Matthew 10:16-22
My Lord,
You invite me to follow You. You declare that You are the Good Shepherd, and I can follow You in a life of joy, service, and purpose. Then You tell me that if I am to follow You, You must send me to serve and even suffer.
I have always been amazed at the attraction which some find in hardship. When the United States was attacked on 9-11, volunteers sacrificed selflessly to serve the hurting, the grieving, and the distraught. When national leaders extended the call to military service and sacrifice, no conscription was needed to press soldiers to serve. Volunteers patriotically stepped forward from every conceivable background.
Giuseppe Garibaldi, the nineteenth century Italian nationalist and military leader, called his countrymen to battle for Italy: "Soldiers, all our efforts against superior forces have been unavailing. I have nothing to offer you but hunger and thirst, hardship and death; but I call on all who love their country to join with me." National patriots flocked to Garibaldi's leadership.
John Wesley said: "Give me one hundred men who love nothing but God and fear nothing but sin and I will move the world!"
My Lord and my God, I purpose to follow You with that type of intention and focus. You offered Your followers the prospect of persecution by the state, the church, and even their own families. The stakes have not changed in two thousand years. Grant me the courage to follow You today, regardless the consequence.
In the Name of my ever-leading Lord whom I follow,
Amen.
Wednesday, April 29, 2015
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
Seize the Opportunity
My God and my Friend,
I choose to seize the opportunities You place in my path. I can see some opportunities coming on the horizon of my life. Others appear serendipitously before me. Discerning between distractions and Divine opportunities is often disconcerting. I want the wisdom of Your Holy Spirit to know the difference.
"It is one of the great basic facts of life that time and time again an opportunity comes to a man--and it does not come back... The tragedy of life is so often the tragedy of the lost opportunity." (William Barclay in The Gospel According to Matthew, vol. 1, p. 381).
Yesterday, the burdens seemed too heavy. The challenges appeared too great. The obstacles loomed insurmountable. But You gave strength to carry the load. I felt You come along side me and perform the heavy lifting. You solved problems that I could not. You leveled rough, steep paths where my footing slipped. When the day was through, I realized Your tender care for me. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for hearing my cry. Thank You for attending to my concerns so gently, so patiently, so faithfully, so successfully. I love You.
Carpe diem--seize the day! Today is before me. I wait in Your Presence now, asking You to fill me, to prepare me for the unknown and untried that awaits. You know the way that I take. I do not. You have traced the path before me. I have not. You have considered and filtered events along my path, lovingly sifting the challenges of my life between Your fingers. Father-filtered. You have lovingly rejected those hurdles for which I lack the strength to leap. You have allowed obstacles to remain for which I doubt I have strength to surmount--but You know better.
I will seize the opportunities You present me today. By Your grace, I will obey. I know that I cannot succeed at the great task to which You have called me by my own strength. I need You. Befriend me again today. Stand beside me. Fill me with Yourself. I pledge myself to seek every opportunity to honor and glorify You, especially in the hard things, the heavy things, and the insurmountable things which You call me to seize today.
Thank You, Father.
Amen.
I choose to seize the opportunities You place in my path. I can see some opportunities coming on the horizon of my life. Others appear serendipitously before me. Discerning between distractions and Divine opportunities is often disconcerting. I want the wisdom of Your Holy Spirit to know the difference.
"It is one of the great basic facts of life that time and time again an opportunity comes to a man--and it does not come back... The tragedy of life is so often the tragedy of the lost opportunity." (William Barclay in The Gospel According to Matthew, vol. 1, p. 381).
Yesterday, the burdens seemed too heavy. The challenges appeared too great. The obstacles loomed insurmountable. But You gave strength to carry the load. I felt You come along side me and perform the heavy lifting. You solved problems that I could not. You leveled rough, steep paths where my footing slipped. When the day was through, I realized Your tender care for me. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for hearing my cry. Thank You for attending to my concerns so gently, so patiently, so faithfully, so successfully. I love You.
