Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

Before Jesus came to earth, the known world of God’s chosen people had not heard from Him for four centuries.  That is a long time of silence!  No prophets.  No messages.  Only growing darkness of destructive deeds, people wandering and wondering with no hope, oppressed, and poor in all kinds of ways became the norm.  But still there were a few devout people, (there is always a remnant), whose hearts were completely committed to God, who still clung to what God said, and still lived to obey the commandments God provided for them.  For generations, these devoted few taught their children.  They heard or read what the prophets foretold about the coming Messiah, the One sent from God, the One and Only who would save them—at last.  And they waited—for generations—they waited.

And then, suddenly, God opened the gates of heaven and sent Light into this dark world.  The Light, His One and Only Son, a part of Him, descended from His throne in heaven, transforming into the form of a fetus who settled within the womb of a virgin who was engaged to a devout man of God.  Mind blowing, right?

This Light would soon pierce the darkness, bringing hope to the hopeless with salvation to those lost in the dark.  His name was to be called Jesus.  He is the Messiah everyone who believed longed to see come in their day.  The Messiah will be The Way back to God, The Truth of who God is with what is right and good, while providing God’s gift of eternal Life.  Our part is to believe, really believe—and be saved from the darkness.

Luke 1, The Message

A Virgin Conceives

^26-28 In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin’s name, Mary. Upon entering, Gabriel greeted her:

Good morning!
You’re beautiful with God’s beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.

^29-33 She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, “Mary, you have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant and give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.

He will be great,
    be called ‘Son of the Highest.’
The Lord God will give him
    the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob’s house forever—
    no end, ever, to his kingdom.”

³⁴ Mary said to the angel, “But how? I’ve never slept with a man.”

³⁵ The angel answered,

The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
    the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
    will be called Holy, Son of God.

^36-38 “And did you know that your cousin Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and here she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God.”

And Mary said,

Yes, I see it all now:
    I’m the Lord’s maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
    just as you say.

Then the angel left her.

Blessed Among Women

^39-45 Mary didn’t waste a minute. She got up and traveled to a town in Judah in the hill country, straight to Zachariah’s house, and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby in her womb leaped. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, and sang out exuberantly,

You’re so blessed among women,
    and the babe in your womb, also blessed!
And why am I so blessed that
    the mother of my Lord visits me?
The moment the sound of your
    greeting entered my ears,
The babe in my womb
    skipped like a lamb for sheer joy.
Blessed woman, who believed what God said,
    believed every word would come true!

^46-55 And Mary said,

I’m bursting with God-news;
    I’m dancing the song of my Savior God.
God took one good look at me, and look what happened—
    I’m the most fortunate woman on earth!
What God has done for me will never be forgotten,
    the God whose very name is holy, set apart from all others.
His mercy flows in wave after wave
    on those who are in awe before him.
He bared his arm and showed his strength,
    scattered the bluffing braggarts.
He knocked tyrants off their high horses,
    pulled victims out of the mud.
The starving poor sat down to a banquet;
    the callous rich were left out in the cold.
He embraced his chosen child, Israel;
    he remembered and piled on the mercies, piled them high.
It’s exactly what he promised,
    beginning with Abraham and right up to now.

⁵⁶ Mary stayed with Elizabeth for three months and then went back to her own home.

The Birth of John

^57-58 When Elizabeth was full-term in her pregnancy, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives, seeing that God had overwhelmed her with mercy, celebrated with her.

^59-60 On the eighth day, they came to circumcise the child and were calling him Zachariah after his father. But his mother intervened: “No. He is to be called John.”

^61-62 “But,” they said, “no one in your family is named that.” They used sign language to ask Zachariah what he wanted him named.

^63-64 Asking for a tablet, Zachariah wrote, “His name is to be John.” That took everyone by surprise. Surprise followed surprise—Zachariah’s mouth was now open, his tongue loose, and he was talking, praising God!

^65-66 A deep, reverential fear settled over the neighborhood, and in all that Judean hill country people talked about nothing else. Everyone who heard about it took it to heart, wondering, “What will become of this child? Clearly, God has his hand in this.”

^67-79 Then Zachariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied,

Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel;
    he came and set his people free.
He set the power of salvation in the center of our lives,
    and in the very house of David his servant,
Just as he promised long ago
    through the preaching of his holy prophets:
Deliverance from our enemies
    and every hateful hand;
Mercy to our fathers,
    as he remembers to do what he said he’d do,
What he swore to our father Abraham—
    a clean rescue from the enemy camp,
So we can worship him without a care in the world,
    made holy before him as long as we live.

And you, my child, “Prophet of the Highest,”
    will go ahead of the Master to prepare his ways,
Present the offer of salvation to his people,
    the forgiveness of their sins.
Through the heartfelt mercies of our God,
    God’s Sunrise will break in upon us,
Shining on those in the darkness,
    those sitting in the shadow of death,
Then showing us the way, one foot at a time,
    down the path of peace.

⁸⁰ The child grew up, healthy and spirited. He lived out in the desert until the day he made his prophetic debut in Israel.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We cannot separate this long passage for these two women are pivotal to God’s story of salvation.  These devout women encouraged each other as they held and nurtured God’s miracles in their wombs.  God gave these two women a work to do that would make the rest of their world raise their eyebrows as they did it.  But they obeyed willingly and even joyfully when they were with each other. 

They loved and understood each other.  Elizabeth mentored Mary while Mary encouraged and helped Elizabeth.  I am convinced, (because God’s ways are always perfect), that God gave opportunity for Mary to be with Elizabeth to escape the sarcastic gossip of her community.  God also gave Mary, a teenager in our culture, opportunity to serve Elizabeth in her preparation for the birth of John.  Both sons had very specific purposes from God.  Both women felt blessed by God to obey their mission.  Both women praised God no matter what the rest of the world thought!  I love that!

Jesus and John

John would prepare the dark world for the Light with the message of hope, telling the world that the coming of the One who would take away the sins of the world for all who believe and repent of their sins has finally arrived.  The words from John, “Behold, the Lamb of God”, will change everything.  God is no longer silent!  God has come to save us!

Jesus was the Light who had the power and authority to save people from their sins.  Jesus was God in the flesh who came down from heaven and moved into the neighborhood of humanity who desperately needed a Savior and Lord.  Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin—becoming the perfect, unblemished sacrifice for all the sins of the world, so that there was no reason for anyone to perish—unless we chose to reject Him.

