Who is this?

By: Joseph Murdy


“When he entered Jerusalem, the whole city was in turmoil, asking, ‘who is this?’ The crowds were saying, ‘this is the prophet Jesus from Nazareth in Galilee.’”

“Who is this?” Is a question we still face today? We might get wrapped up in impossible questions over scripture, or we might get overwhelmed with theological debates. When the people of Jerusalem asked, “who is this.” They knew Jesus was from Nazareth, and they knew he was a prophet. What they wanted to know was “Who is this, and what are we to do about it.” Do we follow him? Or crucify him? The question of Jesus’ identity does not demand an answer, it calls for a response.

What do your actions say about who Jesus is? What does your life style, attitude, and relationship with friends, family and strangers…say about who you believe Jesus is? This week is considered the most sacred time of remembrance for the Christian church. In Holy week we encounter the answer to this age old question, “who is this?” As we journey through Holy week, be mindful of the question, “who is this?” Don’t take the story of Christ’s life, death, and promised resurrection for granted. Not only will you discover who Christ is, you will discover who you are because of who Christ is. Let us be mindful of the question, “who is this?” Because as the story of Christ’s passion unfolds we shall see how deep the love of God really goes. When you discover who Jesus is, how will you respond?

Set Free

By: Joseph Murdy


There in the guilty seat, I sat facing my accusers. All of my sins, doubts, and failures pointing at me with their long crooked finger of guilt and shame. I had done so much wrong. All the evidence was there, one picture after another came flashing through my mind. There was no need for questions, interrogation, or investigation I was guilty as sin…pardon the pun. As I sat deep into the chair I was terrified and trembling waiting for the verdict which would decide my fate. I was guilty and I knew it! I deserved the worst punishment! I should be locked up and forgotten. My mind racing with possibilities, what’s going to happen to me? Just when I could stand it no longer, the judge returned to give his decision. “I find you innocent, blameless and irreproachable. You are free to go.” (Col. 1:22)

Do you ever feel so guilty, so utterly ashamed, and all alone? This is how we find ourselves most days, especially when we forget what Jesus has done for us. Paul’s letter to the people of Colossae is full of reminders, “He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Col. 1:13-14) The feelings of guilt, shame and loneliness are the greatest obstacles in our relationship with God. They make us hid from God, our loved ones, and in some ways from ourselves. Today, remember that you are a child of God and God forgives you, abides with you, and loves you! “As you therefore have received Christ Jesus the Lord, continue to live your lives in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” (Col. 2:6-7)

Holding on to God's love

Lent is without a doubt, one of the darkest and most penitential seasons in the church. We switch our colors to purple and black. We hear stories of Christ’s suffering. We come face to face with the reality of our sinfulness. Needless to say, Lent is a depressing time of year. With Lent also comes the opportunity to reconcile for the wrong we’ve done, turn our lives around, choose life with God, and embrace the forgiveness of Christ that comes ultimately with his resurrection. At some point during Lent, maybe before or even after lent, you may come to realize that God really does forgive us…and God really does love you. The problem is that as quickly as we see how much God loves us, we eventually lose sight of God’s grace. Then it’s back to feeling sorry, guilty, and full of shame…unable to bring ourselves to approach God for forgiveness once again. How do we hold on to the love of God? How do we live our daily lives immersed in God’s love and mercy? The answer is as easy as it is challenging, keep your eyes on Jesus. When we look to Christ, we will see the love of God given to us immeasurably and unconditionally. Henri Nouwen once said, “God’s love for us is everlasting. That means that God’s love for us existed before we were born and will exist after we have died.” This is how we hold on, we look to Christ. When you fix your eyes on Jesus, you will never lose sight of God’s love.

Oz Syndrome

By: Joseph Murdy

Have you ever felt like a tornado came spinning through your life, picked you up and dropped you somewhere? There can be times in our lives, spiritual or otherwise, when we feel as though our lives have changed so dramatically we find ourselves wondering through what seems like Oz. This is what I like to call, Oz Syndrome. Oz Syndrome is the progressive or instantaneous feeling of utter loss, confusion, and bewilderment. The inspiration for this diagnosis, is of course inspired by Dorothy and Todo’s experience in Oz. Although fictional, if we are honest with ourselves we can all relate to Dorothy and her time in Oz.

Have you ever felt like you were in Oz? Maybe you are now, or maybe you know someone who is. Oz can be a scary, especially if you feel alone. When we find ourselves in situations where we seem to be following a path leading to an unknown place those are the times we can no longer rely on our own sense of direction. The only way out of Oz is by trusting in God to guide you. We can click our heels; walk to the emerald city, and back to the beginning. The truth is, when we are lost, the only one who knows the way is God. We are not all lucky to have ruby slippers, but fortunately we have a God who we can pray to at all times. We have a God who is always with us, even when we find ourselves in Oz. As I was thinking about Oz, I was reminded of the parable of the lost sheep. How incredible is it, that we have a God comes to us and rescues us when we find ourselves lost and afraid. “Which one of you, having a hundred sheep and losing one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one that is lost until he finds it? When he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders and rejoices.” Luke 15:1-7

Stewards of God’s Mysteries

By Joseph Murdy

“Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” 1 Corinthians 4:1

“Where is heaven?” A young child asks you as they are leaving the church. “Why did my husband die in that horrible accident?” A grieving wife asks you as you comfort the family. “When is Jesus coming back?” Asks the curious confirmation student. “How does that bread and that wine become the body and blood of Jesus?” Questions without answers is part of the package when you become a child of God.