Carpe diem--seize the day! Today is before me. I wait in Your Presence now, asking You to fill me, to prepare me for the unknown and untried that awaits. You know the way that I take. I do not. You have traced the path before me. I have not. You have considered and filtered events along my path, lovingly sifting the challenges of my life between Your fingers. Father-filtered. You have lovingly rejected those hurdles for which I lack the strength to leap. You have allowed obstacles to remain for which I doubt I have strength to surmount--but You know better.
I will seize the opportunities You present me today. By Your grace, I will obey. I know that I cannot succeed at the great task to which You have called me by my own strength. I need You. Befriend me again today. Stand beside me. Fill me with Yourself. I pledge myself to seek every opportunity to honor and glorify You, especially in the hard things, the heavy things, and the insurmountable things which You call me to seize today.
Thank You, Father.
Amen.
Monday, April 20, 2015
Are you a missionary?
William Barclay (The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 1, p. 368):
"Jesus still wants men to hear of the good news of the gospel, but men will never hear unless other men will tell them. Jesus Christ wants a child taught; that child will never be taught unless a teacher emerges to teach him. Jesus Christ wants all me to hear the good news; men will never hear it unless there are those who are prepared to cross the seas and the mountains and bring the good news to them...
"It is the dream of Christ that every man should be a missionary and a reaper. There are those who cannot do other than pray, for life has laid them helpless, and their prayers are indeed the strength of the laborers. But that is not the way for most of us, for those of us who have strength of body and health of mind. Not even the giving of our money is enough. If the harvest of men is ever to be reaped, then every one of us must be a reaper, for there is someone whom each one of us could--and must--bring to God."
"Jesus still wants men to hear of the good news of the gospel, but men will never hear unless other men will tell them. Jesus Christ wants a child taught; that child will never be taught unless a teacher emerges to teach him. Jesus Christ wants all me to hear the good news; men will never hear it unless there are those who are prepared to cross the seas and the mountains and bring the good news to them...
"It is the dream of Christ that every man should be a missionary and a reaper. There are those who cannot do other than pray, for life has laid them helpless, and their prayers are indeed the strength of the laborers. But that is not the way for most of us, for those of us who have strength of body and health of mind. Not even the giving of our money is enough. If the harvest of men is ever to be reaped, then every one of us must be a reaper, for there is someone whom each one of us could--and must--bring to God."
Sunday, April 12, 2015
Come to Jesus
"It does not matter how we come to Christ, if we only come. No matter how inadequately and imperfectly we come, His love and His arms are open to receive us. There is a double lesson here. It means that we do not wait to ask the help of Christ for life until our motives, our faith, our theology is perfect; we can come to Him exactly as we are. And it means that we have no right to criticize others whose motives we suspect, whose faith we question, and whose theology we believe to be mistaken. It is not how we come to Christ that matters; it is that we should come at all, for He is willing to accept us as we are, and He is able to make us what we ought to be" (Barclay on Matthew, vol. 1, pp. 349-350).
Saturday, April 11, 2015
False Prophets
Matthew 7:15-20
God of Truth,
False prophets abound. They proclaim their way to be true.
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah faced the problem of false prophets in their day. Elijah must have popularized animal fur coats as the garb of a prophet, so that Your spokesman was easily recognized by his sheepskin coat. You describe false prophets as ravenous wolves who deceptively clothe themselves in the garments representing holy oracles of truth. The animal skin was as easily recognized as a symbol of Your prophet in the Old Testament period as a clerical collar around the neck of a priest today. Early in the first century, John the Baptist was easily identified as Your prophet by the distinctive camel skin that he wore, and when he opened his mouth, the convicting truth of his prophecies confirmed his identity and authority.
Your infant Church faced problems with false prophets and even wrote guidelines on how to deal with them. True prophets were honored. False prophets were identified, avoided, and cast out.
False prophets continue to mislead Your sheep. Little lambs in the faith are preyed upon by the ravenous exploiters seeking to consume their innocence, control them, and take advantage of their resources. False prophets proclaim gospels of egoism, idolatry, and carnality. They seek to reduce You from being Sovereign Lord to an idol whom they can manipulate to perform their own will.
"Teaching is false if it produces a religion which consists solely or mainly in the observance of externals... in prohibitions... produces an easy religion... divorces religion and life... produces a religion which is arrogant and separatist" (Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 1, p. 290-292).