“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

Because God so loved these women who believed, He gave them to each other to  love, support, and cherish their divine pregnancies together.  Because of this gift of each other, their praises for God overflowed from their hearts and couldn’t be stopped!  Songs of praise burst through the darkness of ridicule, mocking and sarcasm and was replaced with the pure, unspeakable joy of God who enveloped both! This joyous praise was exclaimed in spontaneous songs, thanking God for what He has done and is doing specifically in their lives!  What a time of worship between two souls brought together by God’s call and purpose!  Wow!

Our response?  Trust God and believe what He says!  God still does this today!  He brings people into our lives who also believe with the desire to do what God says so we can love, support, encourage, and learn from each other.  Don’t let an opportunity go by that God has arranged to grow a friendship with someone who provides healthy, mutual spiritual growth.  Wherever God guides us in His will for His purpose, He also provides those to come beside us who understand each believers’ part in His Plan to seek and to save the lost. 

Lord,

Thank you for the story of your loving servants, Mary and Elizabeth. You have touched my heart by their loving kindness for each other along with their praises to You. You gave them purpose and meaning by giving them You.  You do the same for us still today.  Cleanse our hearts and make us ready for your will, your agenda for us, today.  Remove all that offends you as we repent.  Change our minds.  Refresh our souls with your new mercies.  Restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work within us.

In Jesus Name, Amen

When will we ever learn to trust in God’s timing?  We want what we want when we want it! We want it all and we want it now—whatever “it” is that occupies our hearts, minds, and souls.  Media does not help us in pursuit of wants.  Every commercial you hear is all about getting what sellers and promoters say we need and having it our way in the least amount of time.  Fast food is by the name food prepared fast so there are only seconds until we take that first bite.  The invention of the microwave was prompted by mankind’s inability to wait.  In fact, we are so impatient that when what we want finally does happen we sigh and shrug and decide we no longer want it.  It just wasn’t worth the wait.  What?!

Yes, we are a sad society who no longer patiently waits.  But we learn from the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth that God’s timing is best and waiting for it results in what is beyond our wildest dreams!  Great, unexpected, unsurpassed blessings happen to those who wait upon the Lord while living “honorably before God.” 

We also learn that when God acts—trust when and how He does it!  We learn not to question God who created all, is in all and is control over what the world needs most—to know Him and to love Him back.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Allowing God to be our guide begins with a commitment to trust. God cannot lead us where we will not follow.”

Luke 1, The Message

A Childless Couple Conceives

^5-7 During the rule of Herod, King of Judea, there was a priest assigned service in the regiment of Abijah. His name was Zachariah. His wife was descended from the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. Together they lived honorably before God, careful in keeping to the ways of the commandments and enjoying a clear conscience before God. But they were childless because Elizabeth could never conceive, and now they were quite old.

^8-12 It so happened that as Zachariah was carrying out his priestly duties before God, working the shift assigned to his regiment, it came his one turn in life to enter the sanctuary of God and burn incense. The congregation was gathered and praying outside the Temple at the hour of the incense offering. Unannounced, an angel of God appeared just to the right of the altar of incense. Zachariah was paralyzed in fear.

^13-15 But the angel reassured him, “Don’t fear, Zachariah. Your prayer has been heard. Elizabeth, your wife, will bear a son by you. You are to name him John. You’re going to leap like a gazelle for joy, and not only you—many will delight in his birth. He’ll achieve great stature with God.

^15-17 “He’ll drink neither wine nor beer. He’ll be filled with the Holy Spirit from the moment he leaves his mother’s womb. He will turn many sons and daughters of Israel back to their God. He will herald God’s arrival in the style and strength of Elijah, soften the hearts of parents to children, and kindle devout understanding among hardened skeptics—he’ll get the people ready for God.”

¹⁸ Zachariah said to the angel, “Do you expect me to believe this? I’m an old man and my wife is an old woman.”

^19-20 But the angel said, “I am Gabriel, the sentinel of God, sent especially to bring you this glad news. But because you won’t believe me, you’ll be unable to say a word until the day of your son’s birth. Every word I’ve spoken to you will come true on time—God’s time.”

^21-22 Meanwhile, the congregation waiting for Zachariah was getting restless, wondering what was keeping him so long in the sanctuary. When he came out and couldn’t speak, they knew he had seen a vision. He continued speechless and had to use sign language with the people.

^23-25 When the course of his priestly assignment was completed, he went back home. It wasn’t long before his wife, Elizabeth, conceived. She went off by herself for five months, relishing her pregnancy. “So, this is how God acts to remedy my unfortunate condition!” she said.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

BACKGROUND:  It was indeed a dark period of time for the nation of Israel. The people had heard no prophetic word from God for four hundred years—not since Malachi had promised the coming of Elijah (Malachi 4:5, 6). The spiritual leaders were shackled by tradition and, in some instances, corruption; and their king, Herod the Great, was a tyrant. He had nine (some say ten) wives, one of whom he had executed for no apparent reason. But no matter how dark the day, God always has His devoted and obedient people.  Zechariah and Elizabeth are two completely devoted to God even though saddened and shamed by the inability to have children.

We learn to trust and obey for there’s no other way to be blessed in the wait AND to be a blessing to others seeking God’s timing in their wait. 

We learn that a mighty strength comes from God as He builds His character within us as we wait—trusting in His timing!  Invite God into all the details of life.  Pray as Jesus taught, “May your Kingdom come, your will be done as it is in heaven.”  Those who know and pray this truth with trust in His will develop a wisdom for living that goes beyond human thinking.  A byproduct in prayer for God’s will be done develops a God given patience within us which is one of the “fruits” of His character we learn to bear.  (See Galatians 5)

When we live, “honorably before God,” assuming that God knows what lies ahead, our relationship and trust in Him grows exponentially by His Spirit’s power living in us.  So, trust Him—in every detail of life—trust God.  Isaiah passionately proclaims this truth:

“Have you not known?
Have you not heard?
The everlasting God, the Lord,
The Creator of the ends of the earth,
Neither faints nor is weary.
His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”

Isaiah 40:28-31 NKJV

Did Zechariah forget this Isaiah passage when told that he would bear a son?  Maybe just for a little while…more later!

Lord,

There is much more to the story as we watch you work in the lives of this senior couple who is childless in the eyes of the world as you prepare them for the conception of John who will prepare the way for you, dear Jesus!  But the lesson you seem to want us to focus on today is waiting. 

