The Plot, the Passion and the Plan...Matthew 26:1-16


 It is the time of mowing in Colorado.  It usually doesn't last long and for us it is taming the weeds and dandelions.  Another task of a small town pastor that I have done over the 40 years of ministry.  It has always been a great time to think through again the message coming up on Sunday.  June 1 is not only our 41st wedding anniversary but also our 40th anniversary of full-time ministry.


Sometimes 40 years means covering for each other at times.  Stephanie is in Florida caring for her parents so I had the privilege of getting the Family Dinner Night ready.  It was wings' night along with potato salad and baked beans.  All things I could handle.  It is a time of grief for Steph.  We lost our dog of 11 years, Buddy, just recently to cancer and now she is sitting beside her father in his last stages of life.  The last words and last actions can be so vital to hear and see.  I am so thankful Stephanie is there as I was last year about this time for my dad.


Lady Creek Falls had a good flow this year.  It was a 14 mile hike that allowed me a lot of time to think about the summer ahead of us.  A re-roof project, family visits, a new grandson coming, and a church constitution re-write are just a few of the highlights.  I hope to also get my trail legs back for some long distance hikes deep into the park.  I turn 62 this year so in August I will get my "forever" America the Beautiful pass!

We ventured into chapter 26 of Matthew this past Sunday.  We also were able to refer to my crude drawing on the whiteboard.  Jesus was on the move again.

I really like how Matthew, through the direction of the Holy Spirit, gives us a flashback in this passage.  John gives us this in chronological order and offers some more details but Matthew helps us to see the background to the plot to kill Jesus by trickery and the unfolding plan of Judas Iscariot and the 30 pieces of silver.  The event sandwiched between is so precious.  Between the plot and the plan is the passion of Mary of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  Between the 2 evil sections is a section that will be remembered and proclaimed whenever the gospel is proclaimed through the whole world.

Jesus defends Mary's actions again.  She has been at His feet before is worship and devotion.  Jesus also corrects the disciples' response as He has in the past.  This passage actually helped me as I walked through a similar situation in a previous church when the "snorting" came from a genuine worship event of Jesus.

What Mary broke and poured over Jesus was supposed to be used just in drips.  It is a good picture of our personal worship of Jesus.  Is it a "drip, drip" or is it a "broken and poured" out that can't return to the bottle?  Don't worry, this type of worship will be replenished if applied to Jesus.  He will always give us more to "break and pour" out showing others what is right in our fully devoted relationship with Him.

Adam



A simple man serving a great God and the local pastor of Stillwater Community Chapel (stillwater-chapel.org). We are in our 39th year of full time ministry. God directed us to this local body of believers on the Western Range of the Rockies to grow with them in mission and mindedness of Christ.

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