Good Morning Friends,
“With that, one of Jesus' companions reached
for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting
off his ear. ‘Put your sword back in its place,’ Jesus said to him, ‘for all
who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my
Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of
angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen
in this way?’ At that time Jesus said to the crowd, ‘Am I leading a rebellion, that
you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the
temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place
that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.’ Then all the disciples
deserted him and fled.” (Matthew 26:51-56)
You don’t have to defend God. I don’t mean that
we shouldn’t be willing to stand up for Him. I mean that He doesn’t need us to
defend Him. God can take care of Himself. It actually seems kind of strange to
me that the apostles who saw Jesus heal the sick, walk on water, raise the
dead, and feed the thousands, thought He needed their sword to take care of
Himself. Oh well, I’m not always rational in a crisis either!
Jesus allowed Himself to be arrested. He
allowed Himself to be tried. He allowed Himself to be killed. Jesus said, “No
one takes it (life) from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have
authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again.” (John 10:18)
No one took His life from Him. Jesus willingly
and intentionally gave it up. And He did it for you and me! “But God
demonstrates his own love for us in this:
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)
His, by Grace, Steve
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