Waiting on your will, in your time, for your purposes takes work.  Lord, thank you for speaking to my heart and renewing my strength in the wait in my life.  Thank you for teaching us patience in the wait. Thank you for renewing our minds so our response is gladness when the wait is over and your work is accomplished! 

Thank you, Lord for his couple’s faith example who trusted and honored you with their lives while being customarily dishonored in their community by their inability in their early years to have children.

This miracle and blessing of birth was just the beginning to your work of salvation for the world!  Wow!  Continue to teach us as we follow in your ways.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord

Our God, You reign forever
Our hope, our strong deliverer

You are the everlasting God
The everlasting God
You do not faint
You won’t grow weary

Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord
We will wait upon the Lord…

(Strength will Rise/Everlasting God by Brenton Brown)

“Most of us, most of the time, feel left out—misfits.  We don’t belong. 

Others seem to be so confident, so sure of themselves, “insider” who know the ropes, old hands in a club from which we are excluded.

One of the ways we have of responding to this is to form our own club, or join one that will have us.  Here is at least one place where we are “in” and the others “out.”  The clubs range from informal to formal in gatherings that are variously political, social, cultural, and economic.  But the one thing they have in common is the principle of exclusion.  Identity or worth is achieved by excluding all but the chosen.  The terrible price we pay for keeping all those other people out so that we can savor the sweetness of being insiders is a reduction of reality, a shrinkage of life.

Nowhere is this price more terrible thana when it is paid in the cause of religion.  But religion has a long history of doing just that, of reducing the huge mysteries of God to the respectability of club rules, of shrinking the vast human community to a “membership.”  But with God there are no outsiders.

Luke is a most vigorous champion of the outsider.  An outsider himself, the only Gentile in an all-Jewish cast of New Testament writers, he shows how Jesus includes those who typically were treated as outsiders by the religious establishment of the day:  women, common laborers (sheepherders), the radically different (Samaritans), the poor.  He will not countenance religion as a club.  As Luke tells the story, all of us who have found ourselves on the outside looking in on life with no hope of gaining entrance (and who of us hasn’t felt it?) now find the doors wide open, found and welcomed by God in Jesus.”  —Eugene Peterson, Introduction to Luke, The Message Bible

Luke, a doctor by trade, was compassionately compelled to write on behalf of the lost who were found by Jesus.  That includes you and me, too!

Luke 1, The Message

^1-4 So many others have tried their hand at putting together a story of the wonderful harvest of Scripture and history that took place among us, using reports handed down by the original eyewitnesses who served this Word with their very lives. Since I have investigated all the reports in close detail, starting from the story’s beginning, I decided to write it all out for you, most honorable Theophilus, so you can know beyond the shadow of a doubt the reliability of what you were taught.

As we read, meditate, study, and learn from Luke, may our faith be stronger still and our love for the lost be impassioned by the fire of the Holy Spirit living within us.  It’s okay to be one who does not fit where we need not belong.  Belong to Christ.  He is our identity.

Lord,

Thank you for Dr Luke who was inspired by you to bring all the eyewitness stories together that confirm your message of salvation for all who believe. Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole. Thank you for leading me to avoid clubs of religion and instead seek those who would include everyone who needs you with open hearts and open arms. Yes, help us to continually love others like you love us—without conditions.

In Jesus Name, Amen

And were singing… “Oh Come to the Altar” by Elevation Worship

Are you hurting and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself
Do you thirst for a drink from the well?
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today, there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes, a new life is born
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide . . .
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

God beckons us to be people who believe in Him so completely that nothing will stand between or get in the way of a growing, intimate relationship with Him.  It isn’t God who puts large stones in our path, it is the enemy who does believe that God is real but hates all that God is.  It is God’s enemy who places large boulders of resistance, rebellious thoughts, hindrances we think are too great to overcome, assumptions of what is but isn’t, and presumptions of what we think cannot be done.  All these negative, destructive thoughts lead to mistrust, unbelief, doubts, and disobedience.  We lose all hope.  We need help to roll the stone away.

Mark 16, The Message

The Resurrection

^1-3 When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so they could embalm him. Very early on Sunday morning, as the sun rose, they went to the tomb. They worried out loud to each other, “Who will roll back the stone from the tomb for us?”

^4-5 Then they looked up, saw that it had been rolled back—it was a huge stone—and walked right in. They saw a young man sitting on the right side, dressed all in white. They were completely taken aback, astonished.

^6-7 He said, “Don’t be afraid. I know you’re looking for Jesus the Nazarene, the One they nailed on the cross. He’s been raised up; he’s here no longer. You can see for yourselves that the place is empty. Now—on your way. Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You’ll see him there, exactly as he said.”

⁸ They got out as fast as they could, beside themselves, their heads swimming. Stunned, they said nothing to anyone.

^9-11 [After rising from the dead, Jesus appeared early on Sunday morning to Mary Magdalene, whom he had delivered from seven demons. She went to his former companions, now weeping and carrying on, and told them. When they heard her report that she had seen him alive and well, they didn’t believe her.

^12-13 Later he appeared, but in a different form, to two of them out walking in the countryside. They went back and told the rest, but they weren’t believed either.

^14-16 Still later, as the Eleven were eating supper, he appeared and took them to task most severely for their stubborn unbelief, refusing to believe those who had seen him raised up. Then he said, “Go into the world. Go everywhere and announce the Message of God’s good news to one and all. Whoever believes and is baptized is saved; whoever refuses to believe is damned.

^17-18 “These are some of the signs that will accompany believers: They will throw out demons in my name, they will speak in new tongues, they will take snakes in their hands, they will drink poison and not be hurt, they will lay hands on the sick and make them well.”

^19-20 Then the Master Jesus, after briefing them, was taken up to heaven, and he sat down beside God in the place of honor. And the disciples went everywhere preaching, the Master working right with them, validating the Message with indisputable evidence.]

Note: Mark 16:9-20 [the portion in brackets] is not found in the earliest handwritten copies.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus was crucified, and his body buried. His followers were dismayed because he did not create a kingdom on earth. Because he died so close to the Sabbath (a day on which Israelites could do no work), his body was not completely prepared for burial. Once the Sabbath was over, the women planned to care for the body of Jesus.  These are the same women who stayed throughout the horrific suffering of their Lord and then watched as His body was taken down from the cross by Joseph of Arimathea who treated Jesus’ body with dignity and respect by purchasing a linen cloth to cover Him.  

