Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

We can prepare ourselves spiritually, emotionally, and physically for what lies ahead as much as humanly possible when we know hard circumstances are looming on the horizon.  The surgery that we must have, that bill with the ballooning balance that must be paid on time, that child who leaves for college, or a parent who is reaching a time when they can no longer live alone.  These are just a few of the many things in life that we can prepare for to some extent with limitations without knowing the realty of how it will be resolved. Do we pray, not what I want, but what do you want, Lord?  

Jesus falls on his knees in the garden that night of nights to talk with His Father, one more time as His Son on earth. Jesus knows the betrayer will soon come.  Try to imagine the heaviness that overwhelms Jesus as the Son of God who knows what He is about to endure as Messiah—The One who will saves us.  Jesus He goes over the mission three times with His Father, until that “time had come” for Him to fulfill what Scripture foretold centuries earlier. Jesus must face alone what God has sent Him to do.

Isaiah one of the prophets, inspired by God, describes what Jesus will do to pay our sin-debt.  A once and for all sacrifice must be made in payment for our sins so that all who believe in God, repent in Jesus Name, can be reconciled, (reconnected), to God in a holy, intimate, loving relationship with God.  God loved.  God provided a plan.  Jesus was the Plan.  Jesus loved us.  Jesus carried out the Plan.

“Surely he took up our pain and bore our suffering,
yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities;
the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. We all, like sheep, have gone astray,each of us has turned to our own way;
and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested?
For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.

He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death,
though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth.

Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer… Isaiah 53:1-10

Jesus knew what was about to happen.  It wasn’t the darkness of night.  It wasn’t fear of the Judas bringing a legion of soldiers. The “suffocating darkness” was caused by all the sins of the world being laid, one by one, upon His Body until they become such an overwhelming burden that it brings Jesus slumping to His knees.  The weight of our sins must be carried to the cross and be nailed there through Jesus body.  Is Jesus beginning to feel the death that sin causes looming within Him?  Or is it what God must do while our sins are being carried by Jesus?

Jesus cries out, “Take this cup away from me.” But in the same breath, “But please, not what I want—what do you want?”  Jesus, Son of God, knew the answer, but had to ask as Son of Man. 

As the sins of the world are placed upon Jesus, God must turn his face away from Him until “it is finished,” the most devasting pain of all to God’s Son; all because God cannot be where sin resides. 

Jesus is now ready to pay the price.  Alone.

Mark 14, The Message

Gethsemane

^32-34 They came to an area called Gethsemane. Jesus told his disciples, “Sit here while I pray.” He took Peter, James, and John with him. He sank into a pit of suffocating darkness. He told them, “I feel bad enough right now to die. Stay here and keep vigil with me.”

^35-36 Going a little ahead, he fell to the ground and prayed for a way out: “Papa, Father, you can—can’t you?—get me out of this. Take this cup away from me. But please, not what I want—what do you want?”

^37-38 He came back and found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Simon, you went to sleep on me? Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert, be in prayer, so you don’t enter the danger zone without even knowing it. Don’t be naive. Part of you is eager, ready for anything in God; but another part is as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”

^39-40 He then went back and prayed the same prayer. Returning, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open, and they didn’t have a plausible excuse.

^41-42 He came back a third time and said, “Are you going to sleep all night? No—you’ve slept long enough. Time’s up. The Son of Man is about to be betrayed into the hands of sinners. Get up. Let’s get going. My betrayer has arrived.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Believe, repent of all sins, and be saved for eternity. 

God’s gift of salvation is free for the asking.  Jesus has truly paid it all. 

There is no sin too great that cannot be forgiven once and for all eternity.

What are we waiting, longing, and preparing for in life right now?  Are we praying, “God what do YOU want?”  He will answer.

Lord,

Thank you for these thoughts that create an even greater sense of gratitude for all you have done for me and everyone else who asks for your gift of salvation!  Nothing on earth is greater than your forgiveness.  No one compares to your compassion, love, mercy and grace.  Thank you, thank you, thank you for taking my sins to the cross.  You did what we cannot do for ourselves.  You, dear Jesus, made a way for us to talk with God with nothing standing between us.  What a Savior!  What a love you have for us!

In Jesus Name, Amen

When we gather with our loved ones over a meal, we tell stories of our past, shared experiences together.  We laugh over circumstances that caused us great concern in the moment, but now is just a memory of a lesson learned.  “Remember that time when…” begins most sentences as we go back over our lives lived among family and friends. 

Jesus’ family of followers, The Twelve, are eating their last meal together, but they don’t fully realize that it is the last—for a little while.  They don’t know that this time together leads to the climax of why Jesus came to earth.  But Jesus knows.  So, Jesus speaks to them in very personal terms with a love that is unfathomable to each one of them—and to us.  There is little time left.  The cross is in view.  But right now, Jesus’ love is expressed to those who left everything behind to follow their Master for three years.

Mark 14, The Message

“This Is My Body”

²² In the course of their meal, having taken and blessed the bread, he broke it and gave it to them. Then he said,

Take, this is my body.

^23-24 Taking the chalice, he gave it to them, thanking God, and they all drank from it. He said,

This is my blood,
God’s new covenant,
Poured out for many people.

²⁵ “I’ll not be drinking wine again until the new day when I drink it in the kingdom of God.”

²⁶ They sang a hymn and then went directly to Mount Olives.

* * *

^27-28 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.” Allthe others said the same thing.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Do we really believe what God says about who He really real—and personal? 

When Truth(Jesus) is slandered, blatantly mocked, and arrogantly beaten down in our world, do we deny, hide, or dig in and uphold our belief in Jesus? Does our behavior match our belief?  Jesus needs no defense.  Truth is truth whether He is believed or not.  But can we tell the Truth, live the Truth, and uphold the Truth in us?

