Top 40 - Reflections on the texts

• Weeks 1-10, Creation to Crossing the Red Sea
• Weeks 11-20, Living in the Wilderness to the Prophets
• Weeks 21-30, The Prophets to the Raising of Lazarus
• Weeks 31-40, Jesus heals in Mark's Gospel to the book of Revelation

Week 31 - Jesus Healed me this Week Read Mark 5:21-43 Reflection by Ben Orton

This past week I traveled to Florida for 4 days to attend a workshop of food and beverage manufacturers. Part of my job is business development and this show was a bit of a scouting trip to see if the venue would be a good avenue to raise awareness for a product line I’m responsible for. One would think that an opportunity to leave Minneapolis during a coldish spring to hang out on the coast of Florida would be pure bliss, but the truth is for the first few days of this trip I was really struggling. First there were feelings of doubt about the relevance of the workshop along with discomfort and loneliness from not knowing anyone. Next I started lamenting traveling for work and wrestled with whether or not I’m in the right career. My inner confliction turned spiritual as I began feeling discouragement and powerlessness over some nagging sins in my heart. In short, I was feeling kind of lost.

In the midst of this I needed to write this reflection and I decided to think on it while fishing off the dock during some free time I had on Tuesday morning. While I was on the pier I asked myself and then I asked God why, when I know He is real, that He offers freedom from sin, and that His way is better than mine, why do I not always trust Him? Why do I place my trust in myself? Why is it that some of the very things I want to do I can’t do and the things I don’t want to do, I do. In that moment I related to the woman who reached for Christ’s garment for healing. I got honest with God and I begged for healing that only he could give.

The rest of the week was an absolute answer to my prayer. That very night I had dinner in town with a former co-worker and his wife who had retired to the area. It was a very encouraging dinner with a Christian couple who have always placed God and family before career. On the way home, I turned on the radio in the rental car for the first time and it just so happened to be tuned to a Christian radio station with some well-timed messages for me. The next day, the workshop program exposed me to some topics that have given me an intriguing idea about a career direction. And finally, I met another man attending the workshop who it turns out was a former pastor of 25 years. We had a very meaningful and uplifting conversation which would take pages to recount but what I’ll say is we identified with each other, encouraged one another, and plan to stay in touch in a way that I believe could have real kingdom value. After struggling for the first 3 days in Florida, I left at peace and feeling free again.

I am confident these things are not coincidences. In a moment of personal weakness and need, I reached out to Christ and He healed me. I like how the passage of Jesus healing the bleeding woman describes how Christ felt power go out of Him when the woman touched him. In moments like today, I have experienced feeling this power. The combination of God’s voice in my thoughts and the encouragement of fellow Christians gave me power that I just don’t have on my own. In fact, if you ask me how I know the gospel is real and why I believe in God and Christ and redemption, it is because of moments like these. I’ve personally experienced Him. I hear Him talking to me, pursuing me, and revealing Himself to me daily. Even when I drift off course, I feel His presence and His voice as a constant force steering me back to Him, and this story of the bleeding woman reminded me how much I need Him. How every day, I need to remember my weakness and reach for Him to receive His healing and His power. Praise God, for He is faithful and will provide healing to all those who recognize their need for it. Even me. Even you. Amen.

Week 32 - Judas was also at the table! Read Luke 22:14-23 Reflection by Cari Larsen

The Sacrament of Holy Communion is one of my most treasured parts of our worship together. I have always felt a deep connection to Christians throughout history when we gather together and share the wine and bread. I began to read this familiar passage and felt again that connection clear back to Jesus and his disciples. Then I got to verses 21 through 23: “But see, the one who betrays me is with me, and his hand is on the table. For the Son of Man is going as it has been determined, but woe to that one by whom he is betrayed! Then they began to ask one another which one of them it could be who would do this.” These are not the familiar, treasured words that come to mind when I contemplate communion. But they are right here in the same passage as the words of institution that we hear each time we celebrate communion.