It is on this third day that the women set out, intending to put sweet-smelling spices on His body.  The only thing deterring them on the way was the thought of the huge stone that they had earlier watched strong soldiers roll in front of the tomb to “seal it.”  But what I notice in this passage is they kept walking toward the tomb anyway!

How many times do we set out to do good because of the deep love we have for God who leads us?  But then worry sets in.  We express out loud to those in the work with us.  “Wait a second, how are we…”  Some of us stop the work and think of all the ways it cannot be done. Some of us stop and stew in worry.  Some of us just stop altogether and gaze at the stone we think is there stopping us.  And then, praise God, some of us keep walking toward God’s will, keep working by God’s leading, and keep obeying and trusting that God will provide.

Suddenly, we look up to see that the stone has already been taken care of and is no longer a problem!  How does that happen?  Jesus, Son of God!  It’s all about Jesus, not about the stone that gets in the way!  In Jesus Name, by His power working in us, the same power that brought Him from death to life eternal, yes, that same resurrection power is available to us to overcome any obstacle that might block our view of Him!!

Who will roll the stone away for us?  Jesus!  Hallelujah!

Jesus was not simply a man who led a good life and died. He rose from the dead. Death cannot hold Him or his followers. God conquered death and gave us hope.

Because the women kept walking toward the tomb, Jesus blessed them with an even greater assignment than throwing spices on the dead.  God’s angel was sent to give these women this magnificent, Good News to pass on to others—“Tell his disciples and Peter that he is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You’ll see him there, exactly as he said.”  Yes, the women learn that there is nothing to see here, no embalming with spices to do here, for Jesus is NOT dead—He has risen!  The stone you worried about out loud to each other, ladies, is no longer a problem.  So, “on your way, go and tell.”

“And Peter.”  Why specifically Peter?  Peter was designated early on as the “the rock” upon which Jesus would build His church (believers then and now!).  Matthew 16 records it and it is important right now for us to recall the conversation.  Peter answered correctly when Jesus asked His disciples, “But, who do YOU think I am?”  Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”  Peter then is given an assignment from Jesus that will be done after Jesus completes His mission on earth and ascends back to heaven.  “Now I say to you that you are Peter (which means ‘rock’), and upon this rock I will build my church, and all the powers of hell will not conquer it.”  Simon, AKA Peter, the Rock!

However, it is this same Peter who denied Jesus in the courtyard earlier, as predicted by Jesus, and is now grieving over it.  The “Rock” has been waylaid by a stones of fear, remorse and regret.  Peter, full of love for His Master, needs to be told that Jesus is alive and wants to see him!  Peter will experience forgiveness that is complete because of the once and for all sacrifice of Jesus for him—and for all who believe and call on His Name!  

We read in Acts that it is this same Peter, full of God’s Holy Spirit, who will stand up in a crowd gathered to now boldly preach Truth that will lead to thousands being saved by the forgiveness accepted by Peter himself first.  Here is an excerpt from Acts 2—

“Peter’s words pierced their hearts, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?”

Peter replied, “Each of you must repent of your sins and turn to God, and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. Then you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”  Acts 2:37-28

“Those who believed what Peter said were baptized and added to the church that day—about 3,000 in all.”  Acts 2:41 Yes! The stones of regret and remorse over the sins of denial, fear, and doubt, were rolled away and removed from Peter.  Jesus’ resurrection power enveloped Peter’s being, inside and out! Because of Peter and the other committed disciples, the Good News of new life in Jesus was spread around the world!

Our own stones of sin are just as easily rolled out of the way and removed altogether by the forgiveness of Jesus who then develops a Rock Solid faith in us that becomes unshakable and unmovable.  We have full access to the same power that resurrected our Lord!

“Resurrection power has set us free from the bondage of sin and the mistakes we have made in the past. Don’t forget that you are a new creation once you believe that Jesus paid the price for your sin on the cross. You are full of the resurrection power of God!” John 8:36, ESV

Lord,

Thank you for being in all the details of our lives then and now.  You rolled away the heavy stone for the women to reveal the risen Lord—You!  If there are stones that block our view of You or hinder what you have called us to be and do—remove them and toss them away by your power and strength.  Then help us to realize the power of you in us making us even more determined to quickly trust and obey.  Thank you for saving our souls and making us whole.  Thank you for rolling all the stones of my sins so far away I no longer see them.  I only see you.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

My hope is built on nothing less
Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness
I dare not trust the sweetest frame
But wholly lean on Jesus’ name

On Christ the solid rock I stand
All other ground is sinking sand
All other ground is sinking sand…

My grandparents just knew.  When all was falling apart around and in the family, they seemed to always know what to do.  When situations arose that were very hard and gut wrenching to everyone else; instead of panic, they knew what to do because of who they were.  They loved God with every fiber of their being.  Everyone knew it. They had a special kind of wisdom with a faith in God that was unshakable.  They lived their lives “expectantly” with hope of seeing Jesus one day.  And they did.  I am sure that they are rejoicing right now in heaven together with other saints as I write this truth.

“When you know, you know” we say these days when speaking of this special wisdom and knowledge about life.  This perfectly describes people who just know and live their lives knowing because of relying on the wisdom of God to guide them.  My grandparents lived expectantly because they lived each day guided by the One who saved their souls. 

But how did they seem to just know?  They took time to “be still and know God” which was detrimental in building their strong faith and complete trust in God. How did they do this, you might be asking?  When I visited, which was often, I watched and participated in a nightly ritual after the work day was done.  We opened our Bibles and took turns reading a passage verse by verse and commenting on it.  Then we literally went from sitting on the couch to kneeling before it to pray to God in Jesus Name in thanksgiving, adoration, requests for help for others, along with repentance.  Yes, when you know, you know.

Joseph of Arimathea knew.  The women who followed and served Jesus knew.  They were the ones left to watch over Jesus’ body when the final “It is finished” was said by their Lord.

Mark 15, The Message

Taken to a Tomb

^40-41 There were women watching from a distance, among them Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of the younger James and Joses, and Salome. When Jesus was in Galilee, these women followed and served him, and had come up with him to Jerusalem.

^42-45 Late in the afternoon, since it was the Day of Preparation (that is, Sabbath eve), Joseph of Arimathea, a highly respected member of the Jewish Council, came. He was one who lived expectantly, on the lookout for the kingdom of God. Working up his courage, he went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate questioned whether he could be dead that soon and called for the captain to verify that he was really dead. Assured by the captain, he gave Joseph the corpse.