Even Peter denied ever knowing Jesus in the moments of fear as He watched Jesus be beaten beyond recognition.  In the world in which we live, unbelieving people are getting bolder about tearing down our faith in Jesus.  I experienced this last week!  The meanness, harsh words, and unbelief broke my heart.  Then I remember, many are mentally and physically beaten in some parts of the world who believe but refuse to deny Jesus.  In our workplaces, schools, and among our family and friend gatherings the enemy is slinking into every facet of our lives, every conversation, as he masquerades what is socially acceptable deemed as “good” for all, while getting as close to the truth without being truth which fools most people.  When behaviors arise that offend God, (and us), why are we surprised?

Notice what Mark writes about how Jesus promises to go ahead of his followers who believe in Truth.  He also promises to always be with us who believe as we stand firm as the Body of Christ telling others about Him.  Jesus knows what we will need when we need it most.

FACT:  When it seems like the world is falling apart all around us as we watch our once trusted leaders in God’s church fall to the temptations of sin, exposed as living a lie, Jesus is still Truth.  Jesus will always be Truth for He was the same then as He walked the earth, the same today, and will be the same Truth we can rely on forever.  (See Hebrews 13:8)

So, trust Jesus, wholly lean on Jesus’ Name, rely on His wisdom, lay down personal control for His perfect guidance because what He says is True!  Jesus also promised and delivered a Helper for us.  He gave us the power of His Holy Spirit to challenge us in difficult circumstances, to help us discern Truth from lies, and to be our strength when endurance is needed to stand for Truth!

God’s love for us is personal.  God’s top priority is growing a personal, intimate, loving relationship with us.  His love never ends, never gives up on us, consistently pursues us, and is relentlessly focused on us.  Who on earth can love us like He does?  (No one!)  Jesus later tells his followers, “Love each other like I love you.”  Yes, that’s a tall order but it is the perfect standard by which God’s love is measured in us.  Do we love each other the way Jesus loves us?

“This is My Body. This is My Blood”—Jesus   Believe and be saved by the Blood shed for our sins.

We are the Body of Christ. 

Lord,

There are many thoughts here that come to mind, but one conclusion.  No matter what, when all around us seems to fall apart, nothing can separate us from your love.  And that’s the Truth.  Thank you for loving us the way you do!  Thank you for drawing us close to you when we seek you.  I was lost but now I am found.

In Jesus Name, Amen

“There’s a Judas among us!”  In Hebrew Baby Names the meaning of the name Judas is: Praise. The praised one. However, this name became synonymous with traitor, as the apostle (disciple) Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver.  When Judas delivered the “kiss of death” to Jesus that night in the Garden of Gethsemane, his name no longer meant “the praised one” but “one who betrays under the guise of friendship.”

In Greek Baby Names the meaning of the name Judas is: The apostle, Judas Iscariot, betrayed Jesus Christ for thirty pieces of silver. As a result, the name Judas is used as a synonym for ‘traitor’ and is not often used as a first name.

Jesus knew what was in the heart of Judas.  Jesus knew what Judas was thinking that night when he would betray Jesus.  Jesus is the Son of God as well as the Son of Man who knew the troubled man behind the pretentious mask of feigned love and friendship that revealed a lost soul.  The act of betrayal didn’t happen overnight. The evil who resided in one of The Twelve had been plotting all along to use Judas in an attempt to bring down his rival—Jesus!  But Jesus has no rival!

You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, God, You reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the Glory
Yours is the Name above all names

What a powerful Name it is, what a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is, nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is, the Name of Jesus

Judas was no match for Jesus!  Jesus loved him and came to earth to save him along with everyone else in the world of all our sins.  But Judas declined to return Jesus’ love to him.

Mark 14, The Message

Traitor to the Son of Man

¹² On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the day they prepare the Passover sacrifice, his disciples asked him, “Where do you want us to go and make preparations so you can eat the Passover meal?”

^13-15 He directed two of his disciples, “Go into the city. A man carrying a water jug will meet you. Follow him. Ask the owner of whichever house he enters, ‘The Teacher wants to know, Where is my guest room where I can eat the Passover meal with my disciples?’ He will show you a spacious second-story room, swept and ready. Prepare for us there.”

¹⁶ The disciples left, came to the city, found everything just as he had told them, and prepared the Passover meal.

^17-18 After sunset he came with the Twelve. As they were at the supper table eating, Jesus said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators, one who at this moment is eating with me.”

¹⁹ Stunned, they started asking, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it?”

^20-21 He said, “It’s one of the Twelve, one who eats with me out of the same bowl. In one sense, it turns out that the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense, the man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Don’t be a Judas is my first thought!  Betrayal doesn’t end well.

But, friends, we cannot grasp the full meaning of what is happening until we read all the details of what occurred that night.  John supplies us with even more meaning through His more detailed recollection. As we read John 13, we come to realize that Judas was treated with the same love that Jesus extended to all His disciples.  This kind of love goes beyond our thinking.  If we knew a betrayer was in our home, how would be treat him or her?  Would we even serve them?

According to John, Jesus added an element of surprise to the Passover Meal when he stepped away from the Head Seat of the Passover Table, laid aside His robe, and then wrapped a towel around his waist.  Jesus then picked up a basin of water, meant for the lowliest of the household to wash the feet of those who enter as a sign of hospitality.  Washing the sandaled feet of those who daily walked dry, dusty roads was a custom that none of the other disciples thought to carry out that night.  But Jesus, King of kings and Lord of lords, the Son of God, did.  In this act of service, Jesus showed them the full extent of His love for each one of them—even Judas!  Read on…

“Before the Passover celebration, Jesus knew that his hour had come to leave this world and return to his Father. He had loved his disciples during his ministry on earth, and now he loved them to the very end.It was time for supper, and the devil had already prompted Judas, son of Simon Iscariot, to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had given him authority over everything and that he had come from God and would return to God. So he got up from the table, took off his robe, wrapped a towel around his waist, and poured water into a basin. Then he began to wash the disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel he had around him.

When Jesus came to Simon Peter, Peter said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”

Jesus replied, “You don’t understand now what I am doing, but someday you will.”

