Down to the Last Detail.

Matthew 27:57-6-; Mark 15:42-46; Luke 23:50-54; John 19:31-37

These things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures that say, "Not one of this bones will be broken," and "They will look on the one they have pierced." – John 19:36-37 NLT

The death of Jesus was a well-orchestrated event, planned by God Himself and implemented with divine precision and detail. Nothing was overlooked or left to chance. At no point in the proceedings was God ever out of control or having to hastily respond to the plans of men. From the moment of His birth, Jesus' entire life was predetermined by God. Even the timing of His death was part of God's plan. And every single event that surrounded His death, while chaotic in appearance, was methodically thought out and controlled by God. And it had all been predicted by God through His prophets, hundreds of years earlier. Isaiah, referring to the Messiah, wrote "He had done no wrong and had never deceived anyone. But he was buried like a criminal; he was put in a rich man's grave" (Isaiah 53:9 NLT). And we read in the Gospel accounts that Joseph of Arimethea, a rich man and member of the Jewish high council who had been secret follower of Jesus, went to Pilate and asked for permission to take the body of Jesus for burial. Matthew tells us that Joseph placed the body of Jesus in his own newly carved tomb. God the Father was not going to allow His Son's body to be placed in a common burial plot for criminals. He would be buried in a rich man's tomb. The prophet Zechariah had written hundreds of years earlier, "They will look on me on whom they have pierced and mourn for him as an only son. They will grieve bitterly for him as for a firstborn son who has died" (Zechariah 12:10 NLT). This was another Messianic prophecy, speaking of the one for whom the Israelites had long awaited. And we read in the book of John that the Roman guards, in an attempt to guarantee Jesus' death, "pierced his side with a spear, and immediately blood and water flowed out" (John 19:34 NLT). And because the Jewish religious leaders wanted the bodies of Jesus and the two criminals who were crucified along with Him taken down before the Sabbath, the Roman guards broke their legs to hasten their deaths. But because Jesus was already dead, His legs were left intact. This was in direct fulfillment of the words of David found in Psalm 34: "He protects all his bones; not one of them is broken" (Psalm 34:20 NET).

John tells us that "these things happened in fulfillment of the Scriptures." The death of Jesus had been predicted because it had been predetermined. It was all part of God's divine plan for redeeming a lost and dying world. It was necessary in order for man's guilt to be dealt with and God's wrath to be satisfied. All of these things happened just as God had planned them to happen. And John tells us that what he wrote in his account was "from an eyewitness giving an accurate account. He speaks the truth so that you also can believe" (John 19:35 NLT). There was method to the madness. There was a purpose behind it all. As gruesome and hideous as the death of Jesus was, it was necessary. It was the only way for God to deal with sin and still be able to save the sinner. Isaiah reminds us that Jesus "was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins. He was beaten so we could be whole. He was whipped so we could be healed. All of us, like sheep, have strayed away. We have left God's paths to follow our own. Yet the Lord laid on him the sins of us all" (Isaiah 53:5-6 NLT). What Jesus suffered, God ordained. All so that we could be saved.

Father, what an incredible, amazing plan. I can't even begin to understand it all. But the detail and the precision of it all is mind-blowing. This was not just some random act of violence or injustice. This was Your divine plan for man's redemption being acted out in human history. Down to the last detail. Thank You! Amen.

An Earth-Shaking Event.

Matthew 27:51-56; Mark 15:38-41; Luke 23:45-49

The earth shook, rocks split apart, and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. They left the cemetery after Jesus' resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people. – Matthew 27:51-53 NLT

It's hard for us to grasp just how momentous and significant the death of Jesus was. Each of the gospel writers tell us how His life ended. Matthew says that "Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit" (Matthew 27:500 NLT). Mark describes it this way: "Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last" (Mark 15:37 NLT). Luke gives a bit more detail, recording that "Jesus shouted, ‘Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!’ And with those words he breathed his last" (Luke 23:46 NLT). Finally, John records that Jesus was offered a sponge soaked in sour wine, and when He had tasted it he said, "‘It is finished!’ Then he bowed his head and released his spirit" (John 19:30 NLT). In each case, we see Jesus succumbing to the torture and pain to which He had been subjected. His body finally gave in to all the abuse, and Jesus closed His eyes and died. But at that moment, when it appeared that everything was over and His life was ended, some incredible, earth-shattering events took place. Matthew tells us that at that exact moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in half, from top to bottom. But that's not all. The earth shook, rocks split apart and tombs opened. There were some significant geological phenomena that went on. Matthew goes on to tell us that the earthquake itself was so intense that it terrified the Roman soldiers who were overseeing the crucifixion. Jesus' death was anything but normal or uneventful. It was spectacular and special because it signified a momentous change in the relationship between God and man. What is fascinating is that in the final moments of Jesus' death, the leading priests, teachers of religious law, and the elders mocked Jesus, saying, "He saved others, but he can't save himself! So he is the King of Israel, is he? Let him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!" (Matthew27:42 NLT). But rather than save Himself, Jesus dies so that He might save others. He died so that we might live. And at the moment He died, something miraculous happened. "The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead" (Matthew 27:52 NLT). Jesus did not save Himself from death, but in dying, He restored these people from death. He delivered them from the grave. This miraculous sign proved that He was who He claimed to be. He really was the King of Israel, and even in death, He had power over the grave. As He hung lifeless on the cross, He brought life back to those who had been dead. And three days later, when He rose from the dead, these rejuvenated individuals would appear in the city of Jerusalem. In essence, they represented the "first fruits," a symbol of what is to come. We don't know if these people went with the Lord when He ascended, or if they stayed on earth. If they stayed on earth, they would have had to have died a second time, just as Lazarus did. But what we do know is that their restored lives were evidence of Jesus' victory over death. He had truly conquered the grave. These people had been dead, but were now raised to new life, and they would appear to many who knew them, proving the veracity of Jesus' claim to be the Son of God.

When most men die, their story ends. Their influence dies with them. But Jesus' death made a powerful impact on the world. It literally shook the earth. It shattered rocks. It opened graves. It raised the dead. It defeated sin and death. It satisfied the demands of a just and holy God. It made possible new life and a restored relationship with God the Father. It was a game-changer and it continues to impact the world today. Jesus wasn't just another well-meaning martyr dying for a cause. He was the innocent Son of God, giving His life as payment for the sins of all mankind. His death was a powerful antidote to the curse of sin and the disease of death. What Jesus did on the cross struck a fatal blow to the enemy and eliminated the strangle hold he had on the lives and souls of men. It was earth-shaking, paradigm-shattering, and sin-conquering. Jesus had done His part. He had fulfilled His Father's will, and He was able to say, "It is finished." Now the rest was up to God the Father.

Father, no man's death has ever had the impact that the death of Jesus did. Earthquakes, miraculous signs and resurrected lives accompanied the death of Jesus. Because His death was like no other. His death was effective and powerful. It wasn't the end of something, but the beginning. Life as we know it was changed that day. The relationship between God and man changed that day. All because Jesus died. Thank You for sending Your Son as a sacrifice for me. Amen.

Access Granted.

Matthew 27:45-50; Mark 15:33-37; Luke 23:44-46; John 19:28-30

By this time it was about noon, and darkness fell across the whole land until three o'clock. The light from the sun was gone. And suddenly, the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn down the middle. – Luke 23:44-45 NLT

Some of the last words spoken by Jesus from the cross were, "My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?" (Mark 15:34 NLT). This took place at the most crucial moment during His entire ordeal. It was at this point that all the sins of mankind were placed on Him. The penalty and burden of all the sins of all time were transferred onto Jesus and His holy, righteous Father had to turn away. For the first and only time, God the Father and God the Son were separated. Their inseparable bond was broken. No longer could God look on Jesus and say, "This is My Son in whom I am well pleased." He could not look on His Son at all, because of the sins of men. This scene is similar to that in the Old Testament during the days of the Tabernacle in the wilderness. Each year, on the Day of Atonement, Aaron was instructed by God to select two goats. One was sacrificed as a sin offering for the forgiveness of the sins of the people. This first goat was slaughtered and its blood was taken inside the curtain into the Holy of Holies, where it was sprinkled on the Mercy Seat. This would purify the Most Holy Place from the sins and rebellion of the people. Then Aaron would sprinkle the remainder of the blood throughout the Tabernacle, purifying it as well. The second goat, called the scapegoat, was kept alive. After having cleansed the Most Holy Place, the Tabernacle and the altar, Aaron was to place his hands on the head of the goat and confess over it all the wickedness, rebellion, and sins of the people of Israel. This act symbolically transferred the people's sins onto the goat. It bore their sins – the sins of the entire nation of Israel. Then the goat was driven into the wilderness, away from the presence of God, where it was left to die. This event had to take place every single year in order to provide cleansing and forgiveness of sin for the people. But when Jesus died, He satisfied the demands of God once and for all. The book of Hebrews tells us, "The sacrifices under that system were repeated again and again, year after year, but they were never able to provide perfect cleansing for those who came to worship" (Hebrews 10:1 NLT). Instead, they served as a constant reminder of their sins year after year. But Jesus came to change all that. "For God's will was for us to made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time" (Hebrews 10:10 NLT). "But our High Priest offered himself to God as a single sacrifice for sins, good for all time" (Hebrews 10:12 NLT). Jesus, our scapegoat, took on all our sins and bore the penalty we deserved. He paid our debt with His own life – once and for all.

And when Jesus cried out on the cross, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?, it was not cry of surprise or despair. He was not off guard by what was happening. He was actually quoting Psalm 22:1. That incredible Psalm goes on to describe the death of Jesus in amazing detail. "My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet. I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat. They divine my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing" (Psalm 22:16-18 NLT). This moment on the cross, when Jesus was temporarily separated from His Son due to the sins of mankind, was all part of the plan. It had to happen. Jesus had to become our scapegoat. And when He had taken on our sins, an amazing thing happened. Luke tells us that at that moment, in the Temple, the heavy curtain that hung at the entrance into the Most Holy Place, was torn from top to bottom. This symbolic barrier between God and man, separating them from one another because ofthe holiness of God and the sins of men, was ripped down the middle. No longer would there be a barrier preventing men from having access to God. There would be no more need for a sacrificial lamb or for blood to be sprinkled by the high priest on the Mercy Seat. When Jesus took on the weight, the burden and the penalty of our sins, He did so once and for all. The writer of Hebrews tells us, "And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place" (Hebrews 10:19-20 NLT). Jesus bore the penalty for our sins so we wouldn't have to. He suffered separation from the Father so we could gain access to the Father. He died so that we might live. He suffered so we might be saved. So "let us go right into the presence of God with sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean, and our bodies have been washed with pure water" (Hebrews 10:22 NLT).