^46-47 Having already purchased a linen shroud, Joseph took him down, wrapped him in the shroud, placed him in a tomb that had been cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the opening. Mary Magdalene and Mary, mother of Joses, watched the burial.

Lord,

As we read this passage, we know that in three days everything will change.  Our hope is in you.  I trust you with my life because you are Life.  My faith was built on nothing less that your blood shed to set me free from my sins.  Thank you, thank you, thank you. Thank you for grandparents and parents who taught me to know…I pray I will continue to praise you, thank you, and help others know you, too. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

Jesus did what we could not do for ourselves—redeem us from our sins.  Only Jesus, “who knew no sin” could place all our sins upon His shoulders while allowing soldiers to drive the nails signifying our sins into His body as a Roman designed cruel way of punishment for criminals.  He chose to lay down his life for our life.  He chose to fulfill the scriptures proclaimed by God to His designated prophets centuries earlier with the cruel way this would happen.  He chose to obey His Father who sent Him into the world to seek and to save the lost.  He chose to die alone because our sins were so great, our Perfect Father in heaven would have to turn and look away from His Son who carried them.  Jesus chose to love us beyond our thinking.  All of us. 

In fact, it was Jesus’ love for us that held him to the cross—not the ropes or nails—but His love—”while we were yet sinners.”

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”  Romans 5:8

They Bound The Hands Of Jesus In The Garden Where He Prayed;
They Led Him Thro’ The Streets In Shame.
They Spat Upon The Savior So Pure And Free From Sin;
They Said, “Crucify Him; He’s To Blame.”

He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels
To Destroy The World And Set Him Free.
He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels,
But He Died Alone For You And Me.

Mark 15, The Message

The Crucifixion

²¹ There was a man walking by, coming from work, Simon from Cyrene, the father of Alexander and Rufus. They made him carry Jesus’ cross.

^22-24 The soldiers brought Jesus to Golgotha, meaning “Skull Hill.” They offered him a mild painkiller (wine mixed with myrrh), but he wouldn’t take it. And they nailed him to the cross. They divided up his clothes and threw dice to see who would get them.

^25-30 They nailed him up at nine o’clock in the morning. The charge against him—the king of the jews—was scrawled across a sign. Along with him, they crucified two criminals, one to his right, the other to his left. People passing along the road jeered, shaking their heads in mock lament: “You bragged that you could tear down the Temple and then rebuild it in three days—so show us your stuff! Save yourself! If you’re really God’s Son, come down from that cross!”

^31-32 The high priests, along with the religion scholars, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: “He saved others—but he can’t save himself! Messiah, is he? King of Israel? Then let him climb down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then!” Even the men crucified alongside him joined in the mockery.

^33-34 At noon the sky became extremely dark. The darkness lasted three hours. At three o’clock, Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

^35-36 Some of the bystanders who heard him said, “Listen, he’s calling for Elijah.” Someone ran off, soaked a sponge in sour wine, put it on a stick, and gave it to him to drink, saying, “Let’s see if Elijah comes to take him down.”

^37-39 But Jesus, with a loud cry, gave his last breath. At that moment the Temple curtain ripped right down the middle. When the Roman captain standing guard in front of him saw that he had quit breathing, he said, “This has to be the Son of God!”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Mark tells us that everyone mocked Jesus as they passed by on their way to the city.  That was the “big finish” of the Roman designed punishment.  Criminals were nailed to a cross which was then plunked into a hole and hoisted up for all to see as a deterrent for others that think of committing crimes or rebellions against the Roman government.  Even the real criminals on crosses on either side of Jesus, began mocking Him!

When you consider all that Jesus had endured since His arrest, it is not surprising that His strength failed. Indeed, he could have called “more than twelve legions of angels” (Matthew 26:53), yet He willingly bore the suffering on our behalf. There was a higher purpose behind this act: The victim carried the cross because he had been found guilty, but our Lord was not guilty. We are the guilty ones.  He chose to carry it for us.

Every detail we read in this passage was foretold by the prophets. Crucifixion is one of the most horrible forms of death ever devised by man. For example, read Psalm 22 for a description of some of our Lord’s agonies as He hung on the cross.

Max Lucado, who has a powerful way with words because of his love for Jesus, writes:

“Judas betrayed Jesus, and the religious authorities arrested God’s Son. The disciples scattered, and Peter denied him three times. Jesus, beaten and mocked throughout the night, provided salvation through his death and resurrection.

The hours before Jesus’ crucifixion were extremely painful for him, yet he faced the sacrifice with love, courage, and conviction so great that he willingly gave up his life for us!

He looked around the hill and foresaw a scene. Three figures hung on three crosses. Arms spread. Heads fallen forward. They moaned with the wind.

Men clad in soldiers’ garb sat on the ground near the trio. They played games in the dirt and laughed.

Men clad in religion stood off to one side. They smiled. Arrogant, cocky. They had protected God, they thought, by killing this false one.

Women clad in sorrow huddled at the foot of the hill. Speechless. Faces tear streaked. Eyes downward. One put her arm around another and tried to lead her away. She wouldn’t leave. “I will stay,” she said softly. “I will stay.”

All heaven stood to fight. All nature rose to rescue. All eternity poised to protect. But the Creator gave no command.

“It must be done,” he said, and withdrew.

But as he stepped back in time, he heard the cry that he would someday scream: “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?” He wrenched at tomorrow’s agony.

The angel spoke again. “It would be less painful . . .”

The Creator interrupted softly. “But it wouldn’t be love.”

(Max Lucado, “Encouraging Word Bible”)

He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels
To Destroy The World And Set Him Free.
He Could Have Called Ten Thousand Angels,
But He Died Alone For You And Me.

To The Howling Mob He Yielded; He Did Not For Mercy Cry.
The Cross Of Shame He Took Alone.
And When He Cried, “It’s Finished.” He Gave Himself To Die;
Salvation’s Wondrous Plan Was Done.

Lord, Jesus,

Thank you. Thank you for all you did and still do to save us from sin and selfishness by your lone act of loving sacrifice. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

We can only know who a person truthfully is by what they openly do in front of our hearing and seeing.  We can listen to what they say they believe.  We can begin to know them by what they do, especially when challenges force them to reveal who they are and what they truly believe.  Sometimes we presume we know just by looking at them from a distance.  Sometimes we make assumptions based on what others say about them.  Even though no information is available with no previous knowledge we judge them.  This seems to be human nature.

