Monday Thought -- February 11, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“They crucified two robbers with him, one on his right and one on his left.  Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads and saying, ‘So!  You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in three days, come down from the cross and save yourself!’  In the same way the chief priests and the teachers of the law mocked him among themselves.  ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘but he can’t save himself!  Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe.’  Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him.” (Mark 15:27-32)

I’m amazed at the utter cruelty of people.  Jesus was being crucified, horribly killed.  Yet, they weren’t even satisfied with that.  They mocked Him and jeered at Him, even as He hung dying on the cross.

They challenged Him to come down from the cross and save Himself.  That’s the one miracle that Jesus would not perform.  He’d already struggled with that decision in the Garden of Gethsemane and settled the matter.  He would not save Himself.  He would not walk away from the cross.  Not because He could not, but because He would not.  He loved us too much.  His death meant too much for us.

The chief priests decided He could not save Himself.  The reality was that He could have, but would not!  They did not understand.  Most of them never would.

Jesus Himself made it clear that the cross was His own choice, “No one takes it (my 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)

I’m glad He didn’t come down off the cross.  I’m glad He loved me that much!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- February 8, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by.  When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.  ‘You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,’ she said.  But he denied it.  ‘I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,’ he said, and went out into the entryway.  When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, ‘This fellow is one of them.’  Again he denied it.  After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, ‘Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.’  He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about.’  Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.  Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him:  ‘Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.’  And he broke down and wept.” (Mark 14:66-72)

There are very few men or women in the Bible that are portrayed as being as bold and brave as Peter is.

Peter is the only one of the disciples who gets out of the boat and walks on the water toward Jesus.

Peter is the one who answered Jesus’ question so clearly and boldly when Jesus asked who the disciples thought He was.  Peter was unafraid to put his opinion out there for everyone to hear, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.”

Peter is the one who challenged Jesus when Jesus said He was going to be killed.  Peter declared that he would never allow it to happen.

Peter is the one who grabbed his sword and quickly cut off the ear of one of those who came to arrest Jesus.

Peter is the one who jumped out of the boat and ran to the shore when he saw that it was Jesus was there.

And you may be able to think of other stories in the Bible that are similar.  Peter is brave.  Peter is bold.  Peter is unafraid to declare his allegiance to Jesus.

So, what happened in the courtyard of the high priest?  What made someone so brave be so quick to deny even knowing Jesus?

If someone as bold and brave as Peter could so quickly turn to deny Jesus – then I need to be careful.  I’m not nearly as brave and not nearly as bold and not nearly as unafraid as Peter was.

Even the strongest can waver.  Even the strongest can sin.  Thank God for the grace that brought Peter back.  Thank God for the grace that’s available to you and me when we fail, too.

His, by Grace,

Steve 

Thursday Thought -- February 7, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any.  Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree.  Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him:  ‘We heard him say, “I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.”’  Yet even then their testimony did not agree.  Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer?  What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’  But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer.  Again the high priest asked him, ‘Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?’  ‘I am,’ said Jesus.  ‘And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’  The high priest tore his clothes.  ‘Why do we need any more witnesses?’ he asked.  ‘You have heard the blasphemy.  What do you think?’  They all condemned him as worthy of death.” (Mark 14:55-64)

There was false testimony against Jesus.  The Sanhedrin (the Jewish Council) was looking for any evidence that could be used to accuse Jesus of doing something worthy of death.  But they could not find the evidence that they needed.  Not even the false testimony was sufficient to condemn Jesus to death.  It wasn’t because of the false testimony that Jesus was crucified.  Jesus was crucified because of His own testimony.  Jesus was crucified for telling the truth!

The truth that Jesus told the Sanhedrin was amazing.

Jesus said He was the Christ – God’s chosen One.

Jesus said He was the “Son of Man” – the biblical title given by God to His Messiah.

Jesus said He would sit at the right hand of the God Himself – the place of power.

Jesus said that He would come again from heaven.

All of those are true statements and all of those are amazing statements of Jesus’ identity and authority.  For those Jesus was crucified.  He was crucified because He told the truth and the Jewish authorities weren’t ready to hear it – weren’t willing to hear it.

Why should it surprise us that when we speak the truth – even amazing truth – sometimes people don’t believe it?  It’s always been that way.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Wednesday Thought -- February 6, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“Just as he was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared.  With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law, and the elders.  Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them:  ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest him and lead him away under guard.’  Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Rabbi!’ and kissed him.  The men seized Jesus and arrested him.  Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.  ‘Am I leading a rebellion,’ said Jesus, ‘that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me?  Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not arrest me.  But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.’  Then everyone deserted him and fled.” (Mark 14:43-50)

Jesus was betrayed by one who should have been a friend and defender.  Jesus was condemned by those who should have rallied the nation to follow Him.  Jesus was arrested by the soldiers who should have protected Him.  Jesus was deserted by everyone who had shown support of Him.

I can’t imagine the depth of hurt that Jesus felt that night in the Garden when He was arrested.  Already, He had poured out His heart to the Father, asked to be relieved of the responsibility that was ahead, and the Father said, “No.”  There was no way to accomplish what needed to be done except through the pain that lay ahead.  But the pain was so deep.

I don’t think the cross was the worst of what Jesus experienced.  The physical pain would have been bad enough.  The spiritual agony of carrying the sin of the world would have been unbearable for anyone but Jesus.  But I think the worst of the pain was the betrayal and desertion.  The betrayal of Judas – with a kiss, a symbol of love, Judas sold Him to His enemies.  The desertion by all of His followers – no one was left to go with through the pain.  And even the Father turned His back on Jesus as He hung on the cross.  He bore the pain – all of it – alone.

If you are ever betrayed – and many of us have been or will be at some point in our lives in some way – remember that Jesus felt betrayal, too.  He understands.