Father, I can't thank You enough for this incredible plan of Yours. That You would allow Your own Son to take on my sins and die in my place blows me away. I can't fathom why You would do something so incredible. I know it was not because I deserved it. It was because of Your love. Rather than giving me what I justly deserved, You gave me what I could never have earned on my own – Your grace, mercy, favor and forgiveness. Your Son's death provided me with access into Your very presence. The barrier is removed. Access has been granted. Thank You! Amen.

It Was Love.

Matthew 27:35-44; Mark 15:24-32; Luke 23:33-43; John 19:18-27

A Sign was fastened above Jesus' head announcing the charge against him. It read: "This is Jesus, the King of the Jews." – Matthew 27:37 NLT

Jesus was guilty. Yes, He was guilty of being the King of the Jews., and it was for that reason He was crucified. Over and over again in the Gospel accounts, that term is used to describe Jesus. It was the main point of questioning by Pilate. It was the one point of accusation to which He would respond when questioned. It was how Pilate presented Him to the people. It was why He was mocked by the Roman guards and what caused them to place a purple robe on His shoulders and a crown of thorns on His head. Pilate even went as far as to have it written on the piece of wood that was nailed to the cross above Jesus' head, signifying His "crime." Interestingly enough, the Jewish religious leaders tried to get Pilate to change the wording, asking him to have it changed to "He said, I am the King of the Jews." But Pilate refused. As Jesus was being crucified, the leading priests and teachers of religious law stood at the foot of the cross, mocking Him. "He saved others," they scoffed, "but he can't save himself!" (Mark 15:31 NLT). They shouted, "Let this Messiah, this King of Israel, come down from the cross so we can see it and believe him!" (Mark 15:32 NLT).  Even one of the criminals who was being crucified next to Him scoffed, saying, "So you're the Messiah, are you? Prove it by saving yourself – and us, too, while you're at it!" (Luke 23:39 NLT).

And here's the amazing thing: Jesus could have saved Himself. He could have come down off the cross and put an end to His own suffering. He could have dealt with His enemies in righteous indignation, giving them exactly what they deserved – the full wrath of a holy God. But instead, Jesus responded, "Father, forgive them, for they don't know what they are doing" (Luke 23:34 NLT). And He continued to allow Himself to be ridiculed and mocked. He continued to allow His life to ebb away, so that the very ones who were hurling abuse at Him might one day believe in Him and find forgiveness for their sins and a restored relationship with the Father. Yes, Jesus had the full capacity and power to come down off that cross, because He really was the King of the Jews and He really was the Son of God. He was divine, and yet He suffered and died. Why? What would possess Jesus to go through what He did? Why would He allow His own creation to mock and murder Him? I think the answer is found in the words of a song that I haven't heard in quite some time. It expresses the reality of what held Jesus to that cross that day, and caused Him to give His life for you and for me. Read them slowly and think about them. Consider the significance of what they say. And then express your gratitude to Jesus for what He has done.

He could've called ten thousand angels To deliver Him that day. But He hung there in all His anguish To prepare for me a way.

It wasn't nails that held Him to the tree Nor the angry crowd that cried crucify For when Jesus died upon Calvary It was love that held Him there.

Oh what love beyond all measure That He gave His life for me And I'm so glad that one day in glory His Blessed Face I'll see.

It wasn't nails that held Him to the tree Nor the angry crowd that cried crucify For when Jesus died upon Calvary It was love that held Him there.

Every day I'll tell the story Of His precious love for me How He bled and died on Calvary There to prove His love for me.

Jesus, You literally could have called ten thousand angels. You could have stopped the whole affair and decided that enough was enough. You could have turned Your full divine power against those who were crucifying You, and You would have been completely justified in Your actions. But instead, You remained faithful to Your Father's plan, and You willingly sacrificed Your life for ours. It wasn't nails that held you there. It wasn't Roman guards who kept you on the cross. It wasn't man-made laws or trumped-up charges that caused Your death. It was love. You died because You loved us. You died because Your Father loved us. It was love that held You there and I am forever grateful. Amen.

Don't Weep For Me.

Matthew 27:31-34; Mark 15:20-23; Luke 23:26-33; John 19:16-17

A large crowd followed behind, including many grief-stricken women. But Jesus turned and said to them, "Daughters of Jerusalem, don't weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. For the days are coming..." – Luke 23:27-29 NLT

Luke is the only one of the gospel writers who includes this exchange between Jesus and the women who were following along as He bore His cross to the place of execution. As they walked along, they wept. They were shocked by the sequence of events that had unfolded over the last 24 hours. Here was their Messiah, beaten and bloody, the skin on His back flayed away down to the bones, being forced to carry a Roman cross on which He would be crucified. Their minds were filled with confusion. Their hearts were filled with sorrow. But Jesus, in the midst of all His pain and suffering, turns to them and tells them not to weep on His behalf. He warns them that their sorrow must be for all those who, in the future, end up rejecting Him. Because a day is coming when they will be judged for their refusal of the Messiah. Their rejection of their Savior will come back to haunt them. Jesus' statement is very similar to His warning recorded by Matthew in his gospel account. At that time, Jesus had told His listeners that "the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come." (Matthew 24:14 NLT). He went on to warn them, "The day is coming when you will see what Daniel the prophet spoke about—the sacrilegious object that causes desecration standing in the Holy Place.” (Reader, pay attention!) Then those in Judea must flee to the hills. A person out on the deck of a roof must not go down into the house to pack. A person out in the field must not return even to get a coat. How terrible it will be for pregnant women and for nursing mothers in those days. And pray that your flight will not be in winter or on the Sabbath. For there will be greater anguish than at any time since the world began. And it will never be so great again" (Matthew 24:15-21 NLT). Jesus had been talking about the great period of tribulation that is to come at the end of time. This literal seven-year period will take place immediately after the rapture of the Church. It is a time in which the Antichrist rises to power and in which he persecutes the Jewish people as they have never been persecuted before.

I believe Jesus is referring to this very period of time when He warns the women not to weep for Him, but to weep for themselves and their children. He tells them that days are coming when it will be best not to have children. In fact, it will be best to have never had a child. That's how bad things are going to be. Jesus tells them, "For if these things are done when the tree is green, what will happen when it is dry?" (Luke 23:31 NLT). He seems to be referring to what will be Israel's continuing spiritual withering and death. Jesus, the Son of God, was being put to death at a time when Israel was supposed to be worshiping God and keeping His commandments. They were still morally young and spiritually somewhat alive. But the day is coming when they will be withered and dry like the tree Jesus cursed along the side of the road because it lacked fruit. The fruitlessness and spiritual apathy of the people of Israel will one day reach a point where they will be punished by God. The great tribulation will be a difficult time for the people of Israel. But even in those days, God will not abandon them. Thousands will come to faith in Christ. God will miraculously defend them from their enemies and deliver them from the assaults of the Antichrist. And He will send His son once again, as a conquering King, who will set up His kingdom on earth in the city of Jerusalem.

As the women weeped for Jesus, they say this as the end. But Jesus wanted them to know that there was much more to come. In just a few short years, the city of Jerusalem and the Temple would both be destroyed by the Romans. Their whole sacrificial system would be done away with. But there would be even more to come. Jesus' death was far from the end of the story. In a way, it was just the beginning. If tears were to be shed, they needed to be shed for all those who refuse to accept Jesus as their Savior. Judgment is inevitable. Rejection of the Messiah has serious consequences. What the Romans and the Jewish religious leaders were doing to Jesus was horrific and worthy of God's judgment, but all those who reject the gift of His Son will also be worthy of His wrath and condemnation. It is for them that we should weep. It is to them we need to take the story of God's great plan of redemption and reconciliation, made available through the sacrificial death of His Son.

Father, as horrible as the story of Your Son's death is, how much more horrific is the reality that millions of people stand ready to fall under Your righteous judgment because they reject the reality of His death as payment for their sins. They snub Your gift and refuse to accept Your grace. Jesus died, but He rose again. He is alive and well, sitting at Your side and will one day return. But all those who have lived since He died and who have rejected Him will one day be judged by Him. And all those who refuse to accept His death as payment for their sins, will one day have to pay for their sins with their own lives. Give me an increasing burden and heart for those who have yet to hear and those who continue to refuse to listen. Show me how to weep for them as Your Son did for Jerusalem. Amen.

Mocking Their Maker.

Matthew 27:27-30; Mark 15:16-19

Then they saluted and taunted him, "Hail King of the Jews!" – Mark 15:18 NLT

Can it get any worse? Will the suffering ever stop? Will the ridicule ever cease? How much more will the Son of God have to endure at the hands of those whom He created? Wouldn't the torture of the cross be enough?

I can't help but ask these questions as I read through the ongoing account of Jesus treatment at the hands of the Roman guards. These pagan, war-hardened soldiers had no reason to show Jesus any respect. To them He was simply another in a long line of unfortunate souls whose lives would end hanging on a Roman cross. Jesus was just another Jew who had somehow gotten Himself in trouble with the Roman authorities and now it was up to them to see that he paid the ultimate price. But before Jesus died, these callous men were going to make sure that Jesus suffered humiliation and shame. He would prove to be a convenient outlet for their anger and hostility toward the Jews. And so they dressed Him in a purple robe and stuck a crown of thorns on His head. Then the entire regiment kneeled before Him in mock worship, calling out, "Hail! King of the Jews!" They struck him on the head with a reed stick, driving the thorns deeper into His flesh. They heaped sarcasm on Him, wondering how anyone could have ever mistaken this bloody, beaten Galilean as a king. But in time, even they ran out of steam. The fun was over and they took off the purple robe and replaced it with Jesus' own clothes.

