Daily Manna (Coffee with Jesus)

What will shock and awe us these days?  Is it an incredible, never done before physical stunt by men and women who have trained to perform this unbelievable act?  Is it a musical performance that was wonderfully flawless?  Or was it a near miss from being in a highway accident?  Was it the threat of death as you rushed a loved one to the emergency room?  What shocks us and brings us to our knees in awe?  What causes immediate praises to God in our lives? 

What does  it take for our natural, skeptical minds to change to wonder?  These are the thoughts I have as I read the next passage that is very familiar to most of us who were raised in church.  As we sat as young children in Sunday School, we were taught this story at least once a year as an incredible story of the love of friends who risked it all to bring their loved one to Jesus for healing.  But there is so much more!

The greater message is JESUS, Son of Man, with authority from God, who instantly forgave and healed a man who could not walk—and told him to walk home in front of the crowd!  JESUS caused the skeptics to wonder and the crowd to be shocked and awed by Jesus.  JESUS’ demonstration of the power of God caused the crowd to immediately praise God!  JESUS is the One and Only who can reconcile people to God.  JESUS came to seek and save the lost.  Healing was a byproduct of God’s compassion.

What causes us to immediately praise God?

Mark 2, The Message

A Paraplegic

^1-5 After a few days, Jesus returned to Capernaum, and word got around that he was back home. A crowd gathered, jamming the entrance so no one could get in or out. He was teaching the Word. They brought a paraplegic to him, carried by four men. When they weren’t able to get in because of the crowd, they removed part of the roof and lowered the paraplegic on his stretcher. Impressed by their bold belief, Jesus said to the paraplegic, “Son, I forgive your sins.”

^6-7 Some religion scholars sitting there started whispering among themselves, “He can’t talk that way! That’s blasphemy! God and only God can forgive sins.”

^8-12 Jesus knew right away what they were thinking, and said, “Why are you so skeptical? Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’? Well, just so it’s clear that I’m the Son of Man and authorized to do either, or both . . .” (he looked now at the paraplegic), “Get up. Pick up your stretcher and go home.” And the man did it—got up, grabbed his stretcher, and walked out, with everyone there watching him. They rubbed their eyes, stunned—and then praised God, saying, “We’ve never seen anything like this!”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

It’s all about Jesus—not you and not me.  God created us.  Jesus is the One who saves us—we cannot save ourselves.  “Know this: God is God, and God, God. He made us; we didn’t make him. We’re his people, his well-tended sheep”. (Psalm 100:3, MSG)

The Trinity of God is God in Three Persons: God, the Father, Jesus, God’s Son, and His Holy Spirit.  Each one plays a role in our believing lives!

God’s Holy Spirit lives in us—sent from God to reside within the soul of every believer in Jesus as a Helper for us!  “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” –Jesus (John 14:26)

God’s Holy Spirit guides us, consistently bringing us back to Truth who is Jesus!  “But when the Helper comes, whom I will send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth, who proceeds from the Father, he will bear witness about me.”—Jesus (John 15:26)

“…And when he comes, he will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment. –Jesus (John 16:15) Convicting the world is the work of God’s Spirit, not us.

Don’t know what to pray to God when overwhelmed?  “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words.”  Romans 8:26

“It’s in Christ that you, once you heard the truth and believed it (this Message of your salvation), found yourselves home free – signed, sealed, and delivered by the Holy Spirit.” (Ephesians 1:13, MSG)

The secret that awes believers… “For God wanted them to know that the riches and glory of Christ are for you Gentiles, too. And this is the secret: Christ lives in you. This gives you assurance of sharing his glory.” (Colossians 1:27, NLT)

“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16, NLT)

I’m in shock that Jesus came to die for me when I think of how messed up I can be in my thinking and behaving—but He did.  I’m in awe of the One who created me, came to earth to save me and His Holy Spirit who lives in me. 

I truly stand amazed in the Presence of the Holy One who chose to never leave me.  I’m in awe of a love like this that is like no other love on earth!

“Which is simpler: to say to the paraplegic, ‘I forgive your sins,’ or say, ‘Get up, take your stretcher, and start walking’?” –Jesus

Jesus did both…and the man walked home.  Amazing.  Just amazing.