“No,” Peter protested, “you will never ever wash my feet!”

Jesus replied, “Unless I wash you, you won’t belong to me.”

Simon Peter exclaimed, “Then wash my hands and head as well, Lord, not just my feet!”

Jesus replied, “A person who has bathed all over does not need to wash, except for the feet, to be entirely clean. And you disciples are clean, but not all of you.” For Jesus knew who would betray him. That is what he meant when he said, “Not all of you are clean.”

After washing their feet, he put on his robe again and sat down and asked, “Do you understand what I was doing? You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and you are right, because that’s what I am. And since I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash each other’s feet. I have given you an example to follow. Do as I have done to you. I tell you the truth, slaves are not greater than their master. Nor is the messenger more important than the one who sends the message. Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.

Then Jesus Predicts His Betrayal

“I am not saying these things to all of you; I know the ones I have chosen. But this fulfills the Scripture that says, ‘The one who eats my food has turned against me.’I tell you this beforehand, so that when it happens you will believe that I am the Messiah.I tell you the truth, anyone who welcomes my messenger is welcoming me, and anyone who welcomes me is welcoming the Father who sent me.”

Now Jesus was deeply troubled, and he exclaimed, “I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me!”

The disciples looked at each other, wondering whom he could mean. The disciple Jesus loved was sitting next to Jesus at the table.Simon Peter motioned to him to ask, “Who’s he talking about?” So that disciple leaned over to Jesus and asked, “Lord, who is it?”

Jesus responded, “It is the one to whom I give the bread I dip in the bowl.” And when he had dipped it, he gave it to Judas, son of Simon Iscariot. When Judas had eaten the bread, Satan entered into him. Then Jesus told him, “Hurry and do what you’re going to do.” None of the others at the table knew what Jesus meant. Since Judas was their treasurer, some thought Jesus was telling him to go and pay for the food or to give some money to the poor. So Judas left at once, going out into the night.” John 13:1-30, NIV

Jesus taught AND demonstrated the love of God for His disciples to hear and see. Jesus not only taught us to love those who love us back but to love even our enemies.  Now, in the last meal with The Twelve, Jesus bends down to show them the FULL EXTENT of this love God has for each one of His created and washes ALL those dirty, dusty feet—even the feet of Judas, his betrayer. 

“Now that you know these things, God will bless you for doing them.” –Jesus

You were the Word at the beginning
One with God the Lord Most High
Your hidden glory in creation
Now, revealed in You our Christ

What a beautiful Name it is, what a beautiful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a beautiful Name it is, nothing compares to this
What a beautiful Name it is, the Name of Jesus

You didn’t want heaven without us
So Jesus, You brought heaven down
My sin was great, Your love was greater
What could separate us now?

What a wonderful Name it is, what a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a wonderful Name it is, nothing compares to this…

Judas had a choice.  He chose to betray His Teacher who would become the Savior of the world.  Judas was later full of regret that night, but not enough to ask for forgiveness.  Instead, he hung himself.  The “kiss” Judas gave to Jesus for the soldiers to see as a sign indicating “this is the one” was delivered the same night Jesus washed his feet and served him the Passover meal.  (Mind blown, right?)  This kiss became Judas’ own “kiss of death” forever. 

Jesus, “deeply troubled,” knew what Judas would choose. 

Jesus continued the mission God sent Him to complete until the sacrifice was finished on earth for the sins of the world.  “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 as we know, this was only the beginning…

Death could not hold You, the veil tore before You
You silenced the boast of sin and grave
The Heavens are roaring the praise of Your glory
For You are raised to life again

You have no rival, You have no equal
Now and forever, God, You reign
Yours is the Kingdom, Yours is the Glory
Yours is the Name above all names

What a powerful Name it is, what a powerful Name it is
The Name of Jesus Christ my King
What a powerful Name it is, nothing can stand against
What a powerful Name it is, the Name of Jesus

(Songwriters: Ben Fielding / Brooke Ligertwood, “What A Beautiful Name”)

Lord,

Thank you for your love that cannot be measured in human terms but yet you relentlessly love us still.  Thank you for this love that leads to forgiveness of all our sins. Thank you for dying in my place for the punishment I deserve.  And most of all thank you for demonstrating the full of extent of your love so that we could have an example to follow that is above all other loves.  May we take this passage to heart as you fill us with your love today.  Then, by your power within us, may we demonstrate your love to others.

In Jesus Name, Amen

“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”—Jesus

In moment of eating with friends, you are taken back in emotion over a surprising act of devotion, love, and respect.  But then, after dinner, one of your friends, who you loved and trusted, betrays you secretly without mercy.  It happens.  We live in an imperfect, broken world.

But be encouraged, Jesus knows the world we live in that is full of fickle, unpredictable people. Some believe.  Some do not.  Lost people follow the “influencers” of the day and judge harshly those who do not.  Because of their lostness and indecisiveness, their souls have been sold to evil one who is the father of lies and manipulator of the trouble in this world.  Satan uses people to perpetuate his lies. We are all caught in the crossfire!  Sometimes we even shoot our own!  

Mark 14, The Message

Anointing His Head

^1-2 In only two days the eight-day Festival of Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread would begin. The high priests and religion scholars were looking for a way they could seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. “We don’t want the crowds up in arms,” they said.

^3-5 Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper. While he was eating dinner, a woman came up carrying a bottle of very expensive perfume. Opening the bottle, she poured it on his head. Some of the guests became furious among themselves. “That’s criminal! A sheer waste! This perfume could have been sold for well over a year’s wages and handed out to the poor.” They swelled up in anger, nearly bursting with indignation over her.

^6-9 But Jesus said, “Let her alone. Why are you giving her a hard time? She has just done something wonderfully significant for me. You will have the poor with you every day for the rest of your lives. Whenever you feel like it, you can do something for them. Not so with me. She did what she could when she could—she pre-anointed my body for burial. And you can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she just did is going to be talked about admiringly.”