Don't let the significance of this event escape you. This was the Son of God, the creator of the universe, being mocked, slapped, beaten, and humiliated by His own creation. At any moment He could have taken matters into His own hands and dealt with them just as they deserved. He could have called down angels from heaven and complete wiped out the entire regiment in a matter of seconds. But instead, He stood silent and willingly took all that they had to offer. He never complained. He never begged for mercy. He never asked His Father to bring it all to an end. Because He knew this was part of the plan. What these men did simply revealed the sinful state of mankind. The very fact that the Jewish religious leaders were demanding His death gives us a glimpse of just how bad things had become. The world was in desperate need of a Savior. Even the people of God were in need of help from the very one whom they claimed to worship and adore. God was sending His Son to die for the sins of men – the very kinds of sins that were bringing about Jesus pain and suffering. God the Father watched as His own Son bore the shame and humiliation that was meant for those slapping His face and mocking His holiness. Little did they know that they were slapping the face of God. They were ridiculing their Maker. They were shaming their Savior. Their very actions not only condemn them, but reveal their need for Him. It was for their callous, hardened hearts that Jesus came. He was going to die so that they might have access to new hearts and new spirits. His death would pave the way for men to have renewed natures – something that up until that time was impossible for men to ever achieve.

I can't help but fast-forward and think of the change in some of the Roman guards when Jesus died. Matthew tells us, "The Roman officer and the other soldiers at the crucifixion were terrified by the earthquake and all that had happened. They said, ‘This man truly was the Son of God!’" (Matthew 27:54 NLT). Oh, how time can change things. They had watched the entire chain of events unfold and their perspective of Jesus would change radically. Even these tough, sinful Roman guards would be impacted by the death of Jesus. We're not told what happened to them, but we can venture to say that their lives would never be the same because of what they witnessed that day. Jesus' death was meant to be life-changing and earth-shattering. The world would never be the same once this day had passed. Yes, men would still be evil and sin-prone. Hatred would still fill the earth. They would still reject God and refuse the offer of His Son. But with the death and resurrection of Jesus, there was now a way to be made right with God and receive a radically new nature that was Spirit-empowered, not sin-prone.

Thank You, Father, for sending Your Son. Thank You, Jesus, for enduring all that You did so that I might have a completely new nature. You did for me what I could have never done for myself. You accomplished what no man who has ever lived could have done. You satisfied the righteous wrath of a holy God and paved the way for us to be restored with Him because of what You have done – in spite of all that we have done. Amen.

King of the Jews.

John 18:39-19:16

Then Pilate had Jesus flogged with a lead-tipped whip. The soldiers wove a crown of thorns and put it on his head, and they put a purple robe on him. “Hail! King of the Jews!” they mocked, as they slapped him across the face. – John 19:1-3 NLT

The entire scene of Jesus' trial before Pilate has a surreal, almost fictional quality to it. It is hard to imagine that all of it actually took place. Even though the events surrounding His trial are very familiar, I still find it difficult to grasp that the Son of God subjected Himself to that kind of abuse all for my sake. The very idea of the most powerful being in the universe, appearing in human form, and allowing those He had created to mock, reject and ultimately kill Him is a shock to the system. The whole story has a mythical feel about it. But we believe it to be true. We don't see it as a story at all, but as actual historical fact. Every aspect of it took place. As preposterous as it all may sound and unbelievable as it may seem to be, the Son of God DID subject Himself to the abuse and rejection of men. And throughout the proceedings, as Pilate, the soldiers, the Jewish religious leaders, and the people, mocked Jesus, calling Him "King of the Jews," they were actually speaking truth. He really WAS the King of the Jews. The religious leaders demanded His death claiming, "By our law he ought to die because he called himself the Son of God" (John 19:7 NLT). And He really WAS the Son of God. But they refused to acknowledge it and were seemingly incapable of recognizing it. To them, He was nothing more than a blasphemer and a lunatic.

All throughout John's account, the term "King of the Jews" is repeated. Pilate refers to Jesus as "this King of the Jews" hoping to get the people to see how ridiculous the whole affair was. Jesus had already been beaten. He would have looked disheveled and anything but royal in His appearance. So Pilate seems to be attempting to get the people to understand that the only thing for which Jesus was guilty was delusion. He thought Himself to be a king. The soldiers mocked Jesus, crushing a crown of thorns on His head and wrapping a purple robe about His shoulders, shouting, "Hail! King of the Jews!" The people remind Pilate "anyone who declares himself a king is a rebel against Caesar" (John 19:12 NLT). Finally, Pilate presented Jesus to the people saying, "Look, here is your king!." but one of the leading priests shouted back, "We have no king but Caesar!" The entire episode revolved around Jesus' Kingship. Here was the King of the Jews, the King of kings and Lord of lords, standing right in front of them, and their only response was, "Away with him! Crucify him!" They were refusing Jesus as their King. They were rejecting Jesus as their Lord. And in so doing, they were going to miss the opportunity to have Jesus as their Savior.

The most fascinating exchange of the entire scene is the one between Jesus and Pilate. Here was the Roman governor, backed by the power of the Roman government, seemingly holding the fate of the Son of God in his hands. Pilate told Jesus, "Don't you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?" Pilate was frustrated by the whole ordeal. He was trying to help Jesus gain His freedom, but Jesus seemed to be uncooperative. In Pilate's mind, he was the deciding factor in this trial. He had the full power and backing of Rome to do with Jesus as he wished. But Jesus informed him otherwise. "You would have no power over me at all unless it were give to you from above" (John 19:11 NLT). Pilate's authority was God-ordained. Even Rome's power and global dominance was under the control of God Himself. And Pilate's authority over Jesus' life or death was completely in the hands of God. He could do nothing to Jesus that God had not ordained or would allow. The King was in complete control. The sovereign ruler of the universe was orchestrating events just as He had planned them. Pilate was a bit player in God's grand redemptive play. The religious leaders were chess pieces in the hand of God, accomplishing His will, all the while they were gloating over their seeming victory over Jesus.

Jesus may not have looked like a king. He may not have acted like a king. He did not have all the trappings and royal attributes of a king. But He was King nonetheless. And He was willingly subjecting Himself to His Father's plan. He was obediently fulfilling His Father's will – all so that the very people who were demanding His death, might have access to eternal life. He was going to die so that they might be able to receive forgiveness, even for having put Him to death. The King was going to give His life for His own people. He would sacrifice His life for theirs. So when Pilate presented Jesus before the people, covered in blood, draped in a purple robe and wearing a crown of thorns, he shouted, "Look, here is your king!" And no truer words were ever spoken.

The creation killing its creator. It all sounds so ludicrous, so unbelievable. It comes across like a science fiction novel. But it is true. It actually happened. As hard to believe as it may be, it actually took place, just as John recorded it. Father, never let the reality of that day escape me. Don't let me lose the absolute awe of what took place. Your Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords, subjected Himself to the ridicule and rejection of those He came to save. He willingly died so that we might live. Unbelievable. Amen.

And Their Voices Prevailed.

Luke 23:13-25

But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded.  – Luke 23:23 NLT

The envy of the religious leaders turned the crowd into an angry mob. Their hatred of Jesus had whipped the people into a frenzy, causing them to demand the death of Jesus. All this in spite of three separate pleas from Pilate asking them to reconsider. He told them, "You brought this man to me, accusing him of leading a revolt. I have examined him thoroughly on this point in your presence and find him innocent" (Luke 23:14 NLT). Pilate could find nothing about Jesus that was worthy of death, so he offered to release him. But they demanded his death. Pilate even argued with them because he knew that Jesus was innocent of all charges. But they kept shouting, "Crucify him! Crucify him!" Finally, out of desperation, Pilate asked, "Why? What crime has he committed? I have found no reason to sentence him to death" (Luke 23:22 NLT). But once again, their angry shouts drowned him out. Their voices prevailed.

The vocal minority won the day. You have to remember that it was still very early in the morning when all of this took place. The crowd that had gathered for this spectacle was more than likely hand-picked by the religious leaders. They would have gathered their friends, associates, and family members in order to present a show of force to Pilate. They would have wanted it to appear as if all Jerusalem was in an uproar over this dangerous radical. But the truth is, most people would have been asleep or going about their morning affairs as all this was taking place. But the crowd that was there prevailed. They got their way. Ultimately, Pilate gave in to their demands, washed his hands of the whole affair, and turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.

The amazing and sad part of this story is that there was no one there who spoke up for Jesus. When you think of all the people whose lives He had touched, not a single one was there to support Him or to testify on His behalf. That's why I believe the crowd was prearranged. I have to believe that if some of those whom Jesus had healed had known that He was there, they would have shown up to defend Him. But during each one of His trials, not a single solitary soul showed up to speak up for Him. Not even His own disciples. Isaiah prophesied about this very day. "He was despised and rejected – a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. We turned our backs on him and looked the other way. He was despised, and we did not care" (Isaiah 53:3 NLT). Jesus was alone. The shouts of the crowd rang in His ears. "Crucify Him!" He looked around at those screaming for His death. He saw no one He knew. There wasn't a friendly face to be found. But the faces He saw reflected the true feelings of the majority of those He came to save. They hated Him. Even though most of them did not even know Him. They knew nothing about Him. All they knew they had been told by the religious leaders. Their knowledge of Jesus was based on false accusations and faulty information. They were demanding the death of the Son of God and they didn't even know it. Today, countless millions reject the Son of God, based on false accusations and faulty information. They turn their backs on their only hope because they have received bad information. They've listened to the crowd. They've bought the lies of the so-called "experts." Which is why we need to speak up. Our voices need to shout the truth. We need to proclaim the reality of who Jesus is and what He has accomplished for mankind on the cross. We need to boldly drown out the those demanding His death with shouts of "Worship Him! Worship Him!" We need to beg people to place their faith in Him. Paul reminds us that the Church is the pillar and foundation of the truth. We exist to proclaim the truth regarding the life-transforming power of His death and resurrection. Our lives need to be living, breathing testimonies of what faith in Christ is all about. As we talk and share about Jesus and what He has done and is doing in our lives. may our voices prevail. May our shouts of joy, thanksgiving, praise, and witness to His saving power drown out all those who would wish to render Jesus dead or irrelevant.

May our voices prevail. Give us the boldness to proclaim the message of the Good News of Jesus Christ to the world. May what we say and how we live give daily witness to the reality of Jesus' life transforming power in our lives. We have remained far too silent for far too long. We have a message to tell to the nations. Give us the courage to shout what we know about Jesus from the rooftops, so that our voices truly do prevail. Amen.

Crucify Him!

