Green Wood And Dry Trees
Preaching
What Jesus Did:
The Answer To WWJD
They led Jesus out to be crucified, down the road now known as the Via Dolorosa. Our tour group began its walk of the Via Dolorosa at the Roman Praetorium, where Jesus was sentenced by Pilate. Beneath the Praetorium is a chapel, which marks the spot where Jesus was flogged. Then begins the walk. In Jerusalem today, it winds through the Palestinian side of the city -- up stairs and down stone roads. The actual road that Jesus walked is now several feet below the street we walked on. The original road was made of rough, uneven, white stones.
The roads of Jerusalem. It was on one of those roads that Jesus marched into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. People lined the road. They threw palm branches and coats on the road as Jesus rode by on the donkey. There were shouts of praise to God, "Hallelujah." The King of the Jews was coming into Jerusalem.
The roads of Jerusalem. Some roads led to the Praetorium. There a crowd gathered on Friday morning to shout for the crucifixion of Jesus and the release of Barabbas. On Good Friday it is the road that Jesus walks to his death on Golgotha. Again, the road is lined with a crowd. Some are curious observers. Others mourn.
What a contrast we see on the roads of Jerusalem. On Sunday, they are lined with people who rejoice and praise God for the Jesus who rides on the road. On Friday, they are lined with people who weep and mourn for the Jesus who walks on the road to his death. On Sunday the road is one of triumph. On Friday the road becomes the Via Dolorosa, the way of sorrow.
• If you had been on that road on Good Friday, what would you have said to Jesus as he passed by?
Luke is the only one who records Jesus' interaction with the crowd around him on that Friday. Luke points out that some people are saddened by Jesus' impending death. The daughters of Jerusalem mourn Jesus as he walks by. Jesus is more concerned for them than he is for himself. Not everyone shouted for Barabbas. Not everyone shouted, "Crucify him." We are familiar with polls, public opinion, and crowd manipulation. Polls and surveys are taken all the time attempting to discern what Americans think on any given issue. The problem is, all these polls are done with sample populations. If we really wanted to know what everybody thought, we should ask everybody.
• Suppose you could have polled everybody in Jerusalem on that day. What do you think the poll results would show?
The crowd at the Praetorium was obviously arranged by the priests and Pharisees. If the whole city were there, would the shouts for Barabbas have been so clear? The crowd following Jesus to Calvary seems supportive of Jesus and opposed to the Sanhedrin and the Roman sentence of death. We often characterize the entire Jewish nation, or the entire city of Jerusalem as favoring Jesus' crucifixion when that is not the case at all. How often have we seen vocal minorities win out over silent majorities?
The women follow, weeping, wailing, and beating their breasts. Some commentators think they were professional mourners, but they did not typically turn out for public executions. Luke is the Gospel which highlights and exalts the ministry of women. Luke lists several prominent women who support Jesus and the disciples (Luke 8:1-3). Those women are listed as following Jesus with the disciples. On the Via Dolorosa we see women who realize what an injustice has been done and who have come to mourn for Jesus. The women from Galilee prepare spices and ointments for the burial of Jesus. Luke is the one who records Mary going to Peter and John after she sees Jesus alive. Luke also records Jesus chiding the disciples for not believing the women's story of the resurrection. Luke continues his pro-female reporting in Acts as he lists several prominent women who believe in Jesus and become Christians.
Jesus has a message for these women who line the Via Dolorosa. "Do not weep for me." Jesus is more concerned about them than he is about himself. Do not weep. He says that to the widow at Nain just before he raises her son. He says that to the mourners before he raises the daughter of Jairus. "Weep for yourselves. The days are coming." Jesus' message to those on the Via Dolorosa is a prophecy of doom on the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the city that continually rejects those whom God sends to her.
• Who do you weep for because they reject Jesus?
These women are daughters of Jerusalem. Jesus is telling them that even though they weep, the judgment of God can be held back no longer. The judgment to come will be cruel and complete. Children, babies, and nursing mothers will not be spared. From what we know of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., this prophecy came true in every way.
