious leaders would be determined to kill Him after that.  He knew His next move would be to ride into Jerusalem like a conquering King.  Jesus always knows the plan and path to what is best for us.  We simply need to be like the disciples and follow along for the ride!

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

As Jesus continues His ministry the more He does amazing things and the more He reveals about Himself the more opposition He encounters.  Ultimately this is leading to His purpose in the first place, to die for our sins.  Let’s look at this account in John 10 when they ask Him point blank if He is the Messiah. 

Then came the Festival of Dedication at Jerusalem. It was winter, 23 and Jesus was in the temple courts walking in Solomon’s Colonnade. 24 The Jews who were there gathered around him, saying, “How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Messiah, tell us plainly.” 25 Jesus answered, “I did tell you, but you do not believe. The works I do in my Father’s name testify about me, 26 but you do not believe because you are not my sheep. 27 My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.” 31 Again his Jewish opponents picked up stones to stone him, 32 but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?”

Jesus knows that this is not the time quite yet for His crucifixion.  It’s interesting that while He is answering His opponents He is also offering hope for those who follow Him.  He reminds us that as followers of Him we can never be taken away from our relationship with God.  We always remain in His grip.  Jesus gives us this truth at the risk of being stoned to death.  To me this is one of the most significant promises in the Bible.  Nothing can separate us from God.  It’s the one relationship in life that can never fail or let you down.  Today hold on to Jesus’ promise that when He is holding you nothing can take you away from His great loving arms.

In His Grip,

Pastor Dave

The other day we had a bad thunderstorm and the wind picked up and blew my fence gate open.  I didn’t realize this had happened and let my dogs out back the next thing I knew one of them was barking at the front door of my house to be let in.  Thankfully they didn’t run off although they could have because the gate wasn’t doing its job.  Gates control who gets in and who stays in.  When it comes to our faith life Jesus is our gate.  He says the way to God is through Him.  He calls Himself the gate in John 10.  Let’s look at it together today.

Therefore Jesus said again, “Very truly I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. 8 All who have come before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep have not listened to them. 9 I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. 10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. 11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep. 14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”

The Pharisees and religious leaders thought of themselves as the gate to God.  In this passage Jesus calls Himself the gate (the ay to God) and also the Good Shepherd.  He serves as both in our lives.  He is our way to God and He is the shepherd who cares for us.  He has plans for a great and full life for us and when we follow Him that is exactly what we have.  When my gate failed my dogs didn’t run away and ran back to the house because they know who cares for them and more importantly feeds them.  Jesus is a gate that will never fail but more importantly He is our good shepherd that cares for us perfectly.  May we all run to Him for His great care for us.

In His Grip,
Pastor Dave