Matthew 27:15-27; Mark 15:6-15

Pilate responded, "Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" They shouted back, "Crucify him!"  – Matthew 27:22 NLT

Envy is a powerful force. It can cause normally rational and reasonable people to do things they would never dream of doing. It can drive the heart to enter previously unknown territory. And it's fascinating that both Matthew and Mark make it quite clear that the motivation behind the blind rage of the Jewish religious leaders against Jesus was envy – pure and simple. Matthew records, "He [Pilate] knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy" (Matthew 27:18 NLT). Mark confirms it with very similar words. "For he [Pilate] realized by now that the leading priests had arrested Jesus out of envy" (Mark 15:10 NLT). Even Pilate, the Roman governor, saw through the charade of a trial to which they were subjecting Jesus. He would later attempt to absolve himself of any responsibility for Jesus' death, because he found no reason for which to execute Him. "I am innocent of this man's blood. The responsibility is yours!" (Matthew 27:24 NLT).

Envy sounds like such an innocent and harmless term. We think of envying our neighbor's new car or our coworker's promotion. We know it's probably wrong to envy, but we justify that it isn't really doing anybody any real harm. But envy is a heart disease. It is a symptom of a much greater malady taking place within us. These pious, religious-looking men in their flowing robes, who stood before Pilate that day, gave off the appearance of righteousness and super-spirituality, but they were filled with a cancer that, while unseen to the eye, revealed itself through a variety of hideous symptoms. It reminds me of Paul's description of those who had rejected God, only to be turned over to their own sinful passions. "Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done. Their lives became full of every kind of wickedness, sin, greed, hate, envy, murder, quarreling, deception, malicious behavior, and gossip. They are backstabbers, haters of God, insolent, proud, and boastful. They invent new ways of sinning, and they disobey their parents" (Romans 1:28-30 NLT). In this passage, Paul is actually describing those who have become so depraved that they have twisted God's original intent for human sexual relationships "and the men, instead of having normal sexual relations with women, burned with lust for each other" (Romans 1:27 NLT). But notice that right in the middle of Paul's long list of outward signs of these peoples' inward sickness, he lists envy. These people were marked by a variety of serious issues, envy being just one of them. And the same was true of the men who stood before Pilate accusing Jesus of fabricated crimes just so they could eliminate Him as a rival. They were jealous of Jesus. They were envious of His popularity. But these men were more than just envious. They too were wicked, deceptive, malicious, backstabbers, proud, boastful, and ultimately, haters of God. The very fact that they were willing to kill the Son of God showed just how much they truly hated God. They were rejecting the very one whom God had sent to save them from the very sins that drove their actions.

Their envy of Jesus caused them to whip the crowd into a frenzy and turn them against Jesus. Remember, these were many of the very same people who had shouted, "Hosanna!" when Jesus rode into Jerusalem the previous Sunday. The leading priests and elders worked their way through the crowd, spreading their cancer of hate and causing the people demand the death of Jesus. When Pilate, shocked by their demand that he crucify Jesus, asked for an explanation, the "mob roared even louder, "Crucify him!" (Matthew 27:23 NLT). Their envy had spread, infecting the crowd and causing them to turn against Jesus, condemning an innocent man to death. Not only were they willing to demand Jesus' death, they were willing to take full responsibility. "And the people yelled back, ‘We will take responsibility for his death – we and our children’” (Matthew 27:25 NLT). The envy of the religious leaders had blinded the people to the reality of what they were doing. After Jesus' resurrection and ascension, Peter would preach to the crowds at Pentecost, saying, "With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him" (Acts 2:23 NLT). He went on to tell them, "So let everyone in Israel know for certain that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, to be both Lord and Messiah!" (Acts 2:36 NLT). Luke tells us that the words of Peter "pierced their hearts" and they demanded to know what they should do. There was still hope for them. And more than 3,000 people came to know Christ that day. Their actions were forgivable. Their part in the crucifixion of Jesus was not unpardonable. But the religious leaders would continue to reject Jesus as the Messiah, because their envy was really a symptom of a much greater problem. Even with the evidence of His resurrection and the power revealed through the transformed disciples, these men continued to reject the plan of God. Their pride, arrogance, self-righteousness and self-centeredness would prevent them from seeing the one who could heal them of the disease of sin from which they suffered and for which they would eventually die. Envy was just a symptom of a much-greater need for which Jesus was the solution.

Father, there are so many symptoms that show up in our lives that appear so innocent and harmless, but they are just the tip of the iceberg. There is something far beneath the surface that is driving our behavior and motivating our actions. Give us spiritual eyes to see what is truly taking place within us. Use Your Word like an X-ray machine to look deep inside us and reveal the true nature of our problem. Don't allow us to justify our actions and diminish our problem. Ultimately, all sin is against You, and Your Son is the only solution. Amen.

Curious, But Uncommitted.

Luke 23:6-12

Herod was delighted at the opportunity to see Jesus, because he had heard about him and had been hoping for a long time to see him perform a miracle. – Luke 23:8 NLT

Pilate, having found nothing about Jesus worthy of putting him to death, decided to buy himself time by sending Jesus to Herod, who was the Roman-appointed ruler over over Galilee. Herod happened to be in Jerusalem that week and was excited to have the opportunity to meet Jesus face to face. He had heard much about Him, and Luke comments that he was anxious to see Jesus perform one of the miracles He was so famous for. But Herod was an evil man with a wicked reputation. It was he who had had John the Baptist beheaded, because John had spoken boldly and bluntly about Herod's immoral relationship with his wife, who he had stolen from his own brother. Herod was a power-hungry individual who had inherited title and power from his father, Herod the Great, the one who attempted to eliminate Jesus after his birth by ordering the murder of all male infants two and under. Herod Antipas was on friendly terms with the Romans because they held the key to his power and influence.

But his only interest in Jesus was superficial. He was curious. He had heard much about Jesus and would have loved to have seen Him perform some kind of miracle or sign, kind of a parlor trick, right in front of him. But Jesus remained silent the entire time He was before Herod. He refused to answer his questions or enter into a dialogue with him. Jesus knew who he was and what he had done to John the Baptist. Herod was unrepentant and unchanged. Herod bombarded Jesus with question after question, while the religious leaders shouted accusations against Him. In time, Herod ran out of patience and his questions because taunts and ridicule. He and his soldiers began to mock Jesus. Then they put a royal robe on Him and sent Him back to Pilate. Even that simple act of scorn was a subtle reminder that Jesus was exactly who He said He was. He was the King of the Jews. He was the Messiah. This Roman-appointed ruler had placed a royal robe on Jesus, unknowingly validating Jesus' claims.

But Herod's curiosity did little to change his view of Jesus, and it did nothing to change his own spiritual condition. He had greeted Jesus with interest and the hopes of witnessing a miracle, but when his desires went unmet, he treated Jesus with scorn and rejected Him. And so it is with many today. There are those who are curious about Jesus and who would love to see if He could do for them what He has done for others. They come to Him driven by curiosity and interested to see if He can make their life better, remove some pain they are experiencing, or simply alleviate the boredom they are experiencing from life. But when Jesus doesn't perform as requested or answer all their questions, they simply reject Him. They do not want from Jesus what He came to offer, but prefer to demand from Jesus what they think they need. When He fails to deliver, they simply cast Him aside as unneeded and unnecessary. I am sure that Herod had no need of Jesus. He was rich, powerful, influential and used to getting his way. He was immune to ridicule and capable of eliminating any and all opposition. Jesus was a blip on the radar screen of his life, who held little or no interest for him, other than as an object of curiosity. His only reaction to the Son of God standing in his presence had been ridicule and scorn. He had missed a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Father, how many continue to reject Your Son today. They come curious about all that they've heard, but they are unwilling to listen to what Jesus has to say about their lives. They only want from Jesus what they get to decide. But Jesus isn't a personal Genie in a bottle. He isn't a personal life coach intent on assisting us with our self-imposed, self-improvement plans. He came to deliver us from our sin and release us from God's righteous condemnation of death. May my life be witness to those around me, that what Jesus came to provide is so much better than any miracle they may want to see Jesus perform. He came to transform us, not entertain us. He came to restore our relationship with God, not fulfill our curiosity. Let my life be an ongoing witness to that fact. Amen.

The Truth On Trial.

Matthew 27:2-14; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:1-7; John 18:28-38

Jesus answered, "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me." – John 18:37 NIV

Jesus had been brought before Pilate, the Roman governor of Judea. Now the Jewish religious leaders would have to convince Pilate that Jesus was a threat to his government and worthy of death. I find it fascinating that these men were more than willing to use the Roman governor to carry out their plan to put Jesus to death, but refused to set foot in his house because of fear that it would defile them. What a clear contrast between their religion and what Jesus came to offer. He had spent His time with tax collectors and sinners. He had ministered to Roman centurions and Samaritans. He would have had no problem walking into Pilate's home, because Pilate was just the sort of person Jesus came to save. But on this occasion, the high council of the Jews stood outside Pilate's headquarters shouting accusations against Jesus. The charge of blasphemy, while more than enough cause for death as far as the Jews were concerned, would have meant nothing to Pilate. So they accused Jesus of a litany of trumped up charges, including telling the people not to pay their taxes to Rome. But Jesus would not respond to any of these false accusations. The only time He spoke was in reference to the truth regarding Him being the King of the Jews. Jesus explained, "My kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my kingdom is not of this world" (John 18:36 NLT). The truth was, Jesus was a King. He was the King of kings and the Lord of lords. But His kingdom was of a completely different class and kind than that to which Pilate was familiar. Jesus had a throne, but it awaited Him in heaven. His kingdom was much greater and grander than anything the Romans or Caesar himself could ever imagine. For the time being, Satan would remain king of the world. He would maintain his authority and rule over the lives of men for a little while longer, but even that was going to change.

Jesus was not just a king, He was THE King. And it was for that reason He was born and why He came into the world. He was born to be King and He would die because He was King. But few, including Pilate, would recognize the truth of His claim. In fact, Pilate asked Jesus the age-old question, "What is truth?" (John 18:38 NLT). Which is ironic, because the one who referred to Himself as the way, the truth and the life was standing right in front of him. But Pilate didn't acknowledge the truth of who Jesus was, even though he referred to Jesus as, "this King of the Jews" when asking the Jews what they wanted him to do with Him. He found Jesus guilty of nothing more than claiming to be the King of the Jews, and it would be for this reason that Jesus would ultimately die. No other charge was ever proven against Him except that one. He acknowledged no other accusation against Himself, except that one. The truth was that Jesus was the King of the Jews. The truth was that Jesus was going to sacrifice His life for that of His own people. He was the King who would give up His life for the citizens of His own Kingdom.

