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VOTD.04.11.16 No Accusation: Magdalene

Is there no one left to accuse you?” “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin any more.” John 8:10,11

Last time we were looking at the woman caught in sin who Jesus spoke our verses of today to. Tradition tells us it was Magdalene. We saw how Jesus dealt with her accusers. But what about how Jesus dealt with her?

Obviously, there was no one in the story who cared about this woman except Jesus. She didn’t care about herself or she wouldn’t have been sinning in the first place. The Pharisees didn’t care about her; she was a means to an end of putting this up-start preacher in His place. The crowd would have been more excited had Jesus said, “Let the one who is the MOST SPIRITUAL among you cast the first stone.” They were there for the show. (more…)

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VOTD.04.05.16 Magdalene: True Grace

“Is there no one left to accuse you?” Jesus asked. “No one, Lord,” she answered. “Well, then,” Jesus said, “I do not condemn you either. Go, but do not sin any more.” John 12:11

It was probably a sunny day in Jerusalem. Blue skies arched over the holy land that morning. The temple was filled with people coming to offer sacrifices. Children ran through the crowds as their parents waited in line, absorbing the process, the teaching, and the ceremony as they played.

A nice day. A beautiful day to come and listen to Jesus teaching. As usual, He had a crowd around Him. Some were curiosity seekers; others disciples. Still others came for the entertainment value. It was a delightful day and they had a large-ish crowd. The disciples must have been happy about that. Numbers were important to them.

There was a vaguely discernible clamor in the distance that somehow seemed at odds with the crisp, clear morning. As Jesus taught, the clamor got louder until suddenly it came right into the temple. The children stopped their play and turned to look. The adults waiting in line with their sacrifices turned to see what the commotion was about. (more…)

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VOTD.04.04.16 Magdalene: True Worshipper

Then He said to her, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace”  Luke 7:50

We’ve been looking at the woman who anointed Jesus’ feet in Luke 7. “Go in peace.” Jesus said to her. What healing power can be found in those three words. And she did. The unwelcome party crasher experienced real peace. Redemptive peace. For the first time in her difficult life she was free, clean, and forgiven. The peace that “passes all understanding” was hers. No more condemnation and no more shame. No more seeking human approval . . . she had Jesus’ approval. How many of us can say the same?

We’ve been looking at a very intimate picture of worship provided to us in Luke 7 of a woman who came and anointed Jesus’ feet.

(more…)

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Album Review: The Undoing by Steffany Gretzinger

The Undoing by Steffany Gretzinger Album Cover
The Undoing by Steffany Gretzinger

I am a person with many ‘favorite albums’.  But very few of my ‘favorite albums’ carry the power that Steffany Gretzinger’s The Undoing has.  Along with the good instrumentation and Steffany’s powerful voice and intense passion, it also has a unique Holy Spirit anointing that is hard to find elsewhere.  It is an excellent album for anyone going through a hard season where the process is seeming to get endless and it feels like you’re never getting to your ‘promised land’.  If that is you, you might find The Undoing a very helpful album for worshipping through the process.

 

 

Quick Stats

 

Pros: It’s ‘different’ from (more…)

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VOTD.03.29.16 Magdalene Crashes a Party pt 2

I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven. . . for she loved much. Luke 7:47

Last time, we talked about a woman anointing Jesus in the early part of his ministry who tradition tells us was Magdalene—the woman who became the first one to see the resurrected Jesus. She slipped into a dinner party at the house of Simon the Pharisee and wept Jesus feet clean and dried them with her hair; then she anointed his feet with expensive perfume.

Jesus was pleased by her actions. But the host and his invited guests were not so pleased by this unorthodox display of adoration. Were they uncomfortable? Mary was lost in the deep worship of Jesus. Perhaps a genuine display of Mary’s raw emotion troubled them. They had their own emotion: Anger. (more…)

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VOTD.03.28.16 Magdalene Crashes a Party, Pt. 1

Then Jesus said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7: 48

We’re looking at the life of Magdalene, the Mary who Jesus revealed Himself to first, when He was resurrected. What was it about her that Jesus was pursuing her so ardently?

Amazingly, instead of focusing on us trying to pursue Jesus, Jesus is pursuing a particular kind of worshiper: People who are desperately submerged in the total adoration of their God and King.

Last time we mentioned that there were events that set Magdalene apart from Jesus’ 12 disciples. Not much is said in the Bible about Magdalene by name, but tradition has it that 2 anonymous events that are recorded in the Bible were in actuality, events that happened to Magdalene. We’ll look at one of those events this week: (more…)

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Album Review: “Brave New World” by Amanda Cook

It’s been a long time since I had a favorite album.

 

But Amanda Cook’s (nee Falk) most recent release, Brave New World, has become a favorite since it came out last September.  I can’t put my finger on why; it’s not the lyrics, the instrumentation, or brilliant arrangements.  They’re all excellent quality.  But there’s just something about the feel of the album that brings me back every time, that, quite simply, makes the album a definite favorite.

 

Quick Stats:

Pros

Excellent (more…)

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VOTD.03.22.16 Magdalene’s Devotion

The disciples went back to their homes, but Mary stood outside the tomb crying.  John 20:10,11

Last time I wrote about my interest in Mary who was call Magdalene. What was it about her that Jesus decided to appear to her first after His resurrection? He sent angels to appear to others, but He, Himself, appeared to her first.

And while we’re on the subject, don’t believe everything you see in the movies: the structure of the text where Magdalene is talked about in the Gospels makes it a near certainty that she was older than Jesus’ mother, Mary. Her relationship with Jesus wasn’t a youthful, romantic infatuation as some movies and dramas suggest. (more…)

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VOTD.03.21.16 “I’m BA-aaaack”

Jesus traveled through towns and villages, preaching the Good News about the Kingdom of God. The twelve disciples went with him, and so did some women who had been healed of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (who was called Magdalene), was one of them; from her seven demons had been driven out. Luke 8:1,2

It always surprises me when I consider Mary Magdalene. Relatively little is said about her in the Bible, yet Jesus chose her to be the first person to whom He revealed Himself after His resurrection. Her testimony (story) graphically shows how those who claim to love Jesus—those who have followed His teachings, have lived in intimacy with Him, and are eye-witnesses of His miracles—can respond to Him in two totally different ways.

The difference goes deeper than (more…)

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