Down the Vía Dolorosa in Jerusalem that day The soldiers tried to clear the narrow street But the crowd pressed in to see The Man condemned to die on Calvary He was bleeding from a beating, there were stripes upon His back And He wore a crown of thorns upon His head And He bore with every step The scorn of those who cried out for His death Down the Vía Dolorosa called the way of suffering Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King, But He chose to walk that road out of His love for you and me. Down the Via Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary. Por la Vía Dolorosa, triste día en Jerusalén Los soldados le abrían paso a Jesús. Más la gente se acercaba, Para ver al que llevaba aquella cruz. Por la Vía Dolorosa, que es la via del dolor Como oveja vino Cristo, Rey y Señor, Y fue Él quien quiso ir por su amor por ti y por mí. Por la Vía Dolorosa al Calvario y a morir. The blood that would cleanse the souls of all men Made its way through the heart of Jerusalem. Down the Vía Dolorosa called the way of suffering Like a lamb came the Messiah, Christ the King But He chose to walk that road out of His love for you and me Down the Vía Dolorosa, all the way to Calvary.
Showing posts with label easter. Show all posts
Showing posts with label easter. Show all posts
Friday, April 22, 2011
Via Dolorosa, The way of Suffering
Probably my very favorite song for the Resurrection season is Via Dolorosa. This song tells the story of someone watching as Christ was going down the streets of Jerusalem to Calvary. Half of the song is in spanish, but the meaning is still the same. I cry every time I hear it or sing it. May your Ressurection weekend be beautiful and you find time to celebrate!
Thursday, April 1, 2010
You Are Not Alone
As we prepare for this weekend, there are several things I am trying to make time for. First, the biggest thing on my mind is the choir's performance Sunday evening. This is a musical celebration of our lives free from the world, not just a remembrance of Christ's death, burial and resurrection. It is full of a lot of relevant songs that the choir has worked very hard on. I am also wanting to put my heart and mind in the right place. So maybe on Friday evening, Mike and I will watch The Passion of the Christ. Have you seen this movie? Honestly, it is very hard to watch. When I went to the movie theater, I literally shook almost the whole time. Plus, it did live up to the hype. I thought it was a good interpretation of last hours of Jesus' life. As a family, I want the kids to have the traditions still go on. Coloring eggs, going to the Good Friday service, new clothes, getting together with family and friends for lunch at grandma's house, all the things I remember as a kid.
The gospel of John spends a lot of time on the hours leading up to Christ being taken into custody. Christ talks to the disciples of what is about to happen, what will happen while he is dead and when he has left them. He tells them that they should pray with him, that they should love everyone, that they will be given a Comforter, who will be their guide and teacher.
John 14: 23 - 31
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
I find it interesting how John gives us so much detail of the conversation. The questions the disciples give. How, until He died, they did not understand. Some of it we still do not understand. But, reading these verses have given me a new insight into those last hours, spend around the table, talking with his family and friends. He told them and us that no matter what, we will not be alone.
The gospel of John spends a lot of time on the hours leading up to Christ being taken into custody. Christ talks to the disciples of what is about to happen, what will happen while he is dead and when he has left them. He tells them that they should pray with him, that they should love everyone, that they will be given a Comforter, who will be their guide and teacher.
John 14: 23 - 31
Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.
He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father's which sent me.
These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.
But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
Ye have heard how I said unto you, I go away, and come again unto you. If ye loved me, ye would rejoice, because I said, I go unto the Father: for my Father is greater than I.
And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe.
Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me.
But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence.
I find it interesting how John gives us so much detail of the conversation. The questions the disciples give. How, until He died, they did not understand. Some of it we still do not understand. But, reading these verses have given me a new insight into those last hours, spend around the table, talking with his family and friends. He told them and us that no matter what, we will not be alone.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Betrayal
Matthew 26:14-16/ Mark 14:41-46
4Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
43And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
44And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
45And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
46And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Judas Iscariot is a puzzle to me. But he was the one that put the crucifixion in motion. He was the one that must have been the most susceptible to Satan. Was it just a weak moment? Did he just want to make everyone happy? Obviously he did not understand how far the chief priests would take their part of these events. Judas knew that Christ knew what was at hand; how Judas was betraying him. The trigger of these events is what, money? A lot of times betrayal is for money or power. Someone has the upper hand, and someone else wants to be in charge.
Have you ever watched The Celebrity Apprentice? I don't normally watch it. I watched a few season's ago with Gene Simmons and Trace Adkins. I am watching this season of it now. This season has a few interestingly strange people on the show. They are all working for individual charities to raise money, but collectively as a group they must do projects. It is men versus women. The first challenge was won by the men. The second one was won by the women. After the challenge both teams meet with Donald Trump, his son, Don, Jr., and daughter, Ivanka. They learn who has won, what the pros and cons of each team were and then the winning team goes to celebrate and watch as the losing team loses a player.