Father, the more I study the last days of Your Son's life on this planet, the more I am blown away by the sheer magnitude of what He did for me. All of the events surrounding His final days are packed with meaning and overflowing with significance. Here was the King of kings standing before a lowly Roman governor, placing Himself at the mercy of a mere man and allowing him to decide His fate. Here was the King of the Jews allowing the so-called religious leaders of the Jewish people to falsely accuse Him and demand His execution. Here was the creator of the world allowing His own creation to treat Him like a common criminal. All so that the truth could be made known. His death was part of the truth. His selfless sacrifice was part of the truth. His substitutionary death was part of the truth. His resurrection would be part of the truth. And His eventual return will fulfill all truth. He was exactly who He claimed to be. Amen.

The Next Morning.

Matthew 27:1; Mark 15:1; Luke 22:66-71

Very early in the morning the leading priests, the elders, and the teachers of religious law – the entire high council – met to discuss their next step. They bound Jesus, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman Governor. – Mark 15:1 NLT

As the new day broke, Jesus was brought before the high council of the Jews one more time. This august assemblage of Hebrew religious leaders looked on Jesus with contempt and disgust. To them, He was anything but the Messiah. He was a trouble-making nobody from Nazareth who had somehow managed to garner Himself a following among the poorer and less intelligent common people. He may have been the poor man's Messiah, but He was not theirs. So they asked Him one more time, just to make sure, "Tell us, are you the Messiah?" (Luke 22:67 NLT). They wanted to hear Him say it one more time. Perhaps He had time to think about it during the night and was willing to recant His statement from the night before. But Jesus boldly and defiantly responds, repeating what He had said just hours earlier: "If I tell you, you won't believe me. And if I ask you a question, you won't answer. But from now on the Son of Man will be seated in the place of power at God's right hand" (Luke 22:68-69 NLT).

If Jesus was trying to get a reaction from them, He succeeded, because they all shouted, "So, are you claiming to be the Son of God?" (Luke 22:70 NLT). They wanted to hear Him say it one more time, because His claim to be the Son of God was the one thing for which they could accuse Him. It would be His only crime. And Jesus confirmed it when He said, "You have said it" (Luke 22:70 NLT). That was all they needed. From there the entire high council led Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor. With their robes flowing and their heads held high, they led the Son of God, their very own Messiah toward His ultimate execution. They had to take Him to Pilate because under Roman rule, the Jews were not allowed to put anyone to death. For Jesus to be killed, they were going to have to convince the Romans that Jesus was a threat to the peace and security of the nation. As the Roman governor of Judea, Pilate would have a special interest in anything or anyone who might be stirring up trouble, dissent, or possible insurrection among the Jews. The last thing He wanted was trouble among the Jews. His was an appointed position and he could lose it if it appeared that he was losing control of those under his jurisdiction.

So off they marched, the Jewish religious leaders leading the way, and Jesus, beaten and bloodied, following in their path. It was the beginning of the end. But things were far from over. This was all part of God's divine plan. At no moment was He out of control or wondering what was happening. He and His Son were fully in charge of the proceedings that morning, in spite of what the religious leaders may have thought. Isaiah had predicted, "But it was the Lord's good plan to crush him and cause him grief. Yet when his life is made an offering for sin, he will have many descendants. He will enjoy long life, and the Lord's good plan will prosper in his hands" (Isaiah 53:11 NLT). Jesus was walking not just to His death, but toward His destiny. With each step He took, He drew closer to the very purpose for which He came. He was born to die. He lived so that He might give His life away. Jesus had always known that this was the reason for His incarnation. He had made it clear on numerous occasions. "For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve others and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28 NLT). The time was drawing closer. The days of His earthly ministry were coming to a close. The redemptive plan of God the Father was about to be unveiled.

Father, it is difficult to understand just why it had to happen this way. Everything in us makes us want to think it could have been done differently. But You knew there was no other way. You knew that the penalty of sin required a high price and a perfect sacrifice. Nothing and no one could satisfy Your just and righteous demands, except the death of Your own sinless Son. While I can't fully understand it, I do appreciate it. I am grateful that You did for me what I could never have done for myself. Amen.

In Front of Witnesses.

John 18:15-18, 25-27

Simon Peter followed Jesus, as did another of the disciple. That other disciple was acquainted with the high priest, so he was allowed to enter the high priest's courtyard with Jesus. Peter had to stay outside the gate. Then the disciple who knew the high priest spoke to the woman watching at the gate, and she let Peter in. – John 18:15-16 NLT

John's account of what happened that fateful night when Jesus was arrested and Peter denied Him sheds a whole new light on things. In his usual style, John refers to himself in the third person, saying, "as did the other disciple" and "then the disciple who knew the high priest." Previously unnoticed by most of us, John was at the scene of Peter's worst moment and witnessed it all. If you're like me, you probably pictured Peter as having been alone that night. And if you only read thethree synoptic gospels, you would never have realized that John accompanied Peter and even made it possible for him to gain entry into the inner courtyard of the high priest's house. Somehow John was acquainted with the high priest and was recognized by the woman who was manning the gate, so he was afforded immediate access into the courtyard. Peter, unknown to the woman, was denied entry. But a word from John made it possible for Peter to join him inside the courtyard. And it was there that Peter's already devastating night turned into a personal nightmare. His denial of Jesus did not take place in anonymity, but was witnessed by one of his closest friends and fellow disciples. John seems to be gracious in his account, somewhat softening the force of Peter's three denials. And yet, it was probably he who informed Matthew, Mark and Luke just what was said that night. Or perhaps, some time after Pentecost, Peter himself was the one who shared the exact words he used that night.

But it is painful to think just how embarrassing and humiliating Peter's actions must have been to him, having been witnessed by his friend John. But John makes to statement or levels no indictment against Peter. He draws no conclusions or reaches no verdict. He simply states what happened in a somewhat matter-of-fact manner. "Again Peter denied it. And immediately the rooster crowed" (John 18:27 NLT). But the weight of what Peter had done drove him to run from the courtyard weeping bitterly. He had denied His Lord and Savior. He had done exactly what Jesus had predicted he would do. And he had done it right in front of one of his own friends. It is one thing to fail alone. It is another thing to fail in front of witnesses. It is quite another thing to fail in front of those you know and whose opinion of you matters. And failure had to have been one of the feelings Peter encountered that evening. He had failed to live up to his own hype. He was the disciple who had sworn that he would die for Jesus before He ever denied Him. Strong words. Weak resolve.

While we are not told what happened next in the courtyard, we can assume that John stayed right where he was as Peter ran away. And John seems to have stayed by the Lord's side all the way to the cross. He will be the only one mentioned as having been at the cross the day Jesus died. Everyone else, including Peter, had run away. There is not a lot to conclude from all this. There is no real moral lesson at this point. Jesus is under arrest. He has been beaten about the head and face, spit upon and ridiculed. Peter has denied him. John has had to witness it all and must have felt incredibly alone and despondent as he watched his friend slink away in shame and His Master be led away in chains. It was not a good night. And the next day would not get any better. But for those of us who know how the story ends, we know there is a light shining in the darkness. There is hope right around the corner. Peter's shame will turned to rejoicing. John, all alone for the moment, will once again find himself surrounded by friends and fellow believers. This dark moment was necessary. Peter's denial had to happen, but he would one day proclaim unashamedly and boldly, "God raised Jesus from the dead, and we are all witnesses of this. Now he is exalted at the place of highest honor in heaven, at God's right hand" (Acts 2:32-33 NLT). And John would be there to witness his transformation from a denier into a proclaimer.

Father, the story of Peter is the story of us all. We are all capable of denying Your Son at any given moment. We are all guilty of having denied Your Son on numerous occasions over our lifetimes. But You are the God who transforms deniers into proclaimers. You are always using our weakest moments to remind us of our need for You. You even use those who witness our failures to encourage us to remain faithful. You are still writing the next chapter of each of our lives. Because You are faithful, loving and gracious. You were not done with Peter and You are not done with me. Amen.

A Look From the Lord.

Matthew 26:58, 69-75; Mark 14:54, 66-72; Luke 22:54-62

At that moment the Lord turned and looked at Peter. Suddenly, the Lord's words flushed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will deny three times that you even know me.” – Luke 22:61 NLT

When I first ran across the verse above, it hit me like a brick to the forehead. While it was hard enough to imagine what Peter must have felt like after having denied Jesus three times in a row, I could not fathom what went through his mind after having just done so and them making eye contact with Jesus Himself. This all took place in the courtyard of the high priest's home. It was late in the evening, and the Temple guards had lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard. It seems that Peter was the only disciple who risked following Jesus after He was arrested. Matthew and Mark tell us that he followed at a distance, and then sat in the courtyard among the guards warming himself by the fire. That's when the trouble began. It may have been dark, but there was enough light from the fire to illuminate Peter's face and, as a result, he was recognized. A servant girl noticed him and shouted out, "This man was one of Jesus' followers" (Luke 22:56 NLT). What Peter didn't seem to realize was that he and the disciples had become celebrities. With Jesus' growing reputation, they also gained a certain degree of notoriety. And this young servant girl had seen Peter with Jesus. But Peter denied it, exclaiming, "Woman, I don't even know him" (Luke 22:57 NLT). Which had to beg the question, then was he there? What was he doing in the high priest' courtyard in the middle of the night? But Peter would go on to deny Jesus two more times. And each time he was confronted, his denials became more intense and strident. He was feeling the heat of the moment. He was scared and all his bluster of a few hours earlier had faded away. While he had at one time swore that he was willing to die for Jesus, on this night he couldn't even bring himself to acknowledge that he knew Him. Then the rooster crowed. And as if that wasn't bad enough, Jesus glanced over and caught the eye of Jesus Himself. What a moment. What a scene.

We know from Matthew and Mark's account, that Jesus was interrogated inside the house. After Jesus acknowledged that He was indeed the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One, Caiaphas ripped his own robe and accused Jesus of blasphemy. The other priests and religious leaders agreed and they condemned Him to death. Then Jesus was blindfolded, spit on, and slapped and punched repeatedly in the face, while they mocked and teased Him, saying, "Prophesy to us, you Messiah! Who hit you that time?" (Matthew 26:68 NLT). And then He was led away. It was at this point that Jesus, beaten, bruised and bloody, would have had His encounter with Peter. While Peter had been warming himself by the fire and denying the truth about himself, Jesus had been suffering abuse for willingly admitting the truth of who He was. That moment when Peter glanced over and saw Jesus' eyes had to have been riveting and heart-sinking for him. They magnitude of what he had just done hit him like a freight train. We aren't told what kind of look Jesus gave Peter. We don't know if He was sad, angry, disappointed, hurt, or shocked. But that split second of eye contact with Jesus had to have been one of the most difficult moments in Peter's life. The reality of all that was happening began to sink in. The truth of all that Jesus had been trying to tell the disciples regarding His coming trials and death became all too clear. "And Peter left the courtyard, weeping bitterly" (Luke 22:65 NLT).

