Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

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.

The cruel Roman imagination went far beyond others in that day and time. They invented crucifixion as a way to force obedience to their rules, deterring people from committing crimes, as they saw as crimes, against their empire.  Imagine the discussion—“How can we punish criminals and revolutionists who rise up among the populace under our control while showing our strength and power over this empire?”  “The punishment process must be so completely distasteful and sickening that all those who see it—and we will make sure they do—will comply to our rules.”

One sick mind speaks up, “I know.  How about a slow torture that inflicts enough pain to bloody and weaken the accused without death coming too quickly?”  Others chime in, “Let’s see how long it would take for a human to die after we nail their hands and feet to two planks, one for outstretched arms and the other for the rest of the body to lay on.”  “But what will happen when we raise the body for all to see while placing the vertical plank in the ground?”  “The nail spikes have to be long enough to go through the body and attached deeply into the planks.”  “Let’s add rope to hold their bodies there in case the flesh is too weak.” 

“Nail between the bones, that’s the answer, —that will hold them until death comes.”  “Added bonus, the nails in their feet will not only hold them there, it will enable them to push up from their nailed feet so they can catch a quick breath as the lungs will be hard-pressed to breathe normally.”  “That will cause even more pain but that’s the goal, right? —To prolong death in front of all who will pass by?”

Crucifixion became a method of capital punishment in which the victim was tied or nailed to a large wooden cross, beam or stake and left to hang until eventual death. The word crucifixion was not used then but invented later to describe the pain the victim suffered.  The word “excruciating,” that we use causally to describe our pain is a derivative of the Latin word crucifixion. 

Jesus the Christ, the Messiah come to save us from our sins.  He suffered greatly beyond the beatings, abusive mocking, and humiliating torture because God, His Father, would turn his back on His One and Only Son, also Son of Man (feeling all pain) as He carried our sins (the sins of the world then and now) on His shoulders.  God cannot look upon sin or be where sin resides.

In essence, the soldiers unknowingly nailed our sins, (and their sins), to those planks that formed a cross.  Jesus endured excruciating pain and eventual death for you and for me.  Yes, it’s personal.

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.

Jesus had the power to stop the malicious act of suffering and dying —but He did not.  More than the nails and rope—Love for us held our Savior on the cross of punishment that should have been ours. 

This thought occurs to me right now: What then, can possibility be so “excruciating” in our lives that Jesus cannot handle and see us through? 

Matthew 27, The Message

The Crucifixion

^27-31 The soldiers assigned to the governor took Jesus into the governor’s palace and got the entire brigade together for some fun. They stripped him and dressed him in a red robe. They plaited a crown from branches of a thornbush and set it on his head. They put a stick in his right hand for a scepter. Then they knelt before him in mocking reverence: “Bravo, King of the Jews!” they said. “Bravo!” Then they spit on him and hit him on the head with the stick. When they had had their fun, they took off the robe and put his own clothes back on him. Then they proceeded out to the crucifixion.

^32-34 Along the way they came on a man from Cyrene named Simon and made him carry Jesus’ cross. Arriving at Golgotha, the place they call “Skull Hill,” they offered him a mild painkiller (a mixture of wine and myrrh), but when he tasted it he wouldn’t drink it.

^35-40 After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they killed time by throwing dice for his clothes. Above his head they had posted the criminal charge against him: this is jesus, the king of the jews. Along with him, they also 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!”

^41-44 The high priests, along with the religion scholars and leaders, were right there mixing it up with the rest of them, having a great time poking fun at him: “He saved others—he can’t save himself! King of Israel, is he? Then let him get down from that cross. We’ll all become believers then! He was so sure of God—well, let him rescue his ‘Son’ now—if he wants him! He did claim to be God’s Son, didn’t he?” Even the two criminals crucified next to him joined in the mockery.

^45-46 From noon to three, the whole earth was dark. Around mid-afternoon Jesus groaned out of the depths, crying loudly, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?”

^47-49 Some bystanders who heard him said, “He’s calling for Elijah.” One of them ran and got a sponge soaked in sour wine and lifted it on a stick so he could drink. The others joked, “Don’t be in such a hurry. Let’s see if Elijah comes and saves him.”

⁵⁰ But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last.

^51-53 At that moment, the Temple curtain was ripped in two, top to bottom. There was an earthquake, and rocks were split in pieces. What’s more, tombs were opened up, and many bodies of believers asleep in their graves were raised. (After Jesus’ resurrection, they left the tombs, entered the holy city, and appeared to many.)

⁵⁴ The captain of the guard and those with him, when they saw the earthquake and everything else that was happening, were scared to death. They said, “This has to be the Son of God!”

^55-56 There were also quite a few women watching from a distance, women who had followed Jesus from Galilee in order to serve him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the Zebedee brothers.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We learn that there is nothing on this earth that we will suffer that Jesus did not suffer at the hands of a dark, sinful world.  Jesus understands all that we are going through right now. 

Because God knows and loves, He sent His Son to save us.  Jesus did exactly what the Father said to do.  Scripture foretold every detail through God’s prophets and it happened just the way it was written centuries before it happened. 

Jesus’ sacrifice provided the Way for us to rise above the suffering that sin causes, be reconciled to God, the Father and be set free from all sin.  Pain still happens in a sin filled world but it no longer defines us with final death.  Because of Jesus we now look forward to life forever in a place where tears, suffering and pain no longer exist.  Jesus secured Life eternal for each one who believes in Him.

Jesus’ death tore the “curtain barrier” that separated mankind from God.  Before Jesus died, only human, appointed priests could go behind the curtain to atone (cover up) the sins of humans for a period of time while presenting animal sacrifices –but this act did not remove sins.  Jesus removed all sins by His sacrificial act—once and for all for all who believe.  “The Lamb of God” shed His blood as the final sacrifice for our sins.

We no longer need to go through a priest who speaks for us on the other side of the curtain.  The veil that separates is gone!  Lambs “without blemish” are no longer needed. The One and Only without sin paid the price and removed all sins from all who believe.

“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 of this sacrificial act we are given full access to God through our Advocate, Jesus!  Jesus is the only Way to God.  He is Truth.  He is Life eternal for all who believe, repent in His Name and follow His Holy Spirit’s guiding.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:16, NKJV

Believe and be saved.  Forever.

Lord,

There are not enough words invented in our language to express my gratitude for saving my soul for eternity.  So, by your power working in me, I will rejoice and be glad, even in challenging circumstances, to live a life of gratitude as praise to you for all you have done to save us.In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!  Yes!  I believe!

