By this time of the morning Jesus would be going through a mockery of a trial. The leaders of this band of rebellious leaders knew they had to get this trial done quickly, for religious reasons; The Passover was right in front of them, and so they sped the entire process up to fit into their plans, but it wasn't their plan at all that all. The Father had the plan and He also had the people in place who would be willing to carry out His plan, Is. 53:10 Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief.
Yes, The Passover was right in front of them, but The Lamb was also literally right in front of them and the had missed the point all along. I think that was Jesus' point for 3 years to the Pharisees; they were so caught up in the rituals and ceremonies but they had forgotten what they were all about. Similar to our holidays now; we have Christmas, to remember the birth of Christ, but often it is more about family and time off. We have Easter to remember the death and resurrection of Christ, but it's about dinner with family, girls in new dresses, kids looking for eggs and candy, and we miss the entire point. The Lord's table, church service and worship can be the same way. We must remember why we are doing what we are doing.
As I have said many times in these last posts, "I can't imagine what Jesus must have been thinking and going through". That is the beautiful thing about God's whole plan, is that we can't imagine and we couldn't have done it. Our death would have been insufficient for any of the work that Jesus did on the cross. Any amount of suffering would have only been the tip of the iceberg of what we deserved to have laid on us, because we are sinners. But it is only because Jesus, the Just, was willing to die for us, the unjust, that the payment for our sins could be atoned for. He is our spotless, perfect Lamb, that for centuries passed the Jews had been symbolizing with their own sacrifices, and yet they missed it.
Today is called Good Friday, but it was the worst/best day for Jesus. The worst because He had to become sin for us, which separated Him from the Father. The best because He followed the Father's plan perfectly and finished His work here on earth to restore the relationship we had broken.
The entire Bible is the story of God working out the plan, and revealing it to us, about how He would fix what we had broken. We really don't understand the magnitude of this plan. Why would God go to such great lengths to restore the relationship with us? This is what the weekend is about; Remembering what God did on our behalf.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Jesus' Last night before the Cross
Jesus prayed for His disciples, and the rest of His children. He was finished with His work on earth that the Father had given Him to do. Jesus had perfectly finished His work and He was nearing the time when He would get to go back to Heaven to be with the Father.
He prayed that the Father would protect them and that they would be one. He prayed that they would have His joy fulfilled in them, that they would be sanctified by His Word, and rejoiced that He would not lose one that He had chosen.
Jesus knew what was right around the corner. It was evening and that night was the night He would be betrayed. He knew who all the players would be, He knew all their motives and He knew their hearts, yet He still was willing to go forward with the plan. He could have called His angels to stop the entire plan, but He knew this was the Father's will. So meek, so submissive, so kind; and for us.
Out to the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples in tow. He knew what would happen here as well. This was a favorite spot for them to gather and listen to Him teach and just have great fellowship. Big, old, sort of scary looking trees over head; grass under foot; a cold night was ahead. Were birds out singing this evening, or did God shut their mouths in reverence for what was about to take place?
Jesus gives the instruction for the disciples to pray with Him and He goes off to pray by Himself. As I have read this passage before I have often thought I would have been able to stay awake, but this is just pride. I'm tired right now and I know if I had to stay awake for a long time, I would fall asleep. Praying doesn't help to keep you awake; eyes closed, talking quietly, but maybe that's Jesus' point. If we knew the magnitude of what was about to happen, we would not be falling asleep. Jesus knew and there was no sleep in His future. No rest for the sinless One until He went to be with the Father.
What a night this would be. For Jesus it was filled with ridicule, beating, being spit on, whipped, questioned and forsaken by all those He had taught and discipled for the past 3 years. None were left but The Father and soon the Father would turn His back on Him as well. Abandoned and Alone, He born the world's affliction, He bore it as His own.
The disciples were afraid of the religious leaders, afraid of maybe being kicked out of the synagogue, afraid of being associated with Jesus, at least for tonight. Everything they had known for the last 3 years was now upside down. They were with the Messiah, but this is not how they thought it would turn out. Fireside accusations, servant girls, cold night air, scattered disciples, and a rooster all made for a very sad night and early morning.
Would we have noticed? Would we have followed? We will never know, because we are here today. But will we follow regardless of the cost? Will we stay awake to pray? Do we understand the cost of discipleship? Do we understand the importance of prayer?
Thursday night of Passion week is a heavy night. Let us not forget the cost He paid.
He prayed that the Father would protect them and that they would be one. He prayed that they would have His joy fulfilled in them, that they would be sanctified by His Word, and rejoiced that He would not lose one that He had chosen.