Lord,

Thank you, God.  Thank you, Jesus.  Thank you, Holy Spirit!  You are welcome to convict, comfort, challenge, guide and direct my life as I strive to live for you with you living in me.  I stand in awe and I worship you—all day long and into the night—I worship you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Let the shocked and awed praise God!  And we’re singing…

I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus, the Nazarene,
And wonder how He could love me, a sinner, condemned, unclean.

Refrain
How marvelous, how wonderful!
And my song shall ever be:
How marvelous, how wonderful
Is my Savior’s love for me!

2 He took my sins and my sorrows; He made them His very own;
He bore the burden to Calv’ry and suffered and died alone. Refrain

3 When with the ransomed in glory His face I at last shall see,
‘Twill be my joy through the ages to sing of His love for me. Refrain

(Songwriter: Charles Gabiel, 1905, “My Savior’s Love”)

The book of James says, “The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working” (5:16b ESV). Other translations say, “the prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective” (NIV) or “The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much” (KJV).

Great power comes from prayer!  Hopefully, you’ve noticed that just before Jesus does the extraordinary, He has been alone with His Father, God to commune with Him in prayer, listening for what God says to do next.  Mark tells of yet another time when this occurs.  Let’s talk about it…

As a believer, it becomes a part of our DNA as a new creation in Christ to want to spread His love by serving and helping others.  This desire is good until we serve and help others to serve the need we have to feel important, to look good to others, and to stay busy because somehow the busier we are the better we think we are.  This is a trap that we all fall into from time to time.  That’s why the Psalmist reminds us to “Be still and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10).  We learn from Jesus, God’s Son, to BE with God, let go or our will in return to grasp God’s will and then DO what HE says. 

Doing without being is just a lot of “noise” while the pure motivations of love, mercy, and grace slowly slip away.

To BEcome more like Jesus is to pray to God, asking what He wants, before doing anything.  As we read, we observe the habits and behaviors of Jesus throughout the Gospels.  We learn from the One we desire to imitate.  Jesus’ miraculous acts and His display of wisdom in teaching are demonstrated after being with the Father in prayer!

Prayer begins and ends His day, while often “getting away alone in a quiet place.”  We learn that prayer equals power.  For Jesus, prayer comes before agendas, before beginning the tasks of the day, before offering advice, before healing, before choosing disciples, before the crowds find him and clamor around Him for attention. 

So, if Jesus knew to step away, get quiet, be still and commune with His Father before doing another healing, performing another miracle, along with another round of teaching—shouldn’t we do the same?  If we are too busy to pray—we are too busy! 

Jesus stayed in touch with the One who sent Him to save us.  We, too must stay in touch with the One who is the Way, Truth and Life!  We are not of this world.  We are children of God with Kingdom of God thinking that come from staying in touch with our Father, In Jesus Name!   

Mark 1, The Message

The Leper

^35-37 While it was still night, way before dawn, he got up and went out to a secluded spot and prayed. Simon and those with him went looking for him. They found him and said, “Everybody’s looking for you.”

^38-39 Jesus said, “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I’ve come.” He went to their meeting places all through Galilee, preaching and throwing out the demons.

⁴⁰ A leper came to him, begging on his knees, “If you want to, you can cleanse me.”

^41-45 Deeply moved, Jesus put out his hand, touched him, and said, “I want to. Be clean.” Then and there the leprosy was gone, his skin smooth and healthy. Jesus dismissed him with strict orders: “Say nothing to anyone. Take the offering for cleansing that Moses prescribed and present yourself to the priest. This will validate your healing to the people.” But as soon as the man was out of earshot, he told everyone he met what had happened, spreading the news all over town. So Jesus kept to out-of-the-way places, no longer able to move freely in and out of the city. But people found him, and came from all over.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Prayer keeps us focused!  After Jesus gets in touch with His Father, He clarifies the mission God gave him to the other disciples.  “Let’s go to the rest of the villages so I can preach there also. This is why I’ve come.”  Healing is not the main work of Jesus; to seek and to save the lost who need God is central in His focus.  As the Son of Man, Jesus receives power to do what God has sent Him to do by staying in touch.  This same power also heals those who come to Him.

“If you want to…” says the leper are words of reverence and respect given to Jesus.  The leper is not demanding or assuming, he is asking Jesus what He thinks is best for him, believing that He can bring healing.  Jesus’ touch heals the man because he wants to do it and is probably impressed by the man’s faith as he humbly requests for His will in the matter.

