Jeff Lark

Walking beyond the cross Reflection #6 HE’S (WE’RE) NOT DEAD "having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead." (Col. 2:12) Saturday must have been a dismal day for the disciples.  Three years wasted…Kingdom aspirations down the drain…embarrassment… depression… hopelessness…not wanting to show their faces.  But, everything changed Sunday…more than they could have imagined.  It wasn’t that the resurrection saved face.  And, it wasn’t that the resurrection provided them with the grit and determination to show the world that they were right all along.  Instead, the resurrection provided life – resurrected-power life.    Co-resurrection is the essence of Easter.  He’s been resurrected…I’ve been resurrected.  He’s been raised and seated…I’ve been raised and seated with him.  He’s conquered death…deat...

Reflection #5 WALKING TO THE CROSS - 12 WORDS Two statements…two brief sentences…a total of only 12 words…but 12 words that change everything…or do they?  Today, at about 2:00pm, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” (Mark 15:34) and then, breathing his last, he said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). Thank God for these 12 words.  Jesus had been walking in the pleasure of the Father all of his life ( this is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased – Matt 3:17).  But, as the sky grew dark that one Friday, Jesus felt the scorn, displeasure, indignation, anger, wrath and isolation of his Father.  From all of eternity past, never once had there been the slightest breach in the unity, love, joy, and intimacy of the Trinity.  But, now, Jesus felt something he had never felt before – the Father turning his face away from the son…so that His face could be turned to us…in infinite pleasure.  And then, as ...

WALKING TO THE CROSS Reflection #4  - THE NIGHT OF PASSOVER When Jesus woke up Thursday morning, except for a possible afternoon siesta, it would be the last time he slept before his trial and execution.  It was going to be a long day.  The afternoon preparations would turn into an intimate evening with his disciples – but I could only imagine that the tone of this year’s Passover was different than the past couple of years.  The disciples could definitely sense that something was different this year.  Maybe this is why, just like I revert to sarcasm in uneasy situations, the disciples again began to argue about their position in the kingdom (Luke 22:24).  But, in contrast to his disciples, rather than experiencing uncertainty and uneasiness, with every step through Thursday, Jesus was deliberately and intentionally walking straight to the cross.  Don’t get me wrong, it was not a cold and calculated day.  The evenin...

WALKING TO THE CROSS Reflection #3  - MATTHEW 26:1-5 Tuesday had been a long day.  Everything had been building to a climax – from the accusatory questions from the Religious elite to Jesus’ forceful and direct declaration of “woes” upon the Jewish people to the lengthy discourse with his disciples about His eventual, yet certain, return.  As a result, Wednesday was a day of rest for Jesus and his disciples.  But, it wasn’t a day at the beach or a day on facebook catching up with friends.  We know there was one thing on his mind – because we only have one thing recorded coming from his mouth that day – “You know that after two days the Passover is coming, and the Son of Man will be delivered up to be crucified” (Matthew 26:2).  Jesus would spend tomorrow preparing for the Passover.  Today Jesus spent the day preparing his soul for the fact that He was the main character (or THE sacrificial lamb) in this Passover.  The Div...