The proverb from Jesus backs up the prophecy of judgment. If they (Jewish leaders) do this (reject God's messenger in this manner) while the wood is green (the time is at hand; the opportunity to respond and serve God is present), what will happen (what will God do) when the wood is dry? (When the time to respond to God runs out?) Green wood is the time of opportunity. Dry wood is the time for judgment.
The question comes as we travel our own road in this world. How are we treating Jesus in our own lives? Now is the time of green wood, the time of opportunity, the time for service. We live in an unparalleled time of information, awareness of other people and nations and technology. We have the opportunity to serve God by telling the Good News to people around the block and around the world. They have opportunity to hear the gospel in a multitude of ways and media. Current research indicates that although most Americans have been saturated with the gospel, they have heard it only superficially. They have not had a real opportunity in this time of green wood to appreciate the message of salvation fully.
How do people treat Jesus in this time of green wood? Many believe in God, but is belief enough? Not according to James 2:19, which says, "The demons believe in God and shudder." Is mere belief enough? Not according to Jesus in Matthew 7:21, which says, "Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' enters into heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father." "Did we not prophesy and cast out demons?" "Didn't we go to church, serve on the boards, and give our money?" Jesus replies to them, "I never knew you."
• What actions would you consider to be the essential elements of saving faith?
The time of green wood is the time to get to know Jesus in a personal relationship as Lord and Savior. That is the time to increase our understanding of God as we read the Bible. That is the time to increase our power and relationship with Jesus through prayer. That is the time to increase the kingdom as we tell lost people about our Lord and Savior. Christian behavior happens because Jesus lives within us. We don't do good things to earn salvation or blessing but because we have already been blessed with salvation from sin.
• How are you using your time of "green wood"?
Notice what Jesus says in Matthew 7:23 (NRSV), "I never knew you." I don't know you. I don't have a relationship with you. You do not have a relationship with me. This is perhaps the critical point of being a Christian. Christianity is not only belief in or about Jesus. It is relationship with Jesus. The relationship is: Jesus is Lord; we are his servants. Jesus is teacher; we are the student. Jesus is our friend; we obey because we love him.
How are we treating Jesus while the wood is green? Is he our Lord? Or do we obey him only when it is convenient and to our advantage? Is he our Savior? Or do we make the error of thinking that our good works and Christian service are also part of our salvation? Do we weep for our sins and truly repent? Or do we make excuses so that we don't have to do the hard work of letting Jesus transform us into his image and make us holy? Is the Church his body? Or is it just another organization that demands our time and money that we really don't care about? Is his mission our mission? Or have we become complacent about lost people and think that is their problem, not ours? Do we talk with Jesus every day? Is prayer important to us? Or do we call on him only when we want our sickness to be healed and our wallets to be filled?
What we do when the wood is green will have an impact on what will happen when the wood is dry. Jesus' message to the daughters of Jerusalem is that judgment was certainly coming to that city. When it came, even the innocent children and babies suffered for the sins of the religious leaders and hostile crowds. The wood became dry and useful only for burning.
Our wood will eventually become dry. You can interpret this in several ways, but the foundation interpretation is judgment. Christians will also be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10). We will have to give an account of every word. Certainly, our actions will have much to say for or against us. But most of all, God judges the heart. Paul says in Romans 10 that it is the heart where true faith arises. It is in our heart that the relationship with Jesus is rooted. While I trust God and his mercy through Jesus Christ, passages like Matthew 7 caution me to check my heart frequently. Do I really have a relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ? In the end, only God knows for sure. We must trust in his grace and mercy.
In our relationship with Jesus, the Bible is equally emphatic that right belief and right doctrine are part of a living relationship with Jesus. Wrong belief and wrong doctrine lead to idolatry, worshiping an image of God that does not truly represent God. What you believe and how you believe is important. Otherwise, there would be no judgment. The great commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. First we have a relationship. Then we refine our beliefs, not the other way around.
• What doctrines do you consider essential for true Christian faith?
Down the Via Dolorosa, Jesus reminded the people of green wood and dry wood: a time to respond to Jesus and serve him, so that when the time of judgment comes we will be prepared. Where is your road going? How are you treating Jesus? Are you making the most of your green wood opportunities? Do you have a relationship with Jesus in your heart? Will you be ready when the wood is dry?