“Wolves in sheep’s clothing.” What an apt description for a false prophet! Your passion to live and proclaim truth consumes me. I want to lead people to the light of Your Word. I want to share a liberating message of faith and victory through Your Gospel. All too often, people have been exposed to so many religious charlatans and shysters that they find my motives suspect. They don’t know if I am trustworthy or not. Help me not to get defensive. Empower me to love people patiently, modeling a righteous and winsome trustworthiness. May the Mind of Christ in me grant me the authority and opportunity to earn the right to be heard.
Preserve me from any work for You that is motivated by my desire for personal gain, prestige, power, or self-promotion. Preserve me from being seduced by the pretense or cleverness of my own ideas. Protect me from novel packaging of truth, when I really need a clearer obedience to its demands!
In the Name of the Author and Preserver of Truth,
Amen.
God of Truth,
False prophets abound. They proclaim their way to be true.
Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Zephaniah faced the problem of false prophets in their day. Elijah must have popularized animal fur coats as the garb of a prophet, so that Your spokesman was easily recognized by his sheepskin coat. You describe false prophets as ravenous wolves who deceptively clothe themselves in the garments representing holy oracles of truth. The animal skin was as easily recognized as a symbol of Your prophet in the Old Testament period as a clerical collar around the neck of a priest today. Early in the first century, John the Baptist was easily identified as Your prophet by the distinctive camel skin that he wore, and when he opened his mouth, the convicting truth of his prophecies confirmed his identity and authority.
Your infant Church faced problems with false prophets and even wrote guidelines on how to deal with them. True prophets were honored. False prophets were identified, avoided, and cast out.
False prophets continue to mislead Your sheep. Little lambs in the faith are preyed upon by the ravenous exploiters seeking to consume their innocence, control them, and take advantage of their resources. False prophets proclaim gospels of egoism, idolatry, and carnality. They seek to reduce You from being Sovereign Lord to an idol whom they can manipulate to perform their own will.
"Teaching is false if it produces a religion which consists solely or mainly in the observance of externals... in prohibitions... produces an easy religion... divorces religion and life... produces a religion which is arrogant and separatist" (Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 1, p. 290-292).
“Wolves in sheep’s clothing.” What an apt description for a false prophet! Your passion to live and proclaim truth consumes me. I want to lead people to the light of Your Word. I want to share a liberating message of faith and victory through Your Gospel. All too often, people have been exposed to so many religious charlatans and shysters that they find my motives suspect. They don’t know if I am trustworthy or not. Help me not to get defensive. Empower me to love people patiently, modeling a righteous and winsome trustworthiness. May the Mind of Christ in me grant me the authority and opportunity to earn the right to be heard.
Preserve me from any work for You that is motivated by my desire for personal gain, prestige, power, or self-promotion. Preserve me from being seduced by the pretense or cleverness of my own ideas. Protect me from novel packaging of truth, when I really need a clearer obedience to its demands!
In the Name of the Author and Preserver of Truth,
Amen.
Sunday, April 5, 2015
Resurrection!
Mark 16: 1-20
And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, & Salome brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb & they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, & they were alarmed.
"Don’t be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples & Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’" Trembling & bewildered, the women went out & fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons. She went & told those who had been with Him & who were mourning & weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive & that she had seen Him, they did not believe it.
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned & reported it to the rest’ but they did not believe them either. Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; He rebuked them for the lack of faith & their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
He said to them, "Go into all the world & preach the Good News to all creation. Whoever believes & is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name, they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; & when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people; & they will get well."
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven & He sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out & preached everywhere, & the Lord worked with them & confirmed His Word by the signs that accompanied it.
And when the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, & Salome brought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb & they asked each other, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?" But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, & they were alarmed.
"Don’t be alarmed," he said. "You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, Who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him. But go, tell His disciples & Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see Him, just as He told you.’" Trembling & bewildered, the women went out & fled from the tomb. They said nothing to anyone, because they were afraid.
When Jesus rose early on the first day of the week, He appeared first to Mary Magdalene, out of whom He had driven seven demons. She went & told those who had been with Him & who were mourning & weeping. When they heard that Jesus was alive & that she had seen Him, they did not believe it.
