Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

When we are presented with a new project that we have never done before, our first thought is how in the world will we complete what has been given to us.  But, we are built to plan, to take steps of action, to do what is before us.  We will soon realize we need help, so experienced men and women are recruited along with mentors who have done what we are now doing.  Together, wise people map out a plan to do the work. 

I have learned that most plans are too overwhelming and seem unreachable without dividing the goal into smaller steps of action.  Someone once said, “How do you eat an elephant? —One bite at a time!”  Within all of us is the gene to plan.  We can ignore it but soon we will return to knowing that planning gives direction.  Actions steps to achieve our plan give us peace in accomplishing what seems beyond what we think we can do.

God had a Plan from the beginning of time and space to deliver mankind from sin that led to death. God outlined His Plan to prophets who would tell mankind that this plan was unfolding and would soon be accomplished.  God knew us.  God created us. 

God’s Plan had an end goal: to save us and reconcile us to Him who loved us most.  God plan of action culminated with sending His One and Only Son as the once and for all sacrifice for the sins that separated us from God.  Jesus, who was without sin, took our sins upon Himself, and was crucified in our place.  This was the only and best Way to remove our sins completely and reconnect us to God.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16   Jesus is Life who gave us Life!

After Jesus accomplished God’s Plan to save us by defeating death, conquering the enemy of God, providing the Way back to God by the repenting of our sins in His Name, Jesus came back to full life, scars and all!  He appeared to His followers to solidify their faith and hope in their risen Lord.  Does this not remind you of the prophet’s words, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”  Hope is fulfilled, our future secured in the actions of Jesus! 

Jesus then spent 40 more days to refresh His followers’ memories of all He had taught them in the previous three years as they traveled from town to town.  Jesus’ final instructions to them before going back to our Father in heaven was to wait!  Wait?  Yes, wait.  Power, resurrection power, is coming to help them!  As He promised, God is sending His Holy Spirit to fill their being with power to achieve God’s will in accomplishing the “acts” of building the Kingdom of God—one person, one town, one city, one country at a time. 

“Begin where you are, here in Jerusalem, Jesus tells them, then go to Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”  “Go and teach, baptizing them in my Name, all that I have taught you.” (Matthew 28:20)

We now begin to read and learn how the church began and grew exponentially through the “actions” of Jesus’ apostles and followers—even the women were in on the action!  The power of God’s Holy Spirit will lead them to be and do what is beyond human abilities or understanding—so that others may believe and be saved!

“…as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—”              1 Corinthians 2:9

“Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians 3:20-21

Let’s begin…

Acts 1, The Message

To the Ends of the World

^1-5 Dear Theophilus, in the first volume of this book I wrote on everything that Jesus began to do and teach until the day he said good-bye to the apostles, the ones he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up to heaven. After his death, he presented himself alive to them in many different settings over a period of forty days. In face-to-face meetings, he talked to them about things concerning the kingdom of God. As they met and ate meals together, he told them that they were on no account to leave Jerusalem but “must wait for what the Father promised: the promise you heard from me. John baptized in water; you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit. And soon.”

⁶ When they were together for the last time they asked, “Master, are you going to restore the kingdom to Israel now? Is this the time?”

^7-8 He told them, “You don’t get to know the time. Timing is the Father’s business. What you’ll get is the Holy Spirit. And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world.”

^9-11 These were his last words. As they watched, he was taken up and disappeared in a cloud. They stood there, staring into the empty sky. Suddenly two men appeared—in white robes! They said, “You Galileans!—why do you just stand here looking up at an empty sky? This very Jesus who was taken up from among you to heaven will come as certainly—and mysteriously—as he left.”

Returning to Jerusalem

^12-13 So they left the mountain called Olives and returned to Jerusalem. It was a little over half a mile. They went to the upper room they had been using as a meeting place:

Peter,

John,

James,

Andrew,

Philip,

Thomas,

Bartholomew,

Matthew,

James, son of Alphaeus,

Simon the Zealot,

Judas, son of James.

¹⁴ They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his brothers.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God is the creator of planning.  Planning that is Holy Spirit-led cannot fail.  So many times, we plan then ask God to “bless our plans.”  That is so backward to accomplishing His will! 

The first step is to ask God what He wants accomplished with how He wants it to be done.  We need God’s wisdom which He loves to give in full measure for what He is leading us to be and then do!  “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”  James 1:5

Jesus got alone by Himself often to ask God, what’s next, what do I say, what do I do. Then He did exactly what God told Him to do and said the words God gave Him to say at just the time in the right way.  God will do the same for us!  And who are we to think we are better than Jesus and don’t need to ask God, “What’s next, Father?”  Yikes, think about it! 

Not only do we receive wisdom with a plan of action we receive Power of His Holy Spirit, the measure of power from God that raised Jesus from death to life, to accomplish His will and perfect plan! 

Asking for God’s wisdom requires laying done our will for God’s will.  “So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1-2, MSG

“They agreed they were in this for good, completely together in prayer, the women included. Also Jesus’ mother, Mary, and his brothers.”

Wow.  All in agreement. 

Together in prayer to God. 

All in on the “actions” of God’s Holy Spirit in and through them.

Lord,

Thank you for extending your salvation work through these followers who were all in, in Your Name, for Your glory so that others may believe and be saved.  I am one of them.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

One of our basic human needs is to love and to be loved. The other basic needs according to the social sciences are shelter, food, and clothing.  Science alludes to love  as the need to belong.  The Lord teaches us that Love is the greatest of all His commandments.  Love God.  Love Others.  These are the two greatest commandments, according to Jesus.  Is it because love is the greatest need within all His created?

As we have been making our way through the gospel of John, it is evident that love permeates his being.  He writes “so that we may believe” but his words of believing continually lead us to the love God has for us.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” (John 3:16-17) John consistently reminds us that we love because God first loved us. 

Every time John puts ink to the page, love is written and explained as a treasure to be grasped and held close as if our lives depended on it.  God’s love for us is unending, unfailing, and forever! 

Jesus is now teaching Peter to extend the love he has for his Teacher to loving and accepting all who believe and will believe in Him.  Peter, who very recently denied Jesus three times out of fear, is now asked three times, “Do you love Me?”  Imagine Jesus looking deeply and resolutely into the eyes of Simon now called Peter, the Rock—the one Jesus said He would rely on to build his church of believers.  It will be Peter, filled with God’s Holy Spirit, who will later stand confidently and powerfully preach the Good News, the Truth of who Jesus was, is, and is to come—along with how to repent of sins and be reconciled back to God.  Wow!

But it all begins with Love.  Jesus teaches Peter that this will be done only by loving others like He loves us.  God’s love in us is the motivation for living a life of loving others.  If we really love Jesus, we will tell others who also have need of this love. 

John 21, The Message

Do You Love Me?

¹⁵ After breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?”

“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

¹⁶ He then asked a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

“Yes, Master, you know I love you.”

Jesus said, “Shepherd my sheep.”

^17-19 Then he said it a third time: “Simon, son of John, do you love me?”

Peter was upset that he asked for the third time, “Do you love me?” so he answered, “Master, you know everything there is to know. You’ve got to know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. I’m telling you the very truth now: When you were young you dressed yourself and went wherever you wished, but when you get old you’ll have to stretch out your hands while someone else dresses you and takes you where you don’t want to go.” He said this to hint at the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. And then he commanded, “Follow me.”

^20-21 Turning his head, Peter noticed the disciple Jesus loved following right behind. When Peter noticed him, he asked Jesus, “Master, what’s going to happen to him?”