If you ever feel deserted – left alone by all that you counted on – remember that Jesus felt desertion, too.  He understands.

If you ever find out what it feels like to have the one that you knew would never turn his back on you do it – remember, that Jesus felt that, too.  He understands.

There is no pain that we have ever gone through or ever will, that Jesus hasn’t felt and doesn’t understand.

And He felt all that pain and went through all that agony – for us!

His, by Grace,

Steve 

Tuesday Thought -- February 5, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’  He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled.  ‘My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death,’   he said to them.  ‘Stay here and keep watch.’  Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him.  ‘Abba, Father,’ he said, ‘everything is possible for you.  Take this cup from me.  Yet not what I will, but what you will.’” (Mark 14:32-36)

Not everything that God asks of those who follow Him is easy.  Sometimes the will of God is difficult.  As Jesus thought about what lay ahead, the trials, the mocking, the beating, the crucifixion, He was deeply distressed and troubled.  His soul was overwhelmed by what the Father was asking Him to do.

There was great physical pain involved in the cross and the tortures that surrounded it.  Crucifixion was one of the most painful ways to be killed.  It was designed to be so cruel that people would radically alter their lifestyle in order to avoid it.  But there was more than physical pain that troubled Jesus.  The spiritual agony of the cross was worse for Jesus than the physical pain.  Paul wrote, “He became sin.”  He took the guilt of our sin upon Himself, and that was agony for Him.  The Father turned His back on Jesus and Jesus cried out from the cross, “Why have You forsaken Me?”  That was an overwhelming burden, unlike any burden Jesus had ever carried before.

The physical pain and the spiritual burden were God’s will for Jesus.  Those are the things that God asked Jesus to do.  He could not accomplish what God wanted Him to accomplish without going through those things.  Jesus asked the Father to find another way, but there was no other way.

Sometimes the will of God is difficult and painful.  It was for Jesus!

His, by Grace,

Steve

Monday Thought -- February 4, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked him, ‘Where do you want us to go and make preparations for you to eat the Passover?’  So he sent two of his disciples, telling them, ‘Go into the city and a man carrying a jar of water will meet you.  Follow him.  Say to the owner of the house he enters, “The Teacher asks:  ‘Where is my guest room, where I may eat the Passover with my disciples?’  He will show you a large upper room, furnished and ready.  Make preparations for us there.”’  The disciples left went into the city and found things just as Jesus had told them.  So they prepared the Passover.” (Mark 14:12-16)

This is an amazing story.

First, note the attitude of the disciples.  Jesus gave them instructions that didn’t seem to make any sense.  They were to go into the city and when they met a man carrying a jar of water they were to ask him where the room was where the Lord would share the Passover with His disciples.  If anyone in the world gave you that kind of instruction you would think he was crazy and you wouldn’t do what he told you to do.  But the disciples had been around Jesus enough and seen Jesus do enough amazing things that they did just what Jesus told them to do.  That is an amazing demonstration of the faith of the disciples.

Second, note that what Jesus said would happen did happen just as He said it would.  When the disciples got into the city they met a man carrying a jar of water.  When they asked the man about the room where Jesus would share the Passover with His disciples, the man showed them the room.  It was as if the man was expecting Jesus to eat the Passover in his room.  It was already prepared and no one else was planning to use it – or if they were they quickly made other arrangements so Jesus could have it.  That is an amazing demonstration of the foreknowledge of Jesus.

Finally, consider how the man responded to the request of Jesus.  There was no arguing that someone else was planning to use the room for the Passover – perhaps even the man himself and his family.  There was just immediate submission to the request of the Master.  That is an amazing demonstration of submission, without question.

This is a simple story from the life of Jesus, but it says so much about His power – so much about His disciples’ faith – and so much about His followers’ submission.

His, by Grace,

Steve

Friday Thought -- February 1, 2013

Good Morning Friends,

“While he was in Bethany, reclining at the table in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, made of pure nard.  She broke the jar and poured the perfume on his head.  Some of those present were saying indignantly to one another, ‘Why this waste of perfume?  It could have been sold for more than a year’s wages and the money given to the poor.’  And they rebuked her harshly.  ‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus.  ‘Why are you bothering her?  She has done a beautiful thing to me.  The poor you will always have with you, and you can help them any time you want.  But you will not always have me.  She did what she could.  She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial.  I tell you the truth, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.” (Mark 14:3-9)

People use a number of words to describe me – conservative would be a polite way of saying what they think.  Cheap is one that is not quite as kind – but still accurate.  I don’t like to spend money.  I’m not one for splurging very often, at least in most ways.  I shop for bargains when I buy clothes and would never wear something with a designer label unless it was on clearance.  I drive well-made but relatively inexpensive cars and keep them for a long time.  I rarely buy jewelry – and am thankful I have a wife who prefers not to wear much jewelry.  It’s always been a struggle for me to buy cut flowers – they cost so much and die so quickly!

From the story above it seems like I would have fit in well with the men Jesus chose as His apostles.  They seemed to be conservative, too.  They were appalled at the extravagant gesture of the woman who “wasted” her expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet.  They had other uses for the money that could have been raised by selling the perfume.

But Jesus didn’t rebuke the woman for her extravagance.  In fact, Jesus indicated that her extravagant gesture of love was a beautiful thing and something that would become world famous in the years and generations ahead.  Of course, Jesus was right.  Her act of love is still being talked about some 2,000 years after she did it.

The point is – sometimes extravagance is worth it.  Roses on the right occasion speak volumes to a woman.  A diamond can melt a heart.  There are few men, smitten by love, who have not done something wildly extravagant to show their love.

So – how much do you love Jesus?  Maybe some extravagance toward Him would be appropriate, too!

His, by Grace,

Steve