Connecting Points

by Allan Knapp

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 . . . The Day of the Lord

[1] Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. [2] For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. [3] While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. [4] But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. [5] For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. [6] So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. [7] For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. [8] But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. [9] For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, [10] who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. [11] Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 

We have received a small glimpse of the surprise everyone will feel when Jesus returns. Who knew three months ago that the pandemic was coming? Life changed quickly and drastically. But the LORD has not come back yet, so Paul’s words to the Thessalonians are still important and applicable.

We may have lost a feeling of peace and security. There are many things to fear. What if the virus comes back like the Spanish flu did? What if the economy tanks terribly? What if another country attacks? What if anarchy reigns? What if, what if, what if?

What does Paul tell us? First, remember our destiny. Verse 5 says we are children of the light, children of the day, called, justified, and glorified as God’s heirs (See Romans 8:16, 29-30). Verse 9 reminds us that we anticipate salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Next, keep awake and be sober. ‘Keep awake’ does not mean you should pull successive all-nighters and always have your senses set at DEFCON 1 levels. Rather, it is a contrast to those who are asleep spiritually, being oblivious to their spiritual danger. The combination of awake and asleep in verse 10 was a comfort to the Thessalonians, telling them that all believers, alive or dead at the time of Jesus’ return, will be raised with Him. And being sober means more than not getting drunk; it is defined in verse 8 as putting on faith, love, and the hope of salvation.

Finally, remember this is a group effort. Encourage one another and build one another up. No matter when and where you attend a church service this Sunday, you won’t see all the members of URC; you won’t know who came and who stayed home (Unless, that is, you are Pastor Jason or Music Guy Jon Anderson). But we can all still pray for one another, make calls, send notes, encourage one another, and build one another up. 

Note what has happened with the pandemic so far: The world has not ended. Churches, stores, and salons are opening back up. Fear and awe for God have increased in the faithful. We probably have all heard of conversions, and we pray and expect that thousands more have joined the ranks of believers. When confronted with another “what if,” remind yourself that nothing will surprise God like recent events have surprised us. He is in charge, He is faithful, and Jesus WILL come at just the right time.

PDF Copy of Pastor Jason’s Letter

June 11, 2020

Dear URC Family,

As your pastor, and at the risk of sounding paternalistic, I could not be prouder of you than I am. It has been a long stretch. Yet your patience, love for one another, continued support of URC, ardent faithfulness to Christ in your homes, and the honor you have shown to the elders over these past months has shown brightly. With Paul, I can say, “I do not cease to give thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers” (Eph. 1:16).

I am delighted that this Sunday we return to in-person corporate worship services! As you know, we will host five services spread throughout the day to minimize the number of individuals in the sanctuary. We believe it is time to gather back together and that we can do so with reasonable safety, neighborly love, and honorably.

Why is this important? Because Christians worship. That is what we do. It is on the Lord’s Day, in the Lord’s house, with the Lord’s people, as we meet with the Lord, that we find our greatest delight. This serves as the high-point of each week. That is why, for many of us (if not all of us), the great personal loss over these past weeks has been our inability to meet together. But we return this week.

For those returning this week, our fellowship promises to be sweet with one another and the Lord. What a delight it will be to greet friends again, hear familiar voices lifted up in song, see covenant children sitting in the pews, and enjoy godly conversations after the services. Of course, not all will be identical to what we experienced before the pandemic. We will need continued patience but much, if not most things, will remain the same. We will hear the Word, preach the Word, sing the Word, confess the Word, and see the Word (next week). My prayer and expectation is that the Lord will minister in and through us in such a way that any anxieties or distractions in the present will quickly fade. It will be good to be back together as a local church family! That may be the understatement of the season.

For those unable to return this week or possibly for some time to come, you will be missed. We will continue to stream the 10:00 a.m. service, so all can participate in worship. I once again want to communicate that it is understandable why some can’t come right now and even wise for some of our members not to do so. If you fall into that category, please know that your brothers and sisters grieve with you, because there is loss. Our fellowship will remain incomplete until we are all back together; and we look forward to that day with great anticipation. But let us also make it clear, in another sense our fellowship can never be disrupted. We remain united at all times by the same Spirit, under the same Lord, and by our common commitment and vows to one another. So, though you will be missed, you remain united with your church family.

