Prove Yourself, Then We’ll Believe

Let this Christ, this King of Israel, come down now from the cross, that we may see and believe." Those crucified with him also heaped insults on him. Mark 15:32 (NIV)

The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One." Luke 23:35-39 (NIV)

As Jesus innocently hung on the cross in great agony and tremendous pain for your sins and for mine, with people sneering at Him, taunting Him, daring Him to come down from the cross, how tempting it must have been to do so and proof once and for all that He was exactly who He said He was – “the Christ of God, the Chosen One,” the Savior. He had every right to come down and it certainly was in His power to come down, but if He had come down He would no longer have been the Christ, the Savior.

Jesus’ nature and character is love. In Jesus’ God became love incarnate—love in the flesh. Jesus’ nature and character required Jesus to take the insults and endure the pain. Being love in the flesh He could do nothing less. Jesus would not and did not compromise Himself to save Himself. Jesus would not betray Himself and in not betraying Himself He did not betray us—instead He saved us!

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

…God is love. This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him. This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. 1 John 4:8-10 (NIV)

Jesus, thank You being love in the flesh. Thank You for not betraying Yourself and in the process not betraying me. Thank You for proving Yourself to be the Savior, our Savior, my Savior by staying on cross rather than coming down from it.

Save Yourself!

The chief priests and scribes who mocked Jesus as he hung on the cross were beyond blood thirsty. The absolute disgust and hatred they exhibited in their words and actions is hard to miss when reading the account of Jesus' trial and crucifixion. Why so much hatred towards this man who miraculously healed and fed people, blessing and befriending those he encountered? To put it somewhat simply, the religious leaders were feeling seriously threatened by Jesus' actions and even more so by the message he was sending. Everything they held dear, including their position among the Jews, could be lost if they allowed Jesus to continue.

In Psalm 1 we are warned not to "sit in the seat of mockers". When talking about that Psalm with my young daughters I shared with them that a "mocker" is someone who teases and says mean things to someone to make that person feel bad. I also shared that the mocker does this usually because he wants to feel as though he is better than the person he is mocking. Certainly this was some of the dynamic going on in today's passage.

So what does this have to do with me? With you? I'm sure we haven't ever been caught outright "mocking" our Lord. But might we at times act as though we are "better than" the call of the cross which would ask us to die to ourselves that Christ might live in us? Don't we sometimes think or act as though we know better than God does? Don't we keep some excuses and rationales as to why we ought do things our way? When I do that I think it is a form of mocking our faith and relationship with Jesus.

Praise be to Him that he DID NOT save himself so that we could be saved! Thank you, Jesus, for all that you endured on the cross that I might gain life eternal with you.

Why Have You Abondoned Me?

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Why have you abandoned me? Have you ever asked God that question? Why did you let my dear one die? How come I lost all that money? Why did I have to get this terrible disease? How come you have abandoned me, Lord?

Of course God could ask the same question of us. For we abandon God whenever we sin. We turn our backs on him, and go our own way.

God the Father really did abandon Jesus on the cross. Jesus received what was due to us for having abandoned God in the first place. Because Jesus took the abandonment that we deserved, he can say to us. “I will never leave you or forsake.” I with you always, even to the end of the age.” (Mt. 28:20) God will never abandon you. Don’t abandon him.

Company on the Cross

I consider myself a law-abiding citizen, and probably you do, too. But today as I read the devotion, it struck me that a term better describing me would be criminal! I may follow the laws of this land pretty well, but as far as what God's law expects of me, I fall pitifully short!

In my daily study I was referred to Psalm 119 where it says in verses 5 and 6, "O that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands." (I love when the Lord pulls thoughts together for me from different sources!) The shame I deserve for my disobedience is the shame that Jesus suffered hanging on the cross between two criminals.

But like God's people in Nehemiah's day who rose to their feet in awe after hearing God's Word read to them, being reminded that the God of heaven and earth had in love chosen to communicate with them, we respond to Jesus' sacrifice of suffering and death on our behalf with a life filled with hope and JOY (Jesus first, others second, yourself last). Because of faith in Jesus, when God looks at us, He doesn't see "criminal", He sees Jesus.

Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews

^{John 19:19-22  19} Pilate had a notice prepared and fastened to the cross. It read: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS. ²⁰Many of the Jews read this sign, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city, and the sign was written in Aramaic, Latin and Greek. ²¹ The chief priests of the Jews protested to Pilate, “Do not write ‘The King of the Jews,’ but that this man claimed to be king of the Jews.”

 ²² Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

Most of the time, Kings are far removed from their subject.  They live in extravagant palaces, eat gourmet food, and I seem to have this image of them swimming through all their gold coins (oh wait, maybe that's from Duck Tales).

Jesus was not this type of King.  Perhaps that is why the Jewish leaders not only insisted that he be crucified, but even after all that, they made an issue over the inscription.  However, Jesus laying down his life is exactly what he needed to do to be the true king.  He laid down his life for me so that I might be free.  In doing so, he continued his reign over all, a reign that lasts for eternity.

Jesus' kingdom is so much greater than the stories of kings and kingdoms that we read about or see in movies (I am preparing myself for fairy tales...).  His kingdom is one where all those who believe in Him are welcome.  We don't have to be perfect, or offer a sacrifice...He takes us as we are simply because we are His.  That is the type of king who is truly good.  Thank you Jesus!

The Hour Has Come – Jesus Turns Things Upside Down

“It was the third hour when they crucified him.” Mark 15:25 (NIV)

They crucified Jesus! In a real sense I crucified Jesus. We all did, for He went to the cross to pay the penalty for all of our sins. It was a horrible, agonizing death. Yet when Jesus talks of His pending death in John 12 He talks about His death as His glory. As John records it we read:

Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds…. Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!" Then a voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it again."…Jesus said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. Now is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be driven out. But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men to myself." He said this to show the kind of death he was going to die. John 12:23-33 (NIV)

Initially, it sounds site strange for Jesus to site His death as the hour of His glory. Easter Sunday seems much more fitting to be identified as the hour of His glory. But then think about it. Do we glorify Jesus primarily because of His or because of His love. Both are important but if it weren’t for His love would not be glorious, but frightening. It is on Good Friday in the crucifixion we get the greatest demonstration of Jesus’ love and it is for this love that we glorify Him. Easter Sunday shows us Jesus power. Not even death could contain Him, but it is the crucifixion we see the depth of His love.

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

And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Philippians 2:8-11 (NIV)

In a loud voice they sang: "Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain, to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength and honor and glory and praise!" Revelation 5:12 (NIV)

Jesus, thank You for Your love. I glorify Your name.

King Jesus

Above his head there was a sign posted on the cross that said “King of the Jews.”

This is a king? He doesn’t look like a king. He’s so beaten up he doesn’t even look much like a man.

Yet this is the King of the whole universe. This is the King who rules all kings, who is the Lord of all lords. This is the King of the world who so deeply loves the world that he gives himself for the world… for you and me.

This is the King who rules by divine right, sure, but also he is my King because not only did he make me in the first place, but he bought me back with his own blood. What a wonderful, loving, sacrificing King who loves me and gave himself for me.

Jesus I am so sorry that I so often depose you from your throne in my life. I take the throne and do as I please which is the opposite of what pleases you. Please take the throne in my heart. I truly love your gracious rule in my life. Hail to the King!

The Closing Trap

^{Mark 15:11-14  11} But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.  ¹² “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them.  ¹³ “Crucify him!” they shouted.  ¹⁴ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.  But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

I wonder what it would have been like to be here in this crowd.  You know there must have been some people who knew Jesus was innocent, and they were either way outnumbered, or they decided it would be safer to just go along with the crowd.  

Often times we find ourselves confronted with a similar choice: stand up for what is right, or go along with the crowd.  Luther writes concerning the 8th commandment that "we should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, but defend him, speak well of him, and explain everything in the kindest way"  Not only are we reminded what we should not do, but we are reminded what we should do.  As I read the Bible passage for today and look at the explanation of the 8th commandment, I cannot help but be convicted.  How often do I just go along with the crowd?  How often do I not defend my neighbor or speak well of him?  