^10-11 Judas Iscariot, one of the Twelve, went to the cabal of high priests, determined to betray him. They couldn’t believe their ears, and promised to pay him well. He started looking for just the right moment to hand him over.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

The woman honors Jesus with expensive perfume.  Judas betrays Jesus after dinner.  All in a day’s work for Jesus who came to earth to seek and to save the lost.

In this world, we will have troubles along with the precious times when all goes well.  Through it all, Jesus, our Savior and Lord, makes it well with our souls!

Jesus knows the world in which we are navigating today.  He knows that there are good times along with the difficult moments in our lives that challenge our faith and trust in Him.  But “take heart,” says Jesus!  Jesus has overcome this world and is preparing a place for us in God’s forever Kingdom.  Jesus has already won the war with the prince of darkness who still causes trouble and tries to distract and block our view of God.  We need to remember that we can and will endure temporary skirmishes with evil by calling on the Name of Jesus because it is Jesus who has already won the war!

And that’s not all!  Don’t forget the promise of a Helper, God’s Holy Spirit, who comes in power to live in all who believe.  As we go and tell the Good News of salvation through Jesus, He also promises to be with us always!  All day long and through the night—He is with us.  There is power to obey in Jesus Name!

The woman showed her devotion by giving up her savings of expensive perfume meant for burial embalming.  She gave it up from a deep sense of love for the One who loved her first.

Judas showed the true colors of his heart in his betrayal of Jesus, the One who loved him first.

So, which response to Jesus who loves us, most resembles our lives’ actions?  Yes, I know I’m getting personal as we get right to the heart of the matter. But it is good to evaluate our lives and ask for help with cleansing from God to remove from us what offends Him.

Take heart, Jesus has overcome the world in which we live, too.

Lord,

The thoughts you have led me to this morning are seriously personal and cause me to fall to my knees in humbled gratitude for who you are.  Cleanse my heart, renew my mind, refresh my soul with your new mercies along with your wisdom and discernment, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within me by your power—all because of your amazing love for me.  Thank you!  I love you, Lord with all that is within me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Randy and I were blessed to make a trip to Purdue University this past weekend to see our grandson play his instrument with the college orchestra in his first year in college. The music was beautifully and artistically executed.  It was truly a joy to be there and see his talent extended with other students who love to play their instruments.

While there we took a brief tour of the beautiful campus.  We were told about 50,000 students attend this university, making the campus a city of its own.  We were impressed and in awe as we walked around, observing the beautiful old buildings with carved embellishments created in the late 1800’s but kept in pristine shape for this generation to enjoy.  What a great place to learn in the classrooms and halls of study of these great buildings.  This is one of the top engineering schools in the world, so the buildings reflect their engineering ingenuity!  It is easy to be in awe of greatness!

The fishermen of the sea along with others who made their living in small towns follow Jesus into Jerusalem. Like us who marvel at great structures, they, too are in awe of the Temple that rises up in the sky with intricate architecture in the stonework.  They know  how much time and care it took from the creative designer’s drawings along with the sweat of those who carried stone by stone to put in place according to the plan.

Then Jesus redirects their sighs of awe and wonder with what is to come that is greater still!  God has a Plan.

Mark 13, The Message

Doomsday Deceivers

13 As he walked away from the Temple, one of his disciples said, “Teacher, look at that stonework! Those buildings!”

² Jesus said, “You’re impressed by this grandiose architecture? There’s not a stone in the whole works that is not going to end up in a heap of rubble.”

^3-4 Later, as he was sitting on Mount Olives in full view of the Temple, Peter, James, John, and Andrew got him off by himself and asked, “Tell us, when is this going to happen? What sign will we get that things are coming to a head?”

^5-8 Jesus began, “Watch out for doomsday deceivers. Many leaders are going to show up with forged identities claiming, ‘I’m the One.’ They will deceive a lot of people. When you hear of wars and rumored wars, keep your head and don’t panic. This is routine history, and no sign of the end. Nation will fight nation and ruler fight ruler, over and over. Earthquakes will occur in various places. There will be famines. But these things are nothing compared to what’s coming.

^9-10 “And watch out! They’re going to drag you into court. And then it will go from bad to worse, dog-eat-dog, everyone at your throat because you carry my name. You’re placed there as sentinels to truth. The Message has to be preached all across the world.

¹¹ “When they bring you, betrayed, into court, don’t worry about what you’ll say. When the time comes, say what’s on your heart—the Holy Spirit will make his witness in and through you.

^12-13 “It’s going to be brother killing brother, father killing child, children killing parents. There’s no telling who will hate you because of me.

“Stay with it—that’s what is required. Stay with it to the end. You won’t be sorry; you’ll be saved.

Run for the Hills

^14-18 “But be ready to run for it when you see the monster of desecration set up where it should never be. You who can read, make sure you understand what I’m talking about. If you’re living in Judea at the time, run for the hills; if you’re working in the yard, don’t go back to the house to get anything; if you’re out in the field, don’t go back to get your coat. Pregnant and nursing mothers will have it especially hard. Hope and pray this won’t happen in the middle of winter.

^19-20 “These are going to be hard days—nothing like it from the time God made the world right up to the present. And there’ll be nothing like it again. If he let the days of trouble run their course, nobody would make it. But because of God’s chosen people, those he personally chose, he has already intervened.

No One Knows the Day or Hour

^21-23 “If anyone tries to flag you down, calling out, ‘Here’s the Messiah!’ or points, ‘There he is!’ don’t fall for it. Fake Messiahs and lying preachers are going to pop up everywhere. Their impressive credentials and bewitching performances will pull the wool over the eyes of even those who ought to know better. So watch out. I’ve given you fair warning.

^24-25 “Following those hard times,

Sun will fade out,
    moon cloud over,
Stars fall out of the sky,
    cosmic powers tremble.

^26-27 “And then they’ll see the Son of Man enter in grand style, his Arrival filling the sky—no one will miss it! He’ll dispatch the angels; they will pull in the chosen from the four winds, from pole to pole.