For the entire body of URC, keep loving one another well. In these tense societal times, fuses can be too short, opinions too quick, voices too strong, and motives too readily judged. Let’s keep loving one another well by extending grace and the benefit of the doubt as we consider others better than ourselves and keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus.

He is what we need. We all need Christ, His Word, His Spirit, and not least of all, His bride. Let’s keep seeking Him and loving one another as we go prayerfully forward “glorifying Christ and growing in grace.”

By His Grace,

Pastor Jason Helopoulos

by Kevin Phipps

Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name. You are the blessed and only Sovereign, the King of kings and Lord of lords. You alone have immortality. You dwell in unapproachable light. And with you there is no variation or shadow due to change. To you be honor and eternal dominion. 

Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in Heaven. Your kingdom is filled with righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. We are grieved by the absence of righteousness, peace, and joy across our land. We ask you to send your Spirit to convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. 

Begin with us, your people. As we live in a day when we can watch the grievous sins of others streamed 24-7 on our devices, let us not grow callous to our own sins. May we express more outrage at the scandal of our own sins than indignation over the sins of our neighbors. May each of us earnestly pray, “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting!”

Holy God, We repent for the times we have failed to love our neighbors as ourselves. We repent if there is any hatred or racism in us, if we are harboring unrighteous anger or bitterness towards any, if we have not treated every person as an image-bearer of God, if we have profited by taking advantage of the poor, if we have unlawfully sought to acquire wealth and power, or if we have used any authority we have in an unjust way. Forgive us. 

We repent if we have envied the prosperity of others, if we have coveted someone’s position, title, wealth, business, spouse, family, or home. 

We repent if we have attempted to avenge ourselves and have returned evil with evil. We repent if we have not honored the authorities that you have placed over us, whether it be parents, or the God-ordained under-shepherds within the church or the God-ordained rulers in the state. Forgive us. 

We repent if we have been like the world in our thoughts, in our words, in our social media posts and comments. We repent if we have been divisive, self-exalting, vain, or hurtful with our words. We repent if we have been entertained by or indulged in the lusts of the flesh. Forgive us. 

If you, O Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. We confess our iniquity and transgressions. Cleanse us of all unrighteous, according to the promise of your Gospel. Give us times of refreshing in your presence.

Jesus, we desire to truly live as citizens of your kingdom should live as we continue as pilgrims passing through this world. Help us to bless and not curse those who persecute us. Help us repay no one evil for evil, but overcome evil with good. And as far as it depends on us, may we live peaceably with all. May our communities be blessed, and may you be glorified as we seek to live as peacemakers in this world filled with hostility.

Our Lord, we ask for sanctifying grace that we may be like you, abhorring what is evil, holding fast to what is good, and yet filled with compassion towards the ungodly.

Christ, because we are members of your body, cause our love to be genuine. May we love one another with brotherly affection, living in harmony, outdoing one another in showing honor, contributing to the needs of the saints, seeking to show hospitality and to associate with the lowly. May we rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep. 

Holy Spirit, help us to walk in wisdom toward unbelievers, making the best use of the time. In a world filled with vitriol and slander, let our speech always be gracious. Help us to be “quick to hear” and “slow to speak.” But give us the courage to speak the truth to those held captive by Satan’s lies and deceptions. Make us ready and help us to recognize open doors to declare the mystery of Christ to those in darkness.

God, when we look at our world today, we are perplexed, but we are not driven to despair. We will not lose heart. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.

Help us to be steadfast in hope, patient in tribulation, and constant in prayer, glorifying Christ and growing in grace. 

In Jesus’ name, amen.

by Peeter Lukas

“For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.” I Corinthians 2:2  

I, like many others, have listened to a lot – a lot – of news these past weeks. A few days ago I wrote a list of what I call “media saturated themes.” For example, each issue seems to have a jagged point/counterpoint quality to it. There are always experts who embody the words of Ecclesiastes 12:12 – “…Of making many books there is no end, and much study is a weariness of the flesh.” There’s “heat” and “light” in the many words (I wonder what percentage of each). And much of today’s news by next week will be old and revised. 