Not only did some people in the crowd probably struggle with this, but Pilate did as well.  He tried to convince the crowd that what they wanted was not right.  But, when the going got tough, he caved.  Most of us have good intentions, but I know for me, when the going gets tough, or the rubber hits the road, it is very easy to cave in to the temptation of the crowd.  

May God continue to work in each of our lives to stand up for what is right, to defend our neighbor, and to bring glory to His name in all that we do.

Let's Be Clever

Let’s Be Clever

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 and 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. Mark 15:6-11 (NIV)

Pilot was in a pickle of a situation. He knew the right thing to do, but he was afraid of the potential consequences – thus came up with what he thought was a sure-fire plan – rather than bear responsibility make the crowd responsible. He would present to the people a choice between the most notorious criminal he know and Jesus as to whom to release as was the custom (feeling confident they would choose to release Jesus).

Here I must ask myself “How often do I seek to avoid taking responsibility? How often do I seek to pass-the-buck? Too often, like Pilot, I’ve acted cowardly. This is another of my many sins for which Jesus died. But He DID DIE and in His death atonement has been made for this sin and all sin. In Jesus’ death atonement has been made. In His resurrection I have been given and empowered for newness of life. Jesus thank You and help me now so to live in Your resurrection power.

Weeping

Jesus wept. He was at the Lazarus’ tomb and was moved at the sadness that those there felt, even though Jesus was just about to raise Lazarus to life.

When Peter weeps it’s for an entirely different reason. Peter has just denied even knowing Jesus, and he did it in a very emphatic way. Peter weeps bitterly. O how Peter must have hurt to know how he had betrayed his Lord.

Do you ever feel like weeping? When we have sinned, when we have betrayed our Lord, we may indeed feel like weeping. That’s good. If we had no remorse, no sorrow for what we had done, that would be a very bad thing indeed. Without remorse, without sorrow over our sin, we stay far away from our Lord, like a marriage partner not upset about being apart from his or her spouse. How will that relationship ever be repaired, if there is no sorrow over the separation? So we separate ourselves from God whenever we sin.

When we realize that separation, when we grieve over what we have done, when we weep bitterly, that is a good thing. It’s the first step toward healing. Then we confess our sins and God who is faithful and righteous forgives our sins and cleanses us from all unrighteousness. Then God restores our relationship with him and we once again delight to live closely with God.

Peter had to wait until after Jesus came back to life to hear Jesus forgive him. You and I don’t have to wait. When you’ve sinned, turn quickly to God. Weep and mourn over what you have done. Then rejoice over your forgiveness and the new life you have with God.

Dear Lord Jesus I am so very grieved over the sins I have done. I’m so sorry that I have lived apart from you. Thank you for your forgiveness. Thank you for wiping away my tears. Thank you for new life in you… once again. Please help me to live in lock-step with you according to your will and in love with you.

The Procession to Golgotha

It's 9:43pm Friday night. All day Wednesday and Thursday I kept reminding myself I needed to make sure I posted my devotional reflection today. But obviously, the reminders didn't work, seeing as it's 9:44pm and I am only now getting to the post. When it dawned on me that I had forgotten to fulfill this responsibility, I said a quick little prayer, hoping that in today's thoughts, the author would give me something I could relate to in this, my current short-coming.

"He stumbles and falls," writes our author. Immediately I thought about what it means to me to stumble and fall. When I think of stumbling and falling, I think of sin - my preoccupation with myself, my focus on my own agenda, my selfishness of putting "me" before others, before God. We call the first time sin entered this world, "The Fall."

Yet Jesus was without sin. His stumbling, his falling, was due to his body's weakness after being tortured so that he was unable to carry his cross up to the place of his crucifixion. What caused him to even be in that situation was my sin, and your sin. Essentially, as the author writes in the prayer, Jesus stumbled under the weight of our sins.

Tonight, I need to remember and RELY ON that sacrifice to cover yet another of my many shortcomings. Focusing on Jesus' love and sacrifice for me is what will help me enter into rest tonight without a huge load of guilt for missing a deadline, perhaps a seemingly small or even "justifiable" mistake. But it is the result of a focus too much on myself, and not enough on God or others. It is still sin. I missed the mark.