Afterward Jesus appeared in a different form to two of them while they were walking in the country. These returned & reported it to the rest’ but they did not believe them either. Later Jesus appeared to the Eleven as they were eating; He rebuked them for the lack of faith & their stubborn refusal to believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
He said to them, "Go into all the world & preach the Good News to all creation. Whoever believes & is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: in My name, they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; & when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people; & they will get well."
After the Lord Jesus had spoken to them, He was taken up into heaven & He sat at the right hand of God. Then the disciples went out & preached everywhere, & the Lord worked with them & confirmed His Word by the signs that accompanied it.
Saturday, April 4, 2015
The Legend of Dismas--the penitent thief
"Legend calls the penitent thief Dismas, and tells that he did not meet Jesus for the first time when they both hung on their crosses on Calvary. The story runs like this. When Joseph and Mary were on their way to Egypt, they were waylaid by robbers. One of the robber chiefs wished to murder them at once and to steal their little store of goods. But something about the baby Jesus went straight to Dismas' heart, for Dismas was one of these robbers. He refused to allow any harm to come to Jesus or his parents. He looked that Jesus and said, 'Most blessed of children, if ever there come a time for having mercy on me, then remember me, and forget not this hour.' So, the legend says, Jesus and Dismas met again at Calvary, and Dismas on the cross found forgiveness and mercy for his soul." (William Barclay in The Gospel of Matthew, vol. 1, p. 25-26).
"I Trust You, Jesus"
Every prop had been knocked out from under the disciples. What was next? Their execution? Jesus was dead. Rumors of his resurrection were traveling like wildfire among His followers. Can it be?
Faced with tragedy, doubt, confusion, Scripture challenges us to trust God.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’” (Deuteronomy 33:27)
"Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
"So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'" (John 20:19-23)
Wait in hope for resurrection news. Keep trusting Jesus.
Faced with tragedy, doubt, confusion, Scripture challenges us to trust God.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
“The eternal God is your refuge, And underneath are the everlasting arms; He will thrust out the enemy from before you, And will say, ‘Destroy!’” (Deuteronomy 33:27)
"Then, the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in the midst, and said to them, 'Peace be with you.' 20 When He had said this, He showed them His hands and His side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
"So Jesus said to them again, 'Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.' 22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, 'Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.'" (John 20:19-23)
Wait in hope for resurrection news. Keep trusting Jesus.
Friday, April 3, 2015
Friday of Holy Week
Mark 14:53-15:47
They took Jesus to the high priest, & all the chief priests, elders & teachers of the law came together. Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards & warmed himself at the fire.
The chief priests & the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against Him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up & gave this false testimony against Him: "We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple & in three days will build another, not made by man.’" Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
Then the high priest stood up before them & asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent & gave no answer. Again the high priest asked Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
"I am," said Jesus, "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One & coming on the clouds of heaven."
The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned Him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at Him; they blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, & said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took Him & beat Him.
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said. But he denied it. "I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about," he said, & went out the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near to Peter said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." He began to call down curses on himself, & he swore to them, "I don’t know this man you’re talking about."
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown Me three times." And he broke down & wept.
Mark 15
Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law & the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led Him away & handed Him over to Pilate. "Are You the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate. "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
The chief priests accused Him of many things. So again Pilate asked Him, "Aren’t You going to answer? See how many things they are accusing You of?" But Jesus made no reply, & Pilate was amazed.
Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up & asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
"Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them.
"Crucify him!" they shouted. "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify Him!" Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, & handed Him over to be crucified.
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) & called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on Him, then twisted together a crown of thorns & set it on Him. And they began to call out to Him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" Again & again they struck Him on the head with a staff & spit on Him. Falling to their knees, they paid homage to Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple robe & put His own clothes on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander & Rufus, was passing by on his way from the country, & they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. And they crucified Him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
It was the third hour when they crucified Him. The written notice of the charge against Him read, THE KING OF THE JEWS. They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right & one of His left. Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads & saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple & build it in three days, come down from the cross & save yourself!" In the same way the chief priests & the teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but He can’t save Himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see & believe. Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him.