^28-31 “Take a lesson from the fig tree. From the moment you notice its buds form, the merest hint of green, you know summer’s just around the corner. And so it is with you. When you see all these things, you know he is at the door. Don’t take this lightly. I’m not just saying this for some future generation, but for this one, too—these things will happen. Sky and earth will wear out; my words won’t wear out.

^32-37 “But the exact day and hour? No one knows that, not even heaven’s angels, not even the Son. Only the Father. So keep a sharp lookout, for you don’t know the timetable. It’s like a man who takes a trip, leaving home and putting his servants in charge, each assigned a task, and commanding the gatekeeper to stand watch. So, stay at your post, watching. You have no idea when the homeowner is returning, whether evening, midnight, cockcrow, or morning. You don’t want him showing up unannounced, with you asleep on the job. I say it to you, and I’m saying it to all: Stay at your post. Keep watch.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We had to read the entire chapter to get the whole story.  Simply put: Jesus is coming back.  Be ready for His coming. 

Mark relates the conversation Jesus had with his disciples in short, imperative statements:

• Watch out for doomsday deceivers!
• Keep your head—don’t panic!
• Preach the Message!  God’s Holy Spirit will give us the words.
• Stay with it—that’s what is required.  Even if they hate you because of Me.
• Be ready to run from evil that will permeate the places evil should not be.  God has already intervened on behalf of believers. No one knows the Day or time—only God. When Jesus arrives—all will know it is Him.  No one will miss it!
• Stay at your post—keep watch!  Keep doing what God has given you to do until He comes—stone by stone.

Peter, who walked with Jesus that day, reminds all of us that in the wait:

“Present yourselves as building stones for the construction of a sanctuary vibrant with life, in which you’ll serve as holy priests offering Christ-approved lives up to God. The Scriptures provide precedent: Look! I’m setting a stone in Zion, a cornerstone in the place of honor.”  1 Peter 2:4-8, (MSG)

Lord,

I believe.  I will keep watch.  Lord, Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new mercies, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within us, one stone at a time as we build our lives on You, the Cornerstone.  We will keep watch as we keep building upon your firm foundation.

In Jesus Name, Amen

And we’re singing in worship and awe to the One who deserves all praise!—

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

When darkness seems to hide His face
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil

Christ alone, cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all

His oath, His covenant, His blood
Support me in the ‘whelming flood
When all around my soul gives way
He then is all my hope and stay
He then is all my hope and stay

Christ alone, cornerstone
Weak made strong in the Savior’s love
Through the storm
He is Lord, Lord of all
He is Lord
Lord of all

When He shall come with trumpet sound
Oh, may I then in Him be found
Dressed in His righteousness alone
Faultless, stand before the throne

All to Jesus I surrender
All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him
In His presence daily live

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all

This old hymn is playing in the background of my mind as I read this passage that grips my heart every time I read it and meditate on what Jesus is teaching his followers. While on earth Jesus, who refers to Himself Son of Man, is keenly aware of all that is going on around Him.  As the Son of God, Jesus uses everything he observes as a “teachable moment” for his disciples—that’s what a great Teacher does—uses every moment in every day life to help us learn to be more like our Master Teacher who is our Savior and Lord.

I surrender all to His teaching this morning by fixing my full attention on Him.

Mark 12, The Message

^35-37 While he was teaching in the Temple, Jesus asked, “How is it that the religion scholars say that the Messiah is David’s ‘son,’ when we all know that David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said,

God said to my Master,
    “Sit here at my right hand
    until I put your enemies under your feet.”

“David here designates the Messiah ‘my Master’—so how can the Messiah also be his ‘son’?”

The large crowd was delighted with what they heard.

^38-40 He continued teaching. “Watch out for the religion scholars. They love to walk around in academic gowns, preening in the radiance of public flattery, basking in prominent positions, sitting at the head table at every church function. And all the time they are exploiting the weak and helpless. The longer their prayers, the worse they get. But they’ll pay for it in the end.”

^41-44 Sitting across from the offering box, he was observing how the crowd tossed money in for the collection. Many of the rich were making large contributions. One poor widow came up and put in two small coins—a measly two cents. Jesus called his disciples over and said, “The truth is that this poor widow gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We spoke of 1 Corinthians 13 yesterday as a way to describe the love of God.  I am reminded just now of the words that begin that description—that is not of God, “If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” (1 Corinthians 13:1)

Imagine the high and mighty, or as we would say it today, the “rich and famous” pulling their robes back to reveal a huge pouch full of coins.  Everyone watches and hears as they untie the bag and loudly spill the coins slowly so that each piece of precious metal is heard as a “clanging symbol” of their wealth and faux piousness.  They have lots to give and they want everyone to know it.  They come to the big brass offering container and throw in their contribution as loudly as they can.  Everyone sees and hears their contribution fall into the vessel.

Isn’t that the similar to some sport stars who make an insanely amount of money who are prompted to give a portion of their wealth to the needy mainly for the great publicity it is for them?  But we can be that way, too.  Many of us are tempted to be “clanging symbols” in our behaviors of giving.  We love the attention it gives us.  What’s worse is when attach “strings” to our giving to the church.  But that is for another time…

Let’s dive deeper in to this passage.  Jesus not only watched but observed how each giver gave their offering.  To watch is look over and see what is happening.  To observe is to notice or perceive (something) and register it as being significant.  Jesus notices the woman who “gave more to the collection than all the others put together. All the others gave what they’ll never miss; she gave extravagantly what she couldn’t afford—she gave her all.”  Jesus, Son of God, knows the heart of the giver.

When we give, what is in our hearts?  This is what Jesus “observes” in us as we daily give ourselves to Him.  Are we clanging symbols who say we love Him but turn our backs on loving others?  Are we loud in giving but quite in telling His Truth?  Do we give ceremoniously or humbly and quietly—without any fanfare?