When I think about what Peter may have seen when he locked eyes with Jesus, I tend to believe that Jesus showed love and compassion. His was not a look of disappointment or disgust. He did not try to make Peter feel ashamed or humiliate him with a knowing shake of His head. I truly believe that Jesus, bruised and bloody as He may have been, looked on Peter with love. He was the Good Shepherd. He knew Peter's weaknesses and He had even predicted Peter's denial of Himself. He was not shocked, surprised, or put out. I believe Jesus looked at Peter and smiled in a loving, gracious, forgiving way. He understood. And He knew that God was not done with Peter yet. Too often, when we fail Jesus or even deny Him in some way, we tend to think that He looks on us with anger, resentment, disappointment, and frustration, shaking His head in disgust at our inability to do even the most simple things well. But that view reflects a poor understanding of the character of Jesus. It reveals a misunderstanding of His love, mercy and grace. Jesus had come to die for just such a person as Peter. He had come to deliver Peter from the control of his own sinful flesh. That's why Peter could later write, "For you know that God paid a ransom to save you from the empty life you inherited from your ancestors. And the ransom he paid was not mere gold and silver. It was the precious blood of Christ, the sinless, spotless Lamb of God" (1 Peter 1:18-19 NLT). The look Peter received from Jesus was the same look He shows us when we stumble and fall. It is a look of compassion, understanding, empathy, and love. Jesus came to save sinners. He came to help those who have come to understand that they can't help themselves. Jesus isn't disappointed when we fail to measure up, as much as He is when we fail to look up to Him for help. A look to the Lord can be life changing. It will be difficult. It may even be humbling and humiliating, but it will always be a look of love. He loved you enough to die for you. He loves you enough to forgive and transform you. Look to Jesus. Even when you've denied Him.

Lord, I am so grateful that when You look at me, it is always with love, not disgust. I know I let You down in so many ways, but I also know that Your eyes are always filled with compassion and love for me. You died for me. You love me more than I will ever understand – at least in this lifetime. You suffered on my behalf. You bore my sins. You took my penalty and died the death I deserved. All because You love me. When I stumble and fall, You still love me. You never fall out of love for me. That's hard for me to understand, but help me grasp the truth of it in my daily life. You never stopped loving Peter, even after what he had done. You love him to the end. And You will love me to the end as well. Thank You. Amen.

Guilty As Charged.

Matthew 26:57, 59-68; Mark 14:53, 55-65; Luke 22:54, 63-65; John 18:24

Jesus replied, "I Am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God's right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven.” – Mark 14:62 NLT

When Jesus was finally brought before Caiaphas, the high priest, He found Himself in a room crowded with leading priests, elders and teachers of religious law. Even the high council or Sanhedrin was there. They had pulled out all the big guns for this final showdown with Jesus. There is little doubt that they intended this evening to result in the elimination of Jesus as a threat to their authority and way of life. He had been a thorn in their side for far too long, and now they were going to deal with Him. The only problem was that they needed solid accusations for which to bring this matter before the Roman authorities. They were wanting to have Jesus put to death and they did not have the authority to do so. They were going to have to convince the Roman authorities that Jesus had committed a crime worthy of death. So all these well-educated religious leaders were attempting to find any evidence that they could use against Jesus. But even when they couldn't find any charges worthy of death, they didn't let that stop them. They had arranged for a variety of individuals to come and give witness against Jesus, but they all ended up contradicting one another. These people were more than willing to accuse Jesus, probably for the hope of financial gain. Finally, some men stood up and claimed that they heard Jesus say that He was going to destroy the Temple. "We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this Temple made with human hands, and in three days I will build another, made without human hands’” (Mark 14:58 NLT). These men were actually twisting what Jesus had actually said. What Jesus had actually said was, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up (John 2:19 NLT). Jesus had made this statement early in His ministry. It took place immediately after He had cleansed the Temple for the first time. The Jewish leaders had confronted Him, asking Him what He thought He was doing and who gave Him the authority to do it. Then they asked Him to give them a miraculous sign to prove His authority. That's when Jesus made His statement regarding the destruction and raising of the "temple." They obviously didn't understand that He was talking about His own death and resurrection. They saw Jesus' statement as ridiculous, exclaiming, "What! It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuilt it in three days?" (John 2:20 NLT).

So in the minds of those accusing Jesus, His statement came across as the words of an insurrectionist. He had claimed He was going to destroy the Temple – Herod's Temple. Now they were getting somewhere. This was just the kind of evidence they needed to bring before the Romans. The last thing the Roman authorities would want is someone threatening the peace and security of Jerusalem. But to the obvious disappointment of the religious leaders, even the men who accused Jesus couldn't get their stories straight. So in frustration, the high priest asked Jesus, "Well, aren't you going to answer these charges? What do you have to say for yourself?" (Mark 14:60 NLT). But Jesus said nothing. The charges were false and He remained silent. Then the high priest asked Him point blank, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" (Mark 14:61 NLT). This was the real issue. When all was said and done, this was the main point of contention between Jesus and the religious leaders. He had claimed to be the Messiah. That was the reason the people followed Him. It was for that reason the people welcomed Him with palm branches and shouts of "Hosanna!" when He had arrived in Jerusalem the previous Sunday. He had set Himself up as having been sent by God. Not only that, He had claimed to be the Son of God. Jesus responded to Caiaphas' question by saying, "I Am. And you will see the Son of Man seated in the place of power at God's right hand and coming on the clouds of heaven" (Mark 14:62 NLT). His statement brought an immediate reaction from the crowd because they knew exactly what He was saying. He was claiming to be God. His use of the phrase, "I Am" was intentional. It was the very same way God referred to Himself when He spoke to Moses at the burning bush. Moses had asked God what name He should give when the people ask who it was who sent him. God said to tell them, "I Am who I Am" had sent him. Jesus was clearly associating Himself with God. He was using the same language that God had used in order to refer to Himself. On top of that, Jesus claimed that He was going to be sitting at God's right hand, a place of honor and power, and that He would be returning some day. That was all they needed. Caiaphas tore his clothes in shock. They no longer needed any witnesses. Jesus had committed the unpardonable sin: blasphemy. He had claimed to be God. In reality, it was Jesus' words that were the problem. Blasphemy was based on injurious or disrespectful words or speech. In their minds, by saying what He said, Jesus had diminished the holiness of God. He had treated God with disrespect and dishonored His "otherness" or set-apartness. By claiming to be God, Jesus had become an offense to God – at least in their minds.

Their immediate response was violent. They began to spit on Him. They blindfolded him and beat Him with their fists. They mocked Him, telling Him to use His "divine" powers to tell them who it was who was hitting Him. The one piece of evidence they needed, Jesus gave them. And all He did was speak the truth. He acknowledged who He was. To do anything other than that would have truly been blasphemy. If Jesus had denied His deity, He would have been an offense to God. So He spoke the truth, and it set in motion everything that was about to happen. Jesus was guilty as charged. Not of blasphemy, but of being the Son of God and the Savior of the world. His crime was being God. And His punishment would be death. But it was for just that purpose He had come. God had come to die on behalf of sinful men. He had come to sacrifice His own life for the lives of all those who deserved death. It was because Jesus was spotless, sinless, and blameless that He was condemned to die. His worthiness was what led to His demise. He was guilty of being God, and nothing else. And it is for that reason that He made a perfect sacrifice. He was guilty as charged and we are innocent because of it.

Father, Your sinless Son was put to death because He was holy, righteous, and fully God. He was killed because He was who He said He was. He died because He was the only one who was undeserving of death. He was innocent, and we were guilty, but He is the one who died. All so that we might have life. What an amazing turn of events. What an incredible plan.  Amen

The Crux of the Matter.

John 18:2-14, 19-23

"If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I'm speaking the truth, why are you beating me?” – John 18:23 NLT

Jesus has been arrested. His hands have been tied and He has been dragged before Annas, the father-in-law of the high priest, Caiaphas. Annas had been high priest and was still afforded the respect of that title, even though his son-in-law had replaced him as the official high priest. Upon Jesus arrival, Annas began to question Him, asking about His followers and what He had been teaching them. As usual, this is an attempt on the part of the religious leadership to try to get Jesus to say something for which they could accuse of Him of blasphemy, or better yet, insurrection against the Roman authorities. But Jesus doesn't give them the pleasure of an answer. He simply responds, "Everyone knows that I teach. I have preached regularly in the synagogues and the Temple, where the people gather. I have not spoken in secret. Why are you asking me this question? As those who heard me. They know what I said" (John 18:20-21 NLT). In other words, Jesus makes it clear that nothing He has done has been secretive or clandestine in nature. He has been up-front and honest about everything He has taught. But His response was viewed as disrespectful to one of the Temple guards, who slaps Jesus in the face for His seeming disrespect for the high priest.

Jesus' response, while short and to the point, speaks volumes. He replied, “If I said anything wrong, you must prove it. But if I’m speaking the truth, why are you beating me?” (John 18:23 NLT). This statement is the central issue here. The burden of Jesus' guilt was solely on the religious leaders. They were going to have to prove that what Jesus had been teaching and doing was wrong. It was up to them to testify regarding the invalidity or inaccuracy of Jesus' ministry. But the reality was, there was no justification for the way He was being treated. His arrest was uncalled for. He had done nothing wrong. The only thing for which Jesus was "guilty" was for being exactly who He claimed to be: The Messiah. Jesus was speaking the truth, and had been from the very beginning. But the religious leaders considered Him to be a liar and a blasphemer. They viewed Him as a troublemaker and a threat to their way of life.