There are all kinds of weapons in the Enemy’s arsenal that are pulled out when in war with God and His mission to save us from the world of hate, despair, and darkness.  One of the greatest of these weapons is crowd control and management through spreading gossip and slander in ways to incite the crowd to violence based on lies.  It still happens frequently today.  And we fall for it more times than not.

Another weapon the Enemy uses is our own selfish desire to be “in charge” with the image of power over people’s destiny. Pilate, a governor caught in the middle of a political system, wanting to move up in the ranks of position, and appease the religious leaders take an opportunity to “play to the crowd” but the religious leaders actually “played” him so Pilate would to do their dirty work to seal the fate of Jesus’ death.

Although our Enemy can and does cause great collateral damage in the lives of those who allow it, he never wins, because God is in control.  Nothing escapes the notice of God.  Jesus, His Son, knows that His Father is in control and He will have final say—the Victory over death and every move made that leads to death and darkness.  Hold that thought as we continue to read the account from Matthew as he tells of Jesus last days on earth of being slandered, humiliated, mocked, beaten, and nailed to a cross as the ONLY Way to rescue us from the sin that holds in bondage, freeing us to reconnect with our Maker, be reconciled and justified, back under the protection of His love, mercy and grace. 

Pilot is a mere political pawn in the greater plan of God’s ultimate plan to save us.

Matthew 27, The Message

Pilate

¹¹ Jesus was placed before the governor, who questioned him: “Are you the ‘King of the Jews’?”

Jesus said, “If you say so.”

^12-14 But when the accusations rained down hot and heavy from the high priests and religious leaders, he said nothing. Pilate asked him, “Do you hear that long list of accusations? Aren’t you going to say something?” Jesus kept silence—not a word from his mouth. The governor was impressed, really impressed.

^15-18 It was an old custom during the Feast for the governor to pardon a single prisoner named by the crowd. At the time, they had the infamous Jesus Barabbas in prison. With the crowd before him, Pilate said, “Which prisoner do you want me to pardon: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus the so-called Christ?” He knew it was through sheer spite that they had turned Jesus over to him.

¹⁹ While court was still in session, Pilate’s wife sent him a message: “Don’t get mixed up in judging this noble man. I’ve just been through a long and troubled night because of a dream about him.”

²⁰ Meanwhile, the high priests and religious leaders had talked the crowd into asking for the pardon of Barabbas and the execution of Jesus.

²¹ The governor asked, “Which of the two do you want me to pardon?”

They said, “Barabbas!”

²² “Then what do I do with Jesus, the so-called Christ?”

They all shouted, “Nail him to a cross!”

²³ He objected, “But for what crime?”

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

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere and that a riot was imminent, he took a basin of water and washed his hands in full sight of the crowd, saying, “I’m washing my hands of responsibility for this man’s death. From now on, it’s in your hands. You’re judge and jury.”

²⁵ The crowd answered, “We’ll take the blame, we and our children after us.”

²⁶ Then he pardoned Barabbas. But he had Jesus whipped, and then handed over for crucifixion.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Pontius Pilate was the sixth Roman procurator to serve in Judea. He was not liked by the Jews because he did things that deliberately violated their law and provoked them. He was not above killing people to accomplish his purposes (Luke 13:1). Pilate’s position was always rather precarious because of his bad relationship with Israel and because of Rome’s changing policy with the Jews.  “Caught in the middle with you…”

Pilate’s position is his only source of “power” as the political see power.  He waffles when a decision is forced upon him.  He turns to a shouting mob to appease the Jews who have indoctrinated them.  Jesus knows.  The scripture is being fulfilled.  God is still in control.  Jesus endures all that is happening to Him without deterring from the mission to complete ahead of Him. 

Jesus was silent.  Did that mean He lost control or power?  Absolutely not. All those who believed in Him then, during and after—in the generations to come were on His mind as he took the fall for our sins.  We were on His mind.  Camp on that thought.

Sometimes it amazes me to watch and wonder at how much power we humans honestly think we have and hold as we try to control any given circumstance or situation.  We take a lot for granted without thinking if the garage door will open—we expect it to open; the lights will come on—when we flip the switch; the car will start—when we push the button or turn the key; the shower water will flow and be warm and cozy—when we turn it on. 

This “taking for granted” attitude grows a self-reliance that might eventually cause us to think we are in control of our lives—until one of these daily tasks we rely on breaks down.  Wait, what?  The sun, moon, and stars don’t revolve around me and my comfort?  (Smiling) Our attitude changes immediately.  Our tempers rise.  We are appalled that something would dare stop working under our watch, care, and control!

Immediately this verse comes to mind; “Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, MSG

Pilateknew what was right, but refused to do anything about it. He was trying to “gratify the crowd” (Mark 15:15). Judas yielded to the devil in his great sin (John 13:2, 27); Peter yielded to the flesh when he denied his Lord; but Pilate yielded to the world and listened to the crowd. Pilate looked for the easy way, the more political way, but not the right way.

Warren Wiersbe writes, “The Jewish leaders accused Jesus of three crimes. They claimed that He was guilty of misleading the nation, forbidding the paying of taxes, and claiming to be a king. These were definitely political charges, the kind that a Roman governor could handle. Pilate focused on the third charge—that Jesus claimed to be a king—because this was a definite threat to Rome. If he could deal with this revolutionary properly, Pilate could please the Jews and impress the emperor at the same time.”

Pilot went down in history as the man who condemned Jesus.

Oh Lord,

Help me to avoid “worldly political pleasing” in all decision making.  All have sinned and fall short of your glory in life’s skirmishes with this evil.  Forgive us.  We cry out for your wisdom, insight, and more understanding in what you want us to think, say and do daily.  I lay my life before you as an offering to you. Thank you for all you have done to save me.  Thank you for teaching me. Continue to cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh and feed our souls, and restore the joy of your salvation at work within me.  I want to be an “out of control” disciple under your guidance.

In Jesus Name, By Your Power, For Your Glory, Amen

From Perry Mason to Law and Order, when the truth is finally revealed in any courtroom drama because of new evidence; the testimonies of the lying witnesses begin to unravel.  The accusations begin to lose strength.  Confusion sets in with the jury. The judge’s opinion begins to change. Who is telling the truth and who is not?

In any courtroom drama on stage, TV or in the movies, the last few minutes of the episode come to climax and reveal the unraveling of the characters who lied on the witness stand—under God with their hands on His Word.  Usually, the innocent one on trial is finally set free when the truth is revealed!  It makes good drama and drama reflects society. Right? Mm.