Jesus knew what was right around the corner. It was evening and that night was the night He would be betrayed. He knew who all the players would be, He knew all their motives and He knew their hearts, yet He still was willing to go forward with the plan. He could have called His angels to stop the entire plan, but He knew this was the Father's will. So meek, so submissive, so kind; and for us.
Out to the Garden of Gethsemane with His disciples in tow. He knew what would happen here as well. This was a favorite spot for them to gather and listen to Him teach and just have great fellowship. Big, old, sort of scary looking trees over head; grass under foot; a cold night was ahead. Were birds out singing this evening, or did God shut their mouths in reverence for what was about to take place?
Jesus gives the instruction for the disciples to pray with Him and He goes off to pray by Himself. As I have read this passage before I have often thought I would have been able to stay awake, but this is just pride. I'm tired right now and I know if I had to stay awake for a long time, I would fall asleep. Praying doesn't help to keep you awake; eyes closed, talking quietly, but maybe that's Jesus' point. If we knew the magnitude of what was about to happen, we would not be falling asleep. Jesus knew and there was no sleep in His future. No rest for the sinless One until He went to be with the Father.
What a night this would be. For Jesus it was filled with ridicule, beating, being spit on, whipped, questioned and forsaken by all those He had taught and discipled for the past 3 years. None were left but The Father and soon the Father would turn His back on Him as well. Abandoned and Alone, He born the world's affliction, He bore it as His own.
The disciples were afraid of the religious leaders, afraid of maybe being kicked out of the synagogue, afraid of being associated with Jesus, at least for tonight. Everything they had known for the last 3 years was now upside down. They were with the Messiah, but this is not how they thought it would turn out. Fireside accusations, servant girls, cold night air, scattered disciples, and a rooster all made for a very sad night and early morning.
Would we have noticed? Would we have followed? We will never know, because we are here today. But will we follow regardless of the cost? Will we stay awake to pray? Do we understand the cost of discipleship? Do we understand the importance of prayer?
Thursday night of Passion week is a heavy night. Let us not forget the cost He paid.
Cross Contemplation
Teresa and I were talking yesterday about the fact that no one had commented back on the Easter Tradition post. I told her that I wasn't surprised as I don't think there are too many, who would be reading this blog, who have been raised with much in the way of Easter traditions.
I was raised in the church and I don't remember any traditions in our family, or in any other family for that matter.
I am not disappointed by the lack of comments, but am resolved to have a tradition in my life. Whether the kids pick it up, from me starting so late in their life, or not I'm not sure, but I will move forward anyway.
I think the best thing we can do is to truly focus on what this time means, both in a focus on Christ's death on the cross and victory over the grave. This meditation has been good for my soul this week as it has kept me much more focused on the cost of winning my soul. Prayer has followed closely behind the meditation, as it is hard to really think about this week's significance and not be humbled and grateful to Christ. My heart has be filled to overflowing with gratitude, and I think that is because of the time spend reading the Word and really thinking about the cost.
So, I want to encourage you to make the time to slow down, stop, dwell, linger at the foot of the cross. Think about what this beautiful, scandalous cross means to you today. How can we rush by the cross, especially this week, and not be changed? The cost is too high to just brush it off. Make some sort of new tradition in your family this year that will help you focus on the cross, the tomb and the triumph of Christ. Not so you have a tradition, for the sake of a tradition, but so you are better able to worship.
When Christ was sweating drops of blood because of the impending agony of taking on my sin onto His sinless self, that should cause some measure of seriousness in my week. When Christ says that He lays down His life willingly, knowing the true cost of His life, verses the value of my life, that too should cause some incredible thankfulness in my heart. His sinless life, for my wretched heart, is not a fair trade.
It is hard to take the candy and bunnies that are so prevalent every where you turn. What do they have to do with Resurrection Day? What do they have to do with the cross and the cost? The world is trying to forget what this week is about, and candy and bunnies apparently help keep their minds distracted. I don't want to be distracted, I want to be attracted to the cross.
Lord, give me a passion for You and Your Word; for Your people and the lost. The cost to You was so great to win my heart, may I never lose focus on that cost. Thank you for being willing to lay down Your life for mine; for being willing to pay the price for my sin. There are no words to express the debt that I owe. There are no works I can do to repay You. I have a need that only You can supply, and that need is You. May I give myself back to You in whatever way You desire and may I give myself fully to the task that You have for me. May You be glorified in my life; I don't really know how that is possible- that You would be glorified in one like me- except that You show off Your power in taking me from dead to alive; from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh. May I be truly alive in You, my living Head. Thanks for being willing and able to do this for me.