The tension of that Holy week is reflected in these few short verses. Jesus first expresses how much he has been looking forward to celebrating Passover with his disciples. Then he introduces a new ritual to them. He tells them again that he is going to suffer and tells them this time that that suffering will come as a result of the betrayal by one of them. What must Jesus have been thinking during that evening? How did he sit at the table sharing his last meal with those closest to him knowing that one of them was putting into motion the events that would lead to his death? At the very beginning of Chapter 22 – in verse 3 and 4, it says: “Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was one of the twelve; he went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers of the temple police about how he might betray him to them.” It’s not long after this meal that Jesus is crucified. In Chapter 23 of Luke we hear Jesus say about those who are crucifying him, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they are doing.” What was Jesus thinking as he told his disciples of this betrayal? What was Judas thinking? Why was it a disciple who had to betray Jesus? Is Judas part of those who Jesus asks his Father to forgive? How does this change my understanding of communion? Jesus gave the gift of communion to his disciples – including Judas. Including us. He shared a table with one who was betraying him. Judas was all too human. Just like us – susceptible to temptation. Susceptible to the influence of Satan. His sin – just like all of ours – went with Jesus to his crucifixion. So, what is this passage teaching me today? It is certainly challenging me to wrestle with difficult – even unanswerable questions – of faith and Bible study. It is also challenging me to seek an even deeper understanding and appreciation of our sacrament of Holy Communion.

Week 33 - Crucified for love Read Luke 23:1-56 Reflection by Tony Szczepaniak



 

Week 34 - We are Easter people! Read Luke 24:1-12 Reflection by Donna Kniffen

Our reading this week is Luke’s account of Jesus’ resurrection—which we just celebrated a few weeks ago on Easter Sunday. We are nearing the end of our 40 readings that tell us God’s story—all of them are beautiful and important parts of the story—but this one, the story of Jesus’ resurrection is, I think, the most important of all to us as Christians. We know how the story begins—Jesus is dead, having been crucified a few days before. On that first Easter Sunday the women came to the tomb because that was where they saw Jesus’ body placed. As was customary at that time, they brought spices to anoint His body, showing proper respect for the dead. But seeing the empty tomb brings confusion, not clarity as we might expect. Hadn’t Jesus told his followers time and time again, that He would die and in three days would rise again? But common sense tells them that dead bodies presumably remain dead. So when the angels at the tomb tell them that Jesus has risen, this message runs counter to what they know about death. “Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen.”

So they are told that Jesus has risen, but they do not see the risen Christ. All they have is a word—a message—and that is precisely what we have—the word of the resurrection. We might think that God could have scripted this differently. Wouldn’t it be easier to have the women come to the tomb and watch Jesus walk out into the light of a brand new day—appearing in dazzling glory before them? But all the women have is the word of the angels, yet they run to tell the disciples and other followers, where their words are heard as “idle talk”, as nonsense. We might look at the disciples’ faith and wonder why they didn’t believe what Jesus had told them earlier—how he would be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.

But don’t we too, as Christians, sometimes have doubts and questions? Even if we have been Christians for many years and have studied Scripture over and over again, we still struggle with fears and anxiety. But the resurrection story clearly demonstrates that God keeps his promises and we are to believe Him. Here is where the Easter message really begins its work—it challenges our certainties. Experience teaches that death wins and that even the strongest succumb to it. The world tells us that life is what you make it, get what you can while you can because it will all be over soon enough. But the Easter message says “Really? Are you sure?“ Yes, death is real—but it is not final. In Jesus, life gets the last word. The Easter message of the resurrection calls us from our old belief in death to a new belief in life. The claim that this Jesus who died by crucifixion has now risen is so outrageous, it might make one wonder whether it just might not be true! Even the apostles were doubtful, dismissing the message from the women as “idle talk”. In our text, verse 12 tells us that even Peter looked into the tomb and seeing the linen cloths on the ground, he wondered what had happened. When we gathered for worship on Easter Sunday, did we not walk in those footsteps of Peter—hearing the rumor that Jesus is alive but wanting to come and hear it for ourselves. And on that Sunday didn’t Pastor Paul greet us all as “Easter people.” In our world we don’t see the Easter season as emphasized with all the excitement and anticipation of Christmas. It certainly doesn’t play as well into commercialism. We prepare for Christmas with four weeks of Advent—weeks full of anticipation, singing, decorating, baking, shopping.

