Sligo Presbyterian Church: Our Congregation and Community
In this blog, we'll focus on the working being done at Sligo Presbyterian Church, Sligo, Pennsylvania. We'll also look at what's happening in Sligo, Rimersburg, Clarion, and all the other communities served by our congregation.
Join us as we use the Gospel of Luke to discuss the journey made by Jesus Christ to the city of Jerusalem, from his birth to his ascension. During our time together, we’ll look at the following:
Session 23 - The Problem with Wealth (Luke 16:1-31)
Session 24 - Forgiveness and Faith (Luke 17:1-19)
Session 25 - The Kingdom Is Coming (Luke 17:20–18:8)
Session 26 - Rich and Poor (Luke 18:9-18:30)
Session 27 - Approaching the City (Luke 18:31–19:28)
Session 28 - The Entry into Jerusalem (Luke 19:29-48)
Session 29 - Jesus in the Temple Again (Luke 20:1–21:4)
Session 30 - The Coming End (Luke 21:5-38)
Session 31 - The Last Supper (Luke 22:1-20)
Session 32 - Parting Words (Luke 22:21-38)
Session 33 - Prayer, Arrest and Denials (Luke 22:39-62)
Session 34 - Trials (Luke 22:63–23:25)
Session 35 - Crucifixion and Death (Luke 23:26-56)
Session 36 - Empty Tomb and Emmaus Road (Luke 24:1-35)
Session 37 - The Blessing and Departure (Luke 24:36-53)
In our fourteenth session, we looked at Luke 9:51–10:24 and talked about Jesus beginning his journey to Jerusalem. The discussion and passage are below.
When the days drew near for him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him. On their way they entered a village of the Samaritans to make ready for him; but they did not receive him, because his face was set toward Jerusalem. When his disciples James and John saw it, they said, “Lord, do you want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them?” But he turned and rebuked them. Then they went on to another village.
As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, first let me go and bury my father.” But Jesus said to him, “Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” Another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” Jesus said to him, “No one who puts a hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”
After this the Lord appointed seventy others and sent them on ahead of him in pairs to every town and place where he himself intended to go. He said to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Go on your way. See, I am sending you out like lambs into the midst of wolves. Carry no purse, no bag, no sandals; and greet no one on the road. Whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house!’ And if anyone is there who shares in peace, your peace will rest on that person; but if not, it will return to you. Remain in the same house, eating and drinking whatever they provide, for the laborer deserves to be paid. Do not move about from house to house. Whenever you enter a town and its people welcome you, eat what is set before you; cure the sick who are there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ But whenever you enter a town and they do not welcome you, go out into its streets and say, ‘Even the dust of your town that clings to our feet, we wipe off in protest against you. Yet know this: the kingdom of God has come near.’ I tell you, on that day it will be more tolerable for Sodom than for that town. “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the deeds of power done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. But at the judgment it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon than for you. And you, Capernaum, will you be exalted to heaven? No, you will be brought down to Hades. “Whoever listens to you listens to me, and whoever rejects you rejects me, and whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me.”
The seventy returned with joy, saying, “Lord, in your name even the demons submit to us!” He said to them, “I watched Satan fall from heaven like a flash of lightning. See, I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy; and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.” At that same hour Jesus rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, or who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.” Then turning to the disciples, Jesus said to them privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, but did not see it, and to hear what you hear, but did not hear it.”
As we approach Easter, Christians all over the world focus their attention on the cross and tomb. And because of this, the usual challenge to follow Jesus just doesn’t seem appropriate. I mean, let’s face it, we’re not Jesus, and we usually stop short of going all the way to the cross and tomb; therefore, using him as an example just doesn’t seem particularly helpful, not as we deal with issues much less dramatic than the crucifixion and the resurrection. But fortunately, Jesus wasn’t the only character in this story. In fact, there were some who just might provide examples that we should follow while there were others whose actions and attitudes we might want to avoid. And this will be our focus on each of the Sundays leading up to and including Easter.
You see, using the Gospel of John, we’ll look at the following six men and women so that we might better understand who they were, what role they played in this story, and how we might use their examples in our own lives:
On Sunday, March 30, we looked at the High Priests Caiaphas and Annas and discussed how we might develop better priorities. Below is a video of the service, the podcast of the sermon and the service bulletin. You can stream the service by going to the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel on Sundays at 10:00 a.m. (EDT). You can hear a podcast of the service at the Sligo Presbyterian Church YouTube Channel or the Sligo Presbyterian Spotify Page.