In many board room scenes, Donald Trump tries hard to make the losers blame someone. Someone is "thrown under the bus", or the scapegoat. Sometimes it is the Project Manager. A lot of times it is just the least essential person of the team at that time. My take on Judas Iscariot is that he was totally essential to the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, but as a part of the disciples, you do not hear much from him. Was his heart really in to Christ's teachings? Did he buy into the whole gospel? Obviously not! If he had then maybe things would have worked out differently for him. But, I think that by the end of his life (just a few days later), he understood the depth of what he had started. He tried to take back his part in the game, but it was too late. The Sanhedrin didn't need him or the blood money. They accomplished what they set out to do.
Poor Judas! Really? Do you feel sorry for him? I do in a way, but only because he got caught up in the whole money/power thing. It's sad to think that any of us can and probably have done something to get ahead and hurt others. The thing about what Judas did was that if Christ hadn't been betrayed, then there would be no crucifixion, no empty grave, no salvation! Christ Arose. Christ Arose, Indeed!
4Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,
15And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.
16And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41And he cometh the third time, and saith unto them, Sleep on now, and take your rest: it is enough, the hour is come; behold, the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners.
42Rise up, let us go; lo, he that betrayeth me is at hand.
43And immediately, while he yet spake, cometh Judas, one of the twelve, and with him a great multitude with swords and staves, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
44And he that betrayed him had given them a token, saying, Whomsoever I shall kiss, that same is he; take him, and lead him away safely.
45And as soon as he was come, he goeth straightway to him, and saith, Master, master; and kissed him.
46And they laid their hands on him, and took him.
////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////////
Judas Iscariot is a puzzle to me. But he was the one that put the crucifixion in motion. He was the one that must have been the most susceptible to Satan. Was it just a weak moment? Did he just want to make everyone happy? Obviously he did not understand how far the chief priests would take their part of these events. Judas knew that Christ knew what was at hand; how Judas was betraying him. The trigger of these events is what, money? A lot of times betrayal is for money or power. Someone has the upper hand, and someone else wants to be in charge.
Have you ever watched The Celebrity Apprentice? I don't normally watch it. I watched a few season's ago with Gene Simmons and Trace Adkins. I am watching this season of it now. This season has a few interestingly strange people on the show. They are all working for individual charities to raise money, but collectively as a group they must do projects. It is men versus women. The first challenge was won by the men. The second one was won by the women. After the challenge both teams meet with Donald Trump, his son, Don, Jr., and daughter, Ivanka. They learn who has won, what the pros and cons of each team were and then the winning team goes to celebrate and watch as the losing team loses a player.
In many board room scenes, Donald Trump tries hard to make the losers blame someone. Someone is "thrown under the bus", or the scapegoat. Sometimes it is the Project Manager. A lot of times it is just the least essential person of the team at that time. My take on Judas Iscariot is that he was totally essential to the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, but as a part of the disciples, you do not hear much from him. Was his heart really in to Christ's teachings? Did he buy into the whole gospel? Obviously not! If he had then maybe things would have worked out differently for him. But, I think that by the end of his life (just a few days later), he understood the depth of what he had started. He tried to take back his part in the game, but it was too late. The Sanhedrin didn't need him or the blood money. They accomplished what they set out to do.
Poor Judas! Really? Do you feel sorry for him? I do in a way, but only because he got caught up in the whole money/power thing. It's sad to think that any of us can and probably have done something to get ahead and hurt others. The thing about what Judas did was that if Christ hadn't been betrayed, then there would be no crucifixion, no empty grave, no salvation! Christ Arose. Christ Arose, Indeed!
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Many Unanswered Questions
Matthew 26 : 6 - 13
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
This story never struck me until I was asked to sing a song about this called Alabaster Box. This story tells us that sometimes it's about an individual, not the masses. People get so involved in helping the environment, or the cause, that they forget the people.
I thought I would have a lot of time to say what I want to say about Easter/Resurrection week. But it has slipped through my fingers because of exhaustion, surgeries, and life. I see the greater good of everything, but do not make use of my time the way I should. Christ used this last week of his earthly life to spend it with friends. In this instance, he went to a dinner with his disciples and used the time to teach us a lesson. I am not sure the lesson actually got through to the disciples though. They may have understood later, but they thought Jesus was a strange bird at times. He talked about helping the poor, yet when he did something like this it may have been confusing to them.