Pat Quinn, our director of counseling, has said that issues of anxiety, depression, and conflict take up much of his counseling schedule. I grieve much these days for those in the throes of being preoccupied with these burdens. It’s beyond a cliché to say that these overloaded times are “unique days.” I might nuance that phrase with one word – our unique days. Unique for us but not wholly to history. 

The Apostle Paul followed the verse above with this: “And I was with you in weakness and in fear and much trembling,…” These aren’t the words of a man with mere flutters of queasy nervousness. He had stayed and taught and knew these Corinthians for 18 months (Acts 18:1-18). Commentators don’t hand out kind words in describing the city of Corinth. One writes that it was a “mass of Jews, ex-soldiers, philosophers, merchants, sailors, freedmen, slaves, trade-people, hucksters and agents of every form of vice”; And of the church itself? “…snobbishness, factionalism, insensitivity to other beliefs, doctrinal looseness, and over exuberance all flourished in the Corinthian church.” 

Paul weighed the ethical decay of these people rightly.

But there’s more. 1 Corinthians 1:22,23 – “For Jews demand signs and Greeks seek wisdom, but we preach Christ…” The Jews wanted LARGE signs that suited their notions of an all-conquering Messiah; the Greeks wanted LARGE signs for the purpose of self-congratulation. It all sounds so contemporary doesn‘t it? So-called experts, then and now, and everyone doing what‘s right in their own eyes.

The circumstances could have overwhelmed Paul. Instead, he pointed his compass to true north with five words: “…Jesus Christ and him crucified.” J.I. Packer once summed up the Reformed faith in two words: “God saves.” Too simplistic, you say? Paul responds to the same objection: “…Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men” (1 Corinthians 1:24,25). The Christians of URC aren’t perfect, but our all-powerful and all-wise God is.

In the days and months to come we will have many opportunities to speak of Christ to others. Our words may come in the context of anxiety or depression  or conflict. The fearful shopper, the person who has “tapped out” from the endless debates, the child who sees that their parents are “different” from their neighbor’s parents. I know that life is more complex than “take two pills and call me in the morning” but we will never move beyond “Jesus Christ and him crucified.” Deeper, yes. Beyond, never!

by Brad Beals

A few weeks ago I wrote a devotional on Psalm 119 and how it provides stability and clarity in a world that seems to be shifting and out of focus. I’ve been going to it regularly ever since. And yesterday, I saw this tweet from John Piper:

“Make me understand the way of your precepts.” Psalm 119:27

Let this sink in.

God has access to the processes of our thinking such that, in response to prayer, he causes new and right thoughts to happen in our mind that accord with the deepest meaning of his word.

So I’ve been thinking about Ps 119 even more.

Of the psalm’s 176 verses, 176 of them mention God’s word. Some verses even mention it twice. You might be tempted to think, well, isn’t that like reading one of those long genealogies from the Old Testament? Read a little, get the idea, and jump ahead to the good stuff? 

No. It’s not like that for at least two reasons. One, David is an excellent poet, and the psalm does not read repetitively at all. It’s dynamic. (btw, don’t skip the genealogies. It’s all good stuff). Two, it’s not like that because each reference to God’s word (and David uses lots of synonyms) is paired to something else, and that’s where it gets interesting.

There’s promise of blessing. All 22 sections contain something like what we read in verse 77: “Let your mercy come to me, that I may live; for your law is my delight.”

There’s affliction. It’s sprinkled throughout, but the KAPH section (verses 81-88) is made up almost entirely of examples of affliction against David paired with David’s hope in God’s word. Like this: “For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes.” (v.83). 

There’s cursing of God’s enemies. “You spurn all who go astray from your statutes, for their cunning is in vain.” Notice here the mention of God’s word is in the negative. His enemies do not seek it (v.155) or do not keep it (v.158). 

And then there’s what Piper tweeted out on Friday: God’s willingness to make us understand. I’ll echo JP here: Let this sink in! The Holy Spirit, writing through the inspired King David, is telling us that God himself will change the way we think. And verse 27 is not an isolated example. In a highly scientific survey, which I conducted with my large-print ESV and a number two pencil, I counted 25 examples of David asking God to teach him, open his eyes, enlarge his heart, or give him understanding into God’s word, according to God’s word, of the way of God’s word, and along the path of God’s word. 