Jesus’ time on earth is coming to a dramatic climax.  He is on trial for being Who He is—Son of God, Messiah.  It seems none of His acts of mercy were brought forward as testimony or evidence.  In fact, Jesus is being falsely accused by paid or coerced “witnesses” for criminal acts he did not commit.  Confusion sets in when the religious leaders can’t agree on what to do with Him.  They agree they all want Him dead and gone from their midst.  They also agree it wouldn’t be in good taste to kill Him during the Passover, so they pass him on to Romans in hopes they will do the dirty deed for them. 

In the middle of it all, Jesus is steadfast and resolved to “drink the Cup” of suffering and sacrifice that His Father has assigned to Him as the price that needs to be paid to save us. Jesus is the Way to Truth that gives Life eternal.  Jesus is Truth.  Truth will be crucified for all the sins of the world.  Jesus eventually goes silent as the lies are hatefully spewed and the beatings begin.

For today, as we study the testimony of Matthew; let’s focus on the flawed characters who lives are unraveling as Truth is tried and found guilty as charged: 

Judas, the treasurer of the Twelve, decides to sell Jesus out to the religious leaders looking for some way to bring Jesus down.  Judas, feeling like he made the deal of a lifetime betrays Jesus for 30 pieces of silver, (about $300 in today’s terms).  He soon regrets making this decision, caught by his all-knowing, loving Teacher, realizing that He was indeed an innocent man but it is too late and his life totally comes undone.  Instead of seeking forgiveness, he sees no way out but to commit suicide.  His name will go down in history as “The Betrayer.”

Peter, the impatient, do it before you think about it, protector of the group tries to “save Jesus” by yielding a sword and suddenly cuts off one of the ears of Jesus’ band of men who come to arrest Him in the garden.  Jesus reprimands Peter immediately, heals the ear, and goes peacefully with the soldiers.  Peter does not run away but comes as close as he can, gaining access to the courtyard to hear the shouting and observe the trial proceedings.  He is not where he is supposed to be.  Because he is closer than he should be he is spotted by those who are also near the fire to keep warm.  He denies that he ever knew Jesus not once but three times—just like Jesus said he would.  All he learned from Jesus is coming unraveled as confusion sets in—even though Jesus told him what was going to happen.  Then he remembers…

The other disciples run away in the night to seek protection from the religious leaders and the Roman soldiers.  Their lives, as they once knew it, unravel as they wait in the darkness for news.

The chief priest comes unraveled as Jesus confirms the Truth of being the Son of God.  He calls it blaspheming.  God calls it Truth.  The Chief Priest can’t handle the Truth!

Pilate, a Roman political player of peace at all costs, just wants to wash his hands of the whole thing.

The Crowd that once cheered, “Hosanna,” upon his arrival into Jerusalem will shout “Crucify Him!” a few days later.  Evil instigators were sent out to change the crowd’s opinion of Jesus with lies and slander, shoving their lives into unraveling chaos, blinding their eyes from Truth.

Now, read on…

Matthew 27, The Message

Thirty Silver Coins

^1-2 In the first light of dawn, all the high priests and religious leaders met and put the finishing touches on their plot to kill Jesus. Then they tied him up and paraded him to Pilate, the governor.

^3-4 Judas, the one who betrayed him, realized that Jesus was doomed. Overcome with remorse, he gave back the thirty silver coins to the high priests, saying, “I’ve sinned. I’ve betrayed an innocent man.”

They said, “What do we care? That’s your problem!”

⁵ Judas threw the silver coins into the Temple and left. Then he went out and hung himself.

^6-10 The high priests picked up the silver pieces, but then didn’t know what to do with them. “It wouldn’t be right to give this—a payment for murder!—as an offering in the Temple.” They decided to get rid of it by buying the “Potter’s Field” and use it as a burial place for the homeless. That’s how the field got called “Murder Meadow,” a name that has stuck to this day. Then Jeremiah’s words became history:

They took the thirty silver pieces,
The price of the one priced by some sons of Israel,
And they purchased the potter’s field.

And so they unwittingly followed the divine instructions to the letter.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

As lives around Jesus are unraveling, they are in step with what God said would happen centuries before. 

Pause, pray, reflect…Am I living unraveled or at peace?

• Do I know Truth (Jesus) and follow Truth? —No matter what I hear that is contrary to Truth?
• Do I really believe what God says in His Word really real?  (Hope begins with believing.)
• How many times do I deny Truth when pressed into a corner of complacency?
• Do I wash my hands of circumstances I don’t understand instead of turning to Truth for wisdom?
• Do I believe Truth saved me from my sins—all of them? Or am I still unraveled by my past?
• Do I live in freedom as a redeemed person of Truth, gratefully humbled that I was bought at a great price so that I would not perish but live eternally with God?
• Have I truly repented of my sins to Jesus so that I am reconciled/(connected) to God my Father?
• Is Jesus not only my Savior but now Lord of my thinking, saying and doing?
• Do I believe, really believe that all my sins are remembered no more? 

Truth sets us free to love like Jesus who is the Way, Truth and Life!

Our response?  Believe and be saved.

Lord,

There is much to think about as we read how mankind when through an unraveling crisis of faith while You went about doing what You were sent to do.  Thank you for saving us and making us whole again.  We are no longer sinners undone and unraveled by our sins because of what you did for us during those hours of trial and beatings followed by the excruciating pain of nailing our sins to your cross.  Oh Lord, there are not enough words to thank you for my release from the punishment I deserve.  Thank you, thank you, thank you.  Thank you for being Truth in a world of lies.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Judas arrived with an angry crowd. The gospel of John is even more detailed specific. The term he employs is the Greek word speira, or a “detachment of soldiers” (John 18:3). At minimum, speira depicts a group of two hundred soldiers.  Surely in a group this size there is one person who will defend Jesus. He came to the aid of so many. All those sermons. All those miracles. We wait for the one person who will declare, “Jesus is an innocent man!” But no one does. The people he came to save have turned against him.

We can almost forgive the crowd. Their contact with Jesus was too brief, too casual. Perhaps they didn’t know better. But the disciples did. They knew better. They knew him better. But did they defend Jesus? Hardly. One of the most bitter pills Jesus had to swallow was the unbelievable betrayal by the disciples. “All the disciples deserted him and fled” (Matthew 26:56).

But one returned.  Peter was able to gain access into the courtyard, getting as close as he dared, to see what was going to happen to the One with whom a relentless relationship had been steadily built over a three year walk with his dear Friend and Teacher.  Soon Jesus will become his Savior of the sin he is about to commit of denying he ever knew Him. 

Matthew 26, The Message

Denial in the Courtyard

⁶⁹ All this time, Peter was sitting out in the courtyard. One servant girl came up to him and said, “You were with Jesus the Galilean.”