But the road to Easter isn’t quite that pretty. In the six weeks of Lent we slog through the passion story—praying for deliverance in Gethsemane, hearing of trials, torments, and the pain of crucifixion until finally on Good Friday, Jesus is dead. But….we are Easter people, and Easter people know the truth of the resurrection—we do not need to fear death—it is not the end. Jesus says, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die.” Without the resurrection, our faith would be in vain. We need the resurrection—and we are people of the resurrection—we are Easter people.

Week 35 - Centered on Faith Read John 20:19-29 Reflection by Randy Moroney

Of all the lessons, teachings, and commandments in the Bible, John 20:21 captures the majority of them with “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you”. God sent Jesus to forgive us our sins and take them away. Jesus sends us to do the same. John 20:23 reinforces this with “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven”. We would have “Heaven on Earth” if we all were at peace with ourselves and others and continuously in an act of forgiveness. Beyond this, “…so I send you” means to live your life as Jesus did - being compassionate, patient, selfless, and giving of yourselves to those in need. Whenever I struggle with how to deal with a challenging situation or person, I reflect on this and attempt to live my life in a Jesus-like manner as he “sends me.”

As for doubting Thomas, we were not given the experience to physically touch and see Jesus. Thank God for that. If we had, our lives wouldn’t be centered on faith, they would be centered on fact. What’s the point of life centered on fact? Our faith is what makes us who we are. Our religious convictions, values, morals, character, and life style are centered around a faith based life. Our faith defines the essence of who we are. Pastor Susan’s recent sermon informed “Faith is the foundation of our life”. And whenever uncertain and in doubt, Pastor Paul informed in a sermon years ago, we simply need to take a “leap of faith” and dive back in again. My late Grandmother-in-law Irene once told me she felt compassion for any non-believers. She said, “What have you got if you don’t have faith?” With faith we have a life of purpose and substance. When our life is nearly over and in its final moments, our gifts, talents, riches, and health gone, all we will have left on earth is the love of those around us and our faith.

Week 36 - Holy Chaos, Then & Now Read Acts 2:1-21 Reflection by Becky Carlson

This week's Top 40 Bible reading is the story of Pentecost. It's appropriately timed, as we just celebrated Pentecost within our church year. Pentecost tells the story of the coming of the Holy Spirit, shortly after Jesus' resurrection. Some 2,000 years later, it can be hard to realize the implication of this story within our modern day lives. But through reading the passage in detail and some reflection, new light can be shed on an old story.

The story of the coming of the Holy Spirit in the book of Acts is quite dramatic. It ignites all the senses...you can almost feel the rush of wind, hear the surprised voices speaking all different languages, and see the bright tongues of flame. As I read the story I tried to imagine what it might have been like to be present in that room, all those years ago. It's hard to even fathom. I don't have much frame of reference for it - I don't imagine any of us do. I've never witnessed flames of fire atop people's heads. I've never been in the presence of people who were suddenly and inexplicably able to speak a language other than their own. I've never been in violent windstorm while still inside. And while the story used wonderfully descriptive words, it's still hard to imagine, isn't it? It made me laugh that within the story there were some witnessing the event that thought there must have been alcohol involved...even back then it seemed to be the only plausible explanation for such a situation!