As we approach Easter, Christians all over the world focus their attention on the cross and tomb. And because of this, the usual challenge to follow Jesus just doesn’t seem appropriate. I mean, let’s face it, we’re not Jesus, and we usually stop short of going all the way to the cross and tomb; therefore, using him as an example just doesn’t seem particularly helpful, not as we deal with issues much less dramatic than the crucifixion and the resurrection. But fortunately, Jesus wasn’t the only character in this story. In fact, there were some who just might provide examples that we should follow while there were others whose actions and attitudes we might want to avoid. And this will be our focus on each of the Sundays leading up to and including Easter.
You see, using the Gospel of John, we’ll look at the following six men and women so that we might better understand who they were, what role they played in this story, and how we might use their examples in our own lives:
Well, here we are, a little bit closer to both Easter and the chicken Mike is frying up in the kitchen for what I can safely say is my first picnic of 2025. And since we’re having it indoors, the good news is we don’t have to worry about our beans giving soggy or our deviled eggs being carried away by ants.
Of course, this also means we’re focusing on another person who was involved in Jesus’s trip to the cross and empty tomb. Now, we’ve already talked about how Philip connected people to Christ and how Peter lacked some personal self-control. And today, we were scheduled to look at the high priest Annas. But that changed last week. You see, as I was working on this message, it struck me that we really can’t talk about Annas without also looking at his son-in-law, Caiaphas. I mean, that would be like listening to Sonny without Cher, and if you’re old enough to remember the dulcet tones of Sonny Bono, man, you know exactly what I’m talking about. And so, this morning, we’re going to consider both Caiaphas and Annas along with some Pharisees thrown in for good measure. And we’re going to focus on the priorities they carried around from early in Jesus’s ministry, priorities that played a large role in the crucifixion.
And I’ve got to tell you, I believe this priority business may be something pretty important for us to think about, because, whether we recognize it or not, we’re constantly setting priorities and acting on those priorities we’ve set. And you know, we can see what they are actually in what we say and what we do. In other words, our words and our actions show the world what we believe, what we think, what we value. In a very real way, they reflect our priorities. Now, in my opinion, this is neither good nor bad; that’s just the way it is. We get into trouble, though, when we’re not aware that it’s happening and the priorities which shape our behavior are tucked away in the dark. And right there’s the problem, especially when what we assume is important to us isn’t reflected in our words and work. You see, that’s the problem when our real priorities are lurking in the shadows.
And so, this morning, we’re going to bring them into the light. Using the examples of Caiaphas and Annas and some of the other Jewish leaders as described in the Gospel of John, we’re going to consider how we might become a little more intentional in identifying and setting our priorities. And as we’ve done the last couple of weeks, we’ll do this by answering three questions. First, what role did Caiaphas and Annas play in the last week of Jesus’s life? And second, who were the Jewish leaders according to John? And then, third, how can we use the example of Caiaphas and Annas as we consider the priorities we actually follow, whether we know them or not.
And like I said a little while ago, I think their priorities really define the role both Caiaphas and Annas played in the last week of Jesus’s life. As a matter of fact, I think that’s pretty clear when you read two key passages. For example, according to the Evangelist John, this was what happened right after Jesus entered Jerusalem. And by the way, this was what the song we just heard from Jesus Christ Superstar is all about.
Many of the people who had come to visit Mary saw the things Jesus did, and they put their faith in him. Others went to the Pharisees and told what Jesus had done. Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called the council together and said, “What should we do? This man is working a lot of miracles. If we don’t stop him now, everyone will put their faith in him. Then the Romans will come and destroy our temple and our nation.”
One of the council members was Caiaphas, who was also high priest that year. He spoke up and said, “You people don’t have any sense at all! Don’t you know it is better for one person to die for the people than for the whole nation to be destroyed?” Caiaphas did not say this on his own. As high priest that year, he was prophesying that Jesus would die for the nation. Yet Jesus would not die just for the Jewish nation. He would die to bring together all of God’s scattered people. From that day on, the council started making plans to put Jesus to death. [John 11:45-53, CEV]
Now that was a story that sort of focused on Caiaphas. And I think we need to keep it in mind when we read about Annas about five days later, you know, after Gethsemane.
