The last few days around the Nation’s Capitol there have been several rolling thunderstorms. These storms have brewed up quickly and delivered a wallop to the areas they pass over. With thunder so loud and flashes of lightning so intense, its hard to not run from its fury. Lot’s of people decide to stay indoors. I’m not one of them...
Life’s storms tend to reflect what is happening in the heavens that surround us. Our spiritual condition is often mirrored in the times we live. When surges of wrath and judgement pour forth then peace and love are waiting on the sidelines. As the trenches of a football game wage battle, witts, and strategy, so we find ourselves when new challenges arrive. Moments of struggle begin to appear.
Torrents of rain being bullish as the wind continued to whip at it’s leisure. First, it pelted the right side of my home. Then in a moment a shift happens and a second burst of wind forced the sheets of rain to come in from the front. Like a tidal basin with wave upon wave so came the surging storm. But let’s not be quick to judge the storm, for is it not a consequence of factors in the atmosphere. Jesus said in John, “look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly (7:24 NLT).”
It’s the festival of shelters. Jesus follows His Father’s leading and arrives at the temple well into the gathering and begins teaching. His speech causes bewilderment in the established leaders because Jesus has no formal education. He did not train under them like the Apostle Paul (Acts 22:3 NLT). Jesus’ message came from above. Yes, His message was above all of them. It was His Father’s message (John 7:16 NLT).
In bed, in the early hours nestled up to a friendly man and the warmth of his embrace. I began to stir when there came a pounding at the door! Yes, it was a pounding and my heart jumped as the thundering knocks became a snapping-break and in stormed the Jewish Leaders with their troopers in tow. Grabbing me from my private chambers, unable to grab any garment, I was snatched out the broken doorway and delivered to the grounds of the temple.
The guards had groped and dragged me the three blocks. I couldn’t break free. A couple of thumps to my jaw, silenced my screaming. But where is my lover? Was he in tow too? No, it was just me. I slumped over the guards shoulder, exposed to the world with no dignity left.
It seeped in that this would be my last glimpse of humanity. I was carried by the mob to the feet of the priest. Surrounded, by this angry mob. My heart raced and sank all at once. Where was the first stone to come from? Then a finger extended down to the ground...
The One next to me had squatted and was writing something. There was so much noise. I knew the pain was coming. I tried to stand and then a smack shuddered that thought right out. He stood.
But what did he say? ...you cast the first stone... I knew it. But He didn’t leave. He stooped down again. Was it a heart or was it... The feet that were staring at me carrying all of the noise, suddenly parted. One by one the circle left me. I stood amazed to find just the two of us there. He joined me and asked where my accusers were. They had fled...
His look upon me was all I needed. He saw me. He really saw me. And with that He said: “ Go and sin no more (John 8: 11 NLT).” I grabbed a garment that had been left by one of the Pharisees and wrapped myself in it as I walked anew to my home (John 8: 1-11 NLT).
He sought to bring something that the crowds and leaders struggled with. They wanted a lion and met the Lamb; their hearts weren’t ready for Him (John 8:37b NLT). They had to wait. Wait...
The Cross.
They had to wait for the Cross to understand. It was His sacrifice that the men, women, and leaders of the day would begin to know What and Who He was.
As quickly as it started, the storm ceased. The sun broke through and normalcy stemmed once again. The sewers had ingested the rising tides and the flood pools filled to a higher level. The birds chirped and the squirrels resumed to their tactics. The momentary force that halted natures movement had subsided and the promise of God could be seen.
Godspeed, The JourneyMan
Ps. Today’s story comes from a heart of a man. There is much to be said but first we must hear. Tune in with prayer, songs of thanksgiving & worship, and bible reading.
John 7: 16 NLT “So Jesus told them, ‘My message is not my own; it comes from God who sent me.’”
John 7: 24 NLT “Look beneath the surface so you can judge correctly.”
John 8: 37b NLT “And yet some of you are trying to kill me because there’s no room in your hearts for my message.”
John 14: 1 NLT “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”
Acts 22: 3 NLT “Then Paul said, ...and I was brought up and educated here in Jerusalem under Gamaliel.”
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