We move to the 5^th Sunday in Lent, perhaps you could say the last regular Sunday in Lent.

With that in mind, let’s see what the lectionary has for us:

• Isaiah 43:16-21
• Psalm 126
• Philippians 3:4b-14
• John 12:1-8

Isaiah is hitting a bit differently this morning, specifically verse 19.  The NRSV translation on the website I use to view the lectionary texts is grabbing my collar and asking the question quite pointedly.   Last week Paul spoke of being a new creation and this week we hear that God is doing a new thing, not the former or the old, but something new.  The text then seems to ask in disbelief how it is that I don’t know that it’s happening.   Do I not perceive it as some translations put it?  It goes on to talk about a road built in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.  Verse 19 seems to follow me into that portion of the passage and ask me if I’m okay with being in the wilderness and am I saying no thanks to the road that was built to get me out of there?   Furthermore, am I thirsty, yet too stubborn to drink from the living waters that flow through an otherwise dead place?  Maybe its hangover from a couple weeks ago when we talked about repentance.  I say that I want the road to lead me out and the water to quench my incredible thirst, but do I actually begin to walk down that road or immerse myself in those living waters?  Do I somehow see freedom in going my own way and mot realize that freedom is laid out before me by God Almighty through the sacrifice of His only Son Christ Jesus?

The Psalm perhaps washes some of the dustiness of the OT lesson off me.  Reminding me of that last sentence, that repentance should be looked upon as freeing and life with God is one of happiness, not of despair and not one of looking backwards.  I have heard several times the story of Lot’s wife, but maybe not exactly as you know it.   The way it goes is that Jesus, in the Scripture, tells us to remember just one woman.  That woman is Lot’s wife.  There can be no looking back, no thinking of the former, no romanticizing our iniquity or our lives before we turned them over to Christ.  It’s not as much a power thing as it is a love thing.  God wants us to run towards him with our heads up, looking straight ahead, much like a racehorse with blinders.  We are so easily distracted.  Why should we be?  As the Psalm says, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are glad!”  Our mouths are filled with laughter and tongues with singing.  That sounds a lot better than hanging out in the wilderness or in the desert.

A fun little passage from Philippians where we get Paul’s self-proclaimed credentials as a Jew.   This is where some say Paul claims to be more Jewish than most anyone out there.  I’m focused on two things as I look over this text and first is Paul saying that everything amounts to nothing basically in comparison to Christ.   He says he has suffered the loss of all things, but can you think of that as meaning that Paul no longer holds anything in regard, certainly no material things, so in essence it has lost its value and is a loss to him?  Perhaps we can also look at it in relation to the OT lesson and see Paul putting it all behind him.  I cannot find value in other things, if I truly want to leave the former behind, if I want to become a new creation and if I want to put Christ first in my life.   At this point it is impossible for me to read verse 14 without thinking of the beautiful hymn, “Pressing on the Upward Way.”  You can look up some past posts on this specific song, but for a real treat type the name of the hymn in YouTube along with “Lor.”  I just love the way she sings it.  I don’t mind telling you it has moved me to tears on more than one occasion, including as I type this right now.  She finishes with a prayer and at one points sys, “be encouraged.”  We are encouraged by Paul’s words in the Epistle lesson because as he relates, Christ Jesus has made us his own.

The Gospel lesson is another emotional one for me.  It will always be attached to a memory of my time in the Christian Growth Institute and providing a drama on this text along with good friend Jack Glover and the late Kieth Higgs, who I miss dearly.  This was also in a class where we were pressed with trying to get folks to involve all their senses in your message.  This one was easy with the dinner-party, the strong perfume and the bickering about the money.  Passover looms as this scene plays out and the darkest day is nearly at hand.  I’m curious if there was increased tension or where the disciples more or less oblivious to the weight of the days they were living in?  Hmm, are we oblivious to the weight not just of the days we’re living in, but the days we are given altogether?  This is a wild scene for sure and I think it is fair to say that some seeing it would be a bit uneasy.  Judas decides that he should speak up, oddly (or perhaps not) addressing the money issue and not the cultural difficulty of the scenario playing out in front of them.   When we speak up on behalf of the Gospel, do we do so to deflect the conversation and situation or are we willing to let go of social norms to give God the glory, respect and love that he deserves?

Sheeesh!  A lot of questions this week on my part.  I know I have a lot of studying to do this week and I hope you’ll join me in digging deeper into these lessons to see what God is revealing to us.