How would you tell it?

Has your discipline during lent done for you, or to you, what you hoped it would?  Have there been surprises?

We’ve wandered in lent seeing Jesus through the eyes of the writer of John.  This gospel is more a theological handbook than a story of the life and times of Jesus of Nazareth.  From it’s opening word, John has gone about providing a theology of Jesus as the Christ of faith more than telling a story about Jesus the traveling prophet, turned preacher from Nazareth.

One of the best practices of lent, I think, is writing the gospel according to . . . [fill in your name].  You have had parable experiences, and have a story to tell about your circle of disciples following Jesus.  You have a personal story to tell.  Writing that story is not an easy assignment.  What part of the story do you leave in or take out?  And here is the somewhat harder choice.  What is important about Jesus’ last visit to Jerusalem.  What disciple do you identify with most as the events in Jerusalem unfold and Jesus washes your feet?

At the beginning of March I was the keynoter at the Kansas CYF retreat.  Those keynotes focused on knowing your own disciple story and being able to tell it, or at least a spark notes version, if asked.  Writing your story about being a disciple, a follower of Jesus, is an important thing to do now and again.  It helps you make sense of your experiences and gives you a voice when asked to talk about your experiences, your faith and belief.

You’ve followed Jesus to Jerusalem.  You’ve heard the Palm Sunday story and the Easter story many times. Now, you show up to the tomb with Mary Magdalene.  What happens next?  How will you speak of the good news you have experienced?  How are you living it?

I pray the events of Holy week and Easter will be surprising for you.  I look forward to hearing the story of the good news of God that you have to tell.  Take a risk and be a blessing.