^22-23 Jesus said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you? You—follow me.” That is how the rumor got out among the brothers that this disciple wouldn’t die. But that is not what Jesus said. He simply said, “If I want him to live until I come again, what’s that to you?”

²⁴ This is the same disciple who was eyewitness to all these things and wrote them down. And we all know that his eyewitness account is reliable and accurate.

²⁵ There are so many other things Jesus did. If they were all written down, each of them, one by one, I can’t imagine a world big enough to hold such a library of books.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW MUST WE RESPOND?

Sometimes as pastors and teachers of God’s Word, God’s Holy Spirit will pause us in preparing to speak for Him and ask us “Do you love me?”  I know it has happened to me many times!  To stay focused and centered on God, we must evaluate about our motivations in ministry and answer truthfully.  Do I love God with all that is in Me?  Do I love Jesus for saving me from my sins?  Do I love others the way the Lord obviously loves me?  As our love for God is expressed in our being; His Holy Spirit then guides us to carry His love to others, in the Name of Jesus, for His glory—not for our own self-seeking or satisfying desires to feel important.  Real Love decides and demonstrates who we are in our growing love for God.

Real Love originates with God. Jesus is the One who saves us because of God’s Love.  When we fully embrace His love, we love Him back.  The next step which follows is to love others, too! Only then are we ready to feed His sheep, delivering Truth with Love.

John is standing over Peter’s shoulder during this time of teaching.  Peter’s turns his eyes off Jesus to John.  Peter is prone to such distractions—as we are!!  (Remember the walking on water attempt?)  Peter asks Jesus, “Master, what’s going to happen to him?”  Jesus teaches Peter that each relationship is personal when He responds, “…what’s that to you? You—follow me.”

As a leader, pastor, volunteer in ministry, are you sighing an “ouch” right now?  This touches our hearts because sometimes we too turn our heads to look over at what others do while evaluating who they are as they do the work of the Lord.  We are easily distracted and even wonder if they are as good as us, do as much as us, while asking why they were not picked to be led by Jesus in the way He is leading us, while judging the work they are doing! And worst of all—we are prone to compare ourselves and the work we are doing to what God has given to others!  “What’s that to you? You—follow me.” –Jesus

God calls, equips, then sends us out in the world as our love for Him and for others develops and begins to bloom.  But in this world, Jesus has warned his followers before, you will have troubles and suffering, but remember greater is He (Jesus) who is in you than he (satan) who is in the world. (1 John 4:4)  There will be people who will reject God’s love and Jesus’ redemption.  Will this rejection stop us from loving them?

God used an unbelieving teenager to teach me this lesson as a volunteer youth worker in my past.  After delivering a message of salvation to the group, this young man came to me and ask, “If I’m not willing to buy into this Jesus stuff, will you still love me?” (His need to be loved was evident.) This took me by surprise at first, but I could tell this was a test of my love for him.  I paused then looked him in the eyes and said, “Yes, of course I will.  I love you with the love of God in me and that love never ends or gives up.”  Months later, he gave His life to Jesus.  The lesson it taught me was to love like Jesus who loved us and “died for us while we were yet sinners.”  No one is exempt from the love of God.

Do you love Me? is asked by Jesus daily to believers who proclaim the Good News to the lost.  We just need to listen—and follow.

When we say yes with a committed heart to Jesus, led by the unconditional Love of God we are told, “Feed my sheep”.  The feeding is in the following of Jesus.  We do what He says when He says to do it—all because we love Him and realize the love He has for us.  This loving back relationship then spreads exponentially to loving all people God has created, especially to whom He sends us to be with who need to be loved and who to love.

Following and feeding is expressed in so many ways, here are a few:

• Jesus might send us across the street or around the world.  Love leads.  We follow.
• We might be sent to go after the one who ran away from family to lead them back home.  Love compels to go and find the lost.
• We might be sent to teach little ones or big ones in a classroom or small group of Jesus’ love and sacrifice.  Love leads us to speak the truth in love.
• We will quickly learn how much we don’t know as we study God’s Word.  But we also learn that to be honest helps others who don’t know to be less intimidated and more receptive to God’s love in us.  Love humbles us.
• Jesus promises the power of God’s Holy Spirit who will give us the right words at the right time to tell others in need of the real, relentless love of Jesus. 

Peter becomes our example of how love changes and transforms us after answering honestly what Jesus asks, “Do you love Me?” Jesus is centering Peter’s thoughts on the Love of God required in the feeding and following.  Jesus’ love is at the center of all we think, say and do—or it should be.

We will be amazed as we read what Simon, the former fisherman transformed into Peter, the Rock, preaches confidently and boldly to the Jews who shouted to kill Jesus!  (See Acts 2) Wait, What?!  Yes, thousands repented and were saved as a result of following and feeding of Peter.  But we get ahead of ourselves…

Pause to answer Jesus when He asks, “Do you love Me?”  As we honestly answer, He will lead us to who He has in mind for us to “feed” the Truth in Love as we follow Him.  Count on it.  Count on Jesus.  Allow His love in us to lead us.

Lord,

There are so many lessons still to be felt and learned as we evaluate the depth of love we have for others as well as for you.  I pray for my love, your love in me, to go deeper still.  I do love you with all that is in me.  Increase your love in me.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

Can’t go back to the beginning
Can’t control what tomorrow will bring
But I know here in the middle
Is the place where You promise to be

I’m not enough unless You come
Will You meet me here again
‘Cause all I want is all You are
Will You meet me here again

(Here Again, by Elevation Worship)

There have been times in my life, (and I’m sure in yours), when we stand between what was, is, and what will be.  I find myself there now—again.  This isn’t necessarily a bad place to be but it can be challenging—especially to those of us who are not gifted at waiting.  We feel we must be doing something to replace the momentary feelings of not being enough or doing enough. 

We might jump into projects on our own while we are stuck in the middle.  Going back to the beginning and doing what we did before seems good and comes naturally to us but it doesn’t satisfy the longing of wanting to know what lies ahead.  In these times, we can walk away from our Lord—or run to Him when we realize He was there all the time, preparing the way and us, for our next steps on this brief journey on earth. 

When we run to Him, “He serves breakfast on the beach” to us knowing exactly what we need most—Him.

As I walk now through the valley
Let Your love rise above every fear
Like the sun shaping the shadow
In my weakness Your glory appears

I’m not enough unless You come
Will You meet me here again
‘Cause all I want is all You are
Will You meet me here again
I’m not enough unless You come
Will You meet me here again
‘Cause all I want is all You are
Will You meet me here again

John 21, The Message

Fishing

^1-3 After this, Jesus appeared again to the disciples, this time at the Tiberias Sea (the Sea of Galilee). This is how he did it: Simon Peter, Thomas (nicknamed “Twin”), Nathanael from Cana in Galilee, the brothers Zebedee, and two other disciples were together. Simon Peter announced, “I’m going fishing.”

^3-4 The rest of them replied, “We’re going with you.” They went out and got in the boat. They caught nothing that night. When the sun came up, Jesus was standing on the beach, but they didn’t recognize him.

⁵ Jesus spoke to them: “Good morning! Did you catch anything for breakfast?”

They answered, “No.”

⁶ He said, “Throw the net off the right side of the boat and see what happens.”

They did what he said. All of a sudden there were so many fish in it, they weren’t strong enough to pull it in.

^7-9 Then the disciple Jesus loved said to Peter, “It’s the Master!”

When Simon Peter realized that it was the Master, he threw on some clothes, for he was stripped for work, and dove into the sea. The other disciples came in by boat for they weren’t far from land, a hundred yards or so, pulling along the net full of fish. When they got out of the boat, they saw a fire laid, with fish and bread cooking on it.