“First impressions” are important as we judge each other in our world.  “You can only make one first impression so make it your best” the world teaches us.  Sometimes, I think we are trying so hard to make a good impression on those around us we lose sight of pleasing the One who loves us most.  Because of Jesus, a pure, intimate loving relationship with God who created all and is in all is available to all!  Now, that’s impressive! 

God knows us by name, knows our hearts, knows all there is about us even before we know it.  But we still go to great lengths trying to impress others.  Why do we do this?  This thinking drives us to wonder and ask repeatedly what is politically correct versus what is true and right in God’s eyes.  We are more impressed with what will land us that promotion? Who must we treat kindly to get what we want?  Who must we get out of our way to gain more power so our positions are secure?  How can we get others on board with our thinking?  There’s more strength in numbers, so we feel we must gain a crowd who will go our way!

As you read the following, who impresses you most?

Mark 15, The Message

Standing Before Pilate

At dawn’s first light, the high priests, with the religious leaders and scholars, arranged a conference with the entire Jewish Council. After tying Jesus securely, they took him out and presented him to Pilate.

^2-3 Pilate asked him, “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”

He answered, “If you say so.” The high priests let loose a barrage of accusations.

^4-5 Pilate asked again, “Aren’t you going to answer anything? That’s quite a list of accusations.” Still, he said nothing. Pilate was impressed, really impressed.

^6-10 It was a custom at the Feast to release a prisoner, anyone the people asked for. There was one prisoner called Barabbas, locked up with the insurrectionists who had committed murder during the uprising against Rome. As the crowd came up and began to present its petition for him to release a prisoner, Pilate anticipated them: “Do you want me to release the King of the Jews to you?” Pilate knew by this time that it was through sheer spite that the high priests had turned Jesus over to him.

^11-12 But the high priests by then had worked up the crowd to ask for the release of Barabbas. Pilate came back, “So what do I do with this man you call King of the Jews?”

¹³ They yelled, “Nail him to a cross!”

¹⁴ Pilate objected, “But for what crime?”

But they yelled all the louder, “Nail him to a cross!”

¹⁵ Pilate gave the crowd what it wanted, set Barabbas free and turned Jesus over for whipping and crucifixion.

^16-20 The soldiers took Jesus into the palace (called Praetorium) and called together the entire brigade. They dressed him up in purple and put a crown plaited from a thornbush on his head. Then they began their mockery: “Bravo, King of the Jews!” They banged on his head with a club, spit on him, and knelt down in mock worship. After they had had their fun, they took off the purple cape and put his own clothes back on him. Then they marched out to nail him to the cross.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND TODAY?

Who impresses you the most? 

Who occupies most of your thinking? 

What do I do to impress(please) them?

As I read the following passage this word “impress” leaps off the page. We read the human nature way of the world as we read how the religious leaders scheme to secure their power by impressing the crowd to go their way.  I think the crowd is impressed by the religious leaders even talking to them, the lowly people!  These same leaders are working overtime to get Jesus out of the way.  So, the religious have given Pilate enough information with a plethora of false accusations to interrogate Jesus.  And what is Pilate’s response?  “Pilate was impressed, really impressed.”  But Pilate’s impression of Jesus soon fades as the impressed crowd force his decision to crucify the one without sin.  Merely being impressed with Jesus is not enough!

The soldiers are impressed by a Roman leader who throws them a human (Son of Man and Son of God) to mock, torture, and eventually kill for sport.  It’s what they do best.  (This reminds me somewhat of Daniel being thrown to the lions!)  But Jesus has a mission from God to save us and He will complete it. 

Jesus, Son of God, whom God is “well pleased”, will go through all the mocking, torture, whips with spikes to tear at his flesh, only stopped by the final blow of being nailed to a cross of rough planks of wood.  Jesus will do this willingly—as the Once and for all sacrifice for all our sins because His Father loved the world passionately. 

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

But there’s more… “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.”  John 3:17-21

What is your impression of Jesus now? 

Who impresses you most? 

What or who we think about most affects the way we live, what we do, how we react, and most of all—who we worship.

Who is at the center of our lives?  Prayerfully consider.  Are we merely impressed with Jesus?  Or have we given our lives to Him?

Lord,

Thank you is not enough.  May I live a life of gratitude for the rest of my days here as I wait to see you where you are.  Gratitude grows us to be more gracious as we relate to others.  Your love in our hearts makes our love for others more precious.  Jesus, you change everything about us when we really believe what you did for us.  I’m not just impressed; I am eternally grateful.  I love you with all my heart, mind, and soul. 

Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh my soul with your new mercies today, and restore the joy of your salvation work within me. Remove all that does not impress you from me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

As the years go by, I have learned an important lesson: Never say never.  “I will never go to that state to live”—and we did.  “I will never say that to my children when I’m a mom”—and I have, many times, in fact.  “I will never eat broccoli”—and now I love it.  “I will never quit teaching”—and God called me to His full time, specific Kingdom work that included what I learned from teaching!  We think we know exactly who we are, what we will and will not do, how we will react to certain situations and scenarios that occur without notice in our lives but we really do not.  But one thing I do know— “never say never.”  The crow of the rooster is ready to warn us and wake us up from our pride.

Peter is a perfect example of “never say never.”  Let’s back tract and glance at verses 27-31—

“Jesus told them, “You’re all going to feel that your world is falling apart and that it’s my fault. There’s a Scripture that says,

I will strike the shepherd;
The sheep will scatter.

“But after I am raised up, I will go ahead of you, leading the way to Galilee.”

²⁹ Peter blurted out, “Even if everyone else is ashamed of you when things fall to pieces, I won’t be.”

³⁰ Jesus said, “Don’t be so sure. Today, this very night in fact, before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.”

³¹ He blustered in protest, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never deny you.” All the others said the same thing.

And there it is.

Mark 14, The Message

The Rooster Crowed

^66-67 While all this was going on, Peter was down in the courtyard. One of the Chief Priest’s servant girls came in and, seeing Peter warming himself there, looked hard at him and said, “You were with the Nazarene, Jesus.”

⁶⁸ He denied it: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” He went out on the porch. A rooster crowed.

^69-70 The girl spotted him and began telling the people standing around, “He’s one of them.” He denied it again.

After a little while, the bystanders brought it up again. “You’ve got to be one of them. You’ve got ‘Galilean’ written all over you.”