Now, it will be harder for Jesus to move about freely because the word of His healing power has spread all over that part of the world.  But does He stop praying as His popularity grows?  Does He feel He no longer needs God’s help or direction? Absolutely not.  Jesus is in continual communication with God.  “I only do what my Father tells me to do.”  “I say what my Father tells me to say.” 

Can we say the same?  I’m not going to answer this one out loud.  It’s personal.

Jesus’ last prayer was from the cross, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing.”  Then Jesus died for our sins.  All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God—except Jesus.  Jesus was the only One who could save us.  Jesus did what God said.  The mission completed, finished, the debt paid in full. 

Jesus went to hell and back again for you and for me and the rest of the world. 

Lord,

My desire is to stay in touch with You throughout the day and into the night.  I lean into you, tapping into Your Power and Strength, Wisdom, and Direction, asking for Your will to be done.  I want to live expectantly to see you at work in and through me. 

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen

How does Satan know exactly how to “push our buttons” of pride, envy, lust, greed, and everything else that is opposite to God?  He knows God.  Satan knows Jesus and the plan of saving the world through God’s Son.  He knows everything about God, the Father, Jesus the Son and God’s Holy Spirit.  Satan knows because He lived in heaven with God as one of his angels until he wanted to be God, so God removed him and those who followed him. 

Satan gathered his demons and now inflicts evil on all that God has created, especially those “in his own image.”  He tempts all of us, especially those who believe in God, with  putting thoughts all around us that lead to perverse thinking only of ourselves and tempts us with all our sin nature desires.  Remember, the evil one has limited power.  Jesus, God’s Son, has unlimited power and all authority from God.  So, spoiler alert, Jesus wins.  Every single time, God, Jesus, Holy Spirit wins when all is said and done.

“… let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves. The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.” Galatians 5:16-17, NLT   

Jesus battles Satan at every turn in his ministry to seek and to save the lost.  Jesus wins this battle consistently.  With Jesus, we are victorious, too!  Don’t forget that!                                           

Mark 1, The Message

Confident Teaching

^21-22 Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.

^23-24 Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, “What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you’re up to! You’re the Holy One of God, and you’ve come to destroy us!”

^25-26 Jesus shut him up: “Quiet! Get out of him!” The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out.

^27-28 Everyone there was spellbound, buzzing with curiosity. “What’s going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and tells them to get lost!” News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee.

^29-31 Directly on leaving the meeting place, they came to Simon and Andrew’s house, accompanied by James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed, burning up with fever. They told Jesus. He went to her, took her hand, and raised her up. No sooner had the fever left than she was up fixing dinner for them.

^32-34 That evening, after the sun was down, they brought sick and evil-afflicted people to him, the whole city lined up at his door! He cured their sick bodies and tormented spirits. Because the demons knew his true identity, he didn’t let them say a word.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESOND?

Know God. 

Know the enemy who is against God. To know the Enemy and his methods of operation keeps us less likely to fall for his clever disguises and deceit.

Know Jesus. Trust Jesus. 

Know the Helper, the Gift Jesus gave us.  Follow His Holy Spirit’s leading.   

Know yourself. Believe in the message God puts on our hearts of his love.  Trust Jesus.  Trust where the Holy Spirit leads.  Don’t trust your feelings for they change with the wind.  We belong to Christ. Follow, focus on His character traits, and be like Him.

“When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures, idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division, envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.”

“But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!”

“Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.”  Galatians 5:19-25, NLT

Lord,

Thank you for the beautiful ways in which you bring people to yourself when we call on your name!  Thank you for healing and restoring us from all that happens to us in this world. Thank you for giving us power to overcome the temptations the evil one throws at us consistently.  We know “that greater are you that is in us than he that is in this world.”  Thank you for the same power available to us to rebuke evil at every turn.  Thank you for saving my soul and making me whole.  Help us to point the way to you always!

In Jesus Name, Amen

“You can’t possible understand what I’m going through,” we cry out as young teens to our parents, teachers, and friends when in a difficult situation.  As adults, this is what we tell those who try to console and comfort us when we are in our wits ends!  These words tumble out when we are overwhelmed and distraught as others offer unwarranted advice and attempt to “fix” it or us. 

“No matter where I turn, it seems the devil is on my case leading me to places I do not want to go.”  “Who can possibly understand what I am feeling?”

Jesus understands.  Jesus went through it all.  Jesus knows what we need most.