We live in a society that demands answers, we sit in pews waiting for all to be revealed, and we lose sleep at night thinking about the grand mysteries of the universe. At least I do. We can sometimes allow ourselves to be overwhelmed by the lack of answers, rather than finding comfort in the questions themselves. What if you knew exactly where heaven was? What if you knew exactly when Jesus was coming back? What if you knew how the cosmos ran, or what God looks like?

This past Sunday we read 1 Corinthians 4:1-5, which says that we are “Servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries.” The words, “Stewards of God’s mysteries” continues to comfort me as I seek to embrace the mystery that is God. Being a steward of God’s mysteries means trusting in God unconditionally. As servants of Christ and children of God we are given the mysteries of God not to be answered but to be comforted in knowing that God’s ways our not our own. Jesus tells us, “Nothing is covered up that will not be uncovered, and nothing secret that will not become known.” We can rest with assurance in God’s abundant grace knowing that, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

In God’s Hands

“Yet, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” (Isaiah 64:8)

From the time I was a small child I can remember my grandmothers reaction to a sudden surprise. Whether sitting at the table, or walking through the room if something was about to spill or break gram would unleash her famous and heart pulsing “Gasp!” As grandkids it never failed to scare us more than the break or spill. It was almost as if gram was able to gasp while the glass was in midair before it hit the ground, suspending the crash in slow motion, making the final explosion the less frightening part of the fall. I learned from a young age that sometimes, things break.

The other day my wife and I were standing in the kitchen getting water. As she pulled a glass from the cupboard it slipped from her hand and fell to the ground. Sometimes, things break. What is your first response when something breaks? Is it “Oh, crap…now we only have ten glasses!” Or is it, “Are you ok?” When something immaterial breaks (the stuff we can do without) we show deep concern and do what we can to assure ourselves that everyone is ok. My grandmother’s heart pulsing gasp was not because she would have one less glass. It was because a falling glass meant her grandchildren would be in danger of broken glass.

We have a different reaction when things more important break doesn’t we? When we fight with our siblings, hang up after fighting with our best friend, get divorced, break up, slam the car door, or any other form of brokenness. When we experience the brokenness of relationships we often respond first with anger, followed by blame, and then a long silent period of stubborn regret. Relationships are not always easy, and sometimes fixing them seems impossible. Especially our relationship with God.

This past Sunday I preached a sermon on the brokenness of our world and our inability to fix what is broken in our lives. Being a part of a broken relationship can feel like where trapped behind impenetrable prison walls. When we are angry with God, disappointed in the result of a desperate prayer, or ashamed and too vulnerable to seek the face of God it can seem impossible to raise ourselves back up. Have you ever found yourself feeling trapped, feeling all alone, feeling the weight of heart break, feeling the burden of failure, feeling the pain of separation and loss, feeling the hurt of a broken relationship? Maybe you feel that way today?

If you remember from the book of Genesis (2:7) God molded clay from the earth and breathed life into it, the result is you and me. We are fragile beings and are not unbreakable. The good news is that no matter what the condition of the break, no matter the pieces, or whose fault it may be…every piece of us rests in the hands of God. If God is able to shape us in his mighty hands and breathe life into dust. Then God is certainly able to pick up the pieces and make us whole again.

“Shine like stars in the world”

Philippians 2:15b
Many years ago I did a children’s sermon at my home church which helped the young kinds to visually see what it means to be the light of the world. I had each child take a candle while I lit it and immediately they place them all together. What they saw was how all the lights shined brighter when they were together. Visuals are great for kids, because they help create a picture when the concept might be difficult to remember. When was the last time you thought of yourself as a light in the world?

As I was reading scripture this morning this verse from Philippians blinded me for a moment. We often think of Jesus’ phrase, “you are the light of the world.” Essentially this is saying the same thing. But as I read it a different visual came to mind. That of Abraham standing on a desert plan baffled and humbled by the promise of God which said the stars which were before him symbolized all of his descendents. The problem was however Abraham had no children. If you don’t know the story unfolds, see Genesis 15-22. If you do know the story then you know that you are one of those stars which Abraham stood memorized by.

The truth is that if you light a candle it lights up a room. One tiny flicker can give relief to darkness; can you imagine what millions would do? As Christians called by Christ to be disciples in our world we are lights whose purpose is to bring light where there is darkness. We are called to shine like stars in the world. It’s incredible to think how brightly the stars shine considering how far away they are. My friends, today you are called to be like stars in the world. There are so many dark corners desperately in need of light. We can bring them hope, comfort and loving warmth. You might be struggling with faith, you might be wrestling with God, or you might think you can’t shine very bright. The goodness is, we reflect the light of Christ. Child of Abraham, be a light for the world and shine like the stars!