Monthly Message | February

Grace and peace to you! February 12 is Super Bowl Sunday, and I am writing this piece knowing that my Dallas Cowboys will once again not be playing in the big game (I know you all are disappointed!) What will ease the pain (somewhat) of that fact is that I am looking forward to our Souper Bowl luncheon following our worship service that morning. Whichever team wins this year’s Super Bowl will be like all the other teams who have won before it — they will have gone through some challenges, some valleys, before, ultimately, winning the title. Even the only undefeated Super Bowl champion — the 1972 Miami Dolphins — had to overcome challenges, including losing their starting quarterback Bob Griese for a number of games. The football references are all to say that seasons, even championship seasons, are much like life. We go through difficulties even when things turn out well. It is in those difficulties, in those valleys of our life, where we can remember and know that Jesus is present with us. In February, we transition from the season of Epiphany to Lent. Each year, the Sunday that leads into Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent is Transfiguration Sunday. On that day we hear about how Jesus went up a high mountain with just a small number of His disciples and “His face shone like the sun, and His clothes became dazzling white,” and He stood with Moses and Elijah. God’s voice was heard saying, “This is my Son, the Beloved; with Him I am well pleased; listen to Him!” The part of that remarkable story that always hits me is that Jesus, after being in this incredible setting, came down the mountain and continued His walk to Jerusalem and the cross. He didn’t stay up on the mountain to continue being glorified as if He had just won a championship. He didn’t stay up there so He could be safe and avoid what awaited Him. He didn’t stay up there to be away from the cruelties and challenges of the world that were happening at that time. No! Jesus came down. He came down not only to walk toward His deepest valley — His arrest and crucifixion — but also to walk with others in their valleys. In each of the three gospels that have the transfiguration account (Matthew, Mark, and Luke), one of the first encounters Jesus has when He comes down from the mountain is His healing of a boy who is believed to be possessed. If you are someone who is caring for a child or has cared for a child in your life, you know the valley you feel you are in when your child is seriously ill. Jesus enters those valleys, all of your valleys with you — He doesn’t stay on top of the mountain. We also can remember that, like those teams who overcame challenges to win the Super Bowl, Jesus overcame and defeated death to win the ultimate prize — the real prize — for us! His defeating sin and death saves us and gives us life. Go in peace, Jesus is with you, Jesus loves you, and Jesus walks with you in your valleys! Pastor David