^10-11 Jesus said, “Bring some of the fish you’ve just caught.” Simon Peter joined them and pulled the net to shore—153 big fish! And even with all those fish, the net didn’t rip.

¹² Jesus said, “Breakfast is ready.” Not one of the disciples dared ask, “Who are you?” They knew it was the Master.

^13-14 Jesus then took the bread and gave it to them. He did the same with the fish. This was now the third time Jesus had shown himself alive to the disciples since being raised from the dead.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus disciples are truly stuck in the middle before crucifixion and resurrection to what Jesus has next for them to be and do.  It is not surprising that impetuous, shoot from the hip, Peter is antsy and anxious in the wait.  Most of us relate to Peter, right?!  We can truly see the followers of Jesus hunkered down in a room when suddenly, Peter jumps up and announces, “I’m going fishing”!  Peter is a fisherman by trade.  It’s what he knows best. 

We do the same when we feel stuck and tired in the wait.  We do what we have done before because doing it gives us comfort and confidence in doing it—until it doesn’t.  Some of the disciples mentioned were also fishermen, but some were not by trade.  But all have the same anxiousness in the wait.  They also feel stuck in the middle, waiting, and feel they must do something—so they follow Peter to the sea.

What happened is all too familiar as we recall the time Jesus first called his disciples who were fishermen to follow Him.  At this time, again, the professionals fished all night as this is the best time to catch fish in the sea, but they caught nothing.  But at least, they were doing something to expend their energies.  But a lesson in not going back will soon be taught by the Master.

They are coming closer to shore when they notice Someone building a fire on the beach.  This Someone asks if they caught anything.  Can you imagine with me, Jesus smiling as He asks while already knowing the answer? Jesus also knows what He will do next to reveal, yet again, the glory of who He is to them and for them.

How personal the Master is to his beloved followers!   “Throw your nets on the right side—and see what happens.”  At this point, Jesus must be chuckling to himself as they do what He says and immediately work hard to bring in 153 big fish! Perhaps this miracle will provide funds for the ministry that lies ahead?  Maybe, but just his act alone shows the personal, intimate loving relationship between God and man because of Jesus, our Savior and now the Lord of their lives.  They did what He said.

As soon as the fish are hauled in, they realize who provided this miracle—again!  John says to Peter, “It’s the Master!”  In the excitement of knowing who did this and now recognizing Jesus, Peter wastes no time in swimming and then running to Him.  Now Jesus must be lovingly laughing out loud watching them!  Peter returns after a huge bear hug, we imagine, to go back to the boat to help bring in the haul. 

Not for a minute
Was I forsaken
The Lord is in this place
The Lord is in this place
Come Holy Spirit
Dry bones awaken
The Lord is in this place
The Lord is in this place

Not only does Jesus provide fish for the future, he hosts breakfast on the beach for his beloved who have been stuck in the middle!  This awesome appearance of our Lord reminds me of what Jesus said about his “yoke” that is lighter than ours and fits more perfectly to accomplish His will in and through us. 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” –Jesus, Matthew 11:28-30  Jesus met them where they were with exactly who they needed most.  He does that for us today when we realize our need is Jesus, God’s Son, who loved us so much He died and rose again for us.

How can we respond while stuck in the middle?

If fishing is not in our nature, there are others things we can be and do in the wait:

• First:  Be still and know that the Lord is God.
• Know that God is always at work on our behalf—even when we don’t see it.
• Be in continual communication with the One who knows us best and knows what lies ahead.
• Let go of anxious thoughts—you can’t trust those thoughts and feelings. 
• Instead, trust God and ask Him for wisdom, insight and understanding which is part of God’s prep work in us for the next steps we will take!
• What to do something while waiting?  Do what will benefits others! 
• Set aside even more time to pray for the lost, others spiritually stuck, and to be led far away from evil’s temptations hovering over us telling us to give up.  Why, because these “middle” times can make us weak. Paul learned from God; “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9
• Lay aside self and seek to serve “breakfasts” of encouragement to others.  Pray with someone as soon as they ask.  Babysit for a mom stressed and needs a break.  Look in someone eyes and tell them you see Jesus in them when they serve others.  Pray for church leaders who are daily on the “front lines” helping others find and follow Jesus.  Take a meal when needed most.  Share what we have with others in need without them knowing. 

The list is endless when we ask God what He wants us to be then do. 

“Cast your net” on the right side of God’s will!  “And See what happens!”

I have discovered that most of God’s best work in and through me is accomplished even as I feel stuck in the middle! God calls, prepares, equips, then sends.

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us how to be when we feel stuck between what is and what’s next.  Thank you for serving us a “breakfast” of encouragement this morning—it’s so like you to be personal with us!  Help us to know your will as we give ourselves to you once again as an offering to you.  Lead us, Lord.

In Jesus Name, Amen

We have all heard and lived the phrase, “seeing is believing.”  We want to see with our own eyes before accepting something to be real and true as others have said   before we believe, right?  Seeing before believing is a process of looking at something carefully, picking it up, turning it over in our hands, feeling the texture and strength of it, listening to hear sounds, all while investigating it for authenticity.  We want evidence before we believe that something is real.  We demand to see it for ourselves.  We are human.  We are curious.  We have been fooled before.  We are not easily convinced. 

God knows this about us and gives us Jesus—all the evidence needed to verify Truth.                                                                                                                                          

“Because you have seen me, you have believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” –Jesus

John 20, The Message

To Believe

^19-20 Later on that day, the disciples had gathered together, but, fearful of the Jews, had locked all the doors in the house. Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.

^20-21 The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were awestruck. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”

^22-23 Then he took a deep breath and breathed into them. “Receive the Holy Spirit,” he said. “If you forgive someone’s sins, they’re gone for good. If you don’t forgive sins, what are you going to do with them?”

^24-25 But Thomas, sometimes called the Twin, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. The other disciples told him, “We saw the Master.”

But he said, “Unless I see the nail holes in his hands, put my finger in the nail holes, and stick my hand in his side, I won’t believe it.”

²⁶ Eight days later, his disciples were again in the room. This time Thomas was with them. Jesus came through the locked doors, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.”

²⁷ Then he focused his attention on Thomas. “Take your finger and examine my hands. Take your hand and stick it in my side. Don’t be unbelieving. Believe.”

²⁸ Thomas said, “My Master! My God!”

²⁹ Jesus said, “So, you believe because you’ve seen with your own eyes. Even better blessings are in store for those who believe without seeing.”

^30-31 Jesus provided far more God-revealing signs than are written down in this book. These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“Blessed are those who believe without seeing.”  Jesus was talking about us!

We must evaluate our belief often with these “test questions” to stay healthy, eyes fixed, minds alert, hearts filled with the One we say we believe:

“Do I really believe that what Jesus did for me and still does through me really real?”  Why ask?  Because what we truly believe will be revealed in our behaviors.  “What flows from the heart” is revealed as we live our lives.  What we fill our minds with is soon revealed in our actions toward others.  What we feed our souls reflects our priorities of life. 

Believe God sent His Son to save us and give us eternal life. 

Repent in Jesus Name and be cleansed.

Worship God alone with all that is in us.

Love like God who first loved us.

In this “act of believing;” this“believing without seeing,” is a daily life responsive to His will with eagerness to obey His Holy Spirit’s guidance and leading.  We become active and alive in our new life with Jesus, throwing out the old life with destructive habits like yesterday’s trash.  His Light of Love reflects His glory in us—so others will believe.   And the bonus?  Real and eternal Life!