WWJD -- Choose an opportunity for ministry and use it today.
The roads of Jerusalem. It was on one of those roads that Jesus marched into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. People lined the road. They threw palm branches and coats on the road as Jesus rode by on the donkey. There were shouts of praise to God, "Hallelujah." The King of the Jews was coming into Jerusalem.
The roads of Jerusalem. Some roads led to the Praetorium. There a crowd gathered on Friday morning to shout for the crucifixion of Jesus and the release of Barabbas. On Good Friday it is the road that Jesus walks to his death on Golgotha. Again, the road is lined with a crowd. Some are curious observers. Others mourn.
What a contrast we see on the roads of Jerusalem. On Sunday, they are lined with people who rejoice and praise God for the Jesus who rides on the road. On Friday, they are lined with people who weep and mourn for the Jesus who walks on the road to his death. On Sunday the road is one of triumph. On Friday the road becomes the Via Dolorosa, the way of sorrow.
• If you had been on that road on Good Friday, what would you have said to Jesus as he passed by?
Luke is the only one who records Jesus' interaction with the crowd around him on that Friday. Luke points out that some people are saddened by Jesus' impending death. The daughters of Jerusalem mourn Jesus as he walks by. Jesus is more concerned for them than he is for himself. Not everyone shouted for Barabbas. Not everyone shouted, "Crucify him." We are familiar with polls, public opinion, and crowd manipulation. Polls and surveys are taken all the time attempting to discern what Americans think on any given issue. The problem is, all these polls are done with sample populations. If we really wanted to know what everybody thought, we should ask everybody.
• Suppose you could have polled everybody in Jerusalem on that day. What do you think the poll results would show?
The crowd at the Praetorium was obviously arranged by the priests and Pharisees. If the whole city were there, would the shouts for Barabbas have been so clear? The crowd following Jesus to Calvary seems supportive of Jesus and opposed to the Sanhedrin and the Roman sentence of death. We often characterize the entire Jewish nation, or the entire city of Jerusalem as favoring Jesus' crucifixion when that is not the case at all. How often have we seen vocal minorities win out over silent majorities?
The women follow, weeping, wailing, and beating their breasts. Some commentators think they were professional mourners, but they did not typically turn out for public executions. Luke is the Gospel which highlights and exalts the ministry of women. Luke lists several prominent women who support Jesus and the disciples (Luke 8:1-3). Those women are listed as following Jesus with the disciples. On the Via Dolorosa we see women who realize what an injustice has been done and who have come to mourn for Jesus. The women from Galilee prepare spices and ointments for the burial of Jesus. Luke is the one who records Mary going to Peter and John after she sees Jesus alive. Luke also records Jesus chiding the disciples for not believing the women's story of the resurrection. Luke continues his pro-female reporting in Acts as he lists several prominent women who believe in Jesus and become Christians.
Jesus has a message for these women who line the Via Dolorosa. "Do not weep for me." Jesus is more concerned about them than he is about himself. Do not weep. He says that to the widow at Nain just before he raises her son. He says that to the mourners before he raises the daughter of Jairus. "Weep for yourselves. The days are coming." Jesus' message to those on the Via Dolorosa is a prophecy of doom on the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the city that continually rejects those whom God sends to her.
• Who do you weep for because they reject Jesus?
These women are daughters of Jerusalem. Jesus is telling them that even though they weep, the judgment of God can be held back no longer. The judgment to come will be cruel and complete. Children, babies, and nursing mothers will not be spared. From what we know of the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 A.D., this prophecy came true in every way.
The proverb from Jesus backs up the prophecy of judgment. If they (Jewish leaders) do this (reject God's messenger in this manner) while the wood is green (the time is at hand; the opportunity to respond and serve God is present), what will happen (what will God do) when the wood is dry? (When the time to respond to God runs out?) Green wood is the time of opportunity. Dry wood is the time for judgment.