Mark 1, The Message

God’s Kingdom Is Here

^12-13 At once, this same Spirit pushed Jesus out into the wild. For forty wilderness days and nights he was tested by Satan. Wild animals were his companions, and angels took care of him.

^14-15 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee preaching the Message of God: “Time’s up! God’s kingdom is here. Change your life and believe the Message.”

^16-18 Passing along the beach of Lake Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew net-fishing. Fishing was their regular work. Jesus said to them, “Come with me. I’ll make a new kind of fisherman out of you. I’ll show you how to catch men and women instead of perch and bass.” They didn’t ask questions. They dropped their nets and followed.

^19-20 A dozen yards or so down the beach, he saw the brothers James and John, Zebedee’s sons. They were in the boat, mending their fishnets. Right off, he made the same offer. Immediately, they left their father Zebedee, the boat, and the hired hands, and followed.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

My Jesus knows when I am Lonely
He knows each pain, He sees each tear
He understands each lonely heartache
He understands because He cares

… My Jesus knows just what I need
Oh yes, He knows just what I need
He satisfies and every need supplies
Yes, He knows just what I need

… My Jesus knows just what I need
Oh yes, He knows just what I need
He satisfies and every need supplies
Yes, He knows just what I need…

The words of this song written by Mosie Lister expresses our humanness and Jesus complete understanding of our human need.  Jesus was the Son of God.  He came to earth and was born as the Son of Man.  He felt pain, cried tears of sadness over the human condition of sin, and was tempted by Satan in the wilderness.  Jesus was led there by God’s Holy Spirit before beginning his public ministry of preaching Kingdom of God thinking and behaving.  Jesus sought God and got Satan’s harassment.  Other writers go into more detail than “just the facts” Mark.  So, let’s visit Luke 4 for all the details…Here is a snapshot:

“And Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by the Spirit in the wilderness for forty days, being tempted by the devil. And he ate nothing during those days. And when they were ended, he was hungry. The devil said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command this stone to become bread.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone.’” Luke 4:1-4 ESV

Jesus is harassed two more times by Satan who knows human weakness and how to attack when we are at our weakest.  But Jesus, “full of the Holy Spirit” who was fasting in the wilderness as He sought God, responded with Scripture He had learned as a young student growing up in a devoted Jewish home.  Jesus was led by God, praying to God, recalling what God has said. 

Jesus teaches us to respond to Satan’s attacks with God’s Word.  Rise above what you feel with what you know to be Truth.  We who believe also have the Holy Spirit living in us with this same power to respond to all of evil’s attacks! 

Yes, my Jesus knows just what I need…

And in those times when we get a bit too full of ourselves, know that this is yet another attack of Satan.  Consider how Jesus responded…

“And the devil took him up and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time, and said to him, “To you I will give all this authority and their glory, for it has been delivered to me, and I give it to whom I will. If you, then, will worship me, it will all be yours.” And Jesus answered him, “It is written,

“‘You shall worship the Lord your God,
    and him only shall you serve.’”

Jesus knows we will be tempted to rise above others with thoughts of self-glorification and pride.  Satan is the “chief among liars.  Satan will lean into our selfish desires to be the most important over all, offering what he cannot give and has no authority to give.

My Jesus knows just what I need…

“And he took him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle of the temple and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down from here, for it is written,

“‘He will command his angels concerning you,
    to guard you,’

And “‘On their hands they will bear you up,
    lest you strike your foot against a stone.’”

And Jesus answered him, “It is said, ‘You shall not put the Lord your God to the test.’” And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time.  Luke 4:5-13, ESV

Now Satan tries to turn the tables on Jesus by quoting scripture himself—out of context and without knowledge of what it really means.  (Oh yes, he does this all the time!)  But Jesus, who is Truth, counters with Truth—Don’t test God!  Satan finally leaves but he never gives up…as we well know. These temptations of Satan now serve to prepare Jesus to be later attacked by the religious leaders who evil already has a hold on. 

My Jesus knows just what I need…Truth!

Jesus then leaves the wilderness to begin what God has sent Him to do.  Jesus preaches, “Change your life.  Believe the Message.  The Kingdom of God is here!”

Jesus then, still led by the Spirit of God, gathers a small group of ordinary people who will do extraordinary works for the glory of God.  “Come with Me” …Jesus still asks us to follow Him.

Yes, my Jesus knows just what I needed for today—A reminder of His Holy Presence living in me who leads me to Truth.