Caution.  This act of believing is not a “act” as we think of playacting; but a decision to give all of ourselves, heart, mind, and soul to God.  He gave His Son for us.  We belong to Him who believe Jesus and what He did for us to save us. In this act of believing we begin each day with focused attention on God who solidifies our believing without seeing and matures our faith as we embrace His guidance.  Here’s how:

“So here’s what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don’t become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You’ll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.” Romans 12:1-2, MSG

Don’t stop believing in God who is real.  To avoid the lies of the enemy of God we must prayerfully ask Him, in Jesus Name, to help us recognize and examine what is true.  Ask for wisdom and He will give us all we need.

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.” 1 John 4:1-3, NIV

And Love as if our lives depended on it! Don’t fake it.  (Read Romans 12) People notice when the true love of our real God is in us and is demonstrated through us to others.  We are different than the world when we love like Jesus loves us.  This is vital  and mandatory in our “act of believing.”

“Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.”1 John 4:7-12, NIV

This is believing without seeing.  “Blessed are those who believe without seeing.”

We are all like Thomas from time to time when life brings uncertainty coupled with fear of the unknown.  But when believers pray, God, help my unbelief, He answers with the blessed assurance that is stored deep within us when we ask in Jesus Name.  He was there all the time, we just needed to recognize Him—and believe.  When we do, we see Him for who He really is—

“My Master! My God!”

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us that we are blessed by you in so many ways.  First you loved us.  Then You blessed us with your Son who redeemed us of all our sin.  You continue to bless us with a love that knows no limitations.  You bless us with Life to the full with adventures that grow and mature us in your character.  You bless us by pouring out your peace and assurance as we walk with courage through the storms of life. Like the wind, we don’t have to see You to know You are right here with us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

When something out of the ordinary happens that seems too good to be true, humans are skeptical at first.  We rub our eyes to see if what is in front of us really real.  We’ve been fooled, tricked, trapped, and betrayed in our past that has tampered with our ability to believe now.  We look for ways to explain what has happened because if we can explain it, we can believe it.  When it is news that is so great and so good, we first hold it to ourselves, giving our minds time to catch up before we truly believe it so we can tell it! 

Given these human tendencies, we wonder about all that is going on in the minds of the devoted followers of Jesus who are overcome with grief coupled with fear over what happened to their Master just three days before.  Fear keeps them in hiding. 

Mary Magdlene and other women are the first to go to the tomb only to discover that the body isn’t there!  They go tell the disciples.  John took one look inside the tomb, saw the evidence—and believed.  Was he the first to remember what Jesus said about rising on the third day and believe?  What exactly did he believe?

After seeing to investigate, the disciples went back home.  Were they thinking, nothing to see here?  Were they reeling from fear of what might happen next to them who have now discovered an empty tomb?  What will the religious police do to us?  Whatever is in their minds, they went back to their hiding place.

Mary stayed at the last place she saw her Lord—the garden tomb.  Still weeping and  wondering, she was the first to see Jesus!  Jesus was indeed fully alive, risen from death to life, scars, and all! “Go and tell the others, Mary.”  She was the first to tell the Good News!

John 20, The Message

Resurrection!

^1-2 Early in the morning on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and saw that the stone was moved away from the entrance. She ran at once to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, gasping for breath. “They took the Master from the tomb. We don’t know where they’ve put him.”

^3-10 Peter and the other disciple left immediately for the tomb. They ran, neck and neck. The other disciple got to the tomb first, outrunning Peter. Stooping to look in, he saw the pieces of linen cloth lying there, but he didn’t go in. Simon Peter arrived after him, entered the tomb, observed the linen cloths lying there, and the kerchief used to cover his head not lying with the linen cloths but separate, neatly folded by itself. Then the other disciple, the one who had gotten there first, went into the tomb, took one look at the evidence, and believed. No one yet knew from the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead. The disciples then went back home.

^11-13 But Mary stood outside the tomb weeping. As she wept, she knelt to look into the tomb and saw two angels sitting there, dressed in white, one at the head, the other at the foot of where Jesus’ body had been laid. They said to her, “Woman, why do you weep?”

^13-14 “They took my Master,” she said, “and I don’t know where they put him.” After she said this, she turned away and saw Jesus standing there. But she didn’t recognize him.

¹⁵ Jesus spoke to her, “Woman, why do you weep? Who are you looking for?”

She, thinking that he was the gardener, said, “Sir, if you took him, tell me where you put him so I can care for him.”

¹⁶ Jesus said, “Mary.”

Turning to face him, she said in Hebrew, “Rabboni!” meaning “Teacher!”

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Don’t cling to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I ascend to my Father and your Father, my God and your God.’”

¹⁸ Mary Magdalene went, telling the news to the disciples: “I saw the Master!” And she told them everything he said to her.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Mary Magdelene, (and few other women according to other gospel reports) came very early, before the light of day, to prepare the body of their Lord with spices and herbs.  The process had to be delayed because according to The Law, they would not be allowed to take care of burial preparation until after the Sabbath.  So, here they come, with broken hearts, tears in their swollen eyes to do what they must do after the Sabbath. Did their grieving hearts weaken their physical resolve? On the way, did it occur to them how they would roll the heavy stone away so they could enter the tomb to do what they came to do?  Was there relief and wonder when they saw that the stone was not only rolled away, but the body not where they placed him three days before? 

When they heard the news of the empty tomb, Peter and the other disciples who ran to the garden to see for themselves but then went back home with wonder.  Maybe they wondered if they would be blamed for the disappearance. Fear and wonder sent them back home to hide and wait.

The glorious truth of the resurrection was not understood immediately by even His closest followers. It gradually dawned on these grieving people that their Master was not dead, but alive! And what a difference it made when the full realization of His resurrection took hold of them! For Mary Magdalene it meant moving from tears to joy (John 20:1–18), for the ten disciples it meant going from fear to courage (vv. 19–23); and later, for Thomas it meant moving from doubt to assurance (vv. 24–31).

Consider these thoughts written by Max Lucado.  The Good News changes everything when we believe!

“For three days Jesus’ body decayed. It did not rest, mind you. It decayed. The cheeks sank and the skin paled. But after three days the process was reversed. There was a stirring, a stirring deep within the grave . . . and the living Christ stepped forth.

And the moment he stepped forth, everything changed. The resurrection is an exploding flare announcing to all sincere seekers that it is safe to believe. Safe to believe in ultimate justice. Safe to believe in eternal bodies. Safe to believe in heaven as our estate and the earth as its porch. Safe to believe in a time when questions won’t keep us awake and pain won’t keep us down. Safe to believe in open graves and endless days and genuine praise.

Because we can accept the resurrection story, it is safe to accept the rest of the story.

Because of the resurrection, everything changes. Death changes. It used to be the end; now it is the beginning. The cemetery changes. People once went there to say goodbye; now they go to say, “We’ll be together again.” Even the coffin changes. The casket is no longer a box where we hide bodies, but rather a cocoon in which the body is kept until God sets it free to fly.

And someday, according to Christ, he will set us free. He will come back: “I will come back and take you to be with me” (John 14:3). And to prove that he was serious about his promise, the stone was rolled and his body was raised.

For he knows that someday this world will shake again. In the blink of an eye, as fast as the lightning flashes from the east to the west, he will come back. And everyone will see him—you will, I will. Bodies will push back the dirt and break the surface of the sea. The earth will tremble, the sky will roar, and those who do not know him will shudder. But in that hour you will not fear, because you know him.”  Lucado, Encouraging Word Bible

Because of Mattthew, Mark, Luke, and John, we are blessed with all the details for one purpose: “These are written down so you will believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and in the act of believing, have real and eternal life in the way he personally revealed it.” John 20:31

Believe and be saved!