I was raised in the church and I don't remember any traditions in our family, or in any other family for that matter.
I am not disappointed by the lack of comments, but am resolved to have a tradition in my life. Whether the kids pick it up, from me starting so late in their life, or not I'm not sure, but I will move forward anyway.
I think the best thing we can do is to truly focus on what this time means, both in a focus on Christ's death on the cross and victory over the grave. This meditation has been good for my soul this week as it has kept me much more focused on the cost of winning my soul. Prayer has followed closely behind the meditation, as it is hard to really think about this week's significance and not be humbled and grateful to Christ. My heart has be filled to overflowing with gratitude, and I think that is because of the time spend reading the Word and really thinking about the cost.
So, I want to encourage you to make the time to slow down, stop, dwell, linger at the foot of the cross. Think about what this beautiful, scandalous cross means to you today. How can we rush by the cross, especially this week, and not be changed? The cost is too high to just brush it off. Make some sort of new tradition in your family this year that will help you focus on the cross, the tomb and the triumph of Christ. Not so you have a tradition, for the sake of a tradition, but so you are better able to worship.
When Christ was sweating drops of blood because of the impending agony of taking on my sin onto His sinless self, that should cause some measure of seriousness in my week. When Christ says that He lays down His life willingly, knowing the true cost of His life, verses the value of my life, that too should cause some incredible thankfulness in my heart. His sinless life, for my wretched heart, is not a fair trade.
It is hard to take the candy and bunnies that are so prevalent every where you turn. What do they have to do with Resurrection Day? What do they have to do with the cross and the cost? The world is trying to forget what this week is about, and candy and bunnies apparently help keep their minds distracted. I don't want to be distracted, I want to be attracted to the cross.
Lord, give me a passion for You and Your Word; for Your people and the lost. The cost to You was so great to win my heart, may I never lose focus on that cost. Thank you for being willing to lay down Your life for mine; for being willing to pay the price for my sin. There are no words to express the debt that I owe. There are no works I can do to repay You. I have a need that only You can supply, and that need is You. May I give myself back to You in whatever way You desire and may I give myself fully to the task that You have for me. May You be glorified in my life; I don't really know how that is possible- that You would be glorified in one like me- except that You show off Your power in taking me from dead to alive; from a heart of stone to a heart of flesh. May I be truly alive in You, my living Head. Thanks for being willing and able to do this for me.
Tumultuous Thursday
My heart is full this morning as I think about Jesus' last full day before the cross. A day filled with some teaching, but much prayer. I really can't imagine the weight He was carrying on this Tumultuous Thursday.
Matt. 5: 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 26:39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."
This may seem like a strange connection of verses, but I think there is one. Jesus is speaking in both of these verses; the first He is addressing the multitudes the second His Father. But the connection I see is that He is telling us that we are "least in the Kingdom of Heaven" if we do not follow ALL of His commandments and encourage others to do the same. Often we take the commandments that are the "easier ones" and leave the hard ones to someone "more spiritual". Jesus is submitting His will to the Father, even in the absolute hardest way, and though He asks if there is another way, He still follows the Father's plan.
I want to follow Him closely. My flesh is weak. Sin is strong. The world has so much to distract my attention. BUT He is faithful and He can give me the desire to follow.
Lord, keep us close to You. Write Your name on our hearts and keep us following hard after You. Keep our affections hot for You. Don't let us settle for lesser joys. Keep our eyes focused on the prize, that is You. Make the things of earth grow strangely dim, in the light of Your glory and grace.
Matt. 5: 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Matt. 26:39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, "My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will."
This may seem like a strange connection of verses, but I think there is one. Jesus is speaking in both of these verses; the first He is addressing the multitudes the second His Father. But the connection I see is that He is telling us that we are "least in the Kingdom of Heaven" if we do not follow ALL of His commandments and encourage others to do the same. Often we take the commandments that are the "easier ones" and leave the hard ones to someone "more spiritual". Jesus is submitting His will to the Father, even in the absolute hardest way, and though He asks if there is another way, He still follows the Father's plan.
I want to follow Him closely. My flesh is weak. Sin is strong. The world has so much to distract my attention. BUT He is faithful and He can give me the desire to follow.
Lord, keep us close to You. Write Your name on our hearts and keep us following hard after You. Keep our affections hot for You. Don't let us settle for lesser joys. Keep our eyes focused on the prize, that is You. Make the things of earth grow strangely dim, in the light of Your glory and grace.