At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabach-thani?"—which means, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, He’s calling Elijah." One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put in on a stick, & offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave Him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down," he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard His cry & saw how He died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"
Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed Him & cared for His needs. Many other women who had come up with Him to Jerusalem were also there.
It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate & asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body (think of what that must have entailed), wrapped it in the linen, & placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene & Mary the mother of Joses saw where He was laid.
They took Jesus to the high priest, & all the chief priests, elders & teachers of the law came together. Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards & warmed himself at the fire.
The chief priests & the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put Him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against Him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up & gave this false testimony against Him: "We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple & in three days will build another, not made by man.’" Yet even then their testimony did not agree.
Then the high priest stood up before them & asked Jesus, "Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?" But Jesus remained silent & gave no answer. Again the high priest asked Him, "Are You the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?"
"I am," said Jesus, "And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One & coming on the clouds of heaven."
The high priest tore his clothes. "Why do we need any more witnesses?" he asked. "You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?" They all condemned Him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at Him; they blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, & said, "Prophesy!" And the guards took Him & beat Him.
While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. "You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said. But he denied it. "I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about," he said, & went out the entryway. When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near to Peter said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean." He began to call down curses on himself, & he swore to them, "I don’t know this man you’re talking about."
Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him, "Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown Me three times." And he broke down & wept.
Mark 15
Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law & the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led Him away & handed Him over to Pilate. "Are You the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate. "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied.
The chief priests accused Him of many things. So again Pilate asked Him, "Aren’t You going to answer? See how many things they are accusing You of?" But Jesus made no reply, & Pilate was amazed.
Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. The crowd came up & asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.
"Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?" asked Pilate, knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. "What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?" Pilate asked them.
"Crucify him!" they shouted. "Why? What crime has he committed?" asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, "Crucify Him!" Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, & handed Him over to be crucified.
The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) & called together the whole company of soldiers. They put a purple robe on Him, then twisted together a crown of thorns & set it on Him. And they began to call out to Him, "Hail, king of the Jews!" Again & again they struck Him on the head with a staff & spit on Him. Falling to their knees, they paid homage to Him. And when they had mocked Him, they took off the purple robe & put His own clothes on Him. Then they led Him out to crucify Him.
A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander & Rufus, was passing by on his way from the country, & they forced him to carry the cross. They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). Then they offered Him wine mixed with myrrh, but He did not take it. And they crucified Him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get.
It was the third hour when they crucified Him. The written notice of the charge against Him read, THE KING OF THE JEWS. They crucified two robbers with Him, one on His right & one of His left. Those who passed by hurled insults at Him, shaking their heads & saying, "So! You who are going to destroy the temple & build it in three days, come down from the cross & save yourself!" In the same way the chief priests & the teachers of the law mocked Him among themselves. "He saved others," they said, "but He can’t save Himself! Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see & believe. Those crucified with Him also heaped insults on Him.
At the sixth hour darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour. And at the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabach-thani?"—which means, "My God, My God, why have You forsaken Me?"
When some of those standing near heard this, they said, "Listen, He’s calling Elijah." One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put in on a stick, & offered it to Jesus to drink. "Now leave Him alone. Let’s see if Elijah comes to take Him down," he said. With a loud cry, Jesus breathed His last.
The curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. And when the centurion, who stood there in front of Jesus, heard His cry & saw how He died, he said, "Surely this man was the Son of God!"
Some women were watching from a distance. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James the younger and of Joses, and Salome. In Galilee these women had followed Him & cared for His needs. Many other women who had come up with Him to Jerusalem were also there.
It was Preparation Day (that is, the day before the Sabbath). So as evening approached, Joseph of Arimathea, a prominent member of the Council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, went boldly to Pilate & asked for Jesus’ body. Pilate was surprised to hear that He was already dead. Summoning the centurion, he asked him if Jesus had already died. When he learned from the centurion that it was so, he gave the body to Joseph. So Joseph bought some linen cloth, took down the body (think of what that must have entailed), wrapped it in the linen, & placed it in a tomb cut out of rock. Then he rolled a stone against the entrance of the tomb. Mary Magdalene & Mary the mother of Joses saw where He was laid.