Lord,

I believe!  Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole. Thank you for taking away the sins of the world with the bonus gift of eternal life to all who believe you.  Thank you thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

“And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me. He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.” –Jesus, John 12:33, MSG

It is tiresome in any people group to work with on a task with someone who demands that their way is the best way.  Most times when people arrogantly demand attention and allegiance to doing things their way it has nothing to do with the goal of the project.  Getting their own way is just their way of life. People who demand their own way are not going to stay silent while their way is not being heard with compliance.  In fact, in their minds, not heeding to their demands becomes the fault and stupidity of the person not doing what they say.  Blame, shame, and pain seem to be the name of the game.  (Sorry, I was a first-grade teacher—we rhyme.)

These thoughts occur to me as we read again of the pain our Savior went through to show the world that the glory of God was about to be revealed—even as He was crucified on a cross.  The mission from God to save us is completed by His One and Only Son, Jesus.  Jesus came into the world to seek and to save the lost, not to be served but to serve.  Jesus completes the mission by demonstrating the full extent of God’s love for us by willingly laying down His life to pay the debt of the sins of the world—then and now.  This amazing act of Love was The Way, God’s Way, to eternal Life.  Jesus’ work on earth is the Way to God, the Truth of God, and provides Life from God.

Reading this passage for the first time, it would seem that—

• The Jewish leaders got their way.  Jesus is crucified and will no longer be a threat to their conscience—or so they think.
• The coerced crowd got their way.
• Pilate put up a sign to get his way in rebellion to the religious leaders who put him on the spot to get their way.
• The soldiers got their way.

But God’s Way and Plan to save us prevailed as does His love for us. 

Scripture is fulfilled in every way.  When “it is finished”, Love and Grace wins.

John 19, The Message

The Crucifixion

They took Jesus away. Carrying his cross, Jesus went out to the place called Skull Hill (the name in Hebrew is Golgotha), where they crucified him, and with him two others, one on each side, Jesus in the middle. Pilate wrote a sign and had it placed on the cross. It read:

JESUS THE NAZARENE

THE KING OF THE JEWS

^20-21 Many of the Jews read the sign because the place where Jesus was crucified was right next to the city. It was written in Hebrew, Latin, and Greek. The Jewish high priests objected. “Don’t write,” they said to Pilate, “‘The King of the Jews.’ Make it, ‘This man said, “I am the King of the Jews.”’”

²² Pilate said, “What I’ve written, I’ve written.”

^23-24 When they crucified him, the Roman soldiers took his clothes and divided them up four ways, to each soldier a fourth. But his robe was seamless, a single piece of weaving, so they said to each other, “Let’s not tear it up. Let’s throw dice to see who gets it.” This confirmed the Scripture that said, “They divided up my clothes among them and threw dice for my coat.” (The soldiers validated the Scriptures!)

^24-27 While the soldiers were looking after themselves, Jesus’ mother, his aunt, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene stood at the foot of the cross. Jesus saw his mother and the disciple he loved standing near her. He said to his mother, “Woman, here is your son.” Then to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that moment the disciple accepted her as his own mother.

²⁸ Jesus, seeing that everything had been completed so that the Scripture record might also be complete, then said, “I’m thirsty.”

^29-30 A jug of sour wine was standing by. Someone put a sponge soaked with the wine on a javelin and lifted it to his mouth. After he took the wine, Jesus said, “It’s done . . . complete.” Bowing his head, he offered up his spirit.

^31-34 Then the Jews, since it was the day of Sabbath preparation, and so the bodies wouldn’t stay on the crosses over the Sabbath (it was a high holy day that year), petitioned Pilate that their legs be broken to speed death, and the bodies taken down. So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first man crucified with Jesus, and then the other. When they got to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. One of the soldiers stabbed him in the side with his spear. Blood and water gushed out.

³⁵ The eyewitness to these things has presented an accurate report. He saw it himself and is telling the truth so that you, also, will believe.

^36-37 These things that happened confirmed the Scripture, “Not a bone in his body was broken,” and the other Scripture that reads, “They will stare at the one they pierced.”

* * *

³⁸ After all this, Joseph of Arimathea (he was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, because he was intimidated by the Jews) petitioned Pilate to take the body of Jesus. Pilate gave permission. So Joseph came and took the body.

^39-42 Nicodemus, who had first come to Jesus at night, came now in broad daylight carrying a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. They took Jesus’ body and, following the Jewish burial custom, wrapped it in linen with the spices. There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

To fully understand, let’s go back and review what Jesus said to his disciples as He prepared them for what was soon to come;

“Listen carefully: Unless a grain of wheat is buried in the ground, dead to the world, it is never any more than a grain of wheat. But if it is buried, it sprouts and reproduces itself many times over. In the same way, anyone who holds on to life just as it is destroys that life. But if you let it go, reckless in your love, you’ll have it forever, real and eternal.

“If any of you wants to serve me, then follow me. Then you’ll be where I am, ready to serve at a moment’s notice. The Father will honor and reward anyone who serves me.

“Right now I am shaken. And what am I going to say? ‘Father, get me out of this’? No, this is why I came in the first place. I’ll say, ‘Father, put your glory on display.’”

A voice came out of the sky: “I have glorified it, and I’ll glorify it again.”

The listening crowd said, “Thunder!”  Others said, “An angel spoke to him!”

Jesus said, “The voice didn’t come for me but for you. At this moment the world is in crisis. Now Satan, the ruler of this world, will be thrown out. And I, as I am lifted up from the earth, will attract everyone to me and gather them around me.” He put it this way to show how he was going to be put to death.” John 12:25-31, MSG

What is our response?  

Do I want (demand) my own way, which is limited and unpredictable?  Or do I seek, trust, love, and serve God’s Way, putting aside my own interests?  (Philippians 2)

My way or God’s way is a decided choice I make every day in every detail of my life.  (Romans 12:1-2)

PAUSE TO PRAY AND REFLECT

• Do I believe, really believe that God loved me so much that He sent His Son to die in my place for my sins—the punishment I deserved? 
• Do I really believe that Jesus then defeated death and in resurrection power rose from the tomb, scars and all, to walk and talk with His beloved once more? 
• Do I believe in The Way or still demand my own way?  Do I stop to ask God what HE wants? 

“Don’t hold back your love, says Jesus.  Let go, be reckless with our love, without conditions to earn our love.  Just love.  Love God, then love others like He loves us.  Powerful!

This way of love is diligent in our obedience to God for our obedience is a pure and holy expression of our love for God!

One last precious demonstration of pure, holy love is shown by Jesus to his mother and to John (most likely).  “Woman, here is your son.” “Here is your mother.”  Wow.

I choose God’s Way to love and to live.

Lord,

Thank you for teaching us the power of Your Love from the cross.  Surely, these acts of love and sacrifice teach us Your Way to love that are far above human love.  But with your love growing in us, we can become more and more like you in your ways and in your love.  All because you first loved us.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, Amen

“You’re The Man!” We say this colloquial phrase when we are congratulating someone who has accomplished a great feat or completed a great work beyond all others.  We say this when a friend has crossed the finish line of a great race of endurance and strength.  We also say this to those who have done a great favor for us or given us a gift beyond our wildest dreams. 

Pilate presents Jesus to the crowd in almost the same way; Jesus, the Man.  In Eugene Peterson’s paraphrase of John, Pilate remarks, “Here he is: the Man,” as if to say I’m giving you what you asked for.  (But it also seems he is like those investors on Shark Tank who say, “I’m out”! when they want no part of what is being sold.)