^71-72 Now Peter got really nervous and swore, “I never laid eyes on this man you’re talking about.” Just then the rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered how Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows twice, you’ll deny me three times.” He collapsed in tears.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“All have sinned (yes even today as in Peter’s days on earth) and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3 23) We are not perfect, so none of us can say we have arrived at perfection (though many behave as if we have, so be watchful)!  That will be the exact moment when we fall from our prideful boasts of “never will I” as the wisdom of Proverbs predicts!  (Proverbs 16:18)

Because of Jesus, and only because of Jesus work of redemption, we have hope!  Peter, the “never say never” guy, will learn from Jesus the reason He had to go the cross to forgive us of the sins we try to avoid but fall into when fear or neglect of God sets in.  Peter, full of remorse, collapses into tears, as he remembers immediately what Jesus said would happen—happened.  Unlike Judas, who hung himself out of the grief of getting caught, Peter’s heart is broken and contrite.  Peter is still connected to the One who will forgive him when the work of redemption on the cross is paid in full.  And hallelujah!  This payment is made for all of us!

Read 1 and 2 Peter for his great testimony of what Jesus has provided for all of us through redemption of our hearts, minds, and souls!  Here is an excerpt of Peter’s letters expressing our “living hope” in Jesus; “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls.” 1 Peter 1:8-9

Read Acts 2 for what happened in and through Peter after forgiveness from Jesus was humbly received with joy.  Peter, by the power of the Holy Spirit now living in him, boldly preaches so others can be saved!  Here is an excerpt; “This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses. Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”’ Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

Jesus’ forgiveness changes everything.  We cannot save ourselves, if we could we would fall to pridefully boasting about it!  Pride offends God.  Jesus’s forgiveness in Peter and the other disciples (who also ran away) launched them as compelling and committed Truth tellers of who Jesus was and what He did to save us!  It all began, as Jesus said, first in Galilee then spread like a wildfire to the rest of the world! 

A man named Saul, a devout religious Jew caught up in this wildfire, had a passionate goal to kill all the new believers in Jesus.  Could Saul, full of hate of evil within him have said, “I will never believe in this Jesus of Nazareth”?  Mm, just a thought.  We learn that on the road to Damacus with a “few good men” with the goal to rid the world of new believers, Jesus changes his mind with an awakening vision, “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?”  Read Acts 9 for the exciting account of the amazing work of the redemption work Jesus did in and through Paul.  Paul changed from being pride-filled protestor to a compassionate preacher of the Good News of Jesus Christ! 

Paul will write to churches he helped to establish with Jesus as the Cornerstone of their faith. The compassionate preacher replaced is pride with humbled adoration for the One who forgave and saved his soul.  He also realized that even though he gave his heart to Jesus, he was not perfect—only perfectly forgiven.  This alone is a great lesson for all of us who believe and “fall short” when our pride gets in the way of our relationship with Jesus.  Here is an excerpt to entice a full reading;

“But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:7-14

Press on, dear brothers and sisters, press on…we’re not there yet, but fully forgiven!

When we hear the first “crow of the rooster” who warns us and signals the sin of pride in our lives, we must fall to our knees, repent and turn back to One who loves us most.

Lord,

Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with y our new mercies this morning, and restore the joy and peace of your salvation work so powerfully at work within all who believe and call on Your Name.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Thank you, Lord

Are you hurting and broken within?
Overwhelmed by the weight of your sin?
Jesus is calling
Have you come to the end of yourself?
Do you thirst for a drink from the well?
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

Leave behind your regrets and mistakes
Come today, there’s no reason to wait
Jesus is calling
Bring your sorrows and trade them for joy
From the ashes, a new life is born
Jesus is calling

O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood…

Jesus knows exactly what we feel when we are mocked, bullied, accused of something we did not do, pushed around, ignored, disregarded in value, and openly attacked.  He went through all of that and more in His final days on earth as Son of Man.  Jesus felt every spike of the whip as it tore through his physical, human body.  His heart was broken at every slander and lie against God, His Father. 

As the Son of God, Jesus could have called the whole thing off, could have called ten thousand angels to turn the tables on his enemies and destroy them—but He did not.  His love for each one of us held Him there, silent against his accusers, as Messiah. 

We were on His mind as Jesus, who was without sin, became the sacrifice for our sins.

Mark 14, The Message

Condemned to Death

^53-54 They led Jesus to the Chief Priest, where the high priests, religious leaders, and scholars had gathered together. Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest’s courtyard, where he mingled with the servants and warmed himself at the fire.

^55-59 The high priests conspiring with the Jewish Council looked high and low for evidence against Jesus by which they could sentence him to death. They found nothing. Plenty of people were willing to bring in false charges, but nothing added up, and they ended up canceling each other out. Then a few of them stood up and lied: “We heard him say, ‘I am going to tear down this Temple, built by hard labor, and in three days build another without lifting a hand.’” But even they couldn’t agree exactly.

^60-61 In the middle of this, the Chief Priest stood up and asked Jesus, “What do you have to say to the accusation?” Jesus was silent. He said nothing.

The Chief Priest tried again, this time asking, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed?”

⁶² Jesus said, “Yes, I am, and you’ll see it yourself:

The Son of Man seated
At the right hand of the Mighty One,
Arriving on the clouds of heaven.”

^63-64 The Chief Priest lost his temper. Ripping his clothes, he yelled, “Did you hear that? After that do we need witnesses? You heard the blasphemy. Are you going to stand for it?”

They condemned him, one and all. The sentence: death.

⁶⁵ Some of them started spitting at him. They blindfolded his eyes, then hit him, saying, “Who hit you? Prophesy!” The guards, punching and slapping, took him away.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Oh, what a Savior
Isn’t He wonderful?
Sing hallelujah, Christ is risen
Bow down before Him
For He is Lord of all
Sing hallelujah, Christ is risen

What exactly is our response to what Jesus did for us?  We believe what is said here in God’s Word by His gospel writers to be the absolute Truth, the Way to God who gives Life everlasting!  We shout hallelujahs as we respond in grateful praise for Jesus who willingly suffered, died for our sins, then rose again to prove who He is—Messiah—the One and Only who saves us!

O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

O come to the altar
The Father’s arms are open wide
Forgiveness was bought with
The precious blood of Jesus Christ

The Father’s arms are open wide…

If we still think that Jesus couldn’t possible know how we feel today, couldn’t know how awful people have treated us, and couldn’t know what we need most—guess again, reread the passage slowly and prayerfully.  Jesus knows and Jesus loves because Jesus suffered all that a human body could before dying for our sins on a cross for all to see as a final humiliation.