All to Jesus I surrender
Make me, Savior, wholly Thine
Let me feel Thy Holy Spirit
Truly knowing that Thou art mine

I surrender all
I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all

It seems the questions for us to respond to today is; How and why do I give?  What is the condition of my heart when I give?  God knows our hearts and still observes whose hearts are His.  2 Chronicles 16:9 says; “The eyes of the LORD search the whole earth in order to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him.”  God knows and observes our hearts.

Want some advice that is “newer”?  “Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”  2 Corinthians 9:6-8

How we give seems to be more important to God.  Are we “clanging symbol” givers or grateful, quiet givers who give all we have and all we are to the One who loves us most?

Paul gives us great advice in Romans 12 about what and how to give;

“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

It’s not about the coins.  It’s about our hearts, minds, and souls.

Lord,

I offer my life to you.  All of it.  Use me a vessel of your love that permeates my being so the love is my habit without thinking about how it benefits me.  It’s not about me.  It’s all about You. 

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen.

All to Jesus I surrender
Now I feel the sacred flame
Oh the joy of full salvation
Glory, glory to his name

I surrender all
Oh, I surrender all
All to Thee
My blessed Savior
I surrender all…

We come so close to thinking we have life figured out.  It is in these “figured out” times that we realize that the more we know, the more we don’t know, and need to know.  We want God on our terms packaged in a way that is readily and easily within reach when we need Him.  We want to put Him in a box, tied up with a beautiful ribbon and a bow on top.  When we do this, we put limits on the God, the One and Only God who knows all, created all, is in all, and above all.  And above it all—He loves us with a relentless love we cannot completely understand or fully describe.

In our passage today, Jesus reminds those within hearing what God wants from us. Jesus is quoting from Deuteronomy 6, a passage that the religious leaders have memorized but not taken to heart.  So, Jesus teaches the religious scholar, one who’s job is to study and interpret God’s Word, the answer to our deepest need—a loving, intimate relationship with the One who loved us from the beginning of creation–even before we were born!  Jesus reintroduces the love of God and our love back to Him as the foundation of our relationship with God and then with others.

Humans without God tend to love with conditions.  I love you—when you do this for me.  I love you—when you give to me.  I love you—when you are good to me.  It’s all about me, isn’t it?  But Jesus presents a love that is beyond normal thinking and takes us to higher Kingdom thinking.  Jesus tells of a love that is found in God’s Kingdom, a committed love for God that drives our thinking and behaving.  Jesus declares this standard of love to be the most important commandment from God to us. 

First love God.  Then love others. 

Mark 12, The Message

The Most Important Commandment

²⁸ One of the religion scholars came up. Hearing the lively exchanges of question and answer and seeing how sharp Jesus was in his answers, he put in his question: “Which is most important of all the commandments?”

^29-31 Jesus said, “The first in importance is, ‘Listen, Israel: The Lord your God is one; so love the Lord God with all your passion and prayer and intelligence and energy.’ And here is the second: ‘Love others as well as you love yourself.’ There is no other commandment that ranks with these.”

^32-33 The religion scholar said, “A wonderful answer, Teacher! So clear-cut and accurate—that God is one and there is no other. And loving him with all passion and intelligence and energy, and loving others as well as you love yourself. Why, that’s better than all offerings and sacrifices put together!”

³⁴ When Jesus realized how insightful he was, he said, “You’re almost there, right on the border of God’s kingdom.”

After that, no one else dared ask a question.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

FIRST love God with everything we’ve got within our being.  This love returns all of who we are to all of Who He is.  God is love.  This love is the foundation to intimacy with God that grows with each new day along with God’s new mercies for us to enjoy.  This love builds our character, changing our demeanor which drives our behaviors to be more like Jesus, His Son, while exponentially expanding hearts that are fully committed to Him.  This is the love of God.  To know God is to know real love.  (See 1 John 4)

“You’re almost there, right on the border of God’s kingdom.”—Jesus

THEN love others in the same way we know God loves us.  Randy and I, as ministry leaders, have participated in numerous weddings where Paul’s description of God’s love is read from 1 Corinthians 13.  This wasn’t really a “wedding prayer” but was originally written to the people of Corinth who didn’t have clue about what the love of God was much less how this love was acted upon in real life.  So, Paul explained love to them, using love more as a verb as opposed to merely a feeling.  In our second commandment from God to love others, it is helpful to review Paul’s God-led letter of love to our world who is seeking to know God:

Love Is the Greatest

“If I could speak all the languages of earth and of angels, but didn’t love others, I would only be a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. If I had the gift of prophecy, and if I understood all of God’s secret plans and possessed all knowledge, and if I had such faith that I could move mountains, but didn’t love others, I would be nothing. If I gave everything I have to the poor and even sacrificed my body, I could boast about it; but if I didn’t love others, I would have gained nothing.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way. It is not irritable, and it keeps no record of being wronged. It does not rejoice about injustice but rejoices whenever the truth wins out. Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.

Prophecy and speaking in unknown languages and special knowledge will become useless. But love will last forever! Now our knowledge is partial and incomplete, and even the gift of prophecy reveals only part of the whole picture! But when the time of perfection comes, these partial things will become useless.

When I was a child, I spoke and thought and reasoned as a child. But when I grew up, I put away childish things. Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Three things will last forever—faith, hope, and love—and the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13, NLT

Hebrews 13:8 tells us that “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” Because He’s the same, we know His love for us doesn’t change either.  Can I get an amen?!

Love God.  Love Others—Two of the greatest commandments that lead to the most important relationship we will ever have in our lives.

Lord,

I do not have it all figured out, but what I do know is that YOU are love.  You put your love in our hearts when we said yes to your salvation.  Your love fills our deepest need.  Your love in us changes us to love others greater because of your great love in us.  Your love is truly amazing.  Your love never changes!  May your love be seen in me.  May your love shine in the darkness, pointing the way back to you.  I love you, Lord, with all my heart, mind and soul. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

And we’re singing…

Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me
Your love never fails
It never gives up
It never runs out on me…

(“One Thing Remains,” by Brian Mark Johnson, Jeremy Riddle, Christa Joy Black)

Let’s get right to the Truth for the Truth sets us free!  It is really “sad-you-see” if you don’t believe in Jesus as Savior and Lord, the One and Only Son of God who paid the debt of all the sins of the world.  No one needs to perish in death.  It’s sad-you-see if you refuse the most important, intimate, life-giving, relentless love of the One who loves us most.