And I probably missed some. Now back to the tweet: Notice, Piper says that God helps us grow and change our thinking “in response to prayer.” These verbs – teach, make, open, give – are all imperatives. David is requesting that God do these things, and so must we. Like David, we must pray. And what an encouragement that is! In all of our lack of (and desire for) wisdom and clarity in a world that is offering anything but, God says that he can and will teach us if we will only ask. So in Psalm 119, God not only points us to the sufficiency of His word, He also promises to help our little brains understand it. 

Lord, give us thirsty souls like David’s. Give us all that you promise in this amazing psalm: your word, a desire for it, and understanding. Amen!

by Allan Knapp

1 Samuel 30:1–6

Now when David and his men came to Ziklag on the third day, the Amalekites had made a raid against the Negeb and against Ziklag. They had overcome Ziklag and burned it with fire and taken captive the women and all who were in it, both small and great. They killed no one, but carried them off and went their way. And when David and his men came to the city, they found it burned with fire, and their wives and sons and daughters taken captive. Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep. David’s two wives also had been taken captive, Ahinoam of Jezreel and Abigail, the widow of Nabal of Carmel. And David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because all the people were bitter in soul, each for his sons and daughters. But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God. 

This is one of the darkest periods of David’s life. One of the clues of this is that none of his Psalms were written during this time. In the prior chapters of 1 Samuel, David and his outlaw band had found a location where King Saul would not chase him – he had become a lying semi-vassal of the Philistine king Achish, quartered in the town of Ziklag. He and his men would destroy enemies of Israel and convince Achish that all the plunder had come from attacks on Israelite settlements.  He had lived the lie long enough that he seemed to want to join the Philistine army in their battle with Saul’s troops. He was disappointed when the other Philistine commanders would not allow him to join the conflict on their side.  From our view of history, we see that it was a great mercy to David that the Philistines sent him away – how could he have become King of Israel if he had fought against Saul, when several times David had refused to harm the Lord’s anointed (1 Samuel 24:6, 9, 11). 

David and his men returned to Ziklag and were chagrined to find it destroyed and all their people and possessions stolen.  Just imagine what David was facing. He had cried his eyes out and his “friends” were speaking of throwing rocks at him.  Big rocks.  Killing rocks. The future king had hit rock bottom (so to speak).  The stoners were “bitter in soul,” but David, although greatly distressed, reacted differently. The turning point is there in verse 6 – “But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.” At that moment, David sought the LORD (literally, using the Ephod).  His God had him rally his troops to pursue the attackers, defeat the enemy, recapture all the people and possessions, and then share the extra bounty with all, even those whose fatigue had kept them from the battle. From that turning point on, he acted much more like a future king.

David’s situation upon returning to Ziklag is not unlike the mournful monologue in Lamentations 3. Therein, Jeremiah says he has experienced affliction, darkness, wasting skin, bitterness, tribulation, chains, desolation, wounds, and worst of all, he had to grind his teeth on gravel.  Nevertheless, he famously remembers in verse 21, “But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: ‘The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases, his mercies never come to an end. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.’”

You may have had, maybe are in, or maybe will have a season of despair or discouragement.  You may have been overcome with malaise.  Hold on to David’s and Jeremiah’s examples – turn to the Lord, strengthen yourself in the Lord, call to mind who the Lord is.  And maybe sing this simple familiar tune to help you remember:

♪Turn your eyes upon Jesus.
Look full in his wonderful face.
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of his glorious grace. ♬

PDF copy of the FAQ’s

1. Q – When will in-person Sunday worship services resume?

A – Sunday services are expected to resume in-person on June 14th.

2. Q – What plans are in place to maintain social distancing?

A – Pews are clearly and strategically labeled to maximize distancing, and ushers will be available to assist with spacing and seating needs. Immediately following the service you will be asked to move outdoors to fellowship or return home.

3. Q – What other health and safety measures have been implemented?

A – For a brief description (though not a comprehensive list) of health and safety control measures, please refer to this document: URC’s Health and Safety Guidelines for Sunday Worship Services document.

4. Q – Will the nursery and children’s program be available?

A – Not initially. To support families and encourage children in worship, kids activity packets will be available in a protective baggie upon entering the building.