⁷⁰ In front of everybody there, he denied it. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

⁷¹ As he moved over toward the gate, someone else said to the people there, “This man was with Jesus the Nazarene.”

⁷² Again he denied it, salting his denial with an oath: “I swear, I never laid eyes on the man.”

⁷³ Shortly after that, some bystanders approached Peter. “You’ve got to be one of them. Your accent gives you away.”

^74-75 Then he got really nervous and swore. “I don’t know the man!”

Just then a rooster crowed. Peter remembered what Jesus had said: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and cried and cried and cried.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus prayed that not one of his disciples would be harmed.  He warned them of what was going to happen before it happened and told them not to put up a fight. A new way of thinking, Kingdom thinking, was going to be put in place.  The love of God was about to be demonstrated in what Jesus would endure for the sins of the world.  But Peter panicked.  Peter put aside all those words of warning until he remembered what Jesus said about how this disciple would personally react as the will of God began the sacrificial process to save us.  You will deny Me not once but three times, Peter.

We don’t like it when we are told what will happen when we do what we want and it happens just the way they said it would, do we?  My mom was gifted in telling me what would happen—even with details of how it would play out.  I did it anyway and sure enough I would pay the consequences of my actions.

Remorse vs Regret –Peter and Judas

Remorse involves admitting one’s own mistakes and taking responsibility for one’s actions. It creates a sense of guilt and sorrow for hurting someone else and leads to confession and true apology. It also moves the remorseful person to avoid doing the hurtful action again. 

Regret leads a person to avoid punishment in the future, while remorse leads to avoiding hurtful actions towards others in the future.  Regretful people are sorry they got caught and blame others for their actions. 

Peter versus Judas—

Because of their loving, relentless relationship Peter was drawn to see what is going to happen to Jesus.  Judas’ relationship with Jesus was all for self.  Peter momentarily lost confidence as he watched Jesus pushed around, spat upon and yelled at by those in religious power. Full of fear for his friend, wanting to stay close to the situation, he said things, Jesus said he would.  “I don’t know him.”

Judas regretted he got caught in the act of betrayal but felt justified in doing so.  He  gave up and took his own life because he didn’t get his own way.  He wanted a revolution using the power of Jesus to overturn the Roman government but this was not on Jesus’ agenda. 

Peter, however, was remorseful forevery word that come out his mouth.  Peter should not have been there.  Peter did exactly what Jesus said he would.  He could not help the tears of regret that flowed.  We see a distraught, remorseful man who cried and cried over his sin.  But Jesus sees redemption.  

From a human point of view, Jesus’ world had collapsed. No help from the people, no loyalty from his friends. But, fortunately for us, that’s not how Jesus saw it. He saw something else entirely. He wasn’t oblivious to the circumstances; He just wasn’t limited to them. Somehow, he was able to see good in the bad, the purpose in the pain, and God’s presence in the problem.  Jesus saw Peter as the one upon whom He would later build his church, and that didn’t change. 

When we have a relentless, loving, faithful relationship with the Savior of the world, He forgives our imperfections with perfect and complete forgiveness.  The cross of sacrifice becomes our symbol of redemption.  The empty grave is our hope of eternal life with Jesus forever!

Peter will later lead thousands to Jesus—fulfilling exactly what Jesus said he would do to build His church—all because of their relentless, loving relationship that never quit and never gave up.  Jesus was not only Peter’s Friend and Teacher; Jesus became his Savior and Lord of all the details of Peter’s life. 

Jesus spoke his words through Peter that replaced all evidence of Peter’s previous denial! 

Jesus changes everything. 

Lord,

You are amazing in the way you love, forgive, and restore our lives with your complete forgiveness when we sincerely admit and confess our sins.  Cleanse our hearts, renew and transform our minds, refresh and fill our souls, and restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work within us.  Remove what offends you—all that we remorsefully said, thought and acted upon by our selfish will.  May YOUR will be done in every detail of our lives.  Make us holy for your service.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Have you ever been accused of something you didn’t say or do? It feels creepy to  walk innocently into a room of people and all eyes are suddenly upon you.  You hear previous chatter suddenly stop and the room gets oddly quiet when you enter.  It’s weird and eerily disconcerting as you look at yourself and wonder what is unzipped or unbuttoned, right?! 

These people, who you only know as acquaintances, attempt to disarm you as they judge and size you up with looks and murmurs without really knowing who you are.  They assume they know and think the worst without really listening to you.  They presume you are against them so they begin a silent fight—before they begin a relationship with you. 

It seems to be the nature of humans to put each other down with “he said/she said” slanderous comments in order to gain the power and the advantage before “the accused” can speak.  We are sometimes put on the defense for mere assumptions and presumptions in a game we didn’t know we were playing. 

No, these behaviors are not fair.  Yes, we still do that to each other. 

Jesus understands. 

Mattthew 26, The Message

False Charges

^57-58 The gang that had seized Jesus led him before Caiaphas the Chief Priest, where the religion scholars and leaders had assembled. Peter followed at a safe distance until they got to the Chief Priest’s courtyard. Then he slipped in and mingled with the servants, watching to see how things would turn out.

^59-60 The high priests, conspiring with the Jewish Council, tried to cook up charges against Jesus in order to sentence him to death. But even though many stepped up, making up one false accusation after another, nothing was believable.

^60-61 Finally two men came forward with this: “He said, ‘I can tear down this Temple of God and after three days rebuild it.’”

⁶² The Chief Priest stood up and said, “What do you have to say to the accusation?”

⁶³ Jesus kept silent.

Then the Chief Priest said, “I command you by the authority of the living God to say if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

⁶⁴ Jesus was curt: “You yourself said it. And that’s not all. Soon you’ll see it for yourself:

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

^65-66 At that, the Chief Priest lost his temper, ripping his robes, yelling, “He blasphemed! Why do we need witnesses to accuse him? You all heard him blaspheme! Are you going to stand for such blasphemy?”

They all said, “Death! That seals his death sentence.”

^67-68 Then they were spitting in his face and knocking him around. They jeered as they slapped him: “Prophesy, Messiah: Who hit you that time?”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

There is a time to be silent and a time to speak.  Speak Truth in God’s timing.

Peter was not where Jesus told him to be and would soon deny he knew Him.  But Jesus will forgive Peter and still guide Him to fulfill His purpose and mission.

From the beginning, the religious leaders assumed the worst of Jesus because they feared the loss of power and authority over an already oppressed people. 

The religious leaders hated Jesus’ popularity.  They taught strict adherence to man-made rules that went beyond God’s Law of love and relationship He desired with Him and for each other. 

