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Wednesday 23 March 2016

Holy Week

Photo courtesy of Naypong/FreeDigitalPhotos.net
A dear friend is going through an especially challenging time at present on a number of different fronts. Everywhere I turn I see the same; whether it’s sickness, unemployment, challenges with children, broken something or other. It's heart breaking. There may be a number of us in this community experiencing similar.

We often ask God “why?” and “when will this end?” at times like this. When we have a friend going through tough circumstances we want to be able to say something that provides understanding or insight into their predicament. We want to help and ask God to provide the words for us to share. We want to provide comfort and assurance.

A common response to our pleadings is silence.

This only serves to add to our confused state.

Jesus returns to Jerusalem

When Jesus returned to Jerusalem riding on a donkey on Palm Sunday it was His first time back since He’d raised Lazarus from the dead. Naturally, many were curious to get close to this man.

Was He the Messiah? Was He the King they’d waited all these years for? Would He rescue them from the clutches of Rome’s rule?

Naturally they were confused that as the week progressed their hopes of freedom, their thoughts on who He was and what He would do for them, didn’t transpire.

Linger

I’ve been particularly inspired by Mary of Bethany in recent weeks. Her response to Jesus is quite remarkable. One time we see her she is resting at Jesus’s feet while her sister, Martha, busies herself with housework. Then we see Mary, the night before Palm Sunday, dousing Jesus in expensive “pure nard” and wiping His feet with her hair.

In both situations, Mary didn’t seek a response. She simply chose to linger in His presence. She didn’t seek to understand and let go of her striving.

Simply. To be.

She chose to be with Him. She didn’t seek words … she had no agenda.


"She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said." (Luke 10: 39 NIV)

Walk with Jesus

It’s a special week for us. It’s Holy Week.

“Holy Week teaches us to trust God in every step – even when we can’t see His reasons.” (Desiring God)

Let us all choose to walk with Jesus on His journey. To linger in His presence.

Let go of our agendas and let Him fill us. Let Jesus set the agenda. Not necessarily with words but just His presence. Be filled by His love for you. 

Peace be with us all this Easter. May we all know the breadth, length, height and depth of His love for us.




Ian Acheson is an author and strategy consultant based in Sydney. Ian's first novel of speculative fiction, Angelguard, is available in the US, UK, Canada and Australia. You can find more about Angelguard at Ian's website, on his author Facebook page and Twitter

4 comments:

  1. Thank you, Ian. So many imponderables in life, aren't there? But we are so blessed to be able, like Mary, to sit in Jesus' presence and, as you say, let him set the agenda and fill us with his love. Now we just need to do it!

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    1. Hi Jo-Anne, exactly. We just need to do it. I hope we all can make some decent time to sit in His presence over these next few days.

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  2. I've thought a lot about the Mary and Martha story over the years, heard many sermons about it too. At the end of the day, I think many of us want to be a Mary rather than a Martha, but the pressures of life keep us on our feet rather than sitting at His.

    Other times though, I can choose. Rest. Relax. Absorb Jesus. Remember I'm a human 'being' not human 'doing'.

    Thank you for your lovely post, Ian.

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    1. Thanks, Andrea. Wishing you a lovely Easter. Hope you get to spend more down time in the next few days and continue your gratitude posts.

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