The Roman officer and his men, together with the temple police, arrested Jesus and tied him up. They took him first to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas, the high priest that year. This was the same Caiaphas who had told the Jewish leaders, “It is better if one person dies for the people.”
The high priest questioned Jesus about his followers and his teaching. But Jesus told him, “I have spoken freely in front of everyone. And I have always taught in our synagogues and in the temple, where all of our people come together. I have not said anything in secret. Why are you questioning me? Why don’t you ask the people who heard me? They know what I have said.”
As soon as Jesus said this, one of the temple police hit him and said, “That’s no way to talk to the high priest!”
Jesus answered, “If I have done something wrong, say so. But if not, why did you hit me?” Jesus was still tied up, and Annas sent him to Caiaphas the high priest. [John 18:12-14, 19-23, CEV]
Now that’s what the Evangelists had to say about our dynamic priestly duo.
And you know, in both cases, their priorities were pretty clear, whether they realized it or not. I mean, I believe what they valued was obvious, wasn’t it? According to John, they wanted to keep what they had, you know, their identity as a Jewish nation as symbolized by their Jewish Temple. Maintaining what they had, that would sure seem to be their priority. But they also understood that what they valued was threatened by the situation they faced. I mean, even though they were a nation, they sure weren’t an independent country. Man, they were occupied and the Romans were calling the shots. And if the Romans got tick-off by something going on in Judea, they’d destroy both the nation and the Temple in a heartbeat. And for them, the consequence of knowing this and doing nothing was just too great, and that’s why they decided, as they said in the song, “For the sake of the nation, this Jesus must die.” You see, it was the values they held and the situation they faced and the consequences they anticipated, all that determined their priorities, leading Caiaphas to tell the Jewish leaders, “It is better if one person dies for the people.” [John 18:14b, CEV] and moving Annas to go through the formality of interrogating Jesus only to send him back to Caiaphas for sentencing. Now, that was the role they played during the last week.
But that really shouldn’t be a surprise, not for anyone who’s read the Gospel of John. I mean, these same priorities motivated Jewish leaders early on. For example, just think about the story of the blind man whom Jesus healed. This was how it started:
As Jesus walked along, he saw a man who had been blind since birth. Jesus’ disciples asked, “Teacher, why was this man born blind? Was it because he or his parents sinned?”
“No, it wasn’t!” Jesus answered. “But because of his blindness, you will see God work a miracle for him. As long as it is day, we must do what the one who sent me wants me to do. When night comes, no one can work. While I am in the world, I am the light for the world.”
After Jesus said this, he spit on the ground. He made some mud and smeared it on the man’s eyes. Then he said, “Go wash off the mud in Siloam Pool.” The man went and washed in Siloam, which means “One Who Is Sent.” When he had washed off the mud, he could see. [John 9:1-7, CEV]
Now, by any measure, what Jesus did was pretty spectacular. But not for the Jewish leaders. You see, how they responded was shaped by the values they had and the priorities they’d already set. And I think that’s clear in their first encounter with the healed man.
The day when Jesus made the mud and healed the man was a Sabbath. So the people took the man to the Pharisees. They asked him how he was able to see, and he answered, “Jesus made some mud and smeared it on my eyes. Then after I washed it off, I could see.”
Some of the Pharisees said, “This man Jesus doesn’t come from God. If he did, he would not break the law of the Sabbath.” [John 9:13-16, CEV]
You see, in the first encounter, since they’d already decided to get Jesus, what they said was shaped by their priorities. And you know, it got even worse when they talked to the man again.
The leaders called the man back and said, “Swear by God to tell the truth! We know that Jesus is a sinner.”
The man replied, “I don’t know if he is a sinner or not. All I know is that I used to be blind, but now I can see!” [John 9:24-25, CEV]
And then, by the end, this was what happened.
The leaders insulted the man and said, “You are his follower! We are followers of Moses. We are sure God spoke to Moses, but we don’t even know where Jesus comes from.”
“How strange!” the man replied. “He healed my eyes, and yet you don’t know where he comes from. We know that God listens only to people who love and obey him. God doesn’t listen to sinners. And this is the first time in history anyone has ever given sight to someone born blind. Jesus could not do anything unless he came from God.”
The leaders told the man, “You have been a sinner since the day you were born! Do you think you can teach us anything?” Then they said, “You can never come back into any of our synagogues!” [John 9:28-34, CEV]
You see, their desire to label Jesus a sinner which would enable them to “find a more permanent solution to their problem,” this was how the Evangelist John saw those Jewish leaders, including Caiaphas and Annas.