THE CONTROVERSY OF THE CROSS
Luke, 12:50, I Corinthians 1:18-25
Precious Lord Jesus,
Your cross is controversial. Many call it foolish. You call it wisdom. In Father’s eyes, Your being beaten beyond recognition by a Roman legionnaire, tried and found guilty by an illegal, fixed court, brutally dragged through the streets of Your nation’s capital, and shamefully crucified on a cruel cross, is really wisdom. You understood that You must become sin offering for the world, then rise from death to life on the third day. True wisdom.
For two thousand years the cross has been controversial, and it continues to be. Believers embrace the cross. Doubters deny it, or even worse, replace it with a pretend cross that cost Christ nothing, and demands nothing of us in return. A. W. Tozer wrote, “The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it.”
The Jews response to You demanded the sensational, the miraculous. “Heal me!” “Cast out my son’s demon!” “Raise my dead child to life!” “Throw Rome out of Israel and reign over us as a political Messaiah!” “Amuse me!” “Come down from the cross!” You were not the kind of Messiah they expected. You were a stumbling block to the Jews. Your cross was controversial.
The Greeks responded to the cross with a demand for wisdom and reason, but they could not rationalize the cross. It made no sense. Foolishness, they said.
But You did not shun or shirk the cross. You faced it. You fulfilled the prophecies of Scripture given hundreds and thousands of years before Your birth. You came to crush Satan’s head. You came as the Jehovah-Jireh provision of God. You provided Yourself as a voluntary once-for-all sacrifice for sin. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” “... the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” “It is finished.”
I recoil from the horror. In my sinful condition, I am self-preserving, self-protecting, self-pleasing, and self-prospering. You call me to self-denial and to Your controversial cross.
Thank You for this great salvation. Thank You for going to the cross and dying for my sins. Thank You for providing for my salvation, holiness, and hope of eternal life. You are my wisdom, not mere sensation or human reason. You are my righteousness. You are my holiness, my sanctification. You are my redemption from destruction, and You give meaning to life. I now take up my controversial cross and follow You.
In the Name of my Savior,
Amen.
Precious Lord Jesus,
Your cross is controversial. Many call it foolish. You call it wisdom. In Father’s eyes, Your being beaten beyond recognition by a Roman legionnaire, tried and found guilty by an illegal, fixed court, brutally dragged through the streets of Your nation’s capital, and shamefully crucified on a cruel cross, is really wisdom. You understood that You must become sin offering for the world, then rise from death to life on the third day. True wisdom.
For two thousand years the cross has been controversial, and it continues to be. Believers embrace the cross. Doubters deny it, or even worse, replace it with a pretend cross that cost Christ nothing, and demands nothing of us in return. A. W. Tozer wrote, “The old cross slew men; the new cross entertains them. The old cross condemned; the new cross amuses. The old cross destroyed confidence in the flesh; the new cross encourages it.”
The Jews response to You demanded the sensational, the miraculous. “Heal me!” “Cast out my son’s demon!” “Raise my dead child to life!” “Throw Rome out of Israel and reign over us as a political Messaiah!” “Amuse me!” “Come down from the cross!” You were not the kind of Messiah they expected. You were a stumbling block to the Jews. Your cross was controversial.
The Greeks responded to the cross with a demand for wisdom and reason, but they could not rationalize the cross. It made no sense. Foolishness, they said.
But You did not shun or shirk the cross. You faced it. You fulfilled the prophecies of Scripture given hundreds and thousands of years before Your birth. You came to crush Satan’s head. You came as the Jehovah-Jireh provision of God. You provided Yourself as a voluntary once-for-all sacrifice for sin. “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” “... the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.” “It is finished.”
I recoil from the horror. In my sinful condition, I am self-preserving, self-protecting, self-pleasing, and self-prospering. You call me to self-denial and to Your controversial cross.
Thank You for this great salvation. Thank You for going to the cross and dying for my sins. Thank You for providing for my salvation, holiness, and hope of eternal life. You are my wisdom, not mere sensation or human reason. You are my righteousness. You are my holiness, my sanctification. You are my redemption from destruction, and You give meaning to life. I now take up my controversial cross and follow You.