Lord,

Thank you for this lesson of how to combat our enemy whose only goal is to distract our focus on You with attempts to destroy our testimony about you.  You are God and no one else is God.  I love you with all my heart, mind, and soul.  So, cleanse my heart, remove all that offends you, renew my mind, refresh my soul with your new mercies for today and restore the joy and peace of your salvation at work in me.  Thank you for always giving me exactly what I need when I need it most and even before knowing I needed it!  You are amazing!  To you be the glory!

In Jesus Name, Amen

When something fantastic happens to children they immediately run to you, shouting while breathlessly telling you what just happened in short phrases that are not even close to complete sentences.  Sometimes they will shout a few words and just point in the direction to turn your attention to what they want you to see.  As children we’ve all done it, as adults we still do it when the news is so fantastic that we instinctively save time by skipping paragraphs of explanation and jumping right to the bottom line!

Mark’s gospel does the same!  Mark is exited to tell the Good News!  Mark jumps right in, wasting no time, in getting down to business—a single-sentence introduction, and not a digression to be found from beginning to end.  Matthew outlined the lineage and heredity of Jesus, his birth, along with information about his earthly parents and His training as a young Jewish boy.  Mark begins with an event that has taken place that radically changes the way we look at and experience the world.  Yes, Mark simply cannot wait to tell us about Jesus!  The sooner we get the message, the better off we will be, for the message is good, incredibly good: God is here, and He’s on our side!

Mark 1, The Message

John the Baptizer

^1-3 The good news of Jesus Christ—the Message!—begins here, following to the letter the scroll of the prophet Isaiah.

Watch closely: I’m sending my preacher ahead of you;
He’ll make the road smooth for you.
Thunder in the desert!
Prepare for God’s arrival!
Make the road smooth and straight!

^4-6 John the Baptizer appeared in the wild, preaching a baptism of life-change that leads to forgiveness of sins. People thronged to him from Judea and Jerusalem and, as they confessed their sins, were baptized by him in the Jordan River into a changed life. John wore a camel-hair habit, tied at the waist with a leather belt. He ate locusts and wild field honey.

^7-8 As he preached he said, “The real action comes next: The star in this drama, to whom I’m a mere stagehand, will change your life. I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. His baptism—a holy baptism by the Holy Spirit—will change you from the inside out.”

^9-11 At this time, Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. The moment he came out of the water, he saw the sky split open and God’s Spirit, looking like a dove, come down on him. Along with the Spirit, a voice: “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Hope has arrived. Take notice!  The Messiah has come!  God said it and it is happening!

John, Jesus’ earthly cousin born a few months before Him, was assigned by God from the birth to “prepare the way” for the Good News of the Messiah who was promised to come and save them.  Jesus is the promised one, The Messiah.  Jesus is also Son of Man and Son of God at the same time. 

Jesus’ baptism declared Who he was, the sinless One, who would wash away the sins of the world with His own blood.  The holy act of baptism signifies we believe in Jesus who washed away (removed) our sins from us!

Jesus, God’s Son, was connected to God and in complete obedience to God’s mission.  This pleased God greatly and could not keep from telling the world as God affirmed His Son! 

Wow, what a thought!  God split the clouds and spoke to His Son as He began His journey to fulfill what God said centuries earlier that He said He would.  “You are my Son, chosen and marked by my love, pride of my life.”  In this statement, God affirmed Jesus, as not only Son of Man but above all, Son of God.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16

So, God is on our side, too!  Go to Romans 8 as Paul explains how God is for us who believe: “For God knew his people in advance, and he chose them to become like his Son, so that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters. And having chosen them, he called them to come to him. And having called them, he gave them right standing with himself. And having given them right standing, he gave them his glory.” Romans 8:29-30

AND…Nothing Can Separate Us from God’s Love

^“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.  Romans 8:31-34

BEST NEWS EVER!!

To believe in the existence of God was not news, because believing in God or gods was common to daily living.  They relied on many gods through the centuries, superstitiously and faithfully, calling on them to give them good crops and protection from their enemies.  But it was not common to have a personal relationship or connection with God.  This is Good News!

