Easter Reflection

At lunch on Palm Sunday, Bethany asked a really good question. She said, "if Easter week was really a week, what happened to change public opinion of Jesus? How could he go from the hero entering the city one weekend to being crucified the next?" It is a reasonable question, and one to which, I am sure, many pages of theological literature have been devoted. I can't pretend to answer that (maybe there is a book in there some where even), but one thought came to me that seems relevant to our current cultural climate: Disappointment.

Let me explain. The hope for Messiah at the time of Jesus was incredibly political. People were hoping for political deliverance from Rome. They were focused on their current and difficult circumstances. Over and over, Jesus rebuffs their push to make him a political leader. His message of the Kingdom of Heaven went beyond their desires for present deliverance but had to leave the question in some people's minds, "that's all great, but how do we handle this current political turmoil and strife?" There had to be some tension built up as Jesus continued to do what he was sent to do and not what they people wanted him to do.

I don't pretend to think that this is the whole answer to the question, but it is has some interesting connections to us today. As we have traveled, politics seems to be a consistent topic of conversation. In a twist of life mirroring art (if you can call the 2004 comedy Napoleon Dynamite art), political candidates seem to say Napoleon's friend Pedro's line "If you vote for me, your wildest dreams will come true." Our politicians must position themselves as a savior or deliverer. It makes me ask the question, "what am I trying to get out of this relationship?"

Jesus poses that question in different words, "Who do you say that I am?" What are we looking for here? What sort of trust, what sort of salvation? I am not trying to argue for a specific candidate or political system, but I do want to pose the question: where do we put our hope? Are we hoping for the right man or woman in the right chair at the right time? If we get the right laws in place, then what?

We need to see the world through eternal eyes and see that our hope is in Christ. Jesus' work on the cross had implications for the Jews living under Roman occupation but wasn't limited to them. It fit into a greater context. Not that we shouldn't be politically engaged...please vote your consicence and think and engage. Just remember that we are all fallen humans trying to live in a fallen world. We have one savior and one salvation, and that is Christ.

Preparing for Easter

Living in a catholic country means that the year is marked by religious holidays. This does not necessarily mean that the meaning behind these holidays is celebrated, but it does mean that traditions are carried on, stores are closed and the year becomes cyclical. This last week, the holiday we know in the US as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday (the day before Lent begins) was celebrated. Here, "Fasching" generally involves dressing up in costumes, having parties and celebrations, and eating candy. There are also carnivals and parades in some cities.

The benefit to living in Austria, where days like Fasching are hard to miss, is that it reminds me of the church calendar and seasons of preparation. In the States, I would often allow Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent to go by without noticing, but here I cannot forget. So this year, this reminder led me to finally download a lenten devotional I had been wanting to read for years and to start daily readings.

I am a big fan of Walter Wangerin's Christmas devotional book "Preparing for Jesus", so I was excited to start reading his lenten book "Reliving the Passion: Meditations on the Suffering, Death, and the Resurrection of Jesus as Recorded in Mark". Walt has a way of communicating creatively and whimsically about the story of the bible and when I read his thoughts, I am often transported into the world of the characters themselves. He helps me understand how the disciples were really feeling at the time of Jesus death and resurrection. So far, his devotions have been a blessing to me.

I'd like to share a quote from Saturday's reading that really struck me:

The disciples approached the Resurrection from their bereavement. For them the death was first, and the death was all. Easter, then, was an explosion of Newness, a marvelous splitting of heaven indeed. But for us, who return backward into the past, the Resurrection comes first, and through it we view death which is, therefore, less consuming, less horrible, even less real. We miss the disciples' terrible, wonderful preparation.

This was a new perspective for me, to really think about what it would have been like to see the man the disciples followed and served as a disciple for three years be brutally murdered on the cross. And did they really know or understand what was to come? They may have hoped for resurrection, but didn't expect it. They were down in the depths of anguish when Jesus returned and their world was turned upside down.

May we, too, allow ourselves during this season of Lent to truly ponder Christ's death. He suffered and died for us and it was terrible. He went to hell for us. As we also celebrate his return, may we also not forget what came before.

Experiencing Lent

Hey everyone! Hope that you are enjoying all this wonderful, spring-like weather we have been having across the country. I think it got into the low 60s out here in Connecticut today, which is pretty crazy to think about.

I was thinking recently about how I would practice Lent this year.  To be honest, it wasn't a big thing when I was growing up. All I remember were the catholic kids I knew and how they would feel the need to give up something valuable to them for Lent. To be honest, it sounded like a pretty dumb idea at the time, but this was before I really understood fasting. Over time God has given me an appreciation for different seasons of the church calendar, and how valuable they can be.  I learned that Lent isn't just for Catholics and that many Christians have found this season of fasting and repentance very valuable as a time of introspection and reflection.


This year I (Nate) chose a bible reading plan you www.youversion.com.  I am a pretty big fan of their bible app and this is my first encounter with their reading plans.  I am kinda excited, to be honest. I am really not good at reading plans in general. I am praying that I will stick with this plan and gain a perspective leading up to the Easter celebration.  Here is the reading plan that I am doing (and I'd love for you to join me.) I think it is less than a chapter a day and goes through the Easter story in chronological order.


Your Turn:


How are you observing Lent this year? 


Are you fasting from something or observing a similar reading schedule?


Photo credit: bosela from morguefile.com

He is Risen Indeed! A Cross Cultural Ostern / Easter

"Now he is talking about how fear and hope meet at the cross... now he is talking about...."

This was how we experienced our Easter service this morning at the Evangeliumsgemeinde here in Vienna.  It is day 10 of our vision trip and we were very glad to share an Easter breakfast, baby dedication, and Easter service with this community of believers.

We enjoyed a European breakfast (all different kinds of bread, cold cuts, ham, really nice bologna, all kinds of cheeses, hard boiled eggs, a few kinds of cereal, and some amazing jam and sweet bread!) and all sat around tables and talked.  The food was amazing and the conversation was good as well.  We tried in limited German to say who we were and where we were from.

Most often we either had someone that could help to cross the language barrier or the people we were talking with spoke some English.  It is great to see the fellowship times, that often last as long (and are as important) as the formal service.

We also got to see a baby dedication with many family members of the couple there.

While we miss our families, we know that God is leading us towards Himself.  It continues to stir my heart to hear men and women lifting their voices in other tongues to the Lord.

Along with all of this celebration, I am reminded of the need here.  Easter is a time that many people go to church, often those that don't have any communion with the God of the universe.  Seeing this gathering and realizing that there are so many others that need to hear about the transforming work of God in His gospel, we are further convinced that we are following God's leading to be a witness of the gospel in Austria.  Many Austrians know about God, but few have a personal relationship with him.

 What impacted you from the Easter celebration that you attended?