Following the fourth Wiseman- Breakfast on the beach

April 18, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

Our traveler has tried to remain with the disciples ever since the upper room. He lost track of them a couple of times but has now managed to follow them to the sea. They decided to go back to fishing. They don’t know what else to do. He asks if he can join them and they agree. As he works to become used to fishing he sees something that changes his world forever.

John 21:1-7, 9-10, 12 ESV
[1] After this Jesus revealed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias, and he revealed himself in this way. [2] Simon Peter, Thomas (called the Twin), Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples were together. [3] Simon Peter said to them, “I am going fishing.” They said to him, “We will go with you.” They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing. [4] Just as day was breaking, Jesus stood on the shore; yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. [5] Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.” [6] He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in, because of the quantity of fish. [7] That disciple whom Jesus loved therefore said to Peter, “It is the Lord!” When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment, for he was stripped for work, and threw himself into the sea.
[9] When they got out on land, they saw a charcoal fire in place, with fish laid out on it, and bread. [10] Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish that you have just caught.”
[11] So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, 153 of them. And although there were so many, the net was not torn.
[12] Jesus said to them, “Come and have breakfast.” Now none of the disciples dared ask him, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Lord.

Our traveler waits at a short distance and watches as the Messiah goes off with one of the disciples. Then He returns and he looks at our traveler and smiles. Our traveler goes to Him and falls to his knees.
“My Lord, you do not know me…”
The Messiah kneels in front of our traveler and takes his face in His hands, “I know you.”
Our traveler’s eyes fill with tears one more time and he is embraced by the Messiah.
“I could not get to you sooner.” Our traveler weeps.
“You have arrived when my Father planned for you to arrive.”
“I was meant to be here?”
“You were meant to go and tell the other Magi who had followed the star all those years ago, what you have seen and heard so they can tell others. Spread this as far and wide as you can travel. You are my traveler, after all.”
Our traveler smiles. In the end. He was not late. He had not missed his chance. He was where his Messiah had always meant for him to be.

In the calling of the deciples all those weeks ago, our traveler had wondered if he too could follow Jesus? Despite his inadequacies. Now, because of the cross he has his answer. Yes. Yes he cam follow him. Yes you can follow Him, more than that, He is calling you to.

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · Jesus · lent · no longer lost · power of God · Prayer · searching · still fighting · The Bible

Following the fourth Wiseman- Time in the garden

April 9, 2025 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

It has been a couple of days since our traveler had heard of the Messiah washing the feet of the deciples. Now he was wandering through the streets. He had heard that the deciples had been seen recently around the city and he hoped he might finally meet his Messiah.
He sees a child weeping near the gates to a house and he stops to ask what is wrong.
The child looks at him, “oh sir, you must be the only man in the city who has not heard the terrible news. They have arrested Him. Jesus. They have taken Him to trial before the priests.”

John 18:1-9 ESV
[1] When Jesus had spoken these words, he went out with his disciples across the brook Kidron, where there was a garden, which he and his disciples entered. [2] Now Judas, who betrayed him, also knew the place, for Jesus often met there with his disciples. [3] So Judas, having procured a band of soldiers and some officers from the chief priests and the Pharisees, went there with lanterns and torches and weapons. [4] Then Jesus, knowing all that would happen to him, came forward and said to them, “Whom do you seek?” [5] They answered him, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus said to them, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them. [6] When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. [7] So he asked them again, “Whom do you seek?” And they said, “Jesus of Nazareth.” [8] Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. So, if you seek me, let these men go.” [9] This was to fulfill the word that he had spoken: “Of those whom you gave me I have lost not one.”

Our traveler staggers back and walks away without speaking. As he turns the corner and goes out of sight, his knees buckle and he falls to the dirt. Tears fall from his eyes without mercy, “Why?” He screams, “Why have you done this? We need you and you have let yourself be…” he shakes his head, “I say ‘who am I to question?’ Then you do this. I was so close. What was I searching for if you are gone?”