“But that GOD is here right now, and on our side, actively seeking to help us in the way we most need help—THIS qualifies as news.  For common as belief in God is, there is also an enormous amount of guesswork and gossip surrounding the subject, which results in runaway superstition, anxiety, and exploitation.   So, Mark, understandably, is in a hurry to tell us what happened in the birth, life, death, and resurrection of Jesus—the Event that reveals the truth of God to us, so that we can live in reality and not illusion.  He doesn’t want us to waste a minute of these precious lives of ours ignorant of this most practical of all matters—that God is passionate to save us.”—Eugene Peterson, Introduction to Mark

Believe, repent to Jesus, and be saved for eternity.  God is for us, not against us. God is for you!  God is for me!  Take as personally as it was meant to be!

“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, 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 8:35-39 (Emphasis mine.)

Lord,

Thank you for affirming your children this morning through your Word as you commonly do.  Thank you for loving us so passionately with resolve to never stop loving us!  Thank you for being on our side when troubles come. Even when it’s our fault, you help us learn from it!. Thank you for walking us through the high waters. Thank you for your love that drives out all fears for today and worries of tomorrow.  You are God.  I am not. I believe in YOU.  You love me.  I trust you, dear Jesus.  You are Truth and the only Way to eternal Life.

In Jesus Name, for Your Glory, Amen.  Yes, and Amen!

As a former elementary teacher, I have many great memories of the first day of each school year.  The first day of school is exciting, challenging, nerve testing, tense, and joyful all at the same time.  The students meet you as their teacher for the first time. Most students cannot wait to find their place, see their name, and open their backpack; spilling out all the fresh crayons, new pencils, and other supplies crammed in along with a crushed lunch bag.  Most like seeing their friends from last year and meeting new friends.  But some students are not sure, and a bit apprehensive, about leaving the comforts of home they have enjoyed over the summer to do a “new thing.” 

None of us dive into a “new thing” without some thought and consideration.  We think as earth bound humans until Jesus changes everything!

Matthew 28, The Message

^16-17 Meanwhile, the eleven disciples were on their way to Galilee, headed for the mountain Jesus had set for their reunion. The moment they saw him they worshiped him. Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.

^18-20 Jesus, undeterred, went right ahead and gave his charge: “God authorized and commanded me to commission you: Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

In these two short paragraphs, that close the gospel of Matthew, we see two powerful messages:

1. Jesus is not deterred by our apprehensiveness and not being sure about risking it all for Him.
2. God authorized Jesus to commission (give a directive, command, charge, instruct and contract) the eleven to go and train EVERYONE.

Whether we say yes, no, or maybe later is up to us.  But God’s Plan of salvation for all will carry on.  God does not need us to do His work.  It is a holy privilege to join Him in His work!  Jesus is not apprehensive getting the work done.  Say yes, not out of duty but from a love that wants to obey our Savior and Lord!

ALL of the eleven heard the directive to “go and make disciples”, (the sure and not so sure), doing what God commanded them through Jesus to be and do.  Even the unsure were given authority to step out to give testimony to seeing Jesus alive and well! 

There is Hope for our uncertainty!  As unsure, new believers, Jesus will work in and through us, giving us the right words to say at the right time!  He left us with His Holy Spirit!  “The Holy Spirit will give you the words to say at the moment when you need them.” (Luke 12:12)  The risk is provided for with great Help!

The Holy Spirit is part of the Trinity of God, the Father, and Jesus, the Son!  When we say yes to Jesus, The Holy Spirit immediately comes to take up residence in our being.  This how Jesus is “with us” always: “I’ll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age.” 

What assurance!  What Blessed Assurance!

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit,

Thank you for who you are in me and what you have done for me. Thank you for allowing us to join you in Your work to save everyone! Thank you for saving me!  Thank you for helping me point the way to your saving grace with opportunities and the right words to say with your love in my heart.

In Jesus Name, Amen

Worship with me…

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine!
Oh, what a foretaste of glory divine!
Heir of salvation, purchase of God
Born of his Spirit, washed in His blood

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long

Perfect submission, perfect delight
Visions of rapture now burst on my sight
Angels descending bring from above
Echoes of mercy, whispers of love

This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
This is my story, this is my song
Praising my Savior all the day long
Praising my Savior all the day long

(Songwriters: Don Wyrtzen / Fanny Crosby / Phoebe Knapp)

Now—get to work!

Was it a morning like this
When the Son still hid from Jerusalem?
And Mary rose from her bed
To tend the Lord she thought was dead

Was it a morning like this
When Mary walked down from Jerusalem?
And two angels stood at the tomb
Bearers of news she would hear soon

Did the grass sing?
Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?

Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound “He is risen!”
Over and over in a never-ending round
“He is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

Matthew 28, The Message

Risen from the Dead

^1-4 After the Sabbath, as the first light of the new week dawned, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary came to keep vigil at the tomb. Suddenly the earth reeled and rocked under their feet as God’s angel came down from heaven, came right up to where they were standing. He rolled back the stone and then sat on it. Shafts of lightning blazed from him. His garments shimmered snow-white. The guards at the tomb were scared to death. They were so frightened, they couldn’t move.

^5-6 The angel spoke to the women: “There is nothing to fear here. I know you’re looking for Jesus, the One they nailed to the cross. He is not here. He was raised, just as he said. Come and look at the place where he was placed.

⁷ “Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, ‘He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.’ That’s the message.”

^8-10 The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. “Good morning!” he said. They fell to their knees, embraced his feet, and worshiped him. Jesus said, “You’re holding on to me for dear life! Don’t be frightened like that. Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I’ll meet them there.”

^11-15 Meanwhile, the guards had scattered, but a few of them went into the city and told the high priests everything that had happened. They called a meeting of the religious leaders and came up with a plan: They took a large sum of money and gave it to the soldiers, bribing them to say, “His disciples came in the night and stole the body while we were sleeping.” They assured them, “If the governor hears about your sleeping on duty, we will make sure you don’t get blamed.” The soldiers took the bribe and did as they were told. That story, cooked up in the Jewish High Council, is still going around.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

It didn’t matter about the lies and subsequent plots of deception by the religious leaders—Truth reigns forevermore!  Jesus has risen indeed!  No plan of mankind can surpass The Plan of God!

The mournful women who stayed by Him through His pain of torture and watched his burial came to care for the Body on that THIRD DAY.  It was these women, full of love for their Teacher, who were given the first look at the empty tomb.  What a honored blessing!  “Come and look—He is not here!” said the angel.  Jesus is no longer dead.  There is nothing to be done to care for a dead body that was beaten and nailed to a cross.  He is alive and well!

THEN, these women, “deep in wonder, full of joy,” were given the awesome opportunity to be the first to go and tell the Good News!  As a bonus, Jesus, risen from death, stops their running to greet and encourage them on the road of their obedience!  Pause and camp on that thought for a moment…while I get a tissue for my own tears! 

How many times as Jesus stopped us in the middle of our work and mission to go and tell others about Him so He can encourage us on the way?  For me, it is often.  Sometimes I run before I think so when I tire in the running, Jesus stops to clarify what it is HE wants me to say and do.

They obeyed before they saw Jesus!  Imagine the excitement of getting this miraculous news of resurrection power from God’s angel!  But then, the News was followed up by seeing Jesus fully alive in the flesh, scarred but well, calling out to them to greet them! 

Worship was their very first thought because of the love that engulfed their hearts, minds, and souls.  Don’t you love that? This love prompted their quick obedience to go and tell but first they must fall at His feet in humbled worship!  God first—always!

Yes, Jesus greets his beloved, His first evangelists with, “Don’t be afraid”. “Go tell my brothers that they are to go to Galilee, and that I’ll meet them there.”  His words clarify their message with loving words of encouragement.  Jesus still does that…

Friends, Jesus gives us similar words of encouragement on our roads of obedience to Him, too.  He invites us to come and see, look up and notice, God is at work and we are invited to join Him as we are assigned to go and tell the Good News—Jesus is alive!  Look for Him at work in all His glory today!  He promises that when we look, we will see.  Seek and you shall find…

Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever!  Jesus was at the beginning of Creation with God!  Jesus was sent from God to save us. “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  (John 3:16) We will rise with Jesus one day in that same resurrection power!  We who believe will live forever with Him!  THIS is the message.  This is our Hope—all because He lives!

Thank you, Jesus!  May we do all in Your Name, For Your Glory, Amen!  Yes!

Was it a morning like this
When Peter and John ran from Jerusalem?
And as they raced toward the tomb
Beneath their feet was there a tune?

Did the grass sing?
Did the earth rejoice to feel You again?

Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound “He is risen!”
Over and over in a never-ending round
“He is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

Over and over like a trumpet underground
Did the earth seem to pound “He is risen!”
Over and over in a never-ending round
“He is risen! Alleluia! Alleluia!”

When my Lord looked out on Jerusalem?
He is risen!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!
Alleluia!