What is it that you are carrying around with you, tonight? How have you stumbled today? Or did you flat out fall on your face? Maybe what you are feeling guilty for didn't even happen today. It may have happened days, months, or years ago. WHATEVER it is... it was nailed on that cross with Jesus. Confess it to your Lord. Drop the crossbeam, the guilt and weight of your sin. Your price has been paid and your guilt removed.

THANK YOU JESUS!

Silence Is Golden.

Our former governor is on his way to jail today and he is not going quietly. He stated again this morning that everything he did in office was for the good of the people. He mentioned that he would be appealing. He does not go quietly.

If I were accused of something that would send me to jail, or especially something that would torture and kill me, I’d be talking. I’d be explaining. I’d be trying to talk the authorities out of what they’re about to do.

Jesus is silent. He says not a word… for he intends to die. Though he doesn’t care to suffer, he doesn’t try to escape… for he dies for you and me. Because of what Jesus has done for us, when the judgment day arrives we won’t have to say a word… for we have already been declared innocent by him who wouldn’t speak on his own behalf, but who talks to the Father on our behalf.

How ironic it seems, Lord Jesus, that you, who are the Word of Life, would not speak a word on your own behalf. Yet your actions speak quite loudly on our behalf. Thanks! May we not be silent in speaking the good news of what you have done for us. Amen.

All Alone

     This passage of scripture is so convicting as I read again about Judas' betrayal. Judas called Jesus his "Rabbi", teacher. And with a sign of affection, he betrayed the Lord. I'm convicted because I can recall times when I've given Jesus the same kind of "lip service" without standing up for Him as I should. It's good to be reminded of that so I can ask Jesus for forgiveness, and, strengthened in His grace, face the next situation differently.

     Jesus, I'm sorry for each and every time that I've abandoned You for convenience or fear. Thank you for Your love and Your forgiveness that covers my sins, and for proving that love for me with Your death on the cross. Give me the strength, dear Jesus, to honor You with my words and actions. Amen.

Not My Will, But You Will, Jesus!

They went to a place called Gethsemane, and Jesus said to his disciples, "Sit here while I pray." He took Peter, James and John along with him, and he began to be deeply distressed and troubled. "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death," he said to them. "Stay here and keep watch." Going a little farther, he fell to the ground and 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." Mark 14:32-36 (NIV)

This passage (and its parallels in Matthew 26:39-42 & Luke 22:41-44), perhaps more so than any other passage in Scripture, verifies for me that Jesus is the one and only way to the Father. In His human nature Jesus is wanting a way out.is Human natureHiiH

He knows what awaits Him and He is not looking forward to it. Yet even in His desire for a way out, He desires even more our (yours and my) salvation, and if His suffering and death it the ONLY way—so be it! If there had been any other way for us to be saved, and to have the Father deny His Son’s request, would have made the Father to be most cruel of Father’s. But there was no other way. Jesus’ suffering, death, and yes, resurrection was/is the only way, thus Jesus willing, sacrificially submits to the Father’s will.

Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. John 14:6 (NIV)

You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:6-8 (NIV)

God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 (NIV)

Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross! Philippians 2:5-8 (NIV)

Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

Jesus, I thank You for Your love and sacrifice. I am so totally undeserving, but so eternally grateful. Work in me a similar love in my relationships with everyone I encounter.

Open Mouth, Insert Foot!

Open Mouth, Insert Foot!

²⁶ When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. ²⁷ "You will all fall away," Jesus told them, "for it is written: "'I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered.' ²⁸ But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee." ²⁹ Peter declared, "Even if all fall away, I will not." ³⁰ "I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "today—yes, tonight—before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times." ³¹ But Peter insisted emphatically, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the others said the same. Mark 14:26-31

Peter’s brashness would almost be comic, if it wasn’t so sad. Open mouth, insert foot. How so like Peter I am. I am sure that when Peter spoke he meant what he said. He was speaking sincerely and with good intent, but he was speaking ignorantly, pridefully, and foolishly.