His final words, “It is finished,” meant that all the sins of the world, past, present, and future, are paid in full for all who believe in the gift that God gave us.  The “finish” proclaimed a new beginning for each one of us who believe and realize the God knows us by name. The Finish signaled a new life with a new way of living.  The Finish provided an open door to God with a growing, loving intimacy with God.  The Finish gave us His constant Presence as His Spirit lives within our being. 

The Finish began new thinking that developed transformed minds to see our relationship with God more clearly.  The Finish cleanses hearts with knowing greater perspectives of Kingdom living, along with a complete restoration of all the broken parts mended together as we become whole and holy before God—all because of what Jesus did for us.

My Jesus knows just what I need…

Lord,

Thank you for all you endured mentally and physically, to set us free from the punishment for our sins that we deserve.  Thank you for defeating death and rising again to secure our hope of eternal life.  There is no one like you.  There will never be anyone like you.  To you be the glory, honor, and praise forever and ever, Amen

It’s almost laughable, if it weren’t so ridiculously sad as we think and plan the business of our lives so seriously and completely. We want and demand control of all situations that might affect our environments.  So, we tenaciously focus on attempting to have a plausible response for every detail that might occur.  This thinking is called overkill.  We do this in our churches—sometimes without the guidance of God’s Holy Spirit—causing the environment to look and feel like any other organization in the world.  Yikes.

Don’t read into what I’m not writing.  Proverbs is full of wisdom about wise planning along with Jesus who says “count the cost” before becoming His disciple who desires to learn to be like Him in every way. (See Luke 14 and Proverbs 16) What I have learned through God’s Word so far in my life, is that we miss the mark when what we plan is not God’s Plan.  We are prone to diligently plan then pray, “God, bless our plans”.  This is backwards to His will and quite frankly, dangerous.  Jesus just showed us in yesterday’s passage how to pray… “Not my will, but your will, Father.”  “Not what I want but what You want.” (Mark 14:25-26)

Admit it, we jump ahead of God all the time in God’s church because overkill is played out in each of our daily lives!  This habit of behavior is subtle, but we do it.  And when we do—it leads usually to overkill in the details of life as we worry.  We bypass what God intended as His will and execute our plan that seeks self-control of all outcomes as we imagine they ought to be.

I have experienced this very sin recently as a staff member for a few years of a church lead by a business minded pastor who demanded that “all the ducks” not only be in a row but counted precisely more than once as we executed man’s best made plan. Then we prayed, asking God to bless. I knew it was the wrong approach, I tried to advise, but didn’t have the authority to overcome the overkill of this thinking.  So, I prayed that God would forgive, teach, and show us His will and plan above all.  And God did just that no matter what we did.  I smiled afterwards knowing that God was, is, and always will be in control—with authority to overcome man’s plan as we attempt our puny ways of managing what He wants done. 

Is that what Judas thought as he planned for the arrest of Jesus with the religious leaders?  Was the plan of Judas overkill?  Did he plan for every scenario that he thought might happen? Did he think Jesus might resist arrest?  Is that why so many soldiers were ready to do battle if necessary?  The “kiss,” customarily a sign of affection and recognition, was Judas’s plan to signal the beginning of the suffering Jesus would do to save our souls.  But was it his plan?  Was Judas really in control?

Mark 14, The Message

A Bunch of Thugs

^43-47 No sooner were the words out of his mouth when Judas, the one out of the Twelve, showed up, and with him a bunch of thugs, sent by the high priests, religion scholars, and leaders, brandishing swords and clubs. The betrayer had worked out a signal with them: “The one I kiss, that’s the one—seize him. Make sure he doesn’t get away.” He went straight to Jesus and said, “Rabbi!” and kissed him. The others then grabbed him and roughed him up. One of the men standing there unsheathed his sword, swung, and came down on the Chief Priest’s servant, lopping off the man’s ear.

^48-50 Jesus said to them, “What is this, coming after me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal? Day after day I’ve been sitting in the Temple teaching, and you never so much as lifted a hand against me. What you in fact have done is confirm the prophetic writings.” All the disciples bailed on him.

^51-52 A young man was following along. All he had on was a bedsheet. Some of the men grabbed him but he got away, running off naked, leaving them holding the sheet.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him before he carried out the plan Judas thought he had so meticulously devised.

Judas’ plan was extreme overkill.  “What is this, coming after me with swords and clubs…,” Jesus said.  The response of Peter, the one who lopped off the ear of a soldier, according to John’s account, was also overkill for the situation at hand.

See Zechariah 11 for the foretelling of this act of betrayal that even includes the “thirty pieces of silver” in payment! 

So, Who is in control?  Not man but God!

We read the wisdom of Proverbs—

• Proverbs 16:3 – Commit your work to the Lord, and your plans will be established.
• Proverbs 16:9 – The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.
• Proverbs 15:22 – Without counsel plans fail, but with many advisers, they succeed.

But the best example is Jesus who prayed God’s will even as God’s Plan unfolded—

“Abba, Father,” he said, “everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will.” Mark 14:36

Jesus advises His disciples (and us today)—

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”  Mark 14:38, NIV

Jesus teaches us to consistently seek God’s will—

“Once more he went away and prayed the same thing.”  Mark 14:39, NIV 

If overkill is our mantra in behavior, then let’s redirect this tendency to overly and above all else seek God’s will first before plans are made—for that is the best thing we can do.  Seek the One who loves us most and desires to guide us to His best plan for us.

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”—Jesus telling us that all on earth and in heaven is in God’s hands, Matthew 6:33, NIV

Lord,

I admit and confess overkill!  Even when I see your plan at work—I will sometimes jump in to worry and add details that you might have missed—how ridiculous!  How unholy! 

Cleanse my heart of all that offends you.  Renew my mind with transformed thinking.  Refresh my soul with your new mercies and confidence in you alone for all outcomes.  Restore the joy of your salvation at work continually within me.  I have not arrived fully at where you want me to be…draw me closer still.  

Hallowed and great are you, Lord.  May Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day all that you know we will need to do your will.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive others who sin against us.  Lead us not into temptations but deliver us from evil.  For you hold all power.  To you be all glory, honor, and praise forever!

In Jesus Name, Amen