As I tried to put myself in that room, one word came to mind to describe what it must have felt like...chaos. One moment you're having a quiet dinner with your friends, and the next there’s wind, fire, and a flurry of voices. It must have been complete chaos. While I've never been in a situation even remotely like the experience of Pentecost, I do know a little bit about chaos. I'm guessing you do too. The loud beep of your alarm clock, rousing you from a deep sleep. The scramble to get out the door amidst the busy activity of the morning. The back to back e-mails, voicemails, meetings, appointments, and phone calls that fill your work day and demand your focus. Blaring horns in bumper to bumper traffic in the rush hour home. A to-do list that's a mile long, and all needing your attention. Right. This. Minute. Chaos. But let's look at it a different way. Sure, it was chaos, but I'm going to add a word in there. Holy. Holy chaos.

Think about it. Pentecost was the coming of the Holy Spirit. It was most certainly holy chaos. Amidst the chaos and confusion, God was there. Something amazing was starting. People who weren't able to communicate with one another now could. A prophecy was being fulfilled. People's attentions were grabbed as they witnessed (whether they realized it at the time or not) something incredible and impactful. So what does that mean for us now? As I started to think of Pentecost as holy chaos, rather than just simply chaos, I realized that the chaos within my own life could be viewed through a similar lens. Although modern day chaos looks and sounds quite a bit different than the sights and sounds of Pentecost, it's chaos all the same. And in both situations, the challenge is the same - making sure you don't miss out on the holiness in the midst of the chaos. Like the people witnessing Pentecost, it can be far too easy for us to miss that there's always a higher power at work, and to try to explain away the extraordinary moments that take place in our chaotic lives every single day. Further, it can be easy to start to think that the chaos of our daily lives somehow signals the absence of God, or a lacking of spiritual presence, rather than recognizing that the Spirit works in the midst and throughout the chaos. Think back to the account of Pentecost. Look beyond the flames. The confused voices speaking in different tongues. The wind. The chaos. Look at what was really happening. The Holy Spirit was coming to earth! It was filling the hearts and minds of those present. And while the verses in Act tells the story of the first coming of the Holy Spirit, I would argue that we can be witness to a daily Pentecost within the busyness of our modern day lives. So the challenge is this; find the Holy Spirit. Listen. Pay attention. Slow down enough to see the Spirit at work. It's there. It's always there, no matter how crazy things may seem. I see it in the sweet, candid moments of affection that happen between my girls. I see it in the unexpected caring conversation I have with a stranger. I see it in the random act of kindness that I witness. It's easy to miss the Spirit at work if we are focusing only on the chaos. So how will you be sure you're seeing the holiness amidst the chaos?

Week 37 - Radical Transformation: Saul to Paul Read Acts 9:1-19 Reflection by Steve Germundson

Saul is an uncomfortable character to many of us – perhaps a bit intimidating – though I think it is too easy to see him limited to the role of the hated bully. While persecution of any kind is unacceptable, I wonder if we can look past that to see the core of Saul’s being – a passionate defender of his religion, protector of what he held to be true, and one who went to great lengths to preserve his faith. Is it possible to look at Saul with some level of admiration? After all, don’t we admire those qualities in others?

Certainly God saw all that was good in Saul. It’s an easy idea to grasp if we begin with the understanding that Jesus’ ministry was a healing ministry. The power of God may have caused his blindness, and it is obvious that he was physically healed by the same power of Jesus through the hands of Ananias, but the most powerful part of the story was the healing of Saul’s spirit. Healing is so much more than curing. Yes, Saul was cured of blindness, but his spiritual healing was far more consequential. With spiritual healing comes the opportunity for change, which is possible for us all with the help of God. God took that wonderful passion of Saul and redirected it to a new faith. What I find most encouraging is that God didn’t change Saul’s personality. He simply refined it and redirected it for a better purpose. Saul’s conversion is signified by the change in his name to Paul. Yet he did not lose his personality, his passion, or the essence of his being. Paul went on to live his life just as enthusiastically in his new faith. While my faith may not burn with the same visible passion as Paul’s, what matters most is that God can heal my spirit to make me an instrument of love and peace and healing.