I like this story because he tells them that he is going to die, but he did not make that the point of this story. He made the point of the story that this woman would be remembered for her part in the story. He loved her for doing this wonderful thing for him. But what caused her to actually do this? Why did this woman have such a strong desired to anoint Christ's body? Was that something that God put in her heart? Because surely, no one understood what he was really about to do. Was she scared that the leaders were really going to kill him? Was she privy to that information? I don't think we will ever know. What we do know is that sometimes the individual act is more important than total cause.
While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table.
When the disciples saw this, they were indignant. "Why this waste?" they asked. "This perfume could have been sold at a high price and the money given to the poor."
Aware of this, Jesus said to them, "Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her."
This story never struck me until I was asked to sing a song about this called Alabaster Box. This story tells us that sometimes it's about an individual, not the masses. People get so involved in helping the environment, or the cause, that they forget the people.
I thought I would have a lot of time to say what I want to say about Easter/Resurrection week. But it has slipped through my fingers because of exhaustion, surgeries, and life. I see the greater good of everything, but do not make use of my time the way I should. Christ used this last week of his earthly life to spend it with friends. In this instance, he went to a dinner with his disciples and used the time to teach us a lesson. I am not sure the lesson actually got through to the disciples though. They may have understood later, but they thought Jesus was a strange bird at times. He talked about helping the poor, yet when he did something like this it may have been confusing to them.
I like this story because he tells them that he is going to die, but he did not make that the point of this story. He made the point of the story that this woman would be remembered for her part in the story. He loved her for doing this wonderful thing for him. But what caused her to actually do this? Why did this woman have such a strong desired to anoint Christ's body? Was that something that God put in her heart? Because surely, no one understood what he was really about to do. Was she scared that the leaders were really going to kill him? Was she privy to that information? I don't think we will ever know. What we do know is that sometimes the individual act is more important than total cause.
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
I Am Free
There are 26 days until Resurrection Sunday. So that means there are 18 weekdays of Lifting You Up that I can do on the events that surrounded the Resurrection. Here is the first one.
This morning, as I do every morning, I drive to work listening to the Easter cantata. I realized today that I know the first three songs really well. The rest of the songs, well either the driving gets intense and I do not concentrate very well, or my mind wanders. Who knows?
The first song in the cantata is called I Am Free. It is a popular, well played Christian radio song that I first heard when Allie went to 79er's week of camp. It is an upbeat, happy song that reminds us that we can are free from the sins and free from the world. We do not have to be the sad, serious, stern Christians that are stereo-types. We should be happy that we have a weight lifted from us. We are no longer slaves with shackles around our hands and feet and necks. Have you ever seen a dog that has gotten off it's leash? What does it do? My dog, Josie Belle, takes off running! She is free and she knows it! The last thing she wants is to come back to be and be put on that leash. But because she disobeys by running away, getting into things she shouldn't, she has to be put back on that leash. God expects the same from us that I expect from Josie Belle. He gives us the freedom, but we have a responsibility to follow him and do his will. He gives us the free will to make our own choices. I usually do not give my dog that choice. I know what mischief she gets into, so I have to set boundaries for her.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Galations 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Here is an excerpt from the song I Am Free by Jon Egan.
This morning, as I do every morning, I drive to work listening to the Easter cantata. I realized today that I know the first three songs really well. The rest of the songs, well either the driving gets intense and I do not concentrate very well, or my mind wanders. Who knows?
The first song in the cantata is called I Am Free. It is a popular, well played Christian radio song that I first heard when Allie went to 79er's week of camp. It is an upbeat, happy song that reminds us that we can are free from the sins and free from the world. We do not have to be the sad, serious, stern Christians that are stereo-types. We should be happy that we have a weight lifted from us. We are no longer slaves with shackles around our hands and feet and necks. Have you ever seen a dog that has gotten off it's leash? What does it do? My dog, Josie Belle, takes off running! She is free and she knows it! The last thing she wants is to come back to be and be put on that leash. But because she disobeys by running away, getting into things she shouldn't, she has to be put back on that leash. God expects the same from us that I expect from Josie Belle. He gives us the freedom, but we have a responsibility to follow him and do his will. He gives us the free will to make our own choices. I usually do not give my dog that choice. I know what mischief she gets into, so I have to set boundaries for her.
2 Corinthians 3:17
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.
Galations 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
Here is an excerpt from the song I Am Free by Jon Egan.
I Am Free
I am free to dance
(I am free to dance)
I am free to run
(I am free to run)
I am free to live for you
(I am free to live for you)
I am free
(I am free)
Yes, I am free
(I am free)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)