The question comes as we travel our own road in this world. How are we treating Jesus in our own lives? Now is the time of green wood, the time of opportunity, the time for service. We live in an unparalleled time of information, awareness of other people and nations and technology. We have the opportunity to serve God by telling the Good News to people around the block and around the world. They have opportunity to hear the gospel in a multitude of ways and media. Current research indicates that although most Americans have been saturated with the gospel, they have heard it only superficially. They have not had a real opportunity in this time of green wood to appreciate the message of salvation fully.
How do people treat Jesus in this time of green wood? Many believe in God, but is belief enough? Not according to James 2:19, which says, "The demons believe in God and shudder." Is mere belief enough? Not according to Jesus in Matthew 7:21, which says, "Not everyone who says 'Lord, Lord' enters into heaven. Only those who do the will of my Father." "Did we not prophesy and cast out demons?" "Didn't we go to church, serve on the boards, and give our money?" Jesus replies to them, "I never knew you."
• What actions would you consider to be the essential elements of saving faith?
The time of green wood is the time to get to know Jesus in a personal relationship as Lord and Savior. That is the time to increase our understanding of God as we read the Bible. That is the time to increase our power and relationship with Jesus through prayer. That is the time to increase the kingdom as we tell lost people about our Lord and Savior. Christian behavior happens because Jesus lives within us. We don't do good things to earn salvation or blessing but because we have already been blessed with salvation from sin.
• How are you using your time of "green wood"?
Notice what Jesus says in Matthew 7:23 (NRSV), "I never knew you." I don't know you. I don't have a relationship with you. You do not have a relationship with me. This is perhaps the critical point of being a Christian. Christianity is not only belief in or about Jesus. It is relationship with Jesus. The relationship is: Jesus is Lord; we are his servants. Jesus is teacher; we are the student. Jesus is our friend; we obey because we love him.
How are we treating Jesus while the wood is green? Is he our Lord? Or do we obey him only when it is convenient and to our advantage? Is he our Savior? Or do we make the error of thinking that our good works and Christian service are also part of our salvation? Do we weep for our sins and truly repent? Or do we make excuses so that we don't have to do the hard work of letting Jesus transform us into his image and make us holy? Is the Church his body? Or is it just another organization that demands our time and money that we really don't care about? Is his mission our mission? Or have we become complacent about lost people and think that is their problem, not ours? Do we talk with Jesus every day? Is prayer important to us? Or do we call on him only when we want our sickness to be healed and our wallets to be filled?
What we do when the wood is green will have an impact on what will happen when the wood is dry. Jesus' message to the daughters of Jerusalem is that judgment was certainly coming to that city. When it came, even the innocent children and babies suffered for the sins of the religious leaders and hostile crowds. The wood became dry and useful only for burning.
Our wood will eventually become dry. You can interpret this in several ways, but the foundation interpretation is judgment. Christians will also be judged (2 Corinthians 5:10). We will have to give an account of every word. Certainly, our actions will have much to say for or against us. But most of all, God judges the heart. Paul says in Romans 10 that it is the heart where true faith arises. It is in our heart that the relationship with Jesus is rooted. While I trust God and his mercy through Jesus Christ, passages like Matthew 7 caution me to check my heart frequently. Do I really have a relationship with the living God through Jesus Christ? In the end, only God knows for sure. We must trust in his grace and mercy.
In our relationship with Jesus, the Bible is equally emphatic that right belief and right doctrine are part of a living relationship with Jesus. Wrong belief and wrong doctrine lead to idolatry, worshiping an image of God that does not truly represent God. What you believe and how you believe is important. Otherwise, there would be no judgment. The great commandment is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength. First we have a relationship. Then we refine our beliefs, not the other way around.
• What doctrines do you consider essential for true Christian faith?
Down the Via Dolorosa, Jesus reminded the people of green wood and dry wood: a time to respond to Jesus and serve him, so that when the time of judgment comes we will be prepared. Where is your road going? How are you treating Jesus? Are you making the most of your green wood opportunities? Do you have a relationship with Jesus in your heart? Will you be ready when the wood is dry?
WWJD -- Choose an opportunity for ministry and use it today.