How so like Peter I am. My words although spoken with sincerity at the time merely demonstrate my ignorance and foolish pride. Paul expresses some of this struggle between good intentions and actual behavior in Romans 7:15-18 where he writes. “I do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I hate I do…I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my sinful nature. For I have the desire to do what is good, but I cannot carry it out.” Paul’s struggle leads him to cry in despair: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death?” Ro 7:24 (NIV) It is at this point of despair that the Holy Spirit reaches out to Paul and Paul’s despair is turned to expressions of ecstatic joy. “Thanks be to God – through Jesus Christ our Lord!... Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in sinful man, in order that the righteous requirements of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the sinful nature but according to the Spirit.” Ro 7:25-8:4 (NIV)

Jesus, thank You for forgiving me ignorant, foolish, prideful brashness by becoming our sin-offering. As Your new creation, empowered by Your Spirit move me now to humbly live a life more worthy of my calling.

Take And Eat – Take And Drink

²² While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take it; this is my body." ²³ Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, and they all drank from it. ²⁴ "This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many," he said to them. ²⁵ "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." Mark 14:22-25

What was going on in the disciples heads on the most somber night? The Passover is being celebrated and in a less than twenty-four hours there would be a new Passover resulting from a new sacrifice, an eternal sacrifice, JESUS sacrifice – once for all (Hebrews 9:26-28). In this most holy meal the disciples partook of the sacrifice – Jesus’ body and blood to be broken and shed for the forgiven of sin.

We too, every time we eat of the bread and drink of the cup, we partake of Jesus’ sacrificial body and blood. We are renewed in the forgiveness of sins, being fed and nourished by the life-giving sustenance of Jesus Himself. As we partake of this meal Jesus greets us anew to assure us of what He has already obtained for us. He would ask us: “Have you ever doubted My love for You? Have you ever questioned whether or not your sins are truly, fully, and freely forgiven?” Then in this meal He presence us with the evidence of His love and forgiveness in His body and blood broken and shed for me, and for you and for all people. It is as if He is saying “If you have ever doubted, well here is physical, tangible evidence – My body, My blood. You can be assured because I didn’t go to the cross for nothing. My broken body and shed blood are a testimony of My love for you and they count for something. They count for your full atonement. All accounts are settled. All debts have been paid.”

Jesus, in view of Your great mercies, move me today and everyday to offer myself as a living sacrifice in service to others as my spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1). Amen!

The Wheels Begin to Turn

Judas, one of Jesus' closest friends, betrayed him, ultimately leading to his suffering and death. It is a story we know well. Probably one that causes many questions in our minds. What would have driven him to do it? Was it just the money? Was he frustrated with Jesus' mission and message? And then consider the aftermath of his decision - experiencing such guilt that it drove him to suicide. In fact, Jesus himself says it would have been better for this man to never have been born. But if he hadn't been a part of the equation, all that was prophesied about Jesus, the Messiah, would not have come true.

But what I wonder most often, is what would have happened if Judas' guilt hadn't driven him to commit suicide. Would he eventually had the chance to seek forgiveness for his betrayal? Peter disowned Jesus and yet he was reinstated on the beach that morning when Jesus asked him three times, "Do you love me?" Would Jesus have given Judas that same chance? Would the other disciples have been able to forgive his betrayal? I suppose we may not ever know the answers to those "what if" kinds of questions. All we know is what DID happen, and hear of Judas' tragic end.

So then, I am compelled to consider my own betrayal of Jesus. When have I sold Him out, instead of being sold out for Him? What happens when the guilt of my sin weighs so heavily, that I am tempted to believe I couldn't possibly be forgiven - not again. Guilt is God's way to drive us to repentance. But Satan would use it to drive us to despair causing us to question or altogether forget God's great love for us shown in Jesus' death and resurrection. It is a truth that can be hard to believe - that God would love a wretched sinner like me. But IT IS TRUE. He loves every person who ever was and ever will be, and Jesus' bought us back from death so that He could spend eternity with us!

This Lent, may the guilt of our sin turn us back to our loving Lord's arms, allowing him to assure us of our worth and His love for us, which lets us forget the sins of our past and live as NEW CREATIONS in HIM!

