Life in Jesus’ Times

Life in Jesus’ Times

While I was writing my book of meditations over the gospels, tentatively titled Encountering God by the Master’s Side, I spent some time researching what life was like in Jesus’ time. The following is some information that I learned to help me write chapter one.

Marriages were, of course, arranged by the parents. Often, the groom was 16-17 years old and the bride 13-14. Other than this detail, many of their customs were very similar to our own. After the ceremony, the bride’s family hosted a big party, complete with music, dancing, food and wine. This could be in the bride’s parents’ home or in the courtyard. Typically, a man served as the feast master for the celebration.

Any guesses what chapter one might be about?

Hands

HANDS

“His eye is on the sparrow, and I know He cares for me.”

Hands—

large, small,

 rough, dirty,

 slender, graceful.

Hands caress and soothe,

Wiping away tears.

Hands hit and wound,

Cruelly inflicting pain.

Hands, black with grime,

Skillfully repair engines.

Hands, manicured and perfumed,

Lovingly arrange the roses.

Hands, strong yet gentle,

Carefully cradle the baby.

Hands, wrinkled and brittle,

Wisely touch the generations.

But the hands that hold the sparrow

 Hold us all.

His hands are gentle enough

To soothe the troubled soul.

His hands are strong enough

To defeat the mighty demons.

His hands are large enough

To welcome all the nations.

His hands lovingly

Created the delicate roses.

His hands wipe away all tears,

And keep them in a bottle.

His hands chose

Not to inflict pain,

But to be pierced

In pain,

For me.

Planning Our Days

“If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to him and ask him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy.”

~Elizabeth Elliot

Father, help me to better plan my days. Give me the wisdom to know what is most important to you and give me the energy and desire to do that.

Amazing Grace

Lord, I am amazed by the sacrifice of your son, Jesus. His obedience led to our salvation and eternal life. Even though we have strayed away and been disobedient, His obedience has saved us all. It is truly astounding to contemplate. All praise and glory, to God, the father, your son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.

The Eyes Have It

The Eyes Have It

               As I taught the simple rhythm game, dozens of pairs of dark brown eyes danced with glee. Huge smiles covered the faces of the beautiful children sitting on the floor with me in this church in the poorest section of Matamoros, Mexico. In spite of the language barriers—the children spoke no English, and I spoke only a little Spanish—we communicated. As we clapped, snapped, sang, and did crafts together, their eyes sparkled.

Later in the day, whenever I glanced up from my work preparing for the next day’s bible school, one or more small brown faces peeked through the church windows. When I smiled and waved, their hands waved furiously, smiles broke out, and brown eyes danced with glee. Pure joy shone out of those huge, dark brown eyes.

               Maria, the mother and grandmother of some of those children often sat, watched, and listened at our daytime Bible school. Even though she spoke no English, she loved to watch us and the children. Part of the day she stayed at her tiny home a block and a half away. There, she watched the men in our group saw boards, pound nails, and paint turquoise walls. Her eyes watched as the new edition to her home, a 10 foot by 16 foot room, nearly doubled the size of her tiny house. Maria, mother of ten, one deceased, watched her house grow. Maria, quietly sitting in a folding chair at the church, watched the children laugh, play, and learn at Bible school. Maria, active member of her church, sang praise songs at the top of her voice and knelt on the hard tile floor to silently pray. In her eyes I saw tremendous gratitude. In those big brown eyes, I also saw amazing peace and amazing faith.

               Seventeen of us had traveled to Matamoros, Mexico in two rented vans. For six days we worked in Mexico, joining God in the work he was already accomplishing there. I looked into the eyes of my 16 companions. Some eyes glowed the same dark brown as the residents of Matamoros. Others

shone bright blue or green. At first glance all I saw in those eyes was fatigue. They worked all day in the heat—110 degrees plus heat index—and slept at night together on the roof, praying for a breeze, scattering when it rained. All this produced deep fatigue. Looking past the fatigue, however, I saw more. In those eyes was resolve: pound one more nail, paint one more board, help one more child, serve one more meal. In these eyes I saw true servanthood. In spite of the unbearable heat and the extreme tiredness, I saw the eyes of eager servants wishing to do God’s will.

               The eyes…the eyes are what I remember most. Whether the brown eyes of the locals or the multi-hued eyes of their guests, I saw something special shining in all those eyes. Through the eyes, as clear as a cloudless sky, I saw the love of Christ shining through.

               In what ways are you letting the love of Christ shine for others?

               Father, show me how to let your love shine through me, whether I am ministering in a foreign country, in a homeless community, or in my own neighborhood.