Thank you President Pro Temp Butch Miller and Senator Ellis Black and all of you senators here today. It is an honor to be here today.
Did you know that many of the first Christian churches were built in an octagonal shape to remember the eight days of Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday? Sunday, we celebrated Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. This week is Holy Week, and we remember the last week of Jesus’ life. Monday, we celebrated Mary anointing Jesus’ body. Today, we hear Jesus say his hour has come. Wednesday, Jesus will say he must leave so the Holy Spirit can come. Maundy Thursday we remember the Last Supper. Good Friday is the day Jesus died. Holy Saturday is the day Jesus spent in the tomb. And Easter is Resurrection Sunday.
The reading for today comes from John 12:23-26 (NIV).
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me . . .”
Since it’s Holy Week, let’s start with Jesus. Let’s start with his remarkable acceptance of people. He accepted people even when they used him. And, let’s be honest, Jesus was used—incredibly used. He was even exploited by those who should have loved him the most, by the ones who knew him best, his disciples.
When Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to die, two of his disciples came to him saying, “Let one of us sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” They were trying to use their positions of closeness to Jesus for their own personal gain.
Do you remember when Jesus healed the ten lepers? Do you remember how only one came back to give thanks? The amazing thing isn’t that Jesus healed. The amazing thing is that Jesus kept on healing in spite of all the ingratitude.
From time to time, Jesus had to climb into a boat to give a sermon. He didn’t do that to pose for a photo-op like some politicians do. He did it because the crush of the crowd was so great. The crowds always came with their hands out—never wanting to give anything, but always wanting something.
Those demands were constant and never ending. Jesus couldn’t even die a demand-free death. Even while he was on the cross, there was that one thief who yelled, “Don’t die yet, save me!”
The truth is, Jesus was exploited. But we don’t see him as a victim. He’s our Savior.
It’s no small detail that Jesus prayed that God would use him. Jesus’ joy was found in God using him. What’s our position on being used by God? Because I truly believe that nothing significant will happen in our hearts, in our souls, in our lives, until we give up our self-protecting, self-serving, self-seeking attitudes towards life.
Senator Ellis Black making the opening introduction.
Addressing the senators.
After the devotional, I had the privilege of shaking every senator's hand as Senator Black stood beside me.
Our wonderful and charming tour guide, Mrs. Aletha Black.
A photo of the capitol from the building where Senator Black's office is located.
Today was a historic day. Former Governor Zell Miller's body was brought into the capitol.
Did you know that many of the first Christian churches were built in an octagonal shape to remember the eight days of Palm Sunday to Easter Sunday? Sunday, we celebrated Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey. This week is Holy Week, and we remember the last week of Jesus’ life. Monday, we celebrated Mary anointing Jesus’ body. Today, we hear Jesus say his hour has come. Wednesday, Jesus will say he must leave so the Holy Spirit can come. Maundy Thursday we remember the Last Supper. Good Friday is the day Jesus died. Holy Saturday is the day Jesus spent in the tomb. And Easter is Resurrection Sunday.
The reading for today comes from John 12:23-26 (NIV).
Jesus replied, “The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. Very truly I tell you, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. Anyone who loves their life will lose it, while anyone who hates their life in this world will keep it for eternal life. Whoever serves me must follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the one who serves me . . .”
Since it’s Holy Week, let’s start with Jesus. Let’s start with his remarkable acceptance of people. He accepted people even when they used him. And, let’s be honest, Jesus was used—incredibly used. He was even exploited by those who should have loved him the most, by the ones who knew him best, his disciples.
When Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem to die, two of his disciples came to him saying, “Let one of us sit at your right hand and the other at your left in your glory.” They were trying to use their positions of closeness to Jesus for their own personal gain.
Do you remember when Jesus healed the ten lepers? Do you remember how only one came back to give thanks? The amazing thing isn’t that Jesus healed. The amazing thing is that Jesus kept on healing in spite of all the ingratitude.
From time to time, Jesus had to climb into a boat to give a sermon. He didn’t do that to pose for a photo-op like some politicians do. He did it because the crush of the crowd was so great. The crowds always came with their hands out—never wanting to give anything, but always wanting something.
Those demands were constant and never ending. Jesus couldn’t even die a demand-free death. Even while he was on the cross, there was that one thief who yelled, “Don’t die yet, save me!”
The truth is, Jesus was exploited. But we don’t see him as a victim. He’s our Savior.
It’s no small detail that Jesus prayed that God would use him. Jesus’ joy was found in God using him. What’s our position on being used by God? Because I truly believe that nothing significant will happen in our hearts, in our souls, in our lives, until we give up our self-protecting, self-serving, self-seeking attitudes towards life.
A photo of the capitol from the building where Senator Black's office is located.
Today was a historic day. Former Governor Zell Miller's body was brought into the capitol.
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