As usual, we are going to start off the week looking at what the Bible
Project has put together for us regarding the beginning of Genesis.
Take a minute to watch the following video:
Consider these questions as you go about your day today:
Pray and ask the Holy Spirit to give you fresh eyes for these chapters that can seem so familiar.
My name is Justin Romine and I am with the new Unnamed Home
Group.
I have always found verse 17 to be somewhat peculiar, but also
interesting. The Great Commission (vs. 18-20), is one of the most
popular passages throughout the entire Bible, and it is prefaced with,
“they worshiped him; but some doubted.” At first, I was astonished
that the eleven disciples on that mountain had witnessed so much of
Jesus’ life (i.e. miracles, healings, teachings, crucifixion, and now His
resurrection), yet some still doubted. Even so, Jesus still commissioned
all of them to “Go and make disciples.”
Today, I can relate, as I too have “tasted and seen” the goodness of the
Lord, yet I often wrestle with doubt. Too often I live according to my
flesh and not by faith. Nonetheless, the Great Commission still applies
to my life, as a disciple of Christ. Even in days (or seasons) of doubt, I am
called to “make disciples of all nations” trusting that Jesus himself will
be with me always, “to the very end of the age” (vs. 20).
I’m Marcie and I’m part of the new Unnamed Home Group. I recently
moved to South Bend from Michigan when my husband Andrew joined
the sta” at Riverside.
I have not invested much of my time in superhero movies, but I live
in a house with several fans. Recently, after viewing a newer release
and showing some interest, my family then showed me several older
movies, fast forwarding to each of the pivotal scenes of each movie in an
attempt to get me caught up on the background knowledge that would
help me understand what was happening in the newest release. As I sat
on the couch watching action-packed, climactic scenes, my youngest son
sat at my side, reciting the lines of the heroes. He had memorized all the
important lines; words that were changing the course of the fate of the
world as heroes and villains battled it out in front of us on screen.
Reading today’s passage reminds me of my recent crash course in
superheroes. If you were giving someone a crash course in the good
news of the Gospel story, this would be one of the passages you would
fast forward to, the pivotal scene, the place where the audience, new
to the story, would hold their breath and bow their head at their hero’s
defeat. Emotions running in overdrive as those present at the death
of Jesus begin to understand what they have witnessed. Confusion,
sadness, some were even terrified at the realization that Jesus was,
“truly the Son of God”.
That night I sat in our living room watching the important scenes in
Marvel history, my son kept whispering in my ear, “Don’t worry Mom,
Ironman is going to snap and save them all.”
With each, twist and turn, when it looked like the end for the heroes, my
son reminded me that Ironman would come through in the end.
We are a people who, like my son, know the story! We know what
happens next. We can be the people who whisper in the ears of
others, “Don’t worry, He will rise again!” But our knowledge is sweeter
because we know the whole story, and today we reflect on that hard
part. Do not fast forward through this part of the story. The death. The
deflated expectations of the disciples. The hurting hearts of those there
witnessing Jesus’ last breath. The service of Joseph and the women
who took care of Jesus’ broken body. We sit in the tension that grief and
our expected joy need to mingle together in these days.
As you reflect on today’s reading ask yourself the following questions:
Hi, I’m Andrew Gates, one of the pastors at Riverside, and part of the new
Unnamed Home Group. I love goofing off with my family, drinking coffee,
watching music, movies, tv, NBA basketball, Chicago professional sports
teams, and connecting with all kinds of people.
The events of Good Friday are at the center of our faith, and in fact, Good
Friday’s primary symbol, the cross, is the literal and figurative central
focus of most of Christian worship spaces. And of course it is—the cross
is the sign of our salvation, where God’s upside-down Kingdom is on full
display for all the world to see and where Jesus’ perfect obedience and
submission takes away the sin of the world.
I wonder if in celebrating the victory of the cross, we sometimes forget
or downplay how downright disturbing the act of Jesus’ crucifixion
was—the bitter wine, the crass dividing of Jesus’ clothes while he hangs
before them, the relentless insults and mockery from the rebels, chief
priests, teachers, and elders? It is a tragedy for Jesus’ followers to lose the
connection between Christ’s suffering and people who continue to suffer
in much the same way. As theologian James Cone writes: “The cross is the
great symbol of the Christian narrative of salvation. Unfortunately, during
the course of 2,000 years of Christian history, this symbol of salvation has
been detached from any reference to the ongoing suffering and oppression
of human beings…The cross has been transformed into a harmless, non-offensive ornament that Christians wear around their necks.”