We have been there. Where were you God? What was the point? Why have you let me fall? The answers may never come. One thing we will never be able to ask God is ‘why did you leave me?’ Oh, many have asked this, but there is no true grounds for it, because Jesus never leaves us. I cannot imagine being one of the deciples or someone who had followed and searched after Jesus, in those last days. Suddenly the only one who mattered, who had shown Himself God, was being tortured and killed. They would have felt like they had lost everything. We are in last days too, but of a different kind. Yet in our last days Jesus is risen and we have the Holy Spirit. All the deciples had were His words to cling to, and in the moments of what they witnessed, those words faded from their hearts as grief took their place. We have been there. We know the promises of God, but grief takes over and we forget what He has said. We doubt. We return to fishing because we no longer know what to do with ourselves. We were happy, then one night in a garden destroyed it. Isn’t that how it all began too? We were happy in the garden where God walked, then a lie broke the stillness. Here a betrayal broke the stillness. It would have felt like drowning endlessly in darkness. Then the third day came.
We all we have experiences like the deciples in the garden (hopefully we will never experience what Jesus Himself went through in that garden. Yet, I know some have faced such pain that they have expressed a knowledge of Jesus’s feelings.) Yet after the garden, the cross and the tomb, comes the upper room and the day on the shore. The pain comes, but Jesus will always be there.

Christianity · Devotional · encouragement · free · guidance · Jesus · lent

Feet part 6

March 10, 2024 carriedinthecrossLeave a comment

‭‭Psalms 26:12 NIV‬‬
[12] My feet stand on level ground; in the great congregation I will praise the Lord.

Level ground is an interesting expression. It can mean that you stand in righteousness. It can mean you stand in safety. It can mean you stand in place of discernment.
I feel David meant that he stood in safety when he said he stood on level ground. It’s like hiking. During the summer my family and I went to Port Renfrew in BC. My dad, Phallen (my dog) and I hiked down to the beach there. And when I say hiked, I mean there were moments I wished for a guideline to help me get back up the mountain. Phallen was fine, he trudged along like a tropper. But I was bent over trying to keep my balance, the difference between two legs and four I guess. At one point the trail leveled off for a bit. It felt like I had taken lead weights out of my shoes when I hit that level path. I finally could catch my breath. That’s what standing on level ground feels like. Rest. Peace. A weight being lifted. When you stand on level ground you are stable. When Jesus puts you on level ground, you are safe.
And then to stand on that level ground and praise the Lord. You stand in the safety of His presence and have the privilege to praise Him. The Great Congregation sounds like Heaven to me. The congregation of Heavenly hosts singing praises to God, standing in safety in His presence. I love that a warrior like David was also someone who longed to stand and sing praises to God in a Heavenly choir. Not many warriors are depicted like that. Yet, I think of the old stories. Knights riding into battle with a herald going before them, sometimes singing songs of their victories. How would the song of Jesus’s victories have gone?
He evaded Herod’s seekers, men who sought His life.
His family fled in secret, hidden by the night.
He taught at twelve in the Temple and have His mom a fright.
But He knew He must be with His father, and of course He was right.
He called twelve men to join Him when He was fully grown. He was baptized by the baptist and a dove came down from Heaven’s throne.
He healed the sick and cast out demons, He even raised the dead. But the leaders feared His power so they called for His head.
He stood bold before Pilot, no shame was on His face. For He stood there not for His own deeds, but instead for my disgrace.
He was beaten and mocked by those He loved, they spit upon His face.
He carried His cross up the hill of the skull and died in my place.
Three days went by and the tomb stood shut, but there was work happening behind the scenes. Jesus took the keys of death and set the captives free.
Then He appeared before His friends and showed them His hands, feet and side. They were surprised but shouldn’t have been, He had told them He would rise.
Now He waits in Heaven’s throne, for the day He will bring us home.
For now we are His hands and feet, to show this world His love and carry on His deeds. We will preach His word! We will pray for those in need! We will walk in His foot steps! Because we follow where He leads.

I would say a list of accomplishments like that would send His enemies running. But it’s not just some story. He really did all those things and so many more. And He really is coming back for us some day. So for now, let us follow in His footsteps, until at last we see Him face to face again.