Two rebels were crucified with him, one on his right and one on his left. Those who passed by hurled insults at him, shaking their heads
and saying, “You who are going to destroy the temple and build it in
three days, save yourself! Come down from the cross, if you are the Son
of God!” In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.
“He saved others,” they said, “but he can’t save himself! He’s the king
of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in
him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, ‘I am the Son of God.’” In the same way the rebels who were crucified with him also heaped insults on him.
Be prepared Christian. Haters are going to hate. Mockers are going to mock. Jesus experienced the full brunt of this reality, and we will occasionally experience it as well. In fact, if you remember back in Matthew chapter five at the conclusion of the Beatitudes, Jesus said as much. “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven..." Again in chapter ten He said, "You will be hated by everyone because of me, but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved. And also in chapter twenty-four, "You will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me."
In the book of John (chapter 15), Jesus was even more direct: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.
If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is,
you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world.
That is why the world hates you. Remember what I told you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will persecute you also."
Haters are going to hate. Mockers are going to mock. But according to Luke's telling of the crucifixion, on the cross as He died, Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” If Jesus is our example, when faced with hatred and mockery Christians are going to love and forgive. Always. In every circumstance.
Paul helps us understand why. In Ephesians chapter six, he reminds us that "our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and
against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
People are not our enemy. Ever. We have an enemy, but our enemy is not flesh and blood. It is important that we grasp this. When we allow flesh and blood to become the enemy, the enemy wins. So, when people hate, when people abuse, when people insult, when people mock, we choose to love and we choose to forgive. This is genius. This is the Kingdom at its finest. This is the reality of God among us. Anyone can hate and return hurt for hurt, insult for insult and evil for evil. That is normal. But there is no answer for the undeserved, unrestrained, undiluted, outrageous love of Jesus. Lord, teach me to love.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Matthew 27:27-37 "This Is Our King"
Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him,
and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head.
They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked
him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.
As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Whenever I read the story of Christ's death, I get a kind of knot in my stomach. Then I actually begin to numb out emotionally. This is difficult for me to read and accept.
Jesus is my Savior and my friend. I believe in Him. I pray, and He hears -and He answers. We talk. We commune. I love Him. He loves me. I know that He loves others, of course, but I sometimes think that I am His favorite. Is that arrogant? Maybe, but I still feel that way. He is also my Master and my King -I gladly and willingly submit to Him. I place my life and will and hopes and dreams and all that I am under His authority. He is not a concept or an ideal or simply an historical figure. I love Him. Apart from Him I have no life -and just as importantly, apart from Him I want no life. I am glad and content to be His friend and servant. All of this is why it is hard for me to accept the brutality and disrespect He endured.
After two thousand years of church history to put this into a correct theological perspective that it had to happen like this -that ultimately, Father was glorified and we have been redeemed and sin and death were conquered forever and Satan was stripped of all authority -even understanding all of that, it still seems inconceivable that Jesus my Friend, my Savior, my King was so mistreated and so disrespected and so brutalized. I must force myself to read the words, to contemplate on what actually happened, to realize the the truth of the situation.
And even as I contemplate this, I can't stay here. My mind not only races ahead to that moment when Jesus arose from the dead, but it also races even further ahead. Jesus told us clearly that He was coming again. And the description He gives is glorious. He will return, not brutalized, disrespected, and silent. He will return glorified in Kingly splendor for all the world to see -and everyone will bow down and worship Him. Those who doubt will cease to doubt. Those who mock will cease to mock. My Savior, my Friend, my Master, my King will be worshiped. Come King Jesus!
As they were going out, they met a man from Cyrene, named Simon, and they forced him to carry the cross. They came to a place called Golgotha (which means The Place of the Skull). There they offered Jesus wine to drink, mixed with gall; but after tasting it, he refused to drink it. When they had crucified him, they divided up his clothes by casting lots. And sitting down, they kept watch over him there. Above his head they placed the written charge against him: THIS IS JESUS, THE KING OF THE JEWS.
Whenever I read the story of Christ's death, I get a kind of knot in my stomach. Then I actually begin to numb out emotionally. This is difficult for me to read and accept.
Jesus is my Savior and my friend. I believe in Him. I pray, and He hears -and He answers. We talk. We commune. I love Him. He loves me. I know that He loves others, of course, but I sometimes think that I am His favorite. Is that arrogant? Maybe, but I still feel that way. He is also my Master and my King -I gladly and willingly submit to Him. I place my life and will and hopes and dreams and all that I am under His authority. He is not a concept or an ideal or simply an historical figure. I love Him. Apart from Him I have no life -and just as importantly, apart from Him I want no life. I am glad and content to be His friend and servant. All of this is why it is hard for me to accept the brutality and disrespect He endured.
After two thousand years of church history to put this into a correct theological perspective that it had to happen like this -that ultimately, Father was glorified and we have been redeemed and sin and death were conquered forever and Satan was stripped of all authority -even understanding all of that, it still seems inconceivable that Jesus my Friend, my Savior, my King was so mistreated and so disrespected and so brutalized. I must force myself to read the words, to contemplate on what actually happened, to realize the the truth of the situation.
And even as I contemplate this, I can't stay here. My mind not only races ahead to that moment when Jesus arose from the dead, but it also races even further ahead. Jesus told us clearly that He was coming again. And the description He gives is glorious. He will return, not brutalized, disrespected, and silent. He will return glorified in Kingly splendor for all the world to see -and everyone will bow down and worship Him. Those who doubt will cease to doubt. Those who mock will cease to mock. My Savior, my Friend, my Master, my King will be worshiped. Come King Jesus!
Thursday, April 12, 2012
Matthew 27:15-25 "Sucked In By The Crowd""
Now it was the governor’s custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas.
So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you
want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him....But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
It is not by accident that in Scripture we (humans) are so often likened to sheep. Sheep aren't particularly smart; they are easily led -or led astray. We are like sheep, although unlike sheep who don't think about it at all, we actually think we are smart and often even take great pride in our wrong thinking.
Less than a week previous, the crowds of people -some of the same people no doubt who were gathered here before Pilate demanding Jesus' execution had lined the street entering into Jerusalem from Bethany and waved palm fronds and sang songs and demanded that Jesus be made King. Some of these folks in the course of a week shouted with adoration and praise and then cursed Him to a cruel death. How could this be?
I think that the crowds were neither evil nor good exactly -they were just kind of stupid -led along and stirred up by the cultural trends and group dynamics -sucked in by what everyone else was thinking and doing. When everyone else was adoring and celebrating and running and shouting and cheering, it seemed obvious that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah. When the temple leaders were angry and hateful and shouting and cursing, it seemed obvious that Jesus was an imposter. The leaders were evil; they had an evil agenda. The mass of people, however, were simply stupid and made the stupidest choice in all of history.
I wonder how often we make really bad choices and draw really flawed conclusions and hold really wrong beliefs simply because the culture informs us what is wrong or right. We get sucked in. We are sheep. We are easily led. We want to be comfortable. We want to be normal. We want to fit in. We go along with the crowd. We pretend that we are deep thinkers and arrived at our own conclusions...and all the while the devil smirks and grins.
Lord Jesus, I am easily impressed and easily distracted and easily led. I want to be led by You, distracted by Your glory, impressed by Your goodness. Help me to hear Your voice and follow You. I no longer want to follow the crowds and trends. I admit that I am not wise enough or smart enough to figure out all of the issues -so, I am choosing to simply walk where You walk and go where You go and do what You do. I am trusting that You will lead me on right paths. I don't care what the crowds think. I care what You think. Amen.
“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
“Barabbas,” they answered.
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called Christ?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!”
It is not by accident that in Scripture we (humans) are so often likened to sheep. Sheep aren't particularly smart; they are easily led -or led astray. We are like sheep, although unlike sheep who don't think about it at all, we actually think we are smart and often even take great pride in our wrong thinking.
Less than a week previous, the crowds of people -some of the same people no doubt who were gathered here before Pilate demanding Jesus' execution had lined the street entering into Jerusalem from Bethany and waved palm fronds and sang songs and demanded that Jesus be made King. Some of these folks in the course of a week shouted with adoration and praise and then cursed Him to a cruel death. How could this be?
I think that the crowds were neither evil nor good exactly -they were just kind of stupid -led along and stirred up by the cultural trends and group dynamics -sucked in by what everyone else was thinking and doing. When everyone else was adoring and celebrating and running and shouting and cheering, it seemed obvious that Jesus was, indeed, the Messiah. When the temple leaders were angry and hateful and shouting and cursing, it seemed obvious that Jesus was an imposter. The leaders were evil; they had an evil agenda. The mass of people, however, were simply stupid and made the stupidest choice in all of history.
I wonder how often we make really bad choices and draw really flawed conclusions and hold really wrong beliefs simply because the culture informs us what is wrong or right. We get sucked in. We are sheep. We are easily led. We want to be comfortable. We want to be normal. We want to fit in. We go along with the crowd. We pretend that we are deep thinkers and arrived at our own conclusions...and all the while the devil smirks and grins.
Lord Jesus, I am easily impressed and easily distracted and easily led. I want to be led by You, distracted by Your glory, impressed by Your goodness. Help me to hear Your voice and follow You. I no longer want to follow the crowds and trends. I admit that I am not wise enough or smart enough to figure out all of the issues -so, I am choosing to simply walk where You walk and go where You go and do what You do. I am trusting that You will lead me on right paths. I don't care what the crowds think. I care what You think. Amen.
Thursday, March 29, 2012
Matthew 27:11-14 "When Men Accuse"
Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
I know that in some senses Jesus was a special case in that it was God's desire that He should die for our sin and be raised again from the dead. So, what Jesus did here may not be the right plan for every situation. Yet, He demonstrates a principle here that is often the right plan. He did not answer His accusers.
In life, we will be accused -sometimes rightly and sometimes wrongly. There is a sense in which in either case we do not need to defend ourselves. If we are rightly accused -that is, if we are guilty of something, perhaps an admission of guilt and public repentance is in order -but defending our actions or attitudes is not. We don't want to make excuses for or defend bad choices or wrong behavior.
It is a little more difficult when we