It's interesting that when they arrested Jesus in the garden, He asked them who it was they were looking for. Their response was, "Jesus the Nazarene." Their view of Jesus was that He was a virtual nobody who hailed from nowhere significant. He was a Nazarene after all, and nobody had much respect for the place or its inhabitants. All the way back at the start of His ministry, when Jesus had met Phillip for the first time, Phillip had told Nathanael, "We have found the very person Moses and the prophets wrote about! His name is Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth" (John 1:45 NLT). Nathanael's response was typical of the view most Jews had of Jesus' home town: "Nazareth! Can anything good come from Nazareth?" (John 1:46 NLT).

But Jesus was far more than a Nazarene. He was the Son of God and the Savior of the world. He was the long-awaited Messiah. He was the way, the truth, and the life. He was the key to the restoration of mankind's relationship with God the Father. He was sent from God and spoke the truth of God. His miracles had validated His message. His words had been proven true over and over again. But Caiaphas and his cohorts refused to believe in Him. To them He was nothing more than a nuisance from Nazareth, and they were about to do whatever it took to see that He was neutralized. The fact that they would be unable to disprove His words or invalidate His claims was inconsequential to them. He was a threat and He had to be eliminated. But they would never find a single thing to accuse Jesus of, except for being exactly who He had always claimed to be. His only guilt would be for being the Son of God and the Messiah. Jesus would die for speaking the truth and for being the Son of God. His divinity would be His undoing. His very role as Savior would result in His own death. But that is the way God had planned it from the start. It was the way it had to be. Their rejection of Jesus would pave the way for our redemption. But God is not done with Israel. Their rejection of Him, while significant, will not be permanent. Paul makes this clear when he writes, "Did God's people stumble and fall beyond recovery? Of course not! They were disobedient, so God made salvation available to the Gentiles. But he wanted his own people to become jealous and claim it for themselves. Now if the Gentiles were enriched because the people of Israel turned down God's offer of salvation, think how much greater a blessing the world will share then they finally accept it" (Romans 11:11-12 NLT). In spite of their rejection of Jesus, God will restore them one day. He will show them mercy just as He has done for us. What an incredibly gracious God we serve.

Father, it is so easy to paint the Jews as hardheaded and stubborn. But as Paul reminds us, "Many of the people of Israel are now enemies of the Good News, and this benefits you Gentiles. Yet they are still the people he loves…" (Romans 11:28 NLT). Thank You for Your incredible mercy and grace that You shower on Jew and Gentile alike. You are not a respecter of persons. You sent Your Son to die for all men. Your Son's gift of His life is available to any and all. And Your promises are unbreakable, even to the Jews.  Amen.

No Other Way.

Matthew 26:47-56; Mark 14:43-52; Luke 22:47-53

"But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.” – Matthew 26:56 NLT

It had to happen this way. The moment had finally arrived for Jesus to be arrested and turned over the authorities. This would set in motion a chain of events that would usher in His death. To the disciples it was a nightmare come true. It was their worst fears realized. Their Messiah was being arrested and, to make matters worse, it was at the hands of the religious leaders. The men who had come to arrest Jesus were not Roman soldiers, but members of the Temple Guard who answered to Caiaphas, the high priest. They were shocked at what they witnessed happening. They offered to put up a fight. One of them even took a sword and attacked a slave of the high priest, slashing off his ear. We know from John's account, that this was Peter, always the impulsive one. It's interesting that he attacked the one person there who was probably unarmed. Peter didn't go after one of the members of the Temple Guard. But his action reveals how he felt about what was going on. This was not what he or the other disciples were expecting. It was not how they had dreamed this grand adventure with Jesus was going to turn out.

But Jesus viewed the night's events from a different perspective. He told Peter to put away his sword and assured him that He didn't need His help. "Don't you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly?" (Matthew 26:53 NLT). To Peter's shock and dismay, Jesus was revealing that this was NOT a case of helplessness or powerlessness. Jesus was not being caught off guard or left with no other options. No, this entire evening was exactly as it was meant to be. Jesus could have called down the angelic forces to defend Him, but that was NOT part of God's plan. Remember, just a few minutes before in the garden, Jesus had prayed three different times, "Yet I want your will to be done, not mine" (Matthew 26:39 NLT). Every single aspect of this night's events were part of a well-orchestrated plan by God. They had been prophesied by God centuries earlier. The prophet Isaiah wrote, "He was oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word. He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. And as a sheep is silent before his shearers, he did not open his mouth. Unjustly condemned, he was led away" (Isaiah 53:7-8 NLT). Jesus made it clear that if He chose to call down angels and wipe out those who had come to arrest Him, it would prevent the fulfilling of the plan. "But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?" (Matthew 26:54 NLT). Even the timing of His arrest was part of God's plan. They had had every opportunity to arrest Jesus before, but it was meant to happen on this night and in this manner. "But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures" (Matthew 26:56 NLT).

From this moment on, every single aspect of Jesus' arrest, His trials, beatings, crucifixion and death, were all in fulfillment of God's redemptive plan. This was not a last-minute, knee-jerk reaction on God's part. He was not responding out of desperation or attempting to counter the actions of the religious leaders. He was not caught off guard. He was behind every move being made, including the betrayal of Jesus by Judas. What was about to happen in the coming hours was fully under the control of our all-powerful, all-knowing God. He had planned the following sequence of events from before the time when the world was made. Because He knew this would be the only way to redeem mankind to Himself. Once mankind had sinned against Him, there would be no other way to restore them to a right relationship with Himself, unless a high price was paid. His perfectly holy, righteous and sinless Son would have to take on human flesh, live among those He had created and yet who had turned against Him, and then die in their place on a cross. He would take on their sins and the punishment they deserved at the hands of a fully just and righteous Judge, providing them with a way to be reconciled with God. It had to happen this way. As repulsive and repugnant as it all seems to be, it was the one and only solution to man's dilemma. And Peter had tried to stop it. This was not the first time he had tried to stand in the way of God's plan. From the first moment Jesus had begun to tell the disciples that He was going to have to die, Peter had taken Him aside and reprimanded Him. He had told Jesus, "Heaven forbid, Lord. This will never happen to you!" (Matthew 16:22 NLT). And Jesus responded angrily, "Get away from me Satan! You are a dangerous trap to me. You are seeing things merely from a human point of view, not from God's" (Matthew 16:23 NLT). By attempting to prevent what was clearly part of God's plan, Peter was playing into the hands of the enemy. Satan would love nothing better than to prevent Jesus from fulfilling His God-given ministry. But Satan, because he is not all-knowing, had no idea that killing Jesus was part of God's plan. He thought the demise of Jesus would be the end of the story. But even he had become a pawn in the divine plan of God. It had to be this way. It had to happen just as God had ordained it to happen. There was no plan B. And Jesus knew that His arrest was simply the first stage of the plan. There would be more to come. It would get worse before it got better. But it WOULD get better. Because God had a plan.

Father, it is so easy to forget that You ALWAYS have a plan. You are never caught off guard or surprised by anything that happens on this planet. You are in full control and are never in heaven wringing Your hands in worry. Never let me forget that. Give me the ability to see world events through Your eyes and not my own. Don't let me be like Peter and see things from merely a human point of view. Help me see Your perspective.  Amen.

Not My Will.

Matthew 26:30, 36-46; Mark 14:32-42; Luke 22:39-46; John 18:1

He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” – Matthew 26:39 NLT

Jesus was just hours from death. And not just any kind of death. He was going to go through the extraordinarily excruciating torture of the Roman cross. It was designed to bring about a slow and especially painful death, one that could last not only hours, but days. But even before that, He would be beaten and whipped beyond recognition. He would be abandoned by the very ones who claimed to love Him. And Jesus knew that, as part of His Father's plan, it would be necessary for Him to take on the sins of all mankind and bear the righteous wrath of God. So as Jesus kneeled that evening in the garden, He was overcome with grief and emotion. I think these passages reveal the humanity of Christ like no other place in the entire Gospels. In these three simple prayers that flowed from the lips of Jesus, we get an undeniable glimpse into His humanity and deity. He was the God-man. Fully human, but fully God. Inexplicable, but undeniable in its truth. The human side of Jesus was repulsed and revolted by the thought of what was ahead. His humanity wanted to avoid what was coming at all costs, but His divinity knew that God's will must supersede and supplant His own. Three times Jesus prayed, "I want your will to be done, not mine." This was not done for the benefit of the disciples. They were sound asleep. It was the soon-to-be-Savior of the world sharing His heart with His Father.

As I read those words, it strikes a chord with me. I can't help but think how often I have prayed to my heavenly Father, but my words have reflected a different attitude. Far too often, when I have found myself in difficult times, I have prayed, "Not Your will be done, but mine!" Granted, those weren't my exact words, but that was the intent of my prayer and the true reflection of my heart. In those times, I came to God with MY will clearly lined up. I knew what I wanted Him to do for me. But Jesus was intent on doing what the Father wanted. He knew what was in store for Him, but was willing to face it because He trusted His heavenly Father. He knew that God's will was the only proper path for His life – no matter how difficult it may have appeared to be. Unlike us, Jesus knew exactly what was coming. He was fully aware of just how difficult the next few hours were going to be, and He still prayed that God's will be done. What dedication. What a picture of obedience. Paul describes it this way: "When he appeared in human form,he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross" (Philippians 2:7-8 NLT). A huge part of submitting to the will of God is our own humility. It is placing our will and our way at His feet and subjecting ourselves to His plan, trusting that He knows what is best. Paul goes on to say, "For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him" (Philippians 2:13 NLT). God gives us the strength and determination we need to do His will. Why? Because our human nature will do everything in its power to protect and preserve us. It will demand its own way. It will fight for its autonomy. When Jesus returned after praying the first time and found the disciples sleeping, He warned Peter, "Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!” (Matthew 26:41 NLT). Too often our will is driven by the flesh, or our own sinful nature. And in those moments we will find that what we want or desire is counter to what God's will is for us. Paul tells us, "The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions" (Galatians 5:17 NLT). Whenever our will begins to overshadow God's will for us, we need to step back and assess what is really going on. The greatest prayer we can every prayer is the one Jesus prayed three times in the garden on that fateful night. "I want your will to be done, not mine." Our flesh will fight and resist it. Our natural man will want to prevent those words from ever leaving our lips. Fear will rise up in us, causing us to doubt the wisdom of praying such a prayer. But Jesus reminds us that God's will does not always bring with it an easy road, but it always leads to the proper destination. His will is not necessarily pleasant for the moment, but we can trust that He knows what He is doing and that He has our good and His own glory in mind. His will is worth seeking. His will is worth praying for. His will is worth doing. His will always works.