Week 38 - Imitating Christ's Humility Read Philippians 2:1-12 Reflection by Clare Kooiman

A lot has happened to Paul since last week’s reflections by Steve Germundson. He has, indeed, lived his faith enthusiastically and passionately: he finds good in all his experiences, even his imprisonment, for to Paul whatever helps spread the gospel is good. In this up-beat letter to the Philippians Paul speaks to them with words of thanksgiving for their on-going faithfulness, with words of encouragement to continue despite opposition, and with words reminding them that their faith is a gift from God, not something they chose. Then Paul writes this most beautiful passage as the perfect example of true faith: “Let the same mind be in you that was in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not regard equality with God as something to be exploited, but emptied himself, taking the form of a slave, being born in human likeness. And being found in human form, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death— even death on a cross. Therefore God also highly exalted him and gave him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bend, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

As I reflected on this letter to that congregation in Philippi so long ago, I realized that the same message is for us today—the Immanuel congregation in Eden Prairie! What a wonderful blessing that God has chosen us to be his instruments for spreading the gospel—enabling us to live the good news through love, compassion and service. Praise be to God!

Week 39 - Boasting of God's Grace Read Romans 5:1-11 Reflection by Scott Sabin

When’s the last time you felt like being boastful about the trials and tribulations life throws at you? I don’t think of myself as a boastful person even under the best of situations. I especially do not feel like rejoicing because I am unemployed and living under the constant financial and emotional toll that can take on a family. I have found myself asking God why, not singing His praises when I, a family member or close friend, faced illness, addiction, loneliness or death.

Yet this week’s reading would have us boast in all these things. I can understand shouting for joy and singing God’s praises for being justified through faith and God’s gift of His Son who died for us. But seriously, "And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.” This sounds a bit familiar. Like the saying, "whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger." Or a fighter or long distance runner who must endure much physical pain to be ready for the contest. I can think of no greater prize than to have been saved by Jesus when I am at my worst and have done nothing to deserve this gift. So, I will say in my most boastful voice; Thank you Lord for all life’s challenges, for making my way hard. Let me toil to overcome the worst life has to offer and give me the endurance, character and hope to be forged stronger for Your service. Let me rejoice in all You give me, the good and the bad, until the day I am called home to life eternal with You. AMEN!

Week 40 - The Hope of Heaven Read Revelation 21:1-6 Reflection by Joy Klemp

The book of Revelation is the culmination of God’s plan for redeeming the world. Jesus reveals to John the bright future awaiting God’s children who believe in Him. The Book of Revelation was written down by John as Jesus shared a peek into heaven. So what is heaven like? In the first verses of Revelation 21, John tells us he sees a new heaven and a new earth. God is preparing a wonderful order for things of this world. While Jesus did not reveal specifics, John tells us that there will be no sin or death in heaven. I feel that this shows the compassionate character of God .

Can you imagine place where there is no more sadness or crying? The promises of God are great! God promises to make all things new! John also describes the Holy City. Jerusalem, coming down from heaven. This vision, I think is about the community of believers living in peace and harmony with one another in heaven. Can you imagine a world where all people work together in loving relationships? There is no hate or fear in heaven. I know that God wants to delight us with a beautiful place just as he has made so many beautiful things in this world for us to enjoy already. Think of all the beauty in nature-trees, blooming plants, unique, colorful birds to name a few. God in Revelation 21 tells us He wants to live among His people. God wants to live with us, forever. What hope!

God’s story from the book of Genesis to Revelation is trustworthy and true. The joys of heaven shown through out the Bible help us see the magnitude of God’s grace and goodness for our world and its people, and the hope of spending eternity with God, if we believe and trust in Him. The eternal home God is preparing for us his children should compel us in our beings to live each day for God, to share the Good News of salvation to everyone we encounter, and to encourage each other to dig daily into God’s Word to know Him better and live lives honoring God with caring compassion for others.

Top 40 - Reflections on the texts

• Weeks 1-10, Creation to Crossing the Red Sea
• Weeks 11-20, Living in the Wilderness to the Prophets
• Weeks 21-30, The Prophets to the Raising of Lazarus
• Weeks 31-40, Jesus heals in Mark's Gospel to the book of Revelation