You like Jesus' blood, Papa?

A couple of weeks ago, we let Anastasia sit through almost an entire church service with us.

Unfortuanately, we only had 1 instead of 2 chairs removed for handicap accessibility. So, Philip was kinda squished in a space too small for a wheelchair.

During the sermon, I thought Anastasia was being a bit loud and wanted to take her out. That resulted in more noise, but also an inconvenience to the person sitting behind Philip. Ie, he had a wheelchair rolling into him so we could get by. So, when Anastasia and I came back in, we sat in the seats immediately in front of Philip.

We took the Lord's Supper at the end of the service - and I was very excited about explaining to her what we were doing. As the bread came around, I told her, "Anastasia this is Jesus's body." Then as we were about to drink the 'wine', I told her, "We're drinking Jesus's blood." Anastasia wanted to put my cup in the little slot in the chair/pew in front of me and then went to collect Philip's cup as well.

As she walked around my chair to his, Anastasia asked, with her high little voice and head inquisitively cocked to the side, "You like Jesus' blood, Papa?" My heart warmed. Though it's unlikely she comprehended what we were doing, she heard me. That's a moment I will cherish until him we worship returns.

To be, rather than to seem

To our eternal blessing, Jesus was rather than seemed.

During this week between Palm Sunday and Easter, Jesus would have been participating in Passover. Now, in the 21st century, Palm Sunday gets plenty of attention. Maundy Thursday and Good Friday are also well known and observed. And of course and rightly so, Easter is the pinnacle of the week and celebrated by the Christian community.

However, in Matthew 11, there is a passage that doesn't get much attention. Over a year ago, Brian Habig taught on Matthew 11:11-25. The title of the sermon is "Becoming What He Prayed For" on March 21, 2010. Click here, find it and listen to it. Whether you love Jesus or are indifferent to him, listen to it.

To summarize the text: On Palm Sunday, Jesus goes to the temple and looks around. Then he leaves the city. The next day, he curses a fig tree and then goes to the temple and drives out the people doing business there. Jesus and his disciples again left the city, the fig tree had withered up, and Jesus teaches his disciples about trust, prayer, and forgiveness.

Sadly, the church is not always what she seems. Praise God, Jesus was content to be rather than to seem.