(Songwriter: Jim Croegaert)

It is rare to go to a funeral where people stand to speak slanderous words over the one who is in the coffin ready to be buried.  “He’s was a liar!”  “He was a trouble maker all his life.”  “His family and close friends will continue to spread lies and be trouble in our world.”  As if death wasn’t enough—slander and lies rain down on the deceased.

Wow.  These are not the words you hope people you love will say about you, right? 

As if death wasn’t enough…Jesus’ power hungry, fear filled, religious leaders, born into the family of God’s Chosen, the Jews were still bringing slanderous words against the Son of God. 

Matthew 27, The Message

The Tomb

^57-61 Late in the afternoon a wealthy man from Arimathea, a disciple of Jesus, arrived. His name was Joseph. He went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate granted his request. Joseph took the body and wrapped it in clean linens, put it in his own tomb, a new tomb only recently cut into the rock, and rolled a large stone across the entrance. Then he went off. But Mary Magdalene and the other Mary stayed, sitting in plain view of the tomb.

^62-64 After sundown, the high priests and Pharisees arranged a meeting with Pilate. They said, “Sir, we just remembered that that liar announced while he was still alive, ‘After three days I will be raised.’ We’ve got to get that tomb sealed until the third day. There’s a good chance his disciples will come and steal the corpse and then go around saying, ‘He’s risen from the dead.’ Then we’ll be worse off than before, the final deceit surpassing the first.”

^65-66 Pilate told them, “You will have a guard. Go ahead and secure it the best you can.” So they went out and secured the tomb, sealing the stone and posting guards.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Death was NOT enough.  As believers, we know God wins.  We know the rest of the true story of how Jesus “rose” above all the slander, mocking, beatings, being nailed to a cross and even death.  Jesus, who never sinned became sin for us.  It is finished.  Once and for all.  God never left the scene of the mission to save us.  God is in control of the situation.  God turns from the sin but is still there.  God sees his Son laid to rest but He knows what happens next.  After three days—Jesus changes everything and brings even greater Hope to a broken world. 

Focus on all the characters.  What must they be thinking and feeling? Some seem to be in shock.  Some are still angry.  Some are broken-hearted.  Some are full of fear.  Some are glad it is over.  Some walk away and give up.  But focus on the woman for a moment…As great love held Jesus to that cross, that same kind of love held the women to stay and watch from a safe distance, not leaving the scene of his burial in a borrowed tomb.  And speaking of the tomb, there is this man, Joseph of Arimathea, who came forward courageously to Pilate and asked for the body so he could show respect and dignity to the Body of our Lord.

And the religious leaders?  They actually spoke truth as they tried to slander Jesus once more, as if death were not enough, witnessing to Pilate what Jesus said, “After three days I will be raised.”

And Jesus did—just like God said He would centuries early.  Believe, really believe, and repent of all that sin in which Jesus died. Believe that He did indeed rise with victory and power over death and burial to leave the grave, talk with his family and friends once more before ascending (going back) to heaven.  Believe that His rising from death is also our victory over death! 

When Jesus came back to life in the same, nail scarred, earthly body, and ate with his friends, He declared the resurrection power God has over death and secured the Hope of eternal Life for all who believe!  Jesus—The Way, Truth, and Life.  Jesus is our Hope.

Yes, Jesus changed everything.  Jesus still changes everything when we say yes to Him.  Hope is Jesus, who changes our current outlook on life here as we look forward to a forever life with him there.  The things that bother, perplex, confuse us here will no longer be an issue there.  In the meantime, Jesus left us His Holy Spirit to guide, comfort and teach us.  He gives us new eyes to see what is best for us according to God.  He opens our minds and shows us new perspectives, from different angles of Kingdom thinking that His Word gives, as we problem solve each day.  He gives us courage to take steps forward in His will as we walk in obedience as He fulfills His purpose in us that He planned long before we were a twinkle in our parents’ eyes.

God’s love turned the world upside down.  “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—”What a Beautiful Name”, indeed!  (Songwriters: Ben Fielding / Brooke Ligertwood)

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
What a wonderful Name it is, the Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is, the Name of Jesus

… How sweet is Your Name, Lord, how good You are)
We love to sing in Your Name, Lord, love to sing of who You are

… 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…

God, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and Holy Spirit,

Thank you.

In Jesus Name, For Your Glory, Amen. I believe!

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