In the Name of my Savior,
Amen.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Wounded
Isaiah 53
Dear God,
Everyone is broken, only in different spots. As long as I stay under the flow of Your saving, sanctifying, healing grace in my life, You work restoration and wholeness where I am broken. The moment I pull myself out from under Your healing flow of grace, I will break myself all over again, even worse than before. The only hope for my healing is Jesus. The wounds of my life are too deep for any other healing to provide effective restoration. Wholeness is elusive apart from the Father’s grace, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit’s application of grace to the immediacy of my condition.
Thank You, Jesus, for being my Wounded Healer. Thank You for Your sacrificial death and atonement to provide salvation for all. Thank You for enduring a cruel beating, Your body becoming an open wound for my sins, and the sins of the whole world. Thank You for bearing the wounds of my sin in Your body on the cross of Calvary. Thank You for providing for the healing of my life, broken by sin, rebellion, and the disease of self. Thank You for atoning for the sins of the whole world, even mine.
When I was rebellious, resistant, recalcitrant, and running from You, You drew me with eyes of love. You drew me from a cross. You drew me to bow before You in my brokenness, convicted and confessing, until You assured me by faith that I was Your own. Thank You.
Thank You for calling me to die to my self, and for drawing me to my own cross where I could be “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20), and raised through the fulness of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for allowing me the privilege to serve the One who has transformed me.
Yet, in Your optimism of grace, You see broken places in my character that You want to correct and restore to wholeness. Open the broken places of my character, my background, my family history, the scars from my own past sins, the scars of others’ sins against me, my flaws, my blunders, even my torn relationships and my inability to restore them... Open them all to Your healing. I spread my soul like an open garment. Examine me. Heal me in places where I cannot reach, see, or heal myself. I need You to bring wholeness to my life.
You saved me by grace through faith in a moment. You sanctified me in a moment. Now, there is ongoing sanctification, restoration, and healing that You want to effect in me, much of which will take a lifetime. I want to be like Jesus. Shape me. Remake me. Prepare me for heaven. I love You. I need You. I am utterly dependent upon You. You are my Wounded Healer.
In the Name of the Father, the Son Jesus, and the precious Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Dear God,
Everyone is broken, only in different spots. As long as I stay under the flow of Your saving, sanctifying, healing grace in my life, You work restoration and wholeness where I am broken. The moment I pull myself out from under Your healing flow of grace, I will break myself all over again, even worse than before. The only hope for my healing is Jesus. The wounds of my life are too deep for any other healing to provide effective restoration. Wholeness is elusive apart from the Father’s grace, Jesus Christ’s sacrifice, and the Holy Spirit’s application of grace to the immediacy of my condition.
Thank You, Jesus, for being my Wounded Healer. Thank You for Your sacrificial death and atonement to provide salvation for all. Thank You for enduring a cruel beating, Your body becoming an open wound for my sins, and the sins of the whole world. Thank You for bearing the wounds of my sin in Your body on the cross of Calvary. Thank You for providing for the healing of my life, broken by sin, rebellion, and the disease of self. Thank You for atoning for the sins of the whole world, even mine.
When I was rebellious, resistant, recalcitrant, and running from You, You drew me with eyes of love. You drew me from a cross. You drew me to bow before You in my brokenness, convicted and confessing, until You assured me by faith that I was Your own. Thank You.
Thank You for calling me to die to my self, and for drawing me to my own cross where I could be “crucified with Christ” (Galatians 2:20), and raised through the fulness of Your Holy Spirit. Thank You for allowing me the privilege to serve the One who has transformed me.
Yet, in Your optimism of grace, You see broken places in my character that You want to correct and restore to wholeness. Open the broken places of my character, my background, my family history, the scars from my own past sins, the scars of others’ sins against me, my flaws, my blunders, even my torn relationships and my inability to restore them... Open them all to Your healing. I spread my soul like an open garment. Examine me. Heal me in places where I cannot reach, see, or heal myself. I need You to bring wholeness to my life.
