Life, Death and a Day at Jesus's House

      John 1:35-39 is one of the most interesting passages to me. Sometimes I get frustrated because I want Scripture to give me a day to day of Jesus's life. I want the silly, the boring, the normal. So, I love this glimpse. Can you imagine? Seeing Jesus and when he turns to you asking what you want. And you want to know where he is staying (I'm thinking that was their cop out question, because, hey, what do you ask the Lamb of God? I got tongue tied when I met Javy Lopez in ninth grade and he was just a baseball catcher, not the Savior). And do you know what Jesus does? He invites them over! That simple. He tells them to come hang out. And they do. For the whole day.
     In my head the day kind of went like a slow football Saturday which are some of my favorite kinds of days. Easy. Slow. Fun. Quality time because nothing is forced. But I have no Scriptural evidence of that. Just hope. And imagination. Anyhow, I love this passage because I think it is important to remember that not only did Jesus give his life up for us in death, but he gave his life up for us in how he lived. He died and LIVED sacrificially. With love. If I were in Jesus's place that day, I probably wouldn't have invited those guys to my house because I'm introverted (and its so easy to hide behind that label in our culture right now) or my house was messy (and the judgement of a messy house ends friendships...or so I've heard) or strangers are the worst. But he didn't. He sacrificed a quiet day to allow people into his life. To make time and space to love them. To know them.
      Jesus gives us a lot of examples like this. He weeps with Mary and Martha instead of telling them to buck up and deal. He stops to heal. He goes to a tax collector's house for dinner. He sacrifices. And not only in what we are shown, but in what we aren't. He sacrifices a steady home, a wife and children. A "normal" life. He chose not to do those things, because he was moving towards the cross. And let's not forget that His existence didn't start the day he was born in a manger. He has always been. That means He gave up 33 years in heaven to live on earth FOR us. And that makes no sense to my finite mind, but I know its true and it makes my heart grateful.

"We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers." 1 John 3:16

     For me, it's important to remember that when I'm thinking about loving other people like Jesus, it's not just in sacrificing our lives, but sacrificing our day to day. Our normal. It's making space and room to love others like Jesus did that day for John's disciples. 

Shame, Speeding Tickets and Senior Homecoming

  "And now, little children, abide in him, so that when he appears we may have confidence and not shrink from him in shame at his coming." 1 John 2:28

     How is it that we can have confidence when approaching God at his return? That question was posed to a group a few days ago and I loved getting to hear the conversation unpack this idea. Why would we, sinful, shameful and helpless, get to boldly approach the Lord? Immediately, I thought of this story.
     And it's the same with our Heavenly Father. We approach him confidently because He wipes away our shame with His love. There is no need to shrink away, no reason to hide, because when He loves you he is your safe place. So abide in Him just like verse 28 says. Rest in Him who takes away your shame and allows you to confidently come to Him.
     My dad is great. He's funny and he loves me and he is gentle with me and puts up with all my shenanigans. I think he may even enjoy said shenanigans. And he wants me to do good things. He has expectations. Growing up I never wanted to disappoint him. Fast forward to senior year homecoming.
     It had been a terrible (except now its hilarious because of how ridiculous it all was) week that ended with the whole senior class getting a talking to from the police on my best friend's front porch. We have photo evidence if you don't believe me. And I had to take the SAT on Saturday morning and I didn't feel like it went well. I was walking a thin line and I knew it. So when I got pulled over that afternoon for my very first speeding ticket, I was done. Toast.
     I was embarrassed by how I had been behaving. Mad and surprised because I really didn't think I was speeding. Ashamed that 18 year olds couldn't build a stupid float without fighting with the class behind them. Nothing felt right. I didn't feel right. My shame was great.
     As I pulled into my driveway knowing that my father was the only one home, I tried to think about how I would tell him. How could I frame this so it wasn't so bad? And I walked in the front door, because growing up I only used the front door when I wanted to hide something, but there he was. Standing in the kitchen.
     But something strange happened. Instead of shrinking away and hiding, I burst into tears and fell into his arms. And I cried a lot because I was weary and couldn't do it anymore. And he loved me. And laughed at me a little which made me feel loved all the more. And I realized that when faced with disappointing my father, the fact that I am his daughter trumps all. I don't have to hide, but can come to him with my failures.

     And it's the same with our Heavenly Father. We approach him confidently because He wipes away our shame with His love. There is no need to shrink away, no reason to hide, because when He loves you he is your safe place. So abide in Him just like verse 28 says. Rest in Him who takes away your shame and allows you to confidently come to Him.