“We love God because He first loved us!”  1 John 4:19

“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

“Don’t overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.”           2 Peter 3:9, MSG

It’s “sad-you-see” if we refuse to believe and reject the most important relationship offered to us by God, our Creator!  It’s joy unspeakable and full of glory if we do believe!  We are saved for life everlasting in an intimate growing relationship with God through Jesus work on the cross of reconciliation (reconnecting to God).  Even in the bad times that happen in this imperfect and very temporary world, God holds on to us and never holds back on His promises to always be with us.  God’s love never changes.  God’s promises are true.

Mark 12, The Message

Our Intimacies Will Be with God

^18-23 Some Sadducees, the party that denies any possibility of resurrection, came up and asked, “Teacher, Moses wrote that if a man dies and leaves a wife but no child, his brother is obligated to marry the widow and have children. Well, there once were seven brothers. The first took a wife. He died childless. The second married her. He died, and still no child. The same with the third. All seven took their turn, but no child. Finally the wife died. When they are raised at the resurrection, whose wife is she? All seven were her husband.”

^24-27 Jesus said, “You’re way off base, and here’s why: One, you don’t know what God said; two, you don’t know how God works. After the dead are raised up, we’re past the marriage business. As it is with angels now, all our ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God. And regarding the dead, whether or not they are raised, don’t you ever read the Bible? How God at the bush said to Moses, ‘I am—not was—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob’? The living God is God of the living, not the dead. You’re way, way off base.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God wants us to love Him back.  He had a plan in place for us to do just that without the sin that disconnected us from Him.  Jesus demonstrated God’s love on earth by serving humanity with healing and compassion before laying down His life for ours.  God is love.  God provided a way for us to love Him back with all that is in us.  Jesus took all our sin upon His shoulders and took the punishment we all deserve.  Yes, He loved each one of us that much!  THEN three days later Christ arose, defeating death once and for all!  And we, too, will rise with Christ!  I don’t know about you, but grateful praise rises from my soul this morning!

It’s not because of anything I have done but because of Who God is—the One who desires an intimate growing love with us.  He longs to bless us with His character traits developing in us so we will imitate Him as we grow in our undivided, intimate love for Him as our gracious Father.  This love is above all this world has to offer—even beyond the love we share in marriage to our spouses!  Surely, how deep the Father’s love for us, indeed!

I am convinced that I am a believer, not because of how tightly I hold on to God, but because of how tightly God holds on to me!  He will not let me go!  I’ve have strayed and been distracted from Him, but He quickly runs to bring me back with His outstretched arms.  He has brought me out the pit of despair, brought His light into my darkness, as he recues me from deep waters and eminent threats of danger.  He is God.  I am not.  I don’t know how He does it, I just know He does!  I need Jesus’ love growing in me, the love that led him to the cross for my sins every hour of every day. 

Call me weak, but that would be “sad-you-see” for it would seem that you don’t get how God works.  “The living God is God of the living, not the dead”. –Jesus

Jesus summed it up in one verse, John 14:6 – “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.” All of man’s questions of life are answered in this verse. It is Jesus who give us our growing intimacy with God.

“In the beginning was the Word and Word was with God”…”the Word was made “flesh” and moved into the neighborhood” of humanity.  (See John 1, MSG) So let’s “flesh” this truth out so we really understand what LIFE in Jesus means to us not only now but when Jesus comes back to takes us home to dwell in the presence of God for eternity as we pass from this life to the next forever life with Him.  (Yes, I know that was a mouthful.)

Jesus taught his disciples with this encouragement for all of us who believe:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”

Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going, so how can we know the way?”

Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” John 14:1-7

Jesus IS coming back!  It would be really “sad-you-see” if you don’t know that.  Billy Graham once said that the end “will come with the return of Jesus Christ.  “That is why a true Christian believer in Jesus can be an optimist. That is why a Christian can smile in the midst of all that is happening… We know what the end will be: the triumph of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

We have two choices:  Be sad-you-see or glad-you-see.  Choose wisely.  Choose Jesus!  You will be glad you did!  I am!

Lord,

I love how you work in our lives to sort and sift the lies the world tells us while your Truth rises to the top to lead us.  I believe.  I’m listening.  I’m yours.  Guide me all day long and into the night for you are my strength and my song.

In Jesus Name, Amen

“The earth is the Lord’s, and all it contains, the world, and those who dwell in it.”    Psalm 24:1

“For every house is built by someone, but the builder of all things is God.” Hebrews 3:4

“The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,” declares the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:8

“O Lord, how many are Your works! In wisdom You have made them all; The earth is full of Your possessions.” Psalm 104:24

“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” Genesis 1:1

All who teach and study the Word of God have read this truth: God owns it all.  But they still approach Jesus with thoughts of evil because they cannot and will not believe He is God’s Son sent to save them.

Mark 12, The Message

Paying Taxes to Caesar

^13-14 They sent some Pharisees and followers of Herod to bait him, hoping to catch him saying something incriminating. They came up and said, “Teacher, we know you have integrity, that you are indifferent to public opinion, don’t pander to your students, and teach the way of God accurately. Tell us: Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar or not?”

^15-16 He knew it was a trick question, and said, “Why are you playing these games with me? Bring me a coin and let me look at it.” They handed him one.

“This engraving—who does it look like? And whose name is on it?”

“Caesar,” they said.

¹⁷ Jesus said, “Give Caesar what is his, and give God what is his.”

Their mouths hung open, speechless.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

God created all and owns all, there is nothing God created that He does not possess.  What does God want most from us, His beloved created?  We wants our undivided love and attention.  He wants to bless us with all we need to grow in this intimate loving relationship with Him. 