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Peace, Not as the World Gives, do I Give to You.
John 14:18 "I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. 19 Yet a little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. 20 In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24 Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me.
25"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
There are so many deep truths in just these 2 paragraphs. Jesus is giving final instructions to the disciples and He tells them that "He is not leaving them as orphans". They probably weren't getting the entirety of this right at this exact minute, but Jesus tells them that He is telling them about this right now, so they would have their faith increased, when it does happen. They would be able to look back and remember that He had just told this to them. His faithful care of us is so great.
He also tells them if we love Him they will keep His commandments. Conversely, if we don't keep His commandments, we don't love Him. There is no in between. Submission to His Word is paramount in our lives.
He tells them about the Holy Spirit coming to live in them and that this "Helper" will instruct them and bring to remembrance things He has already told them. The Holy Spirit will bring peace into their lives in a way that the rest of the world does not have. He immediately tells them not to let their hearts be troubled or afraid. He knew that would be their inclination, and ours as well. Their Provider and Protector was leaving them, now what were they to do? Trust that He is good and He has it under control.
The disciples had to be both confused and encouraged. After Jesus' death on the cross they went back to their old lives until He came and really opened their eyes, so right here they still don't understand fully what He was telling them. What a day it must have been when He "turned on the light" and allowed them to fully understand all.
25"These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. 26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you. 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. 28 You heard me say to you, 'I am going away, and I will come to you.' If you loved me, you would have rejoiced, because I am going to the Father, for the Father is greater than I. 29 And now I have told you before it takes place, so that when it does take place you may believe. 30 I will no longer talk much with you, for the ruler of this world is coming. He has no claim on me, 31 but I do as the Father has commanded me, so that the world may know that I love the Father. Rise, let us go from here.
There are so many deep truths in just these 2 paragraphs. Jesus is giving final instructions to the disciples and He tells them that "He is not leaving them as orphans". They probably weren't getting the entirety of this right at this exact minute, but Jesus tells them that He is telling them about this right now, so they would have their faith increased, when it does happen. They would be able to look back and remember that He had just told this to them. His faithful care of us is so great.
He also tells them if we love Him they will keep His commandments. Conversely, if we don't keep His commandments, we don't love Him. There is no in between. Submission to His Word is paramount in our lives.
He tells them about the Holy Spirit coming to live in them and that this "Helper" will instruct them and bring to remembrance things He has already told them. The Holy Spirit will bring peace into their lives in a way that the rest of the world does not have. He immediately tells them not to let their hearts be troubled or afraid. He knew that would be their inclination, and ours as well. Their Provider and Protector was leaving them, now what were they to do? Trust that He is good and He has it under control.
The disciples had to be both confused and encouraged. After Jesus' death on the cross they went back to their old lives until He came and really opened their eyes, so right here they still don't understand fully what He was telling them. What a day it must have been when He "turned on the light" and allowed them to fully understand all.
Ask
Tuesday through Thursday Jesus was spending time teaching His disciples. He had spent 3 years with them, teaching and showing them what it means to be His follower. Much of the time He had not allowed them to fully understand what He was talking about, so there were always questions about what He had just said, or done. Now He is allowing them more insight into what He was doing and saying and they were starting to get it.
I really can't imagine what was going through His mind this week. He knew what was right around the corner. He knew that He would be separated from the Father. He was sinless and was going to have all of our sin laid on Him. Yet He knew that the Father's plan was perfect and He perfectly trusted the Father. No doubt; what a glorious thought.
As Jesus is gently teaching these last few days before Calvary, 7 times in John 14-16 He encourages them to "ask whatever you will and he Father will give it to you" or something very similar to this. He had been their perfect Provider for 3 years and now He was going away. He must have known they were going to be concerned for their basic needs. There are some conditions, like abiding before receiving, but there is to be much asking. What a comfort it must have been for the disciples to know that they could just ask the Father and He would give them what they asked in His name, so that the Father would be glorified in the Son.
I'm not sure how far reaching this is. I'm not sure to what extent Jesus was telling them, just ask and He will give it, whatever it is. In principle He is not telling them that He will give them "a new Mercedes" every time they ask, but He certainly is telling them to ask frequently enough that He must mean it. It also seems that the Son is excited to tell them to ask the Father; sort of a "ask Him and see what He is capable of doing on my behalf for you". Kind of like, "My Dad is so good and powerful that you can ask Him whatever you want and He will do it, just because He loves me".