5. Q – Will cookies and coffee be available?

A – Not initially. In the future we expect refreshments to be available for special occasions.  Coffee will not be available.

6. Q – Will the Sunday services continue to be streamed?

A – Yes, the 10am service will continue to be streamed for the foreseeable future.

7. Q – Will the congregation continue to sing?

A – Yes, but we will sing fewer songs for now to reduce risk of transmission.

8. Q – What changes will occur in how we’ll serve Communion, take the Offering, hand out Bulletins, use Hymnals and Bibles, etc.?

A – All materials will be removed from the pew racks. Communion will be served via self-contained packets of juice and wafers (gluten-free option available). Offering plates and friendship pads will be temporarily discontinued. Giving can be done via text or through our website; checks can be mailed to the church office or deposited in secure drop boxes in the rear of the Sanctuary.

9. Q – Will other churches in the area open at the same time?

A We are seeking to coordinate URC’s re-opening with other gospel-focused churches to communicate a consistent message to our community.

10. Q – Will PPE be provided by URC?

A – You are encouraged to bring your own PPE – there will also be face masks and gloves available at the door.

11. Q – Will everyone wear PPE during the service?

A Face masks or cloth face coverings are strongly encouraged upon entering the building and through the entirety of time in the building. Per CDC guidelines, children under age 2, or anyone who has trouble breathing, should not wear masks. The pastor and musicians on the platform will not wear a face mask during the service.

12. Q – Will we still have an opportunity to fellowship with others?

A – At the conclusion of the service the ushers will dismiss worshipers by row, and you’ll be asked to proceed outside for fellowship. 

13. Q – Will restrooms be available?

A Yes, the restrooms on the main level are still available, but will have reduced capacity. When possible, for health and safety concerns, please try to use the bathroom at home.

14. Q – What time should our family plan to arrive on Sunday?

A – Please plan to come early. Upon arriving, you’ll be asked to review the content of several signs containing health and safety measures and new building guidelines.  Hand sanitizer and other PPE is available. Ushers will be available to assist seating and spacing as needed.

15. Q – Will I be able to sit in my customary pew or preferred seat?

A – Spacing between households will be the priority, according to the designated pews for that service.

16.Q – Will everybody be returning to worship right away?

A – Several people will refrain from coming right away for various reasons, and we encourage everyone to follow their conscience, respect the consciences of others, and take responsibility for your own health needs. We encourage people not to attend in person services if they are fearful, elderly, immune compromised, or have a vulnerable pulmonary system.

17. Q – Should I attend services if I feel sick?

A – You should refrain from coming or entering the building if any of the following apply:

• You have had symptoms in the past 72 hours, including, but not limited to: fever, cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, and/or diarrhea
• You have had any close contact in the last 14 days with someone with a diagnosis of COVID-19
• You have traveled to a known COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days

18. Q – Will I need to confirm that our family is healthy prior to entering the building?

A – Signs will be in place upon entering the building to remind everyone of coronavirus symptoms and other protective measures. Congregants are asked to review this info and seriously consider whether or not they should attend in-person services.

19. Q What should be expected this summer with our air conditioning system?

A – We will adjust our air conditioning system to refresh used spaces several times per hour.  This process, along with new hospital-grade air filters, will improve the indoor air quality, but will mean the inside feel will be closer to outside in both temperature and humidity.  As a result, we suggest you dress accordingly.

20. Q – Is it really necessary to register for a specific Sunday worship service?

A – Yes. For health and safety reasons we plan to initially limit the attendance for each service to 75 people in the Sanctuary at one time, including children, pastors, musicians, techs, etc. Ushers will use the registration list to help manage the room limit and allow for any guests who may show up.

21. Q – Can I invite a friend to worship services?

A – Yes. We would ask that they register (if possible) but the plan is to have a few open spots for visitors.

22. Q – What happens if I start feeling sick and am diagnosed with COVID-19 after I’ve attended a URC service?

A – Please email [email protected] so the church can notify everyone who was involved in that service that they may have been exposed. We would ask that those people would refrain from attending in-person services for 14 days (see #16 Q&A).

23. Q – Will the number of 75 per service be increased during the summer? 

A – Lord-willing, yes. The hope and plan would be to increase this number at a future date. The Session will continue to evaluate the circumstances and prayerfully consider how to best apply our six guiding principles.