Rationalization

How could Judas have ever fallen for the temptation to betray Jesus? Think about how well Judas knew Jesus. Judas had experienced Jesus’ love to him firsthand. There could be no mistaking it. He had seen how Jesus’ every word and every action, without exception, were so very loving. Surely he had to love Jesus, too. How could he not love Jesus?

The theory is that Judas saw a chance to push Jesus to announce that he is the Messiah, the Christ, and that way advance the kingdom of God. Maybe he thought not only could he advance the kingdom of God, but he could make a cool 30 pieces of silver in the process and everything would be fine. All he’d have to do is betray Jesus. Betrayal: is that such a big deal? Well of course it is, but by the time one rationalizes it, it doesn’t really seem that way… until afterwards. Then Judas wakes up from the rationalizations, realizes what he has done and hangs himself.

The rationalization process we can go through to justify our pet sins can be quite involved. But it seems like it’s all right by the time we go through the process. Then when we’ve sinned and wake up to the fact of what we’ve done there is great remorse. But that’s not the end of it. Do not do as Judas did. Don’t kill yourself. Don’t beat yourself up. Remember that Jesus did die on the cross to pay for your sins. Remember that he rose to life on the third day. So repent. Confess your sins to God. Delight in the joy of relationship restored with God. And go, and rationalize no more.

A Fall-Back Plan

"...the chief priests and teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill Him." They felt their authority threatened and they were going to take matters into their own hands to secure their leadership. Oh, how smug they must have felt when their plan was put into action and Jesus hung there on the cross. "Yes, we did it!" High fives all around.

But all of this - His suffering and death - was part of God's plan from the beginning. Nobody--not the chief priests, not the pharisees, not the teachers of the law--nobody TOOK Jesus' life. He laid it down for us (I John 3:16). All part of His plan to secure our salvation.

Thank you, Lord, that You work out Your plan for my life, despite my sinful nature. Help me to be so connected to You that my words and actions are in line with Your will.

Faithless

^{Mark 12:38-40  38} As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, ³⁹ and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁰ They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely.”

Have you ever found yourself doing something just to do it?  You don't even remember why you're doing it, you just figure you should?  There is a great story that illustrates this:

A young woman was preparing a ham dinner. After she cut off the end of the ham, she placed it in a pan for baking. Her friend asked her,"Why did you cut off the end of the ham"? And she replied ,"I really don't know but my mother always did, so I thought you were supposed to." Later when talking to her mother she asked her why she cut off the end of the ham before baking it, and her mother replied, "I really don't know, but that's the way my mom always did it." A few weeks later while visiting her grandmother, the young woman asked, "Grandma, why is it that you cut off the end of a ham before you bake it?" Her grandmother replied, "I don't know why you do it, but my pan was too small!"

You see, sometimes we allow ourselves to hold onto rituals just for the sake of doing them.  They have lost their meaning.  Don't get me wrong, I'm not down on rituals, I just struggle with doing something simply for the sake of doing it.  Often times, we cling desperately to things we think are God pleasing, and we get mad at or look down at those who don't do it the way we do.  As a result, we come across just like the scribes and Pharisees Jesus is talking about in this passage.  Jesus didn't tell us that they will know we are His followers by our holy rituals.  Rather, in John 13: 35 we read By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  

May God continue to use us to share His love with others.  During this Lenten season, may we draw close to Him, recognizing that it is through Him we gain salvation, not through holy acts and works.

A Question of Identity

Mark 12:35-37 (NIV)

³⁵ While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, he asked, "How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David? ³⁶ David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."' ³⁷ David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?" The large crowd listened to him with delight.

In Mark 8 Jesus asked His disciples two questions regarding His identity: “Who do people say that I am?” and “Who do you say that I am?” Even though Peter answered the questions correctly, shortly afterwards he demonstrated he hadn’t really understood what he had confessed. Now Jesus poses a question to the crowd (but probably really directed to the teachers of the law in the crowds) turning their “theology” upside down: "How is it that the teachers of the law say that the Christ is the son of David? ³⁶ David himself, speaking by the Holy Spirit, declared: "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."' ³⁷ David himself calls him 'Lord.' How then can he be his son?"