Jesus came to earth to not only teach but to demonstrate God’s love, provide a way for mankind to reconcile their relationship with God as he sought out the lost without God.  This love was unbelievable and incomprehensible by the religious leaders.  The people had never heard a preacher like this or experienced a kind of love like He exuded from every part of His being. 

Yes, all because of this love, the Love of God, Jesus showed us that God’s love would cover a “multitude of sins” as we relate to God and each other. Our relationship with God trumps rules that have no bearing on our love for each other.  They are just rules made by men who want power to push people around.

It is no wonder their presumptions and assumptions lead them to hate Who they do not know.

Lord,

We are all sinners in need of a Savior.  We repent of assumptions and presumptions that shut others out of families, churches, and our places of business.  Cleanse our hearts.  Transform our thinking.  Refresh and feed our souls with all of who you are.  Restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work within us that loves like you love us—unconditionally, relentlessly, graciously, and mercifully.  Take away all the assumptions and presumptions we have toward others for that offends you.  Thank you for saving our souls and making us whole—all because of your love for us.

In Jesus Name, Amen 

How many times do we have a conversation in our heads with words we wished we would have said AFTER we leave a situation in which a person or persons who were saying and doing things to us that were not good or appropriate at the time?  We are so much the wiser after the attack, right?  But when we are surprised and blindsided by an attack, we lose all sense of wisdom and sputter out statements and questions of disbelief that it is even happening to us.  “What are you doing?”  “What are you talking about?”  “I didn’t do that!” “When did I do anything to you?”  “Why are saying that?” “Why are you doing this to me”? “Can I explain?”  “Can we talk about this?”

Jesus knew what was going to happen.  Nothing was as surprise.  Jesus knew how it was going to happen.  He had just prayed to His Father to change the mission only if it was His Father’s will.  Jesus knew the suffering He would face.  Jesus also knew that He could call on thousands of angels to come down from heaven and rescue him while destroying His false accusers.  He could have—but He did not.  Why?  Because of His great love for us.  That’s why!

Matthew 26, The Message

With Swords and Clubs

^47-49 The words were barely out of his mouth when Judas (the one from the Twelve) showed up, and with him a gang from the high priests and religious leaders brandishing swords and clubs. The betrayer had worked out a sign with them: “The one I kiss, that’s the one—seize him.” He went straight to Jesus, greeted him, “How are you, Rabbi?” and kissed him.

^50-51 Jesus said, “Friend, why this charade?”

Then they came on him—grabbed him and roughed him up. One of those with Jesus pulled his sword and, taking a swing at the Chief Priest’s servant, cut off his ear.

^52-54 Jesus said, “Put your sword back where it belongs. All who use swords are destroyed by swords. Don’t you realize that I am able right now to call to my Father, and twelve companies—more, if I want them—of fighting angels would be here, battle-ready? But if I did that, how would the Scriptures come true that say this is the way it has to be?”

^55-56 Then Jesus addressed the mob: “What is this—coming out after me with swords and clubs as if I were a dangerous criminal? Day after day I have been sitting in the Temple teaching, and you never so much as lifted a hand against me. You’ve done it this way to confirm and fulfill the prophetic writings.”

Then all the disciples cut and ran.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

There were no after thoughts of what Jesus wish He would have said when the soldiers came to arrest him with roughness.  He said to Judas exactly what should have been said to let Judas know, He knew.  Jesus completely and courageously fulfilled every detail of what God to the prophets, centuries earlier, said would happen.  Jesus, Son of God, had the power and authority to change the mission—but He did not.  When Jesus prayed in the garden of Gethsemane that night before the soldiers came, He knew what must happen to save us from all our sins.  “Not my will, but yours, Father.”

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:1-5

“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

Jesus knew Judas would betrayed him with a kiss.  Jesus knew the rest of the disciples would cut and ran for safety.  He prayed they would.  Jesus stood ready to peacefully be arrested though falsely accused.  He knew he would be humiliated, spat upon, beaten beyond recognition, then nailed to a cross.  He who never sinned became our sin so our sins could be removed from us forever. 

The perfect Son of Man who felt every blow to His body took our place of punishment that we deserved while His Father looked the other way while our sins were on His shoulders.  Even as He suffered excruciating pain, He could have cried out for an end to all the pain.  He could have—But He did not. Love held Him there.

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

Jesus knew He was the only One who could do this—and He did! 

And we are eternally grateful that He did!!

Lord,

Tears flow in grateful praise for what you did and what you still do for us/me and in us/me.  There are not enough words to tell you how much I love you.  You are everything to me.  You not only saved me, you make me whole by daily teaching me, speaking truth to my heart, whispering comfort when I am perplexed, giving wisdom for living in your ways.  You cleanse our hearts and remove all that offends you when we ask.  We find you quickly as we call out to You.  You renew our minds, refresh our souls, and restore the joy and peace of your salvation work that continues in and through.  There is no one like you!  Yes, I’m yours.  I trust you with my life.  I love you with all that is in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

As parents of small children, we all understand that they are not fully formed in their rational thinking or skilled in their subsequent behaviors.  Toddlers spill things. They make messes of all kinds.  They are a mess.  We expect it.  They tear down, tear up and take things apart.  They throw temper tantrums when they don’t get their way.  They love greatly but can turn on a dime when you say no or tell them they cannot do something right now.  Yes, these little ones take on the world with a confidence, if you are nearby, that assures them they can do anything.

But then they take a fall, cry mournfully until you pick them up, dust them off, bandage their wounds while consoling, forgiving, and loving them back to health. Toddlers make messes in the learning processes of life.  We know that.  They do not.

Jesus tells his disciples who have followed Him through good times and bad, that they are about to fall apart, run away, and make a mess because of what is about to happen to Him.  They try to grasp what He is saying but their spiritual thinking is still being formed.  Their confidence in “what is unseen” will be tested beyond what they can handle in the moment.  Jesus’ warning just cannot be fully grasped.  But Jesus knows that.  Jesus loves them beyond our wildest thinking no matter what. 

Jesus will still love them when they fall apart, run for cover, hide out for a while. Bold, impetuous Peter will even deny he knew Him.  But because of this deep abiding love, Jesus will still lay down His life for theirs—and ours, taking on all the sins of the world then and now.  “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8-10) Meditate on that thought for a moment.

I am weeping at the thought.  I have read this passage many times—today I marvel at our Savior’s love before, during and through all my messes and falling apart as a result.  Jesus knows when I will fall apart when life is hard and challenging—before I know it. Yes, Jesus knows.  I do not.  And Jesus knows just what I need when I need it most.  And Jesus loves me, still.  Wow.  

