Journey of Life Lutheran Church Podcast

Science has shown us that our intuition about reality isn’t very reliable. Subatomic particles pop in and out of existence. Time and space are stretchy. Even something as common as a microwave oven is counter-intuitive. How can you make food hot without using heat?

The resurrection of Jesus is counter-intuitive. We don’t expect people to be alive again after they have died. But, in our age, it really shouldn’t surprise us that our intuition about reality isn’t very reliable.

The question we are left with is this: If Jesus was raised from death to life, what should we then do? What is the appropriate response to this new understanding of reality?

Placebos are fakes — fake pills, fake surgeries, fake acupuncture, fake athletic performance enhancers, etc. The thing about placebos, though, is that they change people. This is because a placebo is a story we tell ourselves about what’s going to happen. Then, in many cases, it happens even when there are no active ingredients in the medicine or no surgical procedure was performed. The story you tell yourself about your life is powerful. When you see your story in the story of Holy Week, it can literally change your life. Give a listen to Pastor John’s sermon from Palm Sunday 2018.

Jesus turned over the tables of the money changers and drove the animals out of the temple courts. Jesus made a mess of the lives of people around him. And if you interact with Jesus, you can expect Jesus to make a mess inside of you, too. He loves you and accepts you just as you are, but he loves you too much to leave you that way.

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At one point in their time together, Jesus turned to Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan.” Pretty rough words! What happened? And what can we learn from it? Pastor John goes deep in this sermon, asking us to evaluate our own reasons for the things we do in the lives of those we care about. Sometimes our love for someone can actually lead us to be an adversary to God’s will and the person’s growth. When you intervene in someone else’s life, are you being an advocate or an adversary of good and growth?

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Temptation – Learn from Jesus how to handle the inner pull to do wrong.

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What we don’t know is as important as what we know. We know a little bit about Jesus Christ, but not much in the grand scheme of things. Knowing that we don’t know opens us up to deeper worship. You also don’t know what the narrative function of the people around you is in the unfolding drama of history. Even more unsettling, you don’t know your own function in the unfolding narrative drama of history. So what do you do since you don’t know all this seemingly important stuff? Live each moment acting in faith, hope, and love. It will all work out ok. It will.

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In this episode in the life of Jesus, we see two things that we can all emulate for happier, healthier, more peaceful lives. First, Jesus spent time alone with the Father. Not just reading scripture or devotions, but simply being with the Father. Second, Jesus had good boundaries. He knew what he was about. He cared about other people, but he made decisions based on his own calling rather than other other people wanted him to do or thought he should be doing.

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Sermon Notes: Alone with God and Boundaries

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The story of Jesus casting out a demon cracks open our sense of reality and possibility. Where are you closed off to hope, renewal, joy, peace, or reconciliation? Pastor John shows you how this account from Mark 1:21-28. Breaks down our self-imposed walls of hopelessness to bring new hope to the most difficult situations.

 

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Jesus turned water into wine so a wedding feast did not get interrupted. That’s a nice thing to do, but there’s a whole lot more in this little episode of Jesus life. He reveals himself as master of space and time. He connects himself with the creation of the universe and the deliverance of the Israelites from their bondage in Egypt. More than anything, we see that Jesus came not to bring rules, but to bring joy and freedom.

 

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See what? That’s the question. Our instinct is to invite people to see impressive things. Jesus says the mark of his disciples is love. If you want to invite people to come and see, invite them to see how Christians love each other.

 

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