These teachers of the law knew the Scriptures, but they didn’t understand the Scriptures. They missed seeing Jesus as the fulfillment of the Scriptures (Lk 4:17-21). They read the Scriptures through the lens of their Oral Traditions (doctrine), rather than through the lens of revelation of the Spirit. In John 5:39-40 we read “You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, yet you refuse to come to me to have life” (see also Ro 10:1-4; Gal 1:11-12). What is God’s revelation to you today as you read the verses below?

John 10:10 (NIV)

¹⁰ The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.

John 14:6 (NIV)

⁶ Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

Romans 5:8 (NIV)

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

2 Corinthians 5:17 & 21 (NIV)

¹⁷ Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!...²¹ God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV)

⁸ For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast. ¹⁰ For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

1 John 2:2 (NIV)

² He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.

Jesus, in You I learn about grace, experience grace, and become transformed by grace, in other words You for You are grace incarnate – John 1:1416.

Jesus in and through You may I increasingly become grace-giving even as I have been and am grace-receiving (Eph 4:32)

The Old Riddle at the Old Ball Game

Doesn't it just sound like a baseball game to you?

It's the bottom of the 9th, and the Pharisees are pitching, trying desperately to hang on to the lead they had in Jerusalem. They try to throw Jesus off with a slider..."By what authority are you doing these things? But Jesus' answer in Mark 11 29, 30 was a solid hit.

The Herodians are asked to join the team, and give Jesus their best shot. "Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" Another hit by Jesus, batting with the Word of God. Time for another conference at the mound, and a change in pitchers.

Send in the Sadducees, who try to pitch a curve ball to Jesus by asking Him a question about the resurrection. But once again, using scripture, Jesus easily strolls onto the next base.

Before long, Satan, heading up his team, will pitch Jesus the ball that he thinks will "end the ball game." But just as Jesus used scripture each time He was "up to bat," He fulfills that same scripture with His home run on Easter morning.

Armed with that Word of God, and meeting regularly with our team Manager for guidance and strategy, we, too, can take the pitches that Satan and his team throw at us, and hit them out of the ball park!

A Pointed Parable

The religious leaders in Jesus' day had it out for him big time. I'm not sure I would have blamed them had I been one of them. He was a threat to everything they held dear and understood to be true, or at least wanted to be true. Unfortunately, they placed their trust more in man-made, faulty understandings of scripture rather than listening to the true Word of God - Jesus himself.

When reading the parable Jesus told of the vineyard workers killing the owner's son, it would be easy to simply shake our heads at these church leaders thinking, "If only they would have opened their eyes and hearts to the truth. How blind they were!" However, I can't help but wonder how often I could fit right in with them and their stubborn pride. How frequently have I ignored Jesus' authority in my life? How easy is it for me to scoff at his call to obedience, closing my ears or heart to what he is trying to teach me? Anytime I seek my own will over his, I am no better than the chief priests, teachers of the law or elders.

Thankfully, Jesus loved me, and you, enough to endure the suffering and death he knew was a part of his future. His great love for us is still alive today calling us to greater dependence on him, fuller obedience, deeper love. Take time this season of Lent to examine your own heart asking Jesus to come and remove pride that would keep you from him and his will. Rediscover just how costly his grace is that covers our sins as you reflect on his sacrifice. Receive his "full forgiveness" for your sins. Then, be bold to follow him, putting away selfish pride and seek to serve others as he did. May we each live in more complete obedience to him and His Word each day.

A Problem with Authority?

Some people have a problem with authority. They chafe under it. They can’t stand some bossy person ordering them around, demanding that they do this or that. It can be hard to be under authority.

We’re all under authority in a variety of ways: police, government officials, parents, teachers, employers, etc. Some of it is not as hard to endure as others. But all authority comes from God. And God’s authority is not hard to endure. As a matter of fact, God’s authority is always used for our good. God’s authority is always exercised in love for us. Satan and our own evil desires will try to make God’s authority appear as if it is harsh and difficult to endure. It’s all deception.

Living under God’s authority is living under his love and care and protection for us.

Thanks, Lord, for your gracious authority in our lives.