Father, I fear Your will at times. Because I can't see the outcome, I wonder whether it is going to turn out the way I hope it will. At the heart of my fear is doubt. I don't trust You. I tend to think that I know what is best. I want my will to be done, even though my will has ended up disappointing me so many times in the past. Give me the strength to humbly obey You. I want Your will to be done, not mine! Amen.

What Would Jesus Pray For You?

John 17:1-26

"My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory." – John 17:9-10 NLT

Think about it. If Jesus were to pray for you, what would He say? What would He ask the Father for on your behalf? Just imagine what it would be like to have the Son of God lift you up in prayer. Actually, you don't have to imagine it, because His prayer for you is recorded in John 17. It's often referred to as His High Priestly Prayer. What's fascinating about this particular prayer is that it appears that Jesus prayed it right in front of the disciples. On so many other occasions, we see Jesus getting away by Himself for extended times alone with God in prayer. But in this case, right in the middle of a discussion with the disciples, He stops, looked up into heaven and prayed this prayer. They would have heard every word of it. And the vast majority of it contains requests from Jesus to the Father on their behalf. But Jesus made it clear that this prayer was not just for the disciples. "I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message" (John 17:20 NLT). That includes you and me.

Now, what does He pray? What kinds of requests does He make to God on our behalf? This ought to get our attention. What we discover here should give us a very solid understanding about what Jesus regarded as important for as lives as His followers as we live on this planet. He made it clear that He was leaving, but His followers were staying. He was leaving them behind, fully knowing that they no longer belonged to the world in which they were staying. As His followers they would be aliens living in a strange land. They would be outsiders and outcasts in this world because of their faith in Him. Jesus made it clear that His prayer was for His followers only. He was not praying for the world, but for believers, both present and future. "My prayer is not for the world, but for those you have given me, because they belong to you. All who are mine belong to you, and you have given them to me, so they bring me glory" (John 17:9-10 NLT). And while this prayer is packed with all kinds of significant truths regarding the Church, a few things jump out.

First, Jesus prays for our protection. He asks God to protect us by the power of His name (Verse 11). The name of God is synonymous with the very character of God. His name represented who He was. It reflected His glory, greatness, love, mercy, power, faithfulness, steadfastness, holiness, grace, righteousness, and justice. To ask the Father to protect us by His name was to guarantee the outcome. God is faithful and true. He cannot do anything that would contradict His character or bring shame to His name. But why does Jesus ask the Father to protect us? What is He asking the Father to protect us from? "…so that they will be united as we are" (John 17:11 NLT). This theme of unity and oneness runs throughout His prayer. He is asking God to protect us so that we might remain unified in the midst of a world that was going to try and destroy or unity. If you study the letters of the New Testament, one of the central themes had to do with division within the Body of Christ. The early Church was a composite organism made up of all kinds of people from all walks of life. There were Jews and Gentiles, slave and free, male and female, rich and poor – all gathered together into this new thing called the Body of Christ. As a result, there were tensions, disagreements, disputes, and the constant possibility of the unity of the Body being destroyed. The Church was new. There was no common doctrine, no New Testament yet, little in the way of qualified leadership, and the constant pressure from the outside world. So Paul and the other authors of the epistles that would eventually make up the majority of our New Testament, wrote to instruct these new believers and to warn them about the danger of division.

I appeal to you, dear brothers and sisters, by the authority of our Lord Jesus Christ, to live in harmony with each other. Let there be no divisions in the church. Rather, be of one mind, united in thought and purpose. – 1 Corinthians 1:10 NLT

Now I urge you, brothers and sisters, to watch out for those who create dissensions and obstacles contrary to the teaching that you learned. Avoid them! –Romans 16:17 NET

Instead, God has blended together the body, giving greater honor to the lesser member, so that there may be no division in the body, but the members may have mutual concern for one another. – 1 Corinthians 12:24-25 NET

There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. – Galatians 3:28 NLT

Jesus went on to pray that the unity of believers would reflect the unity that He and His Father shared. This miracle on unity among so many people of diversity would reveal that it was all the work of God. When we live as one, He gets glory. Jesus prayed, "May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that you sent me and that you love them as much as you love me" (John 17:23 NLT). Our unity is proof of Christ's deity and of God's love for us.

But Jesus was not done. He went on to pray that God would keep us safe from the evil one (John 17:15). Satan hates us and wants to do everything in his power to destroy our unity. He loves to cause divisions within the Body of Christ. That's why the early Church put such a high priority on removing all those who threatened unity and tried to stir up division. Disunity in the Body is one of the greatest turn-offs to the lost.

Jesus also asked that the Father would make us holy. The word He used has to do with sanctifying us or setting us apart. But He is specific in His request. He says, "Set them apartin the truth; your word is truth" (John 17:17 NLT). Remember, there was no New Testament at this time. The truth Jesus seems to be referring to is the reality about who He is and why He had come. He had revealed the truth of His identity to the disciples and they had believed that truth. So Jesus asks the Father to set them apart in that truth. Let that be their identifier and distinctive. Our holiness or otherness in this world must be based on the truth of Jesus as the Son of God and the Savior of the world.

Jesus asked God to protect you so you could live in unity. He asked God to keep you safe from Satan. He asked His Father to make you holy, to set you apart and make you distinctive based on the truth about who Jesus is and what He has done. Obviously, if Jesus asked these things of the Father on your behalf, they must have been important to Him. So how important are they to you? How much weight do you put on unity within the Body of Christ or with other believers? Do you strive for it and do everything in His power to avoid division? How about the enemy? Do you recognize his reality and understand his unbridled passion to destroy you? What about your holiness or set-apartness? How important is it to you? Is what makes your life distinctive and different your belief in who Jesus is and what He has done for you? These things were important enough for Jesus to pray on our behalf. So they should be important enough for us to make them a high priority in our own lives, and to pray them on behalf of one another.

Father, may these requests be what we pray daily for ourselves and for one another. We desperately need Spirit-empowered unity so that the world might sit up and take notice. We need protection from the enemy, because he is alive and active all around us, trying to destroy us an individuals and as a community. Finally, we need to live distinctive, set-apart lives that reflect our uniqueness based on our belief in who You are and what You have done for us. Amen.

Take Heart!

John 16:16-33

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world." – John 16:33 NLT

The clock is ticking. With each hour that passes, Jesus is one step closer to His final destiny. All the teaching, miracles and messages He gave will mean nothing if He does not complete the task for which He came. And as this moment draws nearer, Jesus continues to try and prepare His disciples for what is to come. He tells them, "In a little while you won’t see me anymore. But a little while after that, you will see me again" (John 16:16 NLT). This statement did little but confuse the disciples. It sounded like a riddle to them. We understand it because we have the benefit of being on this side of the resurrection. But to them, it would have made little to no sense, and would have provided little in the way of comfort. Jesus sensed their confusion and attempted to make His meaning clearer. "I tell you the truth, you will weep and mourn over what is going to happen to me, but the world will rejoice. You will grieve, but your grief will suddenly turn to wonderful joy" (John 16:20 NLT). I can't help but imagine the looks on the faces of the disciples as Jesus spoke. They had to be looking at one another with looks of confusion, wondering how what Jesus was saying was supposed to clear things up for them. How would their weeping be turned to joy? How would their grieving turn into rejoicing?

Jesus continued to explain what He meant using the metaphor of childbirth. There would be a period of pain followed by a moment of sheer joy and excitement. There was going to be a time of extreme sorrow followed by unbridled happiness and abundant joy. Not only that, they would have direct access to God. They would be able to ask anything from Him, and as long as they did so in Jesus' name, God would answer their requests. "Then you will ask in my name. I’m not saying I will ask the Father on your behalf, for the Father himself loves you dearly because you love me and believe that I came from God" (John 16:26-27 NLT). Jesus was letting them know that the future was going to be bright for them. Yes, it was going to get dark for a time. He was going to suffer and die. They would even abandon Him in His darkest moment. But He was going to rise from the dead and appear before them in His resurrected state. Their sorrow and grief would be turned in joy. But I think this passage is also letting them know that Jesus would leave them again. This time to ascend to His Father in heaven. And when He did, there would be a time of sorrow as well. The disciples would feel abandoned this time. But their sorrow would be turned to joy once again when the Holy Spirit descended on them at Pentecost. It would be at that time when they learned the truth of Jesus' statements. They would ask of the Father in Jesus' name and watch as He answered their requests in miraculous, powerful ways.

Jesus closes His little talk with them by saying, "I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world" (John 16:33 NLT). He is trying to prepare them for all that is to come. Not only in the next few hours, but in the years to come. He warns them that they were going to have many trials and sorrows. Life was not going to be easy. But He tells them to take heart and assures them that not matter how bad things may appear, they are to remember that He has overcome the world. This is an interesting statement, because as of that moment, He had yet to die. But Jesus spoke with certainty and confidence because He knew that He was going to do what He came to do. He was going to overcome the world. With His death, He would pay the penalty owed to God for the sins of mankind. With His resurrection, He would defeat the power of death and provide a glimpse of the transformative power of God available to all men through belief in Him. If God could literally raise His own Son from the dead, He could raise spiritually dead men and women to new life. Jesus can and did overcome the world. And we need to be reminded of that fact. Here on earth we face many trials and sorrows. We encounter all kinds of difficulties. We suffer because we live in a sin-filled world. But Jesus reminds us to take heart. He assures us that He has overcome the world. The word Jesus used was "conquered." It was a military term. Jesus is saying that, with His death, He has won a military victory over the forces of this world. It will still hate us and attempt to destroy us. He made that clear in chapter 15. But we need to live with an attitude of victory. We are on the winning side. What Jesus accomplished on the cross has sealed the future and guaranteed our success. It will not be easy. There will be difficulties. But we can cry out to the Father in Jesus' name and He will hear and answer us. He will guide us through His Holy Spirit. He will teach us through His written Word. He will protect us with His powerful hand. He will preserve us and one day send His Son to return for us.

Paul gives us encouragement with these words: "For our present troubles are small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever" (2 Corinthians 4:17-18 NLT).

Father, Thank You for these encouraging words this morning. Sometimes this world really can be filled with all kinds of grief and sorrow. It can become overwhelming at times. But keep reminding me that whatever I suffer here on this earth is nothing compared to the joy I will experience in heaven. Give me an eternal focus. Help me to fix my gaze on those things that I can't see. Give me the ability to take heart, knowing that Jesus truly has overcome the world. Amen.