Which leaves us the simple question: How? How can we avoid setting the same kind of horrible priorities that led these High Priests of Judaism to send their messiah and God’s son to the cross? I mean, how might we take some control over the priorities we set so that we might better understand and shape our own words and actions? In other words, how can we expose our actual priorities to a little bit of light? Now that’s the question.
And I think we can find an answer when we take a look at those three factors that motivated Caiaphas and Annas. For example, if we want to understand and control what we set as priorities, we might want to be clear about the values we hold. I mean, just like it was for those two high priests, what we actually value, not what we think we value or what we say we value or even what we want to value, but what we actually value, man, that’s going to determine what we consider important. It’s going to determine what we say and do. It’s going to shape our priorities. And I’ll tell you, that’s a good thing, because, if we want to see our priorities move closer to what God intends, I believe we can incorporate into our values more of what Jesus taught, starting with this command from the man himself:
My children, I will be with you for only a little while longer. Then you will look for me, but you won’t find me. I tell you just as I told the people, “You cannot go where I am going.” But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples. [John 13:33-35, CEV]
You see, I think we can better control our priorities when we’re clear about the values we hold. That’s one.
And second, I believe this kind of thing also happens when we’re clear about the situations we face. I mean, although looking on the bright side may make us feel better when the heat is on and a little bit of denial may help us avoid some very real stress, I think this kind of attitude is actually poison when we’re talking about setting good and Godly priorities. For example, how can we possibly see the problems and the pain, how can we possibly see the wants and the needs, my gosh, how can we possibly see the opportunities we have right here and now to address those problems and to meet those needs, if a pair of rose colored glasses is distorting everything we see and feel? I’ll tell you, if we want our priorities to be sound and to reflect God, I think we need to see every situation as it is and not just what we want it to be, much like the Apostle Thomas was able to do when Jesus decided to go back to Bethany even though, “Teacher,” they said, “the people there want to stone you to death! Why do you want to go back?” [John 11:8, CEV] You see, once the decision had been made, this was what happened:
Thomas, whose nickname was “Twin,” said to the other disciples, “Come on. Let’s go, so we can die with him.” [John 11:1-16, CEV]
You see, in setting his priorities, Thomas was crystal clear about the situation Jesus and his fellow disciples faced. And we can be the same, and I think that’s the second thing we can do.
And third, if we’re serious about understanding and shaping our priorities, I believe we also need to be clear about the consequences we anticipate. Now, I understand a lot of folks have been told always to hope for the best while a lot of others have been taught that a pessimist is never disappointed. I mean, for every Little Mary Sunshine there’s a real Debbie Downer. But you know, when you get right down to it, neither expectation is realistic, you know, grounded in reality, and because of that, our vision can become distorted. And in my opinion, that’s why, to set solid priorities, we need to be clear and even objective in how we see the consequences of our words and actions. In fact, for me, it’s taking the same kind of perspective Christ had when..
Jesus said:
The time has come for the Son of Man to be given his glory. I tell you for certain that a grain of wheat that falls on the ground will never be more than one grain unless it dies. But if it dies, it will produce lots of wheat. If you love your life, you will lose it. If you give it up in this world, you will be given eternal life. If you serve me, you must go with me. My servants will be with me wherever I am. If you serve me, my Father will honor you.
Now I am deeply troubled, and I don’t know what to say. But I must not ask my Father to keep me from this time of suffering. In fact, I came into the world to suffer. So Father, bring glory to yourself. [John 12:23-28a, CEV]
I’ll tell you, if we want to shape and to control our priorities better than we do now, I think it’s important to be clear about the consequences we anticipate. And that’s the third thing we can do.
Of course, right now, I hope our priorities are set, especially if you’re staying for the first picnic of the season. I know mine are. I mean, since I value spending some quality time with all of y’all and since I know we’re all going to be together around the tables in the Fellowship Hall and since I’m confident that the chicken and sides are going to be great, kicking back and enjoying some outstanding food and fellowship, that’s my priority at this time. And as we leave here this morning and go about our daily living, well, we can do the same. You see, if we’re clear about the values we hold and if we’re clear about the situations we face and if we’re clear about the consequences we anticipate, I believe we’ll avoid the priority trap that caught both Caiaphas and Annas.
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