Jesus also was telling them about the Holy Spirit, who He would leave with them, that would comfort and instruct them. They didn't fully understand this yet, but it wouldn't be long and they would have a much greater grasp on what this would mean and how much they would need Him.
3 years of Jesus 24-7 and in just a few short days they would have to take all that He had been living out before them and put it into practice. 3 years of training for ministry. 3 years of "Bible". Was this the first seminary? Jesus had equipped them to do ministry and He knew they were prepared, as soon as He finished His work and gave them the Holy Spirit.
Today, His work is finished and He has left us His Holy Spirit and His Word and we have all the tools we need to be His disciples. Ask the Father what you will and He will do it. Ask Him to change the world through you. Are you begging Him to change your life and the lives of those around you, for His glory? He wants to change us and He will be glorified. Ask Him and watch Him work and then watch Him make your joy complete.
I am not a great "asker", but it seems this is exactly what Jesus is telling us to do. Ask and do NOT doubt and the Father will give it to you. Is it pride that keeps me from asking? I hope not. I know I don't have any power to do any of this myself, so I should be begging all time to have Him do the work He has planned for me, through me. I must be better at asking.
I really can't imagine what was going through His mind this week. He knew what was right around the corner. He knew that He would be separated from the Father. He was sinless and was going to have all of our sin laid on Him. Yet He knew that the Father's plan was perfect and He perfectly trusted the Father. No doubt; what a glorious thought.
As Jesus is gently teaching these last few days before Calvary, 7 times in John 14-16 He encourages them to "ask whatever you will and he Father will give it to you" or something very similar to this. He had been their perfect Provider for 3 years and now He was going away. He must have known they were going to be concerned for their basic needs. There are some conditions, like abiding before receiving, but there is to be much asking. What a comfort it must have been for the disciples to know that they could just ask the Father and He would give them what they asked in His name, so that the Father would be glorified in the Son.
I'm not sure how far reaching this is. I'm not sure to what extent Jesus was telling them, just ask and He will give it, whatever it is. In principle He is not telling them that He will give them "a new Mercedes" every time they ask, but He certainly is telling them to ask frequently enough that He must mean it. It also seems that the Son is excited to tell them to ask the Father; sort of a "ask Him and see what He is capable of doing on my behalf for you". Kind of like, "My Dad is so good and powerful that you can ask Him whatever you want and He will do it, just because He loves me".
Jesus also was telling them about the Holy Spirit, who He would leave with them, that would comfort and instruct them. They didn't fully understand this yet, but it wouldn't be long and they would have a much greater grasp on what this would mean and how much they would need Him.
3 years of Jesus 24-7 and in just a few short days they would have to take all that He had been living out before them and put it into practice. 3 years of training for ministry. 3 years of "Bible". Was this the first seminary? Jesus had equipped them to do ministry and He knew they were prepared, as soon as He finished His work and gave them the Holy Spirit.
Today, His work is finished and He has left us His Holy Spirit and His Word and we have all the tools we need to be His disciples. Ask the Father what you will and He will do it. Ask Him to change the world through you. Are you begging Him to change your life and the lives of those around you, for His glory? He wants to change us and He will be glorified. Ask Him and watch Him work and then watch Him make your joy complete.
I am not a great "asker", but it seems this is exactly what Jesus is telling us to do. Ask and do NOT doubt and the Father will give it to you. Is it pride that keeps me from asking? I hope not. I know I don't have any power to do any of this myself, so I should be begging all time to have Him do the work He has planned for me, through me. I must be better at asking.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Blessing or Judgment?
John 13:44 And Jesus cried out and said, "Whoever believes in me, believes not in me but in him who sent me. 45 And whoever sees me sees him who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as light, so that whoever believes in me may not remain in darkness. 47 If anyone hears my words and does not keep them, I do not judge him; for I did not come to judge the world but to save the world. 48 The one who rejects me and does not receive my words has a judge; the word that I have spoken will judge him on the last day.
Contrast that with;
Luke 11:28 "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
A sobering reminder of having ears that do not hear and eyes that do not see. If your ears are not hearing, pray that God would open them and that He would give you eyes to see the wondrous truths in His Word, and a heart to respond to it. Our earthly happiness and eternal residence depends on it.
Contrast that with;
Luke 11:28 "Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"
A sobering reminder of having ears that do not hear and eyes that do not see. If your ears are not hearing, pray that God would open them and that He would give you eyes to see the wondrous truths in His Word, and a heart to respond to it. Our earthly happiness and eternal residence depends on it.
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