Jesus is indeed The Man, but He is also the Son of God who God sent as the greatest gift to mankind.  The gift, when accepted and believed, is Life forever!  But the Jews in charge rejected The Man who claimed to also be Messiah, Son of God.  The leaders instead used what He said as evidence to kill Him—just as the prophets said centuries earlier.  Claiming to be Son of God was against The Law.

John 19, The Message

The Thorn Crown of the King

^1-3 So Pilate took Jesus and had him whipped. The soldiers, having braided a crown from thorns, set it on his head, threw a purple robe over him, and approached him with, “Hail, King of the Jews!” Then they greeted him with slaps in the face.

^4-5 Pilate went back out again and said to them, “I present him to you, but I want you to know that I do not find him guilty of any crime.” Just then Jesus came out wearing the thorn crown and purple robe.

Pilate announced, “Here he is: the Man.”

⁶ When the high priests and police saw him, they shouted in a frenzy, “Crucify! Crucify!”

Pilate told them, “You take him. You crucify him. I find nothing wrong with him.”

⁷ The Jews answered, “We have a law, and by that law he must die because he claimed to be the Son of God.”

^8-9 When Pilate heard this, he became even more scared. He went back into the palace and said to Jesus, “Where did you come from?”

Jesus gave no answer.

¹⁰ Pilate said, “You won’t talk? Don’t you know that I have the authority to pardon you, and the authority to—crucify you?”

¹¹ Jesus said, “You haven’t a shred of authority over me except what has been given you from heaven. That’s why the one who betrayed me to you has committed a far greater fault.”

¹² At this, Pilate tried his best to pardon him, but the Jews shouted him down: “If you pardon this man, you’re no friend of Caesar’s. Anyone setting himself up as ‘king’ defies Caesar.”

^13-14 When Pilate heard those words, he led Jesus outside. He sat down at the judgment seat in the area designated Stone Court (in Hebrew, Gabbatha). It was the preparation day for Passover. The hour was noon. Pilate said to the Jews, “Here is your king.”

¹⁵ They shouted back, “Kill him! Kill him! Crucify him!”

Pilate said, “I am to crucify your king?”

The high priests answered, “We have no king except Caesar.”

^16-19 Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned him over to be crucified.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

No one on earth could claim that he is the Son of God, it’s against The Law—but Jesus did—because He was. This pain of rejection by His own was felt as the Son of Man.  They could have had Life but the religious establishment chose death offered by the enemy of God.

As we continue John’s telling of how Jesus, Son of God, was beaten beyond recognition, spit on by all his accusers, mocked as “king of the Jews,” used as a human pawn in a torturous game played by Roman soldiers before being nailed to a cross of shame, we must center our thoughts on Jesus, the Man. 

Jesus the Man felt every blow of the strap with metal spikes at the end as it ripped the flesh from his bones.  He endured the pain every human feels when slapped and pushed back and forth while being bound by bullies enjoying their momentary “power” over another human.  The Man endured the abusive mocking meant to humble Jesus, in front of all who shouted, “crucify him!”  Yes, Jesus was indeed, “The Man.”

Jesus, also the Son of God, had the power to stop it all—but He did not.  Instead, Jesus, “who knew no sin” willingly took the blame, bore the shame, and endured the excruciating pain for the punishment we desire.

The Son of God obediently completed the mission God sent Him to do with all the love of God in Him.  This Love of God in Him as Son of God pleaded from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”  This is what Jesus meant and now demonstrates when he said, “Pray for your enemies.”  We are to pray for those who hurt us and sin against God; because a heart like Jesus prays for their salvation, too.  (All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.)

And they didn’t know.  They did not and would not understand the gift God had sent.  They chose ignorance over knowledge of God.  They chose death over life eternal.  When we choose what is the worst for us, God grieves for us because He knows what could be—His best!

However, do not pity Jesus for that would lessen the importance of what He did for us.  Jesus sacrificial act provided hope and a future!  Indeed, the cross involves much more than an exhibition of innocent suffering. On that cross, the Son of God paid the price for the sins of the world and thereby declared the love of God and defended the holiness and justice of God. We are not saved by feeling pity for Jesus. We are saved by repenting of our sins and trusting Jesus, the sinless substitute.

From the human standpoint, the trial of Jesus was the greatest crime and tragedy in history. From the divine viewpoint, it was the fulfillment of prophecy and the accomplishment of the will of God. The fact that God had planned all of this did not absolve the participants of their responsibility. In fact, at Pentecost, Peter put both ideas together in one statement—

“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”         Acts 2:23, NIV

Jesus—Son of Man felt the pain while the Son of God paid the price for our redemption.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Be the one who knows, accepts the gift, and believes, really believes Jesus as you declare Him as Savior and Lord!  He is God’s best for you and for me.

Lord,

You took the blame and shame for my sins and then endured the pain for the punishment I deserved.  How can I thank you enough or praise you enough for what you did to save me and the rest of the believing world?  I can live for you, even as imperfect as I am, for I am perfectly forgiven. Thank you, thank you, thank you!  I pray even now for our enemies who do not know you and still reject your gift of love, mercy, and grace.  Give me the right words at the right time in the right spirit so they will know you, too. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

We are starving for one honest person to tell us the truth.  We long to trust those who seem to be “in the know” and who tell us when they don’t know.  We are not looking for perfection—just honesty!  We hope that we are hearing the truth about the future service of a needed appliance we are about to invest our hard-earned dollars in but it seems that is hard to find.  We must do the work to seek the truth.  In this world we must understand that the salesman has been trained to sell not necessarily tell the truth. 

The truth might lead us against buying the top dollar commission maker and lead us to what really works best for our needs at half the cost.  The repair industry offers free evaluations of your home’s roofing, heating, and air systems, etc., only to find what they can repair.  Car dealers will offer free oil changes but with the intent of finding costly trouble spots in the engine to bolster their budget.  The truth is, companies are looking for something to repair so their business stays busy and profitable. 

Why is truth so hard to find?  It appears that self and self-interest trump truth-telling in any conversation about anything of importance.  The prince of liars easily leads many of us down this path to the dark side of self-seeking power and importance by convincing us we deserve better.  Loving and serving others is not on the agenda of darkness.  Laying down your own interests for the interest of others is not agendas of the arrogant.

Jesus is Truth.  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me”. John 14:6

Jesus was sent to earth by God to be, show and tell Truth.  Jesus provided the Way back to Truth—reconciling people with God!  Believing Truth, reconciling to God through Jesus, comes with the gift from God of eternal Life! It sounds too good to be true, but it is!  Why did God do this?  He loved us. 

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.” John 3:16-17

Jesus delivered Truth first to God’s Chosen—the Jews.  But even though the leaders had read about him, debated about when Messiah would come and what He would do; Truth fell on deaf ears and closed minds.  They chose to manipulate a way to kill Truth because they felt that would be in their best interests!

“He came unto his own, and his own received him not.” John 1:11

But God was still in control.  His Plan was still in motion. “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21

Even the unbelieving Roman’s couldn’t find enough evidence to convict Jesus!

John 18, The Message

The King of the Jews

^28-29 They led Jesus then from Caiaphas to the Roman governor’s palace. It was early morning. They themselves didn’t enter the palace because they didn’t want to be disqualified from eating the Passover. So Pilate came out to them and spoke. “What charge do you bring against this man?”

³⁰ They said, “If he hadn’t been doing something evil, do you think we’d be here bothering you?”

^31-32 Pilate said, “You take him. Judge him by your law.”