Hi, my name is Katie Comeau and I’ve been attending Riverside since I
first moved to South Bend in 2014 for graduate school. I now live back in
MA and consider myself as part of the Farmington Square Home Group
and Riverside’s extended family.
I have always wondered what it was like to be in Pilate’s shoes during
this time. Pilate was essentially the governor of the region and hated
by the Jews. While Pilate probably deserved much of the Jews’ anger,
there are other reasons I am disappointed in him and also troubled by
the account in the gospels. In this passage (and also in John 19), we read
several opportunities for Pilate to make the right choice. He evidently
knew that Jesus was innocent. However, not even the warning from
his wife prevented him from abdicating his responsibility and washing
himself of Jesus’ blood. Initially, he tried to get Herod Antipas to take
over the case. When that didn’t work, he turned to the crowd to have
them decide Jesus’ fate. I am disappointed, but also troubled because
I know God gives me many opportunities to do good towards others
and I let others take on that responsibility.
Here are some questions to ponder:
I’m Valerie Friedline, and I’m part of the Farmington Square Home
Group.
As I read these words recounting the interactions of Jesus with his
disciples and with those betraying him, one thought came to mind: of
all the people present, it seemed there was only one who understood
what was happening. Tell me if I am wrong:
Who knew what it would take for the Kingdom of God to break into
humanity for all eternity?
From the breaking of the bread to agonized prayers beneath the olive
trees of Gethsemane, who knew what it would cost?
Who knew that his friends were not supporting him as he wept and
wrestled with his will and his mission?
Who knew who was betraying him and why?
Who knew how events must fall into place to fulfill the prophesies of
Scripture, stopping the sword at the first injury?
Who knew his disciples would be the first to flee?
Who knew where he was going?
For Reflection:
What are some familiar sounds in your daily life? Perhaps a notification
sound effect on your cell phone, a dog barking, or the hourly chime of a
household clock. For most of us, a rooster’s crow is not a familiar sound
of daily life, but it would have been for Peter just as it still is today for
many people living in less developed or more rural places than South
Bend, Indiana. I (Ryan Roeder, Farmington Square Home Group) grew
up on a farm not far from South Bend, but I’ve only heard the morning
crows of a rooster when visiting third-world countries or once while
staying at a vacation rental. The loud rooster’s crow was disruptive and
annoying, waking me up too early and ruining my relaxation. But for
Peter, a rooster’s crow carried much more significance.
Every time Peter would hear a rooster crow, for the rest of his life, he
would be reminded of his greatest failure. He denied Jesus, whom he
rightly proclaimed to be “the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matt.
16.15). He lied to Jesus about his loyalty, and then hours later he lied
to bystanders about his relationship with Jesus. He relied on the feeble
strength of his flesh rather than the divine power of the Almighty God.
Imagine if your cell phone notification dinging, a dog barking, or a clock
chiming reminded you of your greatest failure and sin? To have this
daily reminder of failure sounds awful, and it probably was for Peter.
But judging from the rest of Peter’s life (e.g., see Acts 4.1-20), maybe it
was actually a great blessing to be given a daily, even hourly, reminder
of the weakness of your flesh and your need rely instead upon divine
power (see 2 Peter 1.3). Consider what sounds, words, memories, or
images can serve for you as reminders of your need for the power of
God through his Spirit and the forgiveness of Christ.
Linked below is the song Rooster Crow, written by a pastor and bluesrock musician from Chicago named Glenn Kaiser. Even if the music is
not to your personal liking, allow raw intensity of the blues melody
and the discomforting lyrics (below) to provide a taste of what Peter
might have felt. May we also have a greater sense of urgency in our own
identification with Christ.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4m_hClgEJc
Rooster Crow by Glenn Kaiser (2001)
What did you say? What did you do?
When they asked you, “Who are you?”
Did you tell ‘em, who you know
Did you hear that rooster crow
How will you answer? And where will you go?
Did you hear that rooster crow?
In the alley, in the street
In the school yard, do you take the heat?
Did you hide it? Who do you know?
Did you hear that rooster crow?
You say you’re walking that Calvary road
But are you letting everybody know?
Does your light shine? Does it show?
Or do you hear that rooster crow?