Matthew 26, The Message

Gethsemane

^31-32 Then Jesus told them, “Before the night’s over, you’re going to fall to pieces because of what happens to me. There is a Scripture that says,

I’ll strike the shepherd;
dazed and confused, the sheep will be scattered.

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

³³ Peter broke in, “Even if everyone else falls to pieces on account of you, I won’t.”

³⁴ “Don’t be so sure,” Jesus said. “This very night, before the rooster crows up the dawn, you will deny me three times.”

³⁵ Peter protested, “Even if I had to die with you, I would never deny you.” All the others said the same thing.

^36-38 Then Jesus went with them to a garden called Gethsemane and told his disciples, “Stay here while I go over there and pray.” Taking along Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, he plunged into an agonizing sorrow. Then he said, “This sorrow is crushing my life out. Stay here and keep vigil with me.”

³⁹ Going a little ahead, he fell on his face, praying, “My Father, if there is any way, get me out of this. But please, not what I want. You, what do you want?”

^40-41 When he came back to his disciples, he found them sound asleep. He said to Peter, “Can’t you stick it out with me a single hour? Stay alert; be in prayer so you don’t wander into temptation without even knowing you’re in danger. There is a part of you that is eager, ready for anything in God. But there’s another part that’s as lazy as an old dog sleeping by the fire.”

⁴² He then left them a second time. Again he prayed, “My Father, if there is no other way than this, drinking this cup to the dregs, I’m ready. Do it your way.”

^43-44 When he came back, he again found them sound asleep. They simply couldn’t keep their eyes open. This time he let them sleep on, and went back a third time to pray, going over the same ground one last time.

^45-46 When he came back the next time, he said, “Are you going to sleep on and make a night of it? My time is up, the Son of Man is about to be handed over to the hands of sinners. Get up! Let’s get going! My betrayer is here.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Embrace the mess and allow God to turn the mess into a message of His love, mercy, and grace.

The scripture said it would happen this way, Jesus said it would happen.  But they could not comprehend for they were not fully formed or filled with His Holy Spirit to help them.  Their confidence was in the one standing right in front of them.  Confidence turned to fear when Jesus was taken away.

The agonizing sorrow of our Lord overwhelmed Him so He prayed to His Father.  “Your will—Your way”, Jesus prayed. This sorrow could have been the thought of His Father turning his face from Him as Jesus took on all the sins of the world upon Himself.  God cannot and will not be where sin is.  Jesus, part of the Trinity of God, knows that.  More on this later…

We agonize over what we cannot handle until we place it at the feet of Jesus who understands exactly what we are going through, what messes need cleaning up, with what lessons we will learn in the process.  Jesus knows just what we need and delivers us at just the right time and place—all for His glory!

We make messes.  We fall apart.  “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”—but His love for us never changes.  Because of God’s great love for us, He forgives us our sins, and the messes sin leaves behind, completely, when we come to Jesus, our Advocate, Savior and Lord, and ask for forgiveness with a sincere heart. 

God’s Word also says, our sins are forgotten—as if they never happened!  Wait, what!?  Yes!  So, stop asking Him to forgive you for the same thing over and over.  Praise Him in gratitude!  It is finished, done, forgiven, once and for all!  “I, even I, am he who blots out your transgressions, for my own sake, and remembers your sins no more …” Isaiah 43:25. And … “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.” Psalm 103:12

So, let us turn our messes into His message of redemption so others will know they can be saved, too!  Paul explains it best—

“What shall we say about such wonderful things as these? If God is for us, who can ever be against us?Since he did not spare even his own Son but gave him up for us all, won’t he also give us everything else? Who dares accuse us whom God has chosen for his own? No one—for God himself has given us right standing with himself. Who then will condemn us? No one—for Christ Jesus died for us and was raised to life for us, and he is sitting in the place of honor at God’s right hand, pleading for us.

Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[b] 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 8:31-39, NLT, Emphasis mine}

Oh Lord,

What a message of love you have given us today—again!  Over and over, you help us grow and mature through all the failures, missteps in judgement, that cause messes that need to be cleaned up in all kinds of ways.  So, cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, refresh our souls with your new mercies fresh each day, and restore the joy and peace of your continual salvation work in us.  We cry out for your wisdom, insight and understanding.  But even if or when we do not understand fully, we thank you for loving us through it all—no matter what!

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen!

Because I am not God, I am always surprised, (sometimes shocked) when betrayal by loved ones, those who whom I have worked side by side in ministry.  We get so busy in the work to show the way to Jesus as we “go and make disciples” of Jesus, that we can miss it.  We want to think the best of people, not the worst.  So, we miss the motives that drive some in the work to do it for selfish reasons.   We miss that some have their own agendas for change in the system to their advantage.  We overlook those who seek fame and fortune in the work as their end goal. 

But soon the “traitor” within the ranks is found out when behaviors do not match what they say they believe.  God sees it first.  God knew all along.  No surprise to Him because He knows what’s inside all hearts.  God intervenes and calls them out.  God protects what He has ordained.  God provides forgiveness to betrayers and traitors.  They have the choice to repent and accept His mercy and grace.  But some do not.  They hang themselves by the end of the rope they themselves have created.

But, don’t miss this!  Jesus, Son of God, keeps moving forward in the mission God gave him to do.  This is so important to learn from our Teacher, Savior, and Lord!  The betrayer in the group will not hinder what God has given Jesus to accomplish—For God so loved the world…

Matthew 26, The Message

The Traitor

¹⁷ On the first of the Days of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and said, “Where do you want us to prepare your Passover meal?”

^18-19 He said, “Enter the city. Go up to a certain man and say, ‘The Teacher says, My time is near. I and my disciples plan to celebrate the Passover meal at your house.’” The disciples followed Jesus’ instructions to the letter, and prepared the Passover meal.

^20-21 After sunset, he and the Twelve were sitting around the table. During the meal, he said, “I have something hard but important to say to you: One of you is going to hand me over to the conspirators.”

²² They were stunned, and then began to ask, one after another, “It isn’t me, is it, Master?”

^23-24 Jesus answered, “The one who hands me over is someone I eat with daily, one who passes me food at the table. In one sense the Son of Man is entering into a way of treachery well-marked by the Scriptures—no surprises here. In another sense that man who turns him in, turns traitor to the Son of Man—better never to have been born than do this!”

²⁵ Then Judas, already turned traitor, said, “It isn’t me, is it, Rabbi?”

Jesus said, “Don’t play games with me, Judas.”

The Bread and the Cup

^26-29 During the meal, Jesus took and blessed the bread, broke it, and gave it to his disciples:

Take, eat.
This is my body.