The Jews said, “We’re not allowed to kill anyone.” (This would confirm Jesus’ word indicating the way he would die.)

³³ Pilate went back into the palace and called for Jesus. He said, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”

³⁴ Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own, or did others tell you this about me?”

³⁵ Pilate said, “Do I look like a Jew? Your people and your high priests turned you over to me. What did you do?”

³⁶ “My kingdom,” said Jesus, “doesn’t consist of what you see around you. If it did, my followers would fight so that I wouldn’t be handed over to the Jews. But I’m not that kind of king, not the world’s kind of king.”

³⁷ Then Pilate said, “So, are you a king or not?”

Jesus answered, “You tell me. Because I am King, I was born and entered the world so that I could witness to the truth. Everyone who cares for truth, who has any feeling for the truth, recognizes my voice.”

^38-39 Pilate said, “What is truth?”

Then he went back out to the Jews and told them, “I find nothing wrong in this man. It’s your custom that I pardon one prisoner at Passover. Do you want me to pardon the ‘King of the Jews’?”

⁴⁰ They shouted back, “Not this one, but Barabbas!” Barabbas was a Jewish freedom fighter.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jewish leaders hoped to crucify Jesus but did not have the authority to do this, so they brought him to the Roman governor, Pilate. Shrewd Pilate knew that the Jewish leaders wanted him to act as their executioner. He pronounced Jesus innocent and tried to save him, but finally consented to the crucifixion because of public pressure.  When what leaders are saying doesn’t seem right it is imperative that we examine the evidence with a mind bent on seeking Truth.  We must not be so complacent in our faith that we, too are easily led to “follow the crowd” who were led by the Liar against Truth.  We face this daily. 

God gave believers extreme Help!  “I will send you the Helper from the Father. The Helper is the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father. When he comes, he will tell about me.” –Jesus, John 15:26 We cannot do Life without the Voice of Truth to guide us through the maze of lies.  So Jesus sent us a Counselor from God who will lead us to Truth.  Pay attention to that “gut feeling” that something might be untrue for that might be the Voice of God warning us.  Listen to His Voice above all the other voices clamoring for our attention, and follow Truth! 

Ask God for wisdom to know Truth.  “Lean not on your own understanding but trust God” says the voice of God’s Holy Spirit who lives within us.  God is always with us to guide us to Truth.   

When in doubt, pause to pray for Truth to be known.  God answers this prayer!

Pilate knows what the Jews are trying to do, but he turns to the crowd for the final decision to be made.  How cowardly—but a politician at heart!  Truth is not on his agenda. Pilate wants to let Jesus go. Just give me a reason, he thinks, then I’ll set you free.  His thoughts are interrupted by a tap on the shoulder. A messenger leans and whispers. Strange. Pilate’s wife has sent word not to get involved in the case. Something about a dream she had.  Pilate walks back to his chair, sits, and stares at Jesus. “Even the gods are on your side?” he states with no explanation.  How many wide eyes have stared at him, pleading for mercy, begging for acquittal by real criminals?  But the eyes of this Jesus are calm and now He is silent.  He’s not angry with me. He’s not afraid. He seems to understand.  “What should I do with Jesus, the one called the Christ?”

“What is Truth?”Pilate exclaims, exasperated at the situation.  What do you do with a man who claims to be God, yet hates religion? What do you do with a man who knows the place and time of his death, yet goes there anyway?

You can reject him.

Or you can accept him. You can journey with Jesus. You can listen for the Voice of His Holy Spirit rise above the hundreds of voices in the world and choose to follow Him.

Lord,

I have decided to follow you.  You are Truth.  You speak Truth in Love always and forever.  You guide me to Truth when all I can see around me is false.  Truth gives me Hope and certainty of a future with you forever. You teach me to speak the language of Truth!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!  To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

It seems most of the people in our world today work harder to keep what they truly believe a secret than openly admitting it.  We like to “play it safe, close to the vest.”  This seems to be at the heart of most politicians today.  We are tired of politicians who say one thing but do another.  Trust in broken.  We vote for our choice so that our choice will do what we want done.  But this is hard when the truth of what they believe is hidden—until they are elected and behaviors reflect what the really believe.

It might surprise you, but every one of us has more than once played the part of a politician. The basic definition of a politician is to please the most people as many times as possible so that your power of influence remains intact.  We do care about what others think of us no matter what we say or deny. 

A politically minded person works hard to bring people to some form of agreement to keep the peace.  Truth may get lost as the main priority becomes agreement.  For example, we have learned that to express our basic beliefs in the work place is not acceptable by most employers—especially if you work for the government, public schools, military.  You are hired to do the work without offending, coercing, or promoting your beliefs among your coworkers and those you serve so that your assigned work is done in ways not complicated by division.

We play politics in our families, workplaces, and in our churches without much thought for what is best because we desire peace at all costs. However, that means Truth can be lost in order to please as many people as possible.  Pleasing people is a short-lived power over people that does not end well when Truth is ignored or denied.

I don’t know why these thoughts occur to me as we read how Jesus was interrogated abusively with telling the Truth, but there it is.  Do I deny to play it safe; or openly and eagerly tell the Truth?

John 18, The Message

The Interrogation

^19-21 Annas interrogated Jesus regarding his disciples and his teaching. Jesus answered, “I’ve spoken openly in public. I’ve taught regularly in meeting places and the Temple, where the Jews all come together. Everything has been out in the open. I’ve said nothing in secret. So why are you treating me like a traitor? Question those who have been listening to me. They know well what I have said. My teachings have all been aboveboard.”

²² When he said this, one of the policemen standing there slapped Jesus across the face, saying, “How dare you speak to the Chief Priest like that!”

²³ Jesus replied, “If I’ve said something wrong, prove it. But if I’ve spoken the plain truth, why this slapping around?”

²⁴ Then Annas sent him, still tied up, to the Chief Priest Caiaphas.

²⁵ Meanwhile, Simon Peter was back at the fire, still trying to get warm. The others there said to him, “Aren’t you one of his disciples?”

He denied it, “Not me.”

²⁶ One of the Chief Priest’s servants, a relative of the man whose ear Peter had cut off, said, “Didn’t I see you in the garden with him?”

²⁷ Again, Peter denied it. Just then a rooster crowed.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus is Truth.  He openly speaks Truth to all who will listen.  He is without sin.  He is the opposite of evil so Jesus has never lied to people to get them to do what He wants.  He has not manipulated minds but instead consistently and compassionately points out the difference between good and evil ways to think and behave.  “You have heard it said, but I say to you…”  Jesus is driven by God’s relentless love for us.  Jesus did not provide miracles of healing, demon departures, and rising from death to life to please people momentarily but to glorify God in ways that bring people to God forever!  Jesus was sent to save us from our sins.  Jesus is the Way to Truth who is God who provides eternal Life.  Truth just is—Truth.  You can choose to believe Truth or not.  Truth doesn’t change but Truth changes us who believe.

Peter openly denies Truth.  Peter denies knowing Jesus so that he can safely be near the action.  We want to judge him or give excuses for his denials times three that were predicted by Jesus.  But we are reminded “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”! 

Peter wants stay close, in the courtyard, that surrounds where the Jewish religious leaders hold “court” accusing Jesus.  We understand Peter’s emotions.  He wants to see what will happen to his beloved Friend.  Peter, in panic mode, momentarily forgets Jesus’ words telling them this very act would occur.  But if Peter is too scared to admit he knows Jesus, how will he be able to stop what is happening to Jesus?  Seriously, Peter, what were you thinking.