24. Q – Are there ways that I can help with URC’s reopening?

A – Yes; as we implement multiple Sunday services, we may need additional help with various tasks. Please refer to the Reopening Volunteer link for additional info and to sign-up.

25. Q – Who can I contact if I have other questions?

A – You can email [email protected] for other questions.

by Brad Beals

 I call on the Lord in my distress,
    and he answers me.
Save me, Lord,
    from lying lips
    and from deceitful tongues.

What will he do to you,
    and what more besides,
    you deceitful tongue?
He will punish you with a warrior’s sharp arrows,
    with burning coals of the broom bush.

Psalm 120:1-4

David’s words here refer to his enemies, but they can also be read as a prayer for deliverance from our sin-sick selves. David has no defense against this enemy. He is in distress. And like David, we have no defense against our chief enemy, our own sin, except that we turn to Christ and say with the psalmist, “Deliver me!”

That prayer and God’s answer to it—as very broad categories—comprise the gospel. The gospel saves us by delivering us from the curse of sin. It spares us God’s righteous judgment (no warriors’ arrows or burning coals for us; Christ took them instead). It secures for us an unblemished legal standing before God—justification—but it doesn’t stop there. The gospel also delivers us from our daily struggle with sin, lying lips and deceitful tongues included. That’s sanctification. 

Yet this is no “let go and let God” proposition. God calls us to stand and fight, and even describes the armor and weapons we’re to use. But neither is it a matter of trying harder or of taking firmer grip of our bootstraps. We don’t have it in ourselves to obey God’s Word, no matter how hard we try. And yet God calls us also to obey his Word. So what is the Christian to do? 

Our first experience of the gospel guides us: we cry out just as we did when we first realized we needed a savior. We say, “Deliver me, O LORD!” because the gospel that justified us then is the same gospel that sanctifies us now and tomorrow and every day until we see him face to face. 

“Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord!”

by Peeter Lukas

“Wash your hands! Wash your hands!” I suppose you’re hearing those words a lot these days. I used to hear them from my mom a lot too. I kept thinking, “But they’re not dirty – well, not that dirty. Besides, it’s dinner time, and I’m not going to eat with my hands anyway.”

In Matthew 27:24 we read of a famous hand washing: “So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.’”

What was Pilate trying to do? Did he succeed? (Parents, you might provide other true life examples of how people today try to “wash their hands” by shifting blame and responsibility to others.)

Now here’s a tougher question: Can you think of another Bible example of a person washing his hands? (Hint: It’s in the Old Testament.) Look at Exodus 30:17-21: “The Lord said to Moses, ‘You shall also make a basin of bronze, with its stand of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tent of meeting and the altar, and you shall put water in it, with which Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet. When they go into the tent of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn a food offering to the Lord, they shall wash with water, so that they may not die. They shall wash their hands and their feet, so that they may not die. It shall be a statute forever to them, even to him and to his offspring throughout their generations.’”

What’s happening in these verses and why? (Mom and Dad can help.) It’s the ceremonial cleaning of Aaron and his sons, the high priests. They must cleanse themselves before coming into God’s presence.

What’s so very different between Pilate cleaning his hands and the high priest cleaning his hands and his feet? The high priest knew and owned his sins, and he most wanted the communion of God. Whereas Pilate refused to take responsibility for his sins. He said “It’s your problem” to the crowds.

All of the book of Hebrews says that Jesus is the BEST High Priest. Grab a Bible and read Hebrews 9:11-14 and Hebrews 10:11-14. Why is Jesus better than the Old Testament priests? (Answer: “he entered once for all…by means of his own blood…he sat down at the right hand of God…by a single offering he has perfected for all time…”)

And what didn’t Jesus do that Pilate tried to do and that the Old Testament priest did all the time? (Answer: He didn’t wash his hands!) Why? (He didn’t need to; He was perfect and clean of all sin!)

Kids, when Mom and Dad say, “Wash your hands”, listen and obey. Parents can see germs far better than you can. But what about the “dirty hands” of our sinful hearts? That can only be cleansed by Jesus. He was perfectly clean. In His death He washed us, and by His resurrection He proved that it was done.