Taking the cup and thanking God, he gave it to them:

Drink this, all of you.
This is my blood,
God’s new covenant poured out for many people
    for the forgiveness of sins.

“I’ll not be drinking wine from this cup again until that new day when I’ll drink with you in the kingdom of my Father.”

³⁰ They sang a hymn and went directly to Mount Olives.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Judas walked with Jesus, saw the miracles, knew that this Son of Man could have the ability to bring about revolutionary change against their oppressors that he had hoped for in his lifetime.  Assigned as the treasurer of the group, Judas grew greedy and knew he could even make money off the miracle work of a popular preacher. 

Judas went along with the traditional religious practices as part of the group, but that last incident when expensive perfume was spilled out by a woman who wanted to honor Jesus angered him.  This act of love repulsed him the more he thought about how that perfume could have been sold and the money added to his coveted treasury that he was probably skimming from to line his own pockets. 

So, before coming to The Passover Table of the Lord, he sold Jesus out to those who wanted Jesus killed.  30 pieces of silver was the price paid for his betrayal of Jesus—from the religious leaders!

Judas, whom Jesus had washed his feet to show the full extent of His love, served him the wine and bread, was finally exposed for the man he had become. (See also John 13)  Truth rose to the surface as it always does.  Judas knew enough to be bitterly sorrowful that his ruse was over but not enough to ask for Jesus’ forgiveness. 

This is my Body. This is my Blood–God’s new covenant poured out for many people for the forgiveness of sins.  Believe, repent and be saved for eternity!

Jesus said, “Don’t play games with Me.”

Lord,

Forgive us when our human motives override your spiritual intent.  We betray you and the mission when selfishness gets in the way.  Forgive us our sins as we forgive those who betray us.  Your ultimate goal is that no one perish.  Your love is still so amazing to me in the way you serve those who are becoming enemies of the mission.  Thank you for your example. Thank you for the help of Your Holy Spirit that gives us discernment and wisdom to keep moving forward in your will and purpose for our lives.  I don’t want to play games with you!  You always win!  And I am grateful you do!

In Jesus Name, Amen

What kind of love is this
That gave itself for me
I am the guilty one
Yet I go free
What kind of love is this
A love I’ve never known
I didn’t even know His name
What kind of love is this

(Music and Lyric by Bryn and Sally Hayworth)

Her teenager had lost her way in a world that drew her into self-medicating and self-satisfying.  She was all about self.  She demanded control and thought she could take on the world all by herself.  Her mom loved her dearly and told her daily.  She wanted God’s best for her child.  But all the love and help she offered to her daughter was met with eyerolls, sarcastic put downs or ignored altogether.  The daughter left home one day with a few bucks in her pocket.  She was not heard from by your family for a couple of years.  But her mom never stopped praying for her girl.  She prayed for her daily, asking God to protect her. 

Eventually the teen came to the end of her resources, the end of what she could do to save herself.  She had sold herself to others so many times she was now ragged, tired, and without hope.  She wondered if her mom even remembered her.  She finally borrowed a phone and called her mom.  The mom heard weeping before the voice of her lost daughter said, “Mom, I’m sorry. Do you still love me?” and “Can I come home?”  The mom didn’t tell her what she would have to do, how she would have to clean up her act, or what rules must be followed.  The mom simply said, “There is nothing that you will ever do that will stop me from loving you, come home.”

Revolutionary Love.

What kind of man is this
Who died in agony
He who had done no wrong
Was crucified for me
What kind of man is this
Who laid aside His throne
That I might know the love of God
What kind of man is this

Matthew 26, The Message

Anointed for Burial

^1-2 When Jesus finished saying these things, he told his disciples, “You know that Passover comes in two days. That’s when the Son of Man will be betrayed and handed over for crucifixion.”

^3-5 At that very moment, the party of high priests and religious leaders was meeting in the chambers of the Chief Priest named Caiaphas, conspiring to seize Jesus by stealth and kill him. They agreed that it should not be done during Passover Week. “We don’t want a riot on our hands,” they said.

^6-9 When Jesus was at Bethany, a guest of Simon the Leper, a woman came up to him as he was eating dinner and anointed him with a bottle of very expensive perfume. When the disciples saw what was happening, they were furious. “That’s criminal! This could have been sold for a lot and the money handed out to the poor.”

^10-13 When Jesus realized what was going on, he intervened. “Why are you giving this woman 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, but not me. When she poured this perfume on my body, what she really did was anoint me for burial. You can be sure that wherever in the whole world the Message is preached, what she has just done is going to be remembered and admired.”

^14-16 That is when one of the Twelve, the one named Judas Iscariot, went to the cabal of high priests and said, “What will you give me if I hand him over to you?” They settled on thirty silver pieces. He began looking for just the right moment to hand him over.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

We know that Jesus came to earth to demonstrate the revolutionary love of God fully and completely.  This love is revolutionary because it changes the way mankind thinks about love that is without conditions or condemnation.  This love is so revolutionary that many do not accept it or understand it, feeling the need to work for it—but most people want it.  The woman who came to Jesus to anoint his feet with her expensive perfume oil understood this love enough to sacrifice what she had in an offering to Jesus.  This special oil was probably purchased and saved on the shelf in her home for her own burial.  This was the custom in that day, a “burial policy,” if you will.  Her only thought was wanting to give of her best for her Master, the One she loved greatly because He loved her first in a way she had never known. 

Jesus, who knew her heart, understood her motive to love Him back in this way and allowed her to anoint Him.  Imagine the scene.  She would have had to break the seal of preservation and spill out this precious, perfumed oil used in embalming practices, knowing that once it was broken and spilled out, it could not be put back.  What kind of love is this?  Revolutionary!

Judas, the treasurer of the group, along with the other disciples surely did not “read the room!”  They only thought about the price of the perfume—not the sacrificial love bestowed on the One who would soon sacrifice His body for their sins—our sins—all the sins of the world because of His sacrificial love.  We will read and meditate on more acts of Jesus’ revolutionary love as recorded in Matthew.  Jesus will soon demonstrate, even to Judas, just how revolutionary His love is.  But for now…

“There is nothing that you will ever do that will stop me from loving you, come home.”

By faith I have been saved
It is the gift of God
He destined me to be His own
Such is His love
No eye has ever seen
No ear has ever heard
Nor has the heart of men conceived
What kind of love is this…

Lord,

Thank you for your sacrifice, and most of all, for your love that held you to the cross for my sins. Help me to love without conditions like you love me.  I love you with all that is in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

There is this thing in all humans, called “herd mentality,” which is the tendency for people’s behavior or beliefs to conform to those of the group to which they belong. Herd, mob, or pack mentality describes how people can be influenced by the majority.