The bottom line is Peter is disobedient.  Disobedience to God’s Will opens up a Pandora’s box of impure acts of behavior.  Open denial is the opposite of why Peter came to the courtyard in the first place—to somehow protect Jesus.  Peter will learn that he cannot save the Savior.  Only Jesus saves.  This is Truth. This is God’s Plan.  We cannot and should not get in the way of God’s perfect plan.

If we want to be like Jesus, we must speak the Truth with the Love of God leading us.  It was God’s Love that led Jesus to lay down His life willingly and obediently in our place to pay for our sins—not the soldiers, religious leaders, Roman politicians, or Jewish police.  It was Jesus!  “And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death—even death on a cross!” Philippians 2:8

Paul teaches us about Truth telling based on Love:

“…we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.”             Ephesians 4:14-15, NIV

Believe and be saved.  Jesus saves.  Our directive is to point the Way to Jesus by openly telling the Truth with the Love of God flowing from us. 

True Believers persuade others to know Jesus so they can be saved and follow Him.  The politically minded manipulate so that people will follow them.  Know the difference.

Trust and obey, for there’s no other way!  Redeemed Peter will tell other believers later…

“God always knew he was going to do this for you. It’s because of this sacrificed Messiah, whom God then raised from the dead and glorified, that you trust God, that you know you have a future in God.  Now that you’ve cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it. Your new life is not like your old life. Your old birth came from mortal sperm; your new birth comes from God’s living Word. Just think: a life conceived by God himself!” 1 Peter 1:21-25, MSG 

Lord,

Peter learned some hard lessons.  We all must learn that following you is Life eternal and real Life is sustained by our obedience to You.  Trusting in what you say and what you do is the best way to live in your peace, not like the fleeting peace the world manipulates and attempts to manufactures.  Your gift of sweet peace appears right in the middle of trials that challenge our faith.  I am thankful, grateful for all the lessons you teach and continue to teach me!  Extreme joy does come in the morning after a night of learning!  Trust and obey.  There is no other way for your eternal, unending joy to live in and through us. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

How exciting it is to receive status updates of what we have ordered through the vendors of our choice!  We have a need, Amazon has it!  The price might be high but if it is exactly what we need to repair, restore, or gain access to what we are trying to fix or enter; we will pay the price.  And who doesn’t smile when our package moves past fulfillment to “your full order is on its way” status? Admit it, we love the ability to track the path our package takes along with the time it takes to get to from there to our house or place of business.  Humans do not like waiting, so the invention of status updates somehow console us and brings us into the process of the fulfillment of our need.

There is a distinctly divine process going on as Jesus fulfills God’s mission to save the world of our sin problem.  John, known as the beloved disciple, writes from his heart as he tells us how our need for a Savior is fulfilled through Jesus, God’s Son.  Jesus is The Package that contains all we need to restore, repair, and gain access to God, originated with God. 

In this next passage of John, The Package is now in the process of “fulfillment” and will soon be delivered to His accusers.  The Package will be bound tightly and then delivered to religious accusers in a divine process meant to ultimately deliver us!

Here are the status updates…

John 18, The Message

Seized in the Garden at Night

Jesus, having prayed this prayer, left with his disciples and crossed over the brook Kidron at a place where there was a garden. He and his disciples entered it.

^2-4 Judas, his betrayer, knew the place because Jesus and his disciples went there often. So Judas led the way to the garden, and the Roman soldiers and police sent by the high priests and Pharisees followed. They arrived there with lanterns and torches and swords. Jesus, knowing by now everything that was imploding on him, went out and met them. He said, “Who are you after?”

They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

^5-6 He said, “That’s me.” The soldiers recoiled, totally taken aback. Judas, his betrayer, stood out like a sore thumb.

⁷ Jesus asked again, “Who are you after?”

They answered, “Jesus the Nazarene.”

^8-9 “I told you,” said Jesus, “that’s me. I’m the one. So if it’s me you’re after, let these others go.” (This validated the words in his prayer, “I didn’t lose one of those you gave.”)

¹⁰ Just then Simon Peter, who was carrying a sword, pulled it from its sheath and struck the Chief Priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. Malchus was the servant’s name.

¹¹ Jesus ordered Peter, “Put back your sword. Do you think for a minute I’m not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?”

^12-14 Then the Roman soldiers under their commander, joined by the Jewish police, seized Jesus and tied him up. They took him first to Annas, father-in-law of Caiaphas. Caiaphas was the Chief Priest that year. It was Caiaphas who had advised the Jews that it was to their advantage that one man die for the people.

^15-16 Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus. That other disciple was known to the Chief Priest, and so he went in with Jesus to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Peter had to stay outside. Then the other disciple went out, spoke to the doorkeeper, and got Peter in.

¹⁷ The young woman who was the doorkeeper said to Peter, “Aren’t you one of this man’s disciples?”

He said, “No, I’m not.”

¹⁸ The servants and police had made a fire because of the cold and were huddled there warming themselves. Peter stood with them, trying to get warm.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The divine process begins with Jesus’ prayer to God. (See John 17)  Jesus divine conversation with His Father is said out loud in front of His disciples as a status update of God’s divine care for them.  Jesus asks for God’s help to fulfill the mission, protection for his followers, and then asks for God to protect believers to come who will benefit from what He is about to do to redeem us from sin.

Delivery Status Updates:

God answered Jesus’ prayer with readiness of mind with resolute peace as Jesus fulfills what God has sent His One and Only Son to do.

Judas leads the way for Package pick up so He can be delivered to the Accusers.  NOTICE the line up:  Judas—Roman soldiers—Jewish police—last came the Pharisees who followed in the shadows and who placed the order for the Package to be destroyed! 

Interruption of delivery service update: 

Human will gets in the way of God’s Plan.  John, appalled at Peter’s never-ending impetuousness, is the gospel writer who relates the “ear incident.” Peter interrupts the Divine process with his actions of trying to stop what God has ordered. Peter’s sword symbolizes rebellion against the will of God. Peter should have known that Jesus would be arrested and that He would willingly surrender to His enemies Jesus heals the ear and the divine process is back on track.

Jesus willingly confirms who He is and obeys their commands to go with them.  The Package is on his way…

Stops made along the way:  Jesus is delivered first to the chief priest who prophesied earlier that “one man die for the people”, unknowing fulfilling the words of the prophets who foretold Jesus’ mission.  The mind of Caiaphas has already decided Jesus must die. 

Peter and “another disciples” attempt to follow The Package as if…  We do not know who the other disciple was who went with Peter into the courtyard of the home of the high priest. It was probably John, though it is difficult to understand how a fisherman could be acquainted with the high priest and his household. Was this “other disciple” possibly Nicodemus or Joseph of Arimathea? They would certainly have access to this home.  We don’t know.  But we do know there is nothing they can do to stop what God has planned for the divine deliverance from sin. 

Tomorrow we will follow The Package to His destined finish of what God gave Him to do on earth.  The Package will be placed on a cross, willingly sacrificing His life once and for all.  Jesus delivered us in this divine process to redeem us from sin. Believe and be set free!  ALL who believe and follow Jesus have full access to God—the place of fulfillment of all we need. So, we ask…

What are you in need of most? 

To whom do you place your order for need and help? 

Who do you trust to deliver exactly what you need when you need it most?

Lord,

The Divine process of our deliverance from sin reminds us again how much you compassionately love and care for us.  Through it all, above all, while we were yet sinners, you died for our sins.  You set us free from being tied up in sins that serve to destroy us.  You knew from Creation exactly what we needed most—a Savior and Lord to live life to the full.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  There are not enough words to express my gratitude so may my life reflect what is in my heart.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen