July_10

SHARING BREAD

⁴ Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, “I find no basis for a charge against this man.”

⁵ But they insisted, “He stirs up the people all over Judea by his teaching. He started in Galilee and has come all the way here.”

⁶ On hearing this, Pilate asked if the man was a Galilean. ⁷ When he learned that Jesus was under Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.

Luke 23:4-7 (NIV)

Here we have a classic case of the proverbial “passing the buck”!  Not desiring of charging Jesus with wrong-doing and finding no basis for His guilt, Pilate was delighted to pass this “problem” of Jesus along to Herod.  The chief complaint of the religious leaders and the teachers of the law against our Savior to Pilate was that He “stirred up” the people all over Judea.  Indeed, He had stirred them up but not in riotousness but rather in righteousness.  His call was to everything virtuous and praiseworthy.  I am reminded of Paul’s words to the Philippians regarding this call for wholesome living:

⁸ Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. ⁹ Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me–put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.   Phil 4:8-9 (NIV)

“The Holy Spirit gives the soul a natural relish for the sweetness of what is holy and for everything that is holy as it comes into view. He also intensifies a dislike and disgust of everything that is unholy.”  Jonathan Edwards, Religious Affections

The call for those who follow Jesus was and still is one of honesty, reliability, and dignity.  It is one who is worthy of respect, who conforms to God’s standards, and one who is wholesome and pure.  It is one that promotes peace rather than conflict, and one who is positive and constructive rather than negative and destructive.  It is no wonder that Pilate could find no basis for a charge against Him. 

Jesus’ teaching turned the world upside down – it still does today does it not?  His commands to us certainly go against what comes natural for us.  The Sermon on the Mount is a perfect case in point.  Jesus took the mere adherence to the letter of the law which is simply legalism and lengthened it with the law of love.  The motivation behind the demonstration was a call to love – love of God and love of others.  Jesus tells us the greatest commandment:

²⁸ One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?” ²⁹ ”The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: ‘Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰ Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ ³¹ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.”   Mark 12:28-31 (NIV)

 

This was a call to love God volitionally, comprehensively and wholeheartedly – a complete love of our hearts and our souls and our minds.  Jesus stressed the comprehensive nature of the command.  Jesus also added that we are to love our neighbor (a generic term for one that is nearby) as ourselves:    

 

“The love a person has naturally for himself is not to focus solely on himself—a constant tendency—but should be directed equally toward others.”     Bible Knowledge Commentary    

The religious leaders of Jesus’ day did not like what they were hearing – set in their ways, unwilling to change or embrace our Savior’s call, they led others astray from the Truth becoming a stumbling block to them. Jesus addresses His sternest words to these religious leaders:

¹³ ”Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those enter who are trying to.   Matt 23:13 (NIV)

 

“Lord, high and holy, meek and lowly, You have brought me to the valley of vision, where I live in the depths but see You in the heights; hemmed in by mountains of sin I behold Your glory.  Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the healed heart, that the contrite spirit is the rejoicing spirit,  that the repenting soul is the victorious soul, that to have nothing is to possess all, that to bear the cross is to wear the crown, that to give is to receive, Lord, in the daytime stars can be seen from deepest wells, and the deeper the wells the brighter Your stars shine; Let me find Your light in my darkness, Your life in my death, Your joy in my sorrow, Your grace in my sin,  Your riches in my poverty, Your glory in my valley.”  From: The Valley of Vision: A collection of Puritan Prayers & Devotions

What I glean from this:

• Pilate had found no basis for the accusations the religious leaders brought against Jesus.
• Jesus “stirs me up” for righteous living through His teachings.
• I am to love God with my whole being and my neighbor as myself.

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July_08

SHARING BREAD

 ³ So Pilate asked Jesus, “Are you the king of the Jews?”

“Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied.

Luke 23:3 (NIV)

Clearly, our Lord here affirms His rightful title as King of the Jews to Pilate, the pagan Governor of Judea.  Yet, we find in Matthew that He did not respond to the chief priests and elders accusations – to the utter amazement of Pilate:

¹² When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. ¹³ Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” ¹⁴ But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge–to the great amazement of the governor.   Matt 27:12-14 (NIV)

 

Interestingly, we also find in Matthew that Pilate’s wife had warned him regarding the innocence of Jesus:

 

¹⁹ While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.”   Matt 27:19 (NIV)

“This was an honourable testimony to our Lord Jesus, witnessing for him that he was an innocent man.  When his friends were afraid to appear in defence of him, God made even those who were foreigners and enemies, to speak in his favour; when Peter denied him, Judas confessed him; when the chief priests pronounced him guilty of death, Pilate declared he found no fault in him; when the women who loved him stood far off, Pilate’s wife, who knew little of him, showed a concern for him.  It was a fair warning to Pilate; ‘Don’t have anything to do with him.’  God has many ways of giving checks to sinners in their sinful pursuits, and it is a great mercy to have such checks.  It is also our great duty to listen to them.”  Matthew Henry

John records the interaction with Jesus and Pilate in the following way:

³⁶ Jesus said, “My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place.”   ³⁷ ”You are a king, then!” said Pilate. 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.” ³⁸ ”What is truth?” Pilate asked. With this he went out again to the Jews and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.  John 18:36-38 (NIV)

Truth was standing right smack dab in front of him and Pilate missed it.  As the saying goes:  “If it was a snake it would have bit him” – or perhaps the wily serpent had already taken hold of him!  How Pilate’s question was intended, we do not know yet what we do know is that he turned away from the One who is “the Truth”.  We find that Pilate gives in to the demands of the crowds:

¹⁵ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.   Mark 15:15 (NIV)

 

Interestingly, Matthew tells us that Pilate took water and washed his hands in front of the crowds declaring his innocence in the matter unfortunately failing to realize that his soul remained dirty.  An outward act of righteousness does not determine a cleansed soul – only the blood of Jesus cleanses our filthy souls yet in his politician like manner, he makes an attempt to shift the blame and sadly, the Jews readily accept:

 

²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” ²⁵ All the people answered, “Let his blood be on us and on our children!”   Matt 27:24-25 (NIV)

 

Had Pilate turned to the Truth, not only would his hands have been cleansed but also his soul.  This was his choice – he had been given the opportunity.  It would have been his great duty to have listened and responded to Him as Matthew Henry said.  Jesus tells us:

 

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

 

When we seek after truth, we need to learn no more than the truth that is in Jesus.    

 

 “He that takes truth for his guide, and duty for his end, may safely trust to God’s providence to lead him aright.”    Blaise Pascal

What I glean from this:

• God presented Pilate with opportunities to turn to Jesus yet sadly, he did not turn to Him.
• I must be careful in wanting to satisfy the crowds rather than God.
• Truth is found in Jesus.

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July_06

SHARING BREAD

¹ Then the whole assembly rose and led him off to Pilate. ² And they began to accuse him, saying, “We have found this man subverting our nation. He opposes payment of taxes to Caesar and claims to be Christ, a king.”

Luke 23:1-2 (NIV)

In our verses for today, we see that innocence is no guarantee against slander. Here we have the religious leaders charging Jesus with the crimes of opposing payment of taxes to Caesar – which He clearly had not – and stating His claim that He indeed was the Christ – which they clearly refuted.  We find earlier in Luke:

²⁰ Keeping a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the power and authority of the governor. ²¹ So the spies questioned him: “Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right, and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. ²² Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” ²³ He saw through their duplicity and said to them, ²⁴ ”Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and inscription are on it?” ²⁵ ”Caesar’s,” they replied. He said to them, “Then give to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Luke 20:20-25 (NIV)

 Jesus’ claim to deity was blasphemous to these blind teachers and leaders yet in reality they were the ones who were blasphemous.  Scripture tells us:

³¹ ”The one who comes from above is above all; the one who is from the earth belongs to the earth, and speaks as one from the earth. The one who comes from heaven is above all. ³² He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. ³³ The man who has accepted it has certified that God is truthful. ³⁴ For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit. ³⁵ The Father loves the Son and has placed everything in his hands. ³⁶ Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”   John 3:31-36 (NIV)

“Jesus gives the perfect truth of God as He speaks the words of God, because He has the full endowment of the Holy Spirit, the Spirit without limit. The Old Testament prophets had the Spirit only for limited times and for limited purposes.  The Apostle John referred to Jesus as the One whom God has sent. Thirty-nine times the Gospel of John refers to Jesus being sent from God (vv. 17, 34; 4:34; 5:23-24, 30, 36-38; 6:29, 38-39, 44, 57; 7:16, 28-29; 8:16, 18, 26, 29, 42; 9:4; 10:36; 11:42; 12:44-45, 49; 13:16, 20; 14:24; 15:21; 16:5; 17:3, 18, 21, 23, 25; 20:21). This affirms Jesus’ deity and heavenly origin, as well as God’s sovereignty and love in initiating the Son’s Incarnation (cf. Gal. 4:4; 1 John 4:9-10, 14).”    Bible Knowledge Commentary

Man has been given two options by God – trust in His Son for the propitiation of our sins or reject His Son – falsely believing we can stand on our own merits.  We must remember what Scripture tells us – that we are all guilty before a holy God:

²³ for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,   Romans 3:23 (NIV)

 

²³ For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23 (NIV)

 

God’s remedy for man’s fallen condition was Jesus.  John tells us:

 

¹⁶ ”For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.   John 3:16 (NIV)

 

¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.   John 3:18 (NIV)

 

“Behold, and wonder, that the great God should love such a worthless world; that the holy God should love such a wicked world.”  Matthew Henry

“What more blessed and delightful meditations can I daily dwell upon than to think thus:  God has loved me, even me, when I was his enemy; and so loved me, that he gave me his only Son?  Bless me with faith in Christ; then Christ is mine, and all things are mine…..He will never suffer a believing soul to perish; he has passed his word for it.  It is he that says, I shall not perish, I shall not be condemned, but have everlasting life, if I believe.  This will I build and depend upon to my last moments, as upon an immovable rock.”   K. H. Von Bogatzky

Without exception, whoever believes in Jesus will be saved – the salvation offered is complete – they shall not perish and they shall have eternal life.  On the other hand, God’s rightful wrath remains upon the unbeliever – this wrath is future but it also exists now.  

What I glean from this:

• Innocence is no guarantee against slander – this should not take me by surprise.
• Jesus claimed clearly that He was the Christ.
• God has loved me, even me, when I was His enemy and sent Jesus to save me.

 

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July_03

SHARING BREAD

⁷⁰ They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”

He replied, “You are right in saying I am.”

⁷¹ Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

Luke 22:70-71 (NIV)

Here we have the Truth proclaiming the truth that He indeed was the Son of God.  Unwilling to believe the testimony of the Scriptures which pointed to Jesus as the Christ – refusing to come to Him for their salvation, these religious leaders of the Jewish people cried out ”Blasphemy!” and wanted Him dead.  Jesus had earlier addressed them regarding this very issue.  We find in John: 

³⁹ You diligently study the Scriptures because you think that by them you possess eternal life. These are the Scriptures that testify about me, ⁴⁰ yet you refuse to come to me to have life.   John 5:39-40 (NIV)

Not only did these leaders disregard or just plain miss the proofs of the Scriptures they also refused to believe the messianic miracles He had performed:

³⁶ ”I have testimony weightier than that of John. For the very work that the Father has given me to finish, and which I am doing, testifies that the Father has sent me. ³⁷ And the Father who sent me has himself testified concerning me. You have never heard his voice nor seen his form, ³⁸ nor does his word dwell in you, for you do not believe the one he sent.    John 5:36-38 (NIV)

 

¹¹ Believe me when I say that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; or at least believe on the evidence of the miracles themselves.   John 14:11 (NIV)

 

Jesus had already made claim that He was the Christ.  This was no new info to them.  We find in John:

 

³⁰ I and the Father are one.” ³¹ Again the Jews picked up stones to stone him, ³² but Jesus said to them, “I have shown you many great miracles from the Father. For which of these do you stone me?” ³³ ”We are not stoning you for any of these,” replied the Jews, “but for blasphemy, because you, a mere man, claim to be God.”   John 10:30-33 (NIV)

 

¹⁹ Jesus gave them this answer: “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. ²⁰ For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. ²¹ For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son gives life to whom he is pleased to give it. ²² Moreover, the Father judges no one, but has entrusted all judgment to the Son, ²³ that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him. ²⁴ ”I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life. ²⁵ I tell you the truth, a time is coming and has now come when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God and those who hear will live. ²⁶ For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son to have life in himself. ²⁷ And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.   John 5:19-27 (NIV)

 

Unfortunately for these leaders and for those that followed in their path, they missed it. They refused to accept the abundantly clear signs pointing to Jesus as the Messiah:

 

“They cannot think it possible that he should be the Messiah, if he does not appear, as they expect, in worldly pomp and grandeur.”   Matthew Henry

 

“Jesus was in the council, undertook our cause, struck hands in the covenant as our Surety, wrought out a righteousness for us; suffered our curse on the tree to redeem us; ever lives, and ever loves, and ever pleads our cause while he represents our persons before the everlastingly gracious and infinitely just and righteous Jehovah, his Father and our Father, now well pleased with us, because accepted and preserved in the Beloved.  Are these things so?  And has the Lord the Spirit, the glorifier of Jesus, enlightened our understanding to see these things, enabled us to believe, and assured our hearts of our own happy share and interest in them?  O my soul, stop, reflect, dwell on such wonderful power, marvelous favour, distinguishing love, and appropriated mercy!  Afflictions, pains, temptations, may await me, waves and storms may go over my head, Satan may sift me as wheat, the waters of death may prove bitter to my taste, yet I will not be discouraged; he that died for me will take care of me; he that pardoned my aggravated offences will heal my infirmities; he that knew the power of temptation will support and deliver me out of all.  This I believe; Lord help my unbelief.  The wisdom, the power, the love, the promise, the covenant, and the oath of Jehovah, stand all engaged for the preservation of a poor, unworthy believer in Jesus.  Alleluia.”   K. H. Von Bogatzky

 

What I glean from this:

 

• The teachers of the Law and the rulers and leaders of the people Israel missed Jesus as their Savior and subsequently led those under their lead to miss Him as well – I must be careful who I follow.
• The Scriptures point to Jesus as Savior as do His messianic miracles – I must not be blind to this.
• Jesus claimed Deity.

 

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July_01

SHARING BREAD

 ⁶⁶ At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. ⁶⁷ ”If you are the Christ, “they said, “tell us.”

Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, ⁶⁸ and if I asked you, you would not answer. ⁶⁹ But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”

Luke 22:66-69 (NIV)

In our verses for today we are presented with the Jewish nation’s official judicial body – the elders, chief priests and the teachers of the law – meeting at dawn to make a fast and furious decision regarding Jesus.  Their verdict would be held tight by the nation – they were the final word.   This group who taught and explained the Law in the schools and the synagogues were well versed in the Holy Scriptures.  They, of all people should have been acquainted with and have had the correct interpretation of God’s saving purpose wrought through Jesus yet we find them here opposing what they should have embraced.  Never mind the miracles He had performed confirming His Deity – their preconceived opinions regarding their profile of a messiah had blinded them.  They who taught truth did not recognize Truth when they came face to face with Him. John the Baptist addressed them as such:

⁷ John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? ⁸ Produce fruit in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham.  Luke 3:7-8 (NIV)

In like fashion, Jesus using the same severe language, states the following regarding these people:

³³ ”You snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? ³⁴ Therefore I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town. ³⁵ And so upon you will come all the righteous blood that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar.    Matt 23:33-35 (NIV)

Interestingly, vipers were very poisonous snakes that appeared as harmless sticks.  People would accidentally pick them up when gathering firewood; their bite caused great suffering and often death.  These snakes appeared to be something good yet were very deadly.  Sadly, in their unwillingness to see Jesus as their Savior, these religious leaders were just as deadly to those who followed them.  Pity – He just did not fit their description or definition of what a Messiah should look like.  I wonder, does Jesus fit our description?   Let’s think about this for a minute.  The end results in the Book of Revelation sound grand but what about the cross?  A triumphal entry with charging white horses and laden with victory is certainly palatable but what about the terms humble suffering servant or self-denial?  Like these religious leaders, does He upset our definition of a messiah?  Do we like Him as long as He does not mess with our way of thinking or our little world?

“Grace is totally alien to human psychology. We want to get our house in order and then let God love and accept us. The psychology of works-righteousness and self-certification is foundation to the human psyche and totally at odds with grace. The deep-seated way humans resist divine grace helps us understand something about the fear of love. While some people fear any love, what most of us resist in unconditional love—perfect love. The reason for this is that such love demands surrender…I am willing to accept measured doses of love as long as it doesn’t upset the basic framework of my world. That framework is built on the assumption that people get what they deserve…what humans want is to earn the love we seek. The Christian God comes to us as wholly other—so different from the gods of my imagination, so far beyond my control…God invites us to let him rid us for our fears and heal us by his love.”  David Benner, Surrender to love

The elders, chief priests and teachers of the law had prejudged Jesus – they had determined that He was not the Christ yet they could not explain away the miracles He had performed – crucifixion seemed to be their way of silencing Him.  They wanted a different king – one that they delighted in, one that fit their description.      

“Do not let the false delights of a deceptive world deceive you.”  Clare of Assisi

“In the greatest display of obedience (and love) that will ever be known, Jesus took the full chalice of Man’s sin and God’s wrath, looked shuddering, deep into its depth and in a steel act of his will, drank it all”.  Kent Hughes

 

What I glean from this:

 

• I must beware of my preconceived opinions regarding God.
• I must not be deceived by the world.

• I must pay attention to God’s Word.  His Word is truth and never changes.  ³¹ ”As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is flawless. He is a shield for all who take refuge in him.  2 Sam 22:31 (NIV)

 

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June_29

SHARING BREAD

⁶³ The men who were guarding Jesus began mocking and beating him. ⁶⁴ They blindfolded him and demanded, “Prophesy! Who hit you?” ⁶⁵ And they said many other insulting things to him.

Luke 22:63-65 (NIV)

To get a panoramic view of our verses for today, let’s check out how the other three gospels present this same scene:

⁶⁷ Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him ⁶⁸ and said, “Prophesy to us, Christ. Who hit you?”   Matt 26:67-68 (NIV)

 

⁶⁵ Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him.   Mark 14:65 (NIV)

 

²² When Jesus said this, one of the officials nearby struck him in the face. “Is this the way you answer the high priest?” he demanded.  ²³ ”If I said something wrong,” Jesus replied, “testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?”   John 18:22-23 (NIV)

 

Isaiah prophesizes this incident in the following way:

 

⁶ I offered my back to those who beat me, my cheeks to those who pulled out my beard; I did not hide my face from mocking and spitting.  ⁷ Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame.    Isaiah 50:6-7 (NIV)

 

Mocked by mere men, blindfolded and blasphemed, spit upon, slapped and repeatedly struck our silent Savior bears our shame – out of pure love, He marvelously demonstrates and displays for us His all achieving power under control.  One word from His holy lips and a myriad of angels would have been at His royal disposal yet He chose to endure the disgrace for my scrawny neck and yours.  The Lord remained silent throughout this fiery ordeal committing Himself to Him who judges justly all the while standing firm in all the will of God – mature and fully assured..  Kind of makes our whining and complaining over a broken fingernail or spilt milk a mute point does it not?  In that day, spitting upon someone showed utter contempt – an act of repudiation and of gross personal insult – imagine this done to the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords.  Peter tells us:

 

²¹ To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.  ²² ”He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.”
²³ When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. ²⁴ He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.   1 Peter 2:21-24 (NIV)

 

As Jesus is our Supreme example we are to follow His lead.  We are called to emulate His character and His conduct through His power.    Scripture tells us:

 

⁶ Whoever claims to live in him must walk as Jesus did.   1 John 2:6 (NIV)

 

“It is urgently needful that the Christian people of our charge should come to understand that they are not a company of invalids, to be wheeled about, or fed by hand, cosseted, nursed, and comforted, the minister being head-physician and nurse – but a garrison in an enemy’s country, every soul of which should have some post of duty, at which he should be prepared to make any sacrifice rather than quit it.”    F.B. Meyer   

     

“Our identity as Jesus’ followers should define and dictate our lives.”  Joseph Stowell, III

 

“According to the New Testament, God wills that the church be a people who show what God is like.”  Stanley J. Grenz

“Though assaults be many, and my enemies mighty, if God strengthen me, I have enough to comfort me; for the greater my enemy, the more glorious my victory; and the more glorious my victory, the more triumphant my glory.”  K.H. Von Bogatzky

 

What I glean from this:

• Jesus silently suffered under despicable treatment to save me.
• Jesus entrusted Himself to God who judges justly –  ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.    Romans 12:19 (NIV)
• I am to follow Jesus’ lead.

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June_26

SHARING BREAD

⁵⁸ A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

⁵⁹ About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”

⁶⁰ Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. ⁶¹ The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” ⁶² And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Luke 22:58-62 (NIV)

Brokenhearted, bitterly bruised in spirit, faced with the weakness of his flesh, ashamed over the denials of his Lord flowing from his lips – all qualifications catapulting Peter into useful service for Jesus.  This may come as a surprise to some, but God uses those greatly who are filled with Him and not of themselves and their own abilities!

“The Lord sends no one away empty except those who are full of themselves.”  D. W. Moody

“There is no other method of living piously and justly than that of depending upon God.”    John Calvin

Peter is ripe for the Lord’s use.  It would do us all well to realize that we are not useful for kingdom work until we come to the end of ourselves.  The wonderful promises of Scripture are thus:

¹⁸ The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Psalms 34:18 (NIV)

 

¹⁷ The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.    Psalms 51:17 (NIV)

 

³ ”Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.   Matt 5:3 (NIV)

Indeed, the prophet Isaiah states the following regarding Jesus’ future job description:

 ¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, ² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor – Isaiah 61:1-2 (NIV)

A believer must have his spirit broken of all self-assertion, acknowledging his need of God for spiritual renewal and cleansing.  This is brokenness over the sin not simply over the consequences occurring from the sin. Oftentimes, we are sad over what the sin produces in our lives rather than the bitterness of heart regarding our own depravity which Peter so wonderfully portrays in our verses for today.  Jesus came to free us from the captivity of sin and of ourselves!

⁹ If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.   1 John 1:9 (NIV)

 

We must at all times be willing to acknowledge any failure which God’s light exposes in our lives, recognizing our need for spiritual cleansing which comes only from our Savior.  As we turn to Him in genuine repentance, He graciously and mercifully cleanses and restores us.

 

Beware of no man more than of yourself; we carry our worst enemies within us.   Charles Spurgeon

Once so confident in his own responses, Peter is now made amazingly aware of his flawed flesh.  I am ashamed to admit how many times I can relate to Peter’s predicament!  As Jesus “looked straight” in my direction (a/k/a as the conviction of the Holy Spirit) my heart melted like chocolate on a hot July day.  His “look” is a significant look bringing both conviction and grace – power goes forth from it to change the wayward heart.  Our part is repentance – a turning from the wrong way to the right way – am embracing of the will of God over our own – and as we turn, He turns us!  Jeremiah tells us:

“If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me;    Jer 15:19 (NIV)

The words translated “repent” and “restore” are the exact same Hebrew word “Sub” meaning to turn back around, return; essentially denotes a movement back from the point of departure.  If we make the decision to willingly turn, He will turn us!  Praise Him!

“The greatness of a man’s power is the measure of his surrender.”  William Booth

 What I glean from this:

• God will not despise my brokenness of heart.
• God is faithful to forgive my sins and cleanse me from all unrighteousness when I turn to Him in repentance.
• Jesus’ “look” brings me conviction and grace and the power to change.

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June_24

SHARING BREAD

⁵⁴ Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. ⁵⁵ But when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. ⁵⁶ A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”

⁵⁷ But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.

Luke 22:54-57 (NIV)

I do not know about anybody else, but when I am frightened, I get cold!  I guess that is where we get the term “trembling in fear”!  Not only that, I find it more comforting to be in the midst of people when I am scared – I guess I know enough about my own flesh to know that I am not much help in a crisis!  We find our protagonist Peter, in his fear, following Jesus at a distance in an effort to blend and go unnoticed – experiencing both of these in our verses for today – when the crowds had kindled a fire, we discover Pete sitting down among them.  In the midst of all the commotion, much to Peter’s chagrin, some simple servant girl charges Peter with being a companion of Jesus.  Peter, we are told, denies such allegations – stating firmly that he did not know Him. Contrast this behavior with his brave statement of loyalty to Jesus just a few verses prior:

³³ But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death.” Luke 22:33 (NIV)

 

Words oftentimes flow much easier than actions do they not?  Talk sans ensuing deeds is certainly cheap.  It is cheap in love, it is cheap in business, it is cheap in the pulpit, it is cheap in relationships and it is cheap in discipleship.  Lest we think we are casting stones at Peter by stating the facts of Scripture, we are not – we too can be as impetuous and zealous in our proclamations of what we will or will not do.  I am confident that Peter was convinced of his statement – he believed that he would fulfill what he was vowing; he just neglected to reflect for a moment on the weakness of his flesh.  Flesh wants to preserve flesh – it is a very natural instinct.  We all come well equipped with SOS (Save Our Skin) DNA!  Peter’s failure to follow through on his promise should come as a warning for us to be careful to guard our words and our ways as we are just as easy to fall.  We must remember too that this incident occurred prior to Peter having the power of the indwelling Holy Spirit.  Flesh will fail us, Jesus will not and the One who gives the power gets the glory.

 

“We must first be in Christ before we are new creatures…Look not for sanctification, nor for genuine fruits of righteousness, till thy soul is united unto Christ by a living faith; for it is faith that purifies the heart, and works (that is produces good works) by love.   Thou must first be in Christ, grafted into Christ by faith, before thou canst be a new creature.”   K.H. Von Bogatzky  

 

Scripture states the following regarding making a vow:

 

“This is what the LORD commands: ² When a man makes a vow to the LORD or takes an oath to obligate himself by a pledge, he must not break his word but must do everything he said.   Num 30:1-2 (NIV)

 

Jesus reiterates this in the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew:

 

³³ ”Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but keep the oaths you have made to the Lord.’ ³⁴ But I tell you, Do not swear at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; ³⁵ or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. ³⁶ And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. ³⁷ Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.   Matt 5:33-37 (NIV)

 

One’s life should be sufficient to back up one’s word.  Are we a people who do what we say?  Do we make thoughtless and vast promises that we do not keep?   Do we speak the truth in love or do we blow with whatever wind of conversation encircles us at the time?  Do our lives reflect our words – practicing what we preach or have we simply learned the art of stating only what people want to hear – changing our views with each audience?  Standing for everything and therefore standing for nothing.

 

“There may be no trumpet sound or loud applause when we make the right decision, just a calm sense of resolution and peace.”  Gloria Gaither

 A wise person uses words with restraint.  A wise person gives thought to his words. In fact the Bible teaches:
²⁷ A man of knowledge uses words with restraint, and a man of understanding is even-tempered.  ²⁸ Even a fool is thought wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.   Prov 17:27-28 (NIV)

 

¹⁹ When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.   Prov 10:19 (NIV)

 

“Never, for fear of feeble man, restrain your witness.”   C.H. Spurgeon

 

“Honesty has a beautiful and refreshing simplicity about it.”  Charles Swindoll

What I glean from this:

• I should not be impetuous and rash in stating what I will or will not do.
• I should give thought to my words and my deeds.
• My life should reflect what I espouse.

 

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June_22

SHARING BREAD

⁵² Then Jesus said to the chief priests, the officers of the temple guard, and the elders, who had come for him, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? ⁵³ Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour–when darkness reigns.”

Luke 22:52-53 (NIV)

Even in His arrest, Jesus reasons with the mob showing forth His divine sovereignty – they were not going to reign until it was their allotted hour.  Coming out in the cover of darkness, and going forth in the force of darkness, these “religious” leaders were themselves breaking their own laws – committing illegal behavior both by arresting Jesus at night and by being accompanied by a hired accuser.  As Jesus told them, “this is your hour” – what a pathetic trade off they were about to make.  I am reminded of Jesus’ words commending the Church in Philadelphia regarding another “hour” yet to occur on this earth – found in Revelation:

 ⁸ I know your deeds. See, I have placed before you an open door that no one can shut. I know that you have little strength, yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. ⁹ I will make those who are of the synagogue of Satan, who claim to be Jews though they are not, but are liars–I will make them come and fall down at your feet and acknowledge that I have loved you. ¹⁰ Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth.   Rev 3:8-10 (NIV)

Contrast these words given above to the Church in Philadelphia with the remonstration that these ecclesiastics received from Jesus in our verses for today.  Holding fast to their religiosity as their god, they received no such commendation from the lips of our Savior.

“That to which your heart clings is your god.”   Martin Luther

They, who were employed in this hateful bit of service, should have known that they need not come in the dead of night nor come with swords and clubs.  They knew that Jesus would not have resisted as He had been daily with them in the temple – He, right in their midst.  Jesus had come to do His Father’s will and He was obedient.  He continually told His followers:

³⁸ For I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me. John 6:38 (NIV)

 

Jesus knew that this was all part of the plan.  He was not taken by surprise.  He willingly submitted to the evil deed in order to save me – in order to save you and even in order to save them.  I am reminded of the chorus in the lyrics of the song “New Again”:

 

“Whatever happens…Whatever you see…Whatever your eyes tell you has become of me…This is not…Not the end…I am making all things new again.”

 

 “As a blind man has no idea of colors, so have we no idea (how) the all-wise God perceives and understands all things.”  Isaac Newton

“Immortal, invisible, God only wise, In light inaccessible hid from our eyes, Most blessed, most glorious, the Ancient of Days, Almighty, victorious, Thy great name we praise.  Unresting, unhasting and silent as light, Nor wanting, nor wasting, Thou rulest in might; Thy justice like mountains high soaring above Thy clouds, which are fountains of goodness and love.”   Walter C. Smith

 

Satan, the ruler of darkness, was permitted to do his worst.  Yet, praise Jesus, the darkness must give way to light – the power of darkness will be made to give homage to the Prince of Light.  Talk about making beauty from ashes!  Just as the prophet Isaiah tells us:

 

 ¹ The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, ² to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, ³ and provide for those who grieve in Zion– to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.    Isaiah 61:1-3 (NIV)

“God gives the cross, and the cross gives us God.”   Madame Guyon

What I glean from this:

• Jesus is never taken by surprise.
• Jesus came to do His Gather’s will.
•  Jesus came to make all things new again.

 

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June_19

SHARING BREAD

⁴⁹ When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” ⁵⁰ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.

Luke 22:49-51 (NIV)

In our verses for today Jesus wonderfully fleshes out Romans 12 for our eyes to see.  I love the fact that Jesus never asks anything of us that He Himself, in some fashion, did not experience:

¹⁷ Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. ¹⁸ If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. ¹⁹ Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord. ²⁰ On the contrary: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him;
if he is thirsty, give him something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head.” ²¹ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.   Romans 12:17-21 (NIV)

These are difficult words indeed which to be consistently obedient to is made possible only through the power of the Holy Spirit.  Let’s face it, it is easy to be nice to those who are like-minded but let someone cross us or cause us harm and we get all up in arms!  Jesus says “No more of this!”  We are to be different and our difference is made manifest by our love – no matter how difficult the people are to love in our sphere!  This points others to Jesus opening the door for them to come to salvation which is only available through Him.

The Irish evangelist Gypsy Smith once said, "There are five Gospels: Matthew Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian, and some people will never read the first four." 

We are often much too concerned with our own rights when in fact, as believers we have been bought by the blood of Jesus and have relinquished those rights we have a death grip on!  Scripture tells us:

¹⁹ Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.    1 Cor 6:19-20 (NIV)

 

We may be asking “Why?”  Apart from the obvious fact that it is commanded, our obedience also brings much glory to God, ushers others to Jesus and allows us the blessing of the abundant life He holds out for us to embrace.  Salvation is not just for eternity it is also for the here and now.  We miss out on why we are even here if we stubbornly dig in our heals and refuse obedience to our Lord.  We are certainly the losers when this occurs.   Jesus tells us in the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew:

 

¹⁴ ”You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. ¹⁵ Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. ¹⁶ In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.    Matt 5:14-16 (NIV)

“Be more concerned for God’s glory than for your relief.”  “The next time you’re overwhelmed, instead of asking, ‘How can I get out of this mess?’ try asking, ‘How can God be glorified in this situation?’”  Robert J. Morgan

Our job is to shine His light pointing others to the proper path.  Our influence should be intentionally evident – as a city on a hill is a beacon in the darkness, in like manner, His light shining through our lives should beam forth to this dark world.  So how are we doing in this endeavor?  It is not easy to live so contrary to the world’s standards of revenge or retribution. People think that we have lost our senses.  We are told we are weak or perhaps a doormat when in reality our meekness is “a condition of mind and heart which demonstrates gentleness, not in weakness but in power.  It is a balance born in strength of character” (Hebrew-Greek Key Word Study Bible New Testament Lexical Aids).   

 

“Meekness is the mark of a man who has been mastered by God.”  Geoffrey B. Wilson

Lest we forget the example Jesus sets forth for us, it might be wise to revisit the prophecy Isaiah stated regarding the voluntary future restraint of our Lord’s power:

 

⁷ He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.  ⁸ By oppression and judgment he was taken away. And who can speak of his descendants?  For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was stricken. ⁹ He was assigned a grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death, though he had done no violence, nor was any deceit in his mouth. ¹⁰ Yet it was the LORD’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer,  and though the LORD makes his life a guilt offering, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the LORD will prosper in his hand.  ¹¹ After the suffering of his soul, he will see the light [of life] and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.   Isaiah 53:7-11 (NIV)

 

“Jesus is the One who shows us the paradoxical route to meaning in a chaotic and hostile world.  It’s the paradox of the gospel: Strength is found in weakness. Control is found in dependency. Power is found in surrender….God uses the frustrations of this life and the hurt of relationships to compel us to look beyond what we can control to the God who controls all things in order to woo us to himself. As we move from control to surrender, we move from chasing the wind under the sun to embracing God above it.”  Dan Allender, Breaking the Idols of You

What I glean from this:

• I am commanded to overcome evil with good.
• I may be the only gospel some people in my sphere will ever “read”.
• I am to shine the light of Jesus in this dark world.

 

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