TRUE STORY:  Here is a great example of herd mentality in action: 

ISTANBUL, Turkey – January 13, 2015.  First one sheep jumped to its death.  Then stunned Turkish shepherds, who had left the herd to graze while they had breakfast, watched as nearly 1,500 others followed, each leaping off the same cliff, Turkish media reported.

In the end, 450 dead animals lay on top of one another in a billowy white pile, the Aksam newspaper said. Those who jumped later were saved as the pile got higher and the fall more cushioned, Aksam reported.

“There’s nothing we can do. They’re all wasted,” Nevzat Bayhan, a member of one of 26 families whose sheep were grazing together in the herd, was quoted as saying by Aksam.  The estimated loss to families in the town of Gevas, located in Van province in eastern Turkey, tops $100,000, a significant amount of money in a country where average GDP per head is around $2,700.

“Every family had an average of 20 sheep,” Aksam quoted another villager, Abdullah Hazar as saying. “But now only a few families have sheep left. It’s going to be hard for us.”

“All we like sheep…”  In the Bible, we are described many times as the “sheep of His pasture” with the Lord as our Shepherd.  But sheep are dumb. My grandpa raised sheep so I observed their behaviors many times.  Sheep follow the one in front of them when the Shepherd is not around—we got that from the story above!  One day, one sheep decided to see what it was like to jump off a cliff.  Can you imagine what the momma sheep might have said, “Baa, just because he jumped off a cliff…”  But I digress—and I’m smiling out loud.  One big sweater at the bottom.  Okay, I’ll stop.

As we read what Jesus says about sheep and goats, describing the behaviors of what a heart for Jesus looks like; we understand more why we are called the “sheep of His pasture”.  Our Sheperd loves it when the “herd” loves Him back, follows Him as He leads, and obeys when He calls them to come and does what is right and good so all will go well for them.

But that’s not all, this perfectly translates to us as followers of our Shepherd, Jesus.  As we obey the Leader of the “herd” as the Greatest Influencer of our lives, we begin to imitate what He does.  We begin to love like Jesus.  We serve like Jesus.  We look not to our interests but beyond ourselves to what others need and then do what we can to help while always pointing the way back to Jesus!  Jesus says when we do something in His Name to help others in need, it is the SAME as doing it for Jesus, Himself!  Wow!

I may be a dumb sheep at times, but I certainly do not want to be a goat!  Wait, what!?

Matthew 25, The Message

The Sheep and the Goats

^31-33 “When he finally arrives, blazing in beauty and all his angels with him, the Son of Man will take his place on his glorious throne. Then all the nations will be arranged before him and he will sort the people out, much as a shepherd sorts out sheep and goats, putting sheep to his right and goats to his left.

^34-36 “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Enter, you who are blessed by my Father! Take what’s coming to you in this kingdom. It’s been ready for you since the world’s foundation. And here’s why:

I was hungry and you fed me,
I was thirsty and you gave me a drink,
I was homeless and you gave me a room,
I was shivering and you gave me clothes,
I was sick and you stopped to visit,
I was in prison and you came to me.’

^37-40 “Then those ‘sheep’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry and feed you, thirsty and give you a drink? And when did we ever see you sick or in prison and come to you?’ Then the King will say, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you did one of these things to someone overlooked or ignored, that was me—you did it to me.’

^41-43 “Then he will turn to the ‘goats,’ the ones on his left, and say, ‘Get out, worthless goats! You’re good for nothing but the fires of hell. And why? Because—

I was hungry and you gave me no meal,
I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,
I was homeless and you gave me no bed,
I was shivering and you gave me no clothes,
Sick and in prison, and you never visited.’

⁴⁴ “Then those ‘goats’ are going to say, ‘Master, what are you talking about? When did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or homeless or shivering or sick or in prison and didn’t help?’

⁴⁵ “He will answer them, ‘I’m telling the solemn truth: Whenever you failed to do one of these things to someone who was being overlooked or ignored, that was me—you failed to do it to me.’

⁴⁶ “Then those ‘goats’ will be herded to their eternal doom, but the ‘sheep’ to their eternal reward.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

“Choose this day whom you will serve,” Joshua 24:15. I think of the stand that Joshua boldly took when God’s people came face to face between two factions—God or the Enemy.  We daily make a stand on our journey here on earth by how we behave.

We have only two choices.  We can choose the One who gives life eternal OR the one who leads us to jump to our death.  It’s our choice.  We must daily choose wisely and prayerfully who will influence us.  We can be dumb sheep who follow whoever is in front of us, or we can follow and imitate the Shepherd, the One and Only who loved us so much He came to save us from our sins. 

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

Know God—by reading what God says.  Believe in His Son who saves us from death.  Learn what Jesus did to help people in need and reconcile them to God. Then love Jesus back by doing what Jesus did.  By the power of God’s Holy Spirit living in us, we can become influencers for Jesus!

Don’t be a goat-like!  Know that this herd mentality is a psychological phenomenon that significantly impacts human behavior. It occurs when individuals adopt the beliefs, behaviors, or attitudes of the majority in a group, often at the expense of their own judgment or individuality. This behavior can be observed in various aspects of daily life, from fashion trends to investment decisions and even political affiliations—but most of all, we must consistently evaluate how society affects our walk with God. 

Do we affect society or does society affect us individually and as believers in the “herd” called church?  Mmm…

Understanding the principles behind herd mentality can empower us to better recognize and avoid its impact on our lives, helping us to make more informed choices. When we recognize and understand the influence of herd mentality, we can more easily turn from the herd of the world and lean into our uniqueness with Jesus Christ for we are “a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.” 1 Peter 2:9, NLT

As His sheep, we are sent from Jesus to love and imitate what Jesus did. 

“Jesus entered, stood among them, and said, “Peace to you.” Then he showed them his hands and side.  The disciples, seeing the Master with their own eyes, were awestruck. Jesus repeated his greeting: “Peace to you. Just as the Father sent me, I send you.”  John 20:19-21

“Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.” Psalm 100:3 NIV

May Jesus be the One who influences our lives!

Lord,

I am a sheep who loves her Shepherd.  Thank you for teaching me that with you, “I lack nothing.”  Thank you for “making me lie down in green pastures, leading me beside quiet waters as you refresh my soul.”  Thank you for guiding me along the right paths for His name’s sake.”  “Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

“You prepare a table before me right in the presence of my enemies!  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”  (Adapted from Ps 23)

In Jesus Name, Amen