You saved me by grace through faith in a moment. You sanctified me in a moment. Now, there is ongoing sanctification, restoration, and healing that You want to effect in me, much of which will take a lifetime. I want to be like Jesus. Shape me. Remake me. Prepare me for heaven. I love You. I need You. I am utterly dependent upon You. You are my Wounded Healer.
In the Name of the Father, the Son Jesus, and the precious Holy Spirit,
Amen.
Thursday of Holy Week
Mark 14:12-51
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, "Where do you want us to go & make preparations for You to eat the Passover?"
So He sent two of His disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, & a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples? ‘ He will show you a large upper room, furnished & ready. Make preparations for us there."
The disciples left, went into the city & found things just as Jesus had told them So they prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, He said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me."
They were saddened, & one by one they said to Him, "Surely not I?" "It is one o the Twelve," He replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with Me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
While they were eating, Jesus took break, gave thanks & broke it, & gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take it; this is My body." Then He took the cup, gave thanks & offered it to them, & they all drank from it. "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, " He said to them. "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God." When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd & the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You." And all the others said the same.
They went to a place called Gethsemane, & Jesus said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James & John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed & troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," He said to them. "Stay here & keep watch." Going a little farther, He fell to the ground & prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," He said, "everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will."
Then He returned to His disciples & found them sleeping. "Simon," He said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch & pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Once more He went away & prayed the same thing. When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to Him.
Returning the third time, He said to them, "Are you still sleeping & resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Let us go! Here comes My betrayer!
Just as He was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords & clubs, sent from the chief priest, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him & lead Him away under guard." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed Him. The men seized Jesus & arrested Him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword & struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
"Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come with swords & clubs to capture Me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, & you did not arrest Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Then everyone deserted Him & fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
On the first day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, when it was customary to sacrifice the Passover lamb, Jesus’ disciples asked Him, "Where do you want us to go & make preparations for You to eat the Passover?"
So He sent two of His disciples, telling them, "Go into the city, & a man carrying a jar of water will meet you. Follow him. Say to the owner of the house he enters, ‘The Teacher asks: Where is My guest room, where I may eat the Passover with My disciples? ‘ He will show you a large upper room, furnished & ready. Make preparations for us there."
The disciples left, went into the city & found things just as Jesus had told them So they prepared the Passover. When evening came, Jesus arrived with the Twelve. While they were reclining at the table eating, He said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me—one who is eating with me."
They were saddened, & one by one they said to Him, "Surely not I?" "It is one o the Twelve," He replied, "one who dips bread into the bowl with Me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about Him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."
While they were eating, Jesus took break, gave thanks & broke it, & gave it to His disciples, saying, "Take it; this is My body." Then He took the cup, gave thanks & offered it to them, & they all drank from it. "This is My blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many, " He said to them. "I tell you the truth, I will not drink again of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it anew in the kingdom of God." When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.
"You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: ‘I will strike the Shepherd & the sheep will be scattered.’ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with You, I will never disown You." And all the others said the same.
They went to a place called Gethsemane, & Jesus said to His disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James & John along with Him, and He began to be deeply distressed & troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," He said to them. "Stay here & keep watch." Going a little farther, He fell to the ground & prayed that if possible the hour might pass from him. "Abba, Father," He said, "everything is possible for You. Take this cup from Me. Yet not what I will, but what You will."
Then He returned to His disciples & found them sleeping. "Simon," He said to Peter, "are you asleep? Could you not keep watch for one hour? Watch & pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak." Once more He went away & prayed the same thing. When He came back, He again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. They did not know what to say to Him.
Returning the third time, He said to them, "Are you still sleeping & resting? Enough! The hour has come. Look, the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Let us go! Here comes My betrayer!
Just as He was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords & clubs, sent from the chief priest, the teachers of the law, and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: "The One I kiss is the man; arrest Him & lead Him away under guard." Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, "Rabbi!" and kissed Him. The men seized Jesus & arrested Him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword & struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
"Am I leading a rebellion," said Jesus, "that you have come with swords & clubs to capture Me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, & you did not arrest Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." Then everyone deserted Him & fled. A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.
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