When there is trouble in a location that might lead to more trouble for others involved, the police are typically called. Upon police investigation, one of the first questions they will ask is, “Who’s in charge here?”  In other words, who started this and who is keeping it going?  Police investigators know that if they find the one in charge they can resolve the issue much quicker.  Hold that thought.

By this time in the story of Jesus, His popularity is gaining followers of all kinds.  People are impressed and intrigued with his ability to heal with compassion and teach without condemnation.  Jesus embodies a love they have never seen before and they are drawn to this love.  Those attracted to Him cannot explain why they want to be where He is, they just do.  Some people are intrigued by his words of Truth, gently spoken.  Those who have been taught scriptures from childhood and believe what God says are beginning to wonder if this is the Messiah who they have all been longing for, the One who will set them free from their lives of oppression.  All kinds of people with all kinds of wondering.

And then there are others who follow Jesus as religious spies who critique and judge every word and action Jesus makes in order to destroy his reputation, mission, and ministry.  Fear of losing their power drives their actions.  Yes, the Pharisee Police are out to bait him, write him up, with the goal of getting rid of Jesus once and for all. 

However, Jesus is in charge. His death for our sins and resurrection with victory over death proves that God is in charge!  Jesus, God’s Son has been in charge from beginning to end that’s why He is called “alpha and omega”.  We discover that the “end” is actually the beginning of life forever for all who believe He is in charge and readily accept Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords—the position God gave His Son upon completion of His mission to save us from our sins and reconcile us to God! 

May God’s Holy Spirit guide and lead us always back to God through Jesus Christ, His Son, who is the Way to Truth and Life eternal.  Yes!  And Amen!

Matthew 12:1-21, The Message

In Charge of the Sabbath

^1-2 One Sabbath, Jesus was strolling with his disciples through a field of ripe grain. Hungry, the disciples were pulling off the heads of grain and munching on them. Some Pharisees reported them to Jesus: “Your disciples are breaking the Sabbath rules!”

^3-5 Jesus said, “Really? Didn’t you ever read what David and his companions did when they were hungry, how they entered the sanctuary and ate fresh bread off the altar, bread that no one but priests were allowed to eat? And didn’t you ever read in God’s Law that priests carrying out their Temple duties break Sabbath rules all the time and it’s not held against them?

^6-8 “There is far more at stake here than religion. If you had any idea what this Scripture meant—‘I prefer a flexible heart to an inflexible ritual’—you wouldn’t be nitpicking like this. The Son of Man is no yes-man to the Sabbath; he’s in charge.”

^9-10 When Jesus left the field, he entered their meeting place. There was a man there with a crippled hand. They said to Jesus, “Is it legal to heal on the Sabbath?” They were baiting him.

^11-14 He replied, “Is there a person here who, finding one of your lambs fallen into a ravine, wouldn’t, even though it was a Sabbath, pull it out? Surely kindness to people is as legal as kindness to animals!” Then he said to the man, “Hold out your hand.” He held it out and it was healed. The Pharisees walked out furious, sputtering about how they were going to ruin Jesus.

In Charge of Everything

^15-21 Jesus, knowing they were out to get him, moved on. A lot of people followed him, and he healed them all. He also cautioned them to keep it quiet, following guidelines set down by Isaiah:

Look well at my handpicked servant;
    I love him so much, take such delight in him.
I’ve placed my Spirit on him;
    he’ll decree justice to the nations.
But he won’t yell, won’t raise his voice;
    there’ll be no commotion in the streets.
He won’t walk over anyone’s feelings,
    won’t push you into a corner.
Before you know it, his justice will triumph;
    the mere sound of his name will signal hope, even
        among far-off unbelievers.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus is in charge of our final destination—whether we believe it or not. 

Jesus wants to be in charge of our lives now.  To all who believe, seeking forgiveness and freedom from sin, submitting to His authority to be in charge; Jesus is Savior and He is Lord of our lives.

God so loved the world, all of us, He sent His Son to save us.   “While we were yet sinners, Jesus came to save us.”  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”  (See Romans 5-8)

God so loves us still and wants the best for us.  He uses good times and bad times to teach us and strengthen our resolved faith.

God gives us purpose and significance in this life as we prepare for life forever with Him.  We become contributors to His Kingdom as opposed to merely consumers.

Jesus left earth physically but sent His Holy Spirit, the third part of God, to come and live in us until He comes back again.  When we really believe that Jesus stood in our place to accept our punishment for our sins—all of them—His Helper comes to take up residence in our hearts.  The Helper transforms our minds and daily feeds and fills our souls with the mind of Christ!

We can’t be “good” on our own.  I’ve tried, it doesn’t work.  Instead we seek to become better, to think and behave more like Jesus, as we yield to His Spirit.  Only God is good. So, it is not perfection we seek, but perfect forgiveness from Jesus. We then realize we are not left alone to do life on our own—His Holy Spirit helps and counsels us with every step we take on our journey of walking with God.  The Helper gives the wisdom we need to live skillfully in the unforced rhythm of God’s grace.  Our hearts begin to beat with God’s heart.

“I will always be with you even unto the end of the age,” promises Jesus.  And He always keeps His promises.  (Matthew 28)

The One in charge wants to oversee yielded hearts completely committed to Him.  When Jesus takes control—miracles happen!  Hope reigns.  He give us blessed assurance that fills us with confidence in the unseen, hope for the future, with a faith that we never knew before knowing Him.  

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow with the power to change everything about us!  He changes our thinking, perspectives, behaviors, and actions as we learn and grow in His character!    

Our response?  Let Him have His way…

Lord and Savior,

Thank you, thank you, thank you.  All my hope is in you for you are Life!

In Jesus Name, Amen