Man created the monetary system of coins for service.  We pay taxes within this system and are told in scripture, to “pay what you owe.”  Give to Caesar what is Caesars but give to God what we own to Him—Our very lives!  “Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor. Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law.” Romans 13:7-8

“What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, yet forfeit their soul?” –Jesus (Mark 8:36)  Our hearts, minds, and souls belong to Jesus who made a way for us to reconcile to God!

“Give God what is His,” Jesus tells the hypocrites and unbelievers. 

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” –Jesus Matthew 6:33 

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
    And what does the Lord require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
    and to walk humbly with your God.” Micah 6:8

It is hard to almost impossible to walk with God with our backs turned against God.  We will fall.

Lord,

In this short passage is the message of turning back to you who owns it all and give you our very lives.  I love you, Lord.  You are God and no one else.  There is no one like you.  We pay what we owe to authorities on earth, for that is the right and just thing to do, but most of all we seek to grow in your mercy and grace as we walk humbly with you each day.

In Jesus Name, Amen

When two people decide to have a child produced from their deep love for each other, investments are made for the child even before he/she arrives.  We make a precious space to make room for the little human who will come into our lives and share our home.  We begin to invest in all the things a baby will need so we will be ready for the arrival.  Because of our love, it is easy to invest in their care and provision.

Jesus tells another story within earshot of those who oppose Him as the Son of God. His story clearly tells everyone standing around of the invest God has made in us—all because of His great love for us.  God created the world we live in.  God created each one of us.  God knew us even before we were born.  God invested in us as the world expanded with all kinds of people.  God invested in us when He gave the garden God created to Adam and Eve to manage.  God invests His love in us with every thought, detail, and action from the beginning to eternity!  Yes, God even invested in a plan for our eternity.   Truly, how deep the Father’s love for us…it goes beyond all measure!

Mark 12, The Message

The Story About a Vineyard

 ^1-2 Then Jesus started telling them stories. “A man planted a vineyard. He fenced it, dug a winepress, erected a watchtower, turned it over to the farmhands, and went off on a trip. At the time for harvest, he sent a servant back to the farmhands to collect his profits.

^3-5 “They grabbed him, beat him up, and sent him off empty-handed. So he sent another servant. That one they tarred and feathered. He sent another and that one they killed. And on and on, many others. Some they beat up, some they killed.

⁶ “Finally there was only one left: a beloved son. In a last-ditch effort, he sent him, thinking, ‘Surely they will respect my son.’

^7-8 “But those farmhands saw their chance. They rubbed their hands together in greed and said, ‘This is the heir! Let’s kill him and have it all for ourselves.’ They grabbed him, killed him, and threw him over the fence.

^9-11 “What do you think the owner of the vineyard will do? Right. He’ll come and get rid of everyone. Then he’ll assign the care of the vineyard to others. Read it for yourselves in Scripture:

That stone the masons threw out
    is now the cornerstone!
This is God’s work;
    we rub our eyes—we can hardly believe it!”

¹² They wanted to lynch him then and there but, intimidated by public opinion, held back. They knew the story was about them. They got away from there as fast as they could.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“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  This is the investment of His love in us.

God also gave us the freedom to choose to love Him back—or not.  This is God’s wisdom.

“Surely they will respect my son.”  But, do we? 

• Are we so busy trying to manage our lives by ourselves, doing what we want based on feelings and trying to just be happy? 
• Are our minds fixed on getting more and giving less?
• Are we so busy doing church as we do any business in the world, that we have forgotten how to be like Jesus, the Cornerstone of the church, who calls us to go and tell as opposed to sitting and stewing in our pride and arrogance of doing life our way on our terms?
• Do we “beat up” God’s called as pastor leaders of His people with slander, mocking, and disrespect? 
• Do we slander others who come into the life of God’s church who can’t seem to get on board and be “like us” so that traditions can be carried on?
• Do we really believe that Jesus died and rose again all because of His great love for us—all of us? 

Instead of asking who Jesus is, maybe it’s time to ask ourselves, Who are we to Jesus?

Those who opposed Jesus got the message loud and clear.  “They knew the story was about them. They got away from there as fast as they could.”  Later they will turn down the investment of God’s love in them by killing His Son.  But where can they hide?

I’m reminded of Psalm 139 in all of this…

“You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
² You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
³ You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
⁴ Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
⁵ You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
⁶ Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.

⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
¹¹ If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
¹² even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.

¹³ For you created my inmost being;
    you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
    your works are wonderful,
    I know that full well.
¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from you
    when I was made in the secret place,
    when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
¹⁶ Your eyes saw my unformed body;
    all the days ordained for me were written in your book
    before one of them came to be.
¹⁷ How precious to me are your thoughts,^[a] God!
    How vast is the sum of them!
¹⁸ Were I to count them,
    they would outnumber the grains of sand—
    when I awake, I am still with you.

¹⁹ If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
    Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
²⁰ They speak of you with evil intent;
    your adversaries misuse your name.
²¹ Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,
    and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
²² I have nothing but hatred for them;
    I count them my enemies.
²³ Search me, God, and know my heart;
    test me and know my anxious thoughts.
²⁴ See if there is any offensive way in me,
    and lead me in the way everlasting.

We can’t really run and hide from God or His investment of His One and Only Son made for our salvation.  We are given a choice.  Choose wisely.  Our choice is a matter of life or death.  Yes, it’s that serious!  Choosing Jesus is the best investment you will ever make!  Jesus changes everything.  Jesus is the best and most important relationship you will ever invest in for your life!

Lord,

Whew, you cut to the chase at times to get our attention and see You for Who you really are!  I’m listening and I believe.  You are God.  I am not.  I repent of haphazard thinking and arrogant actions that offend you, Lord. Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new mercies, restore the joy of your salvation at work with us.  Then send us out to love like you love us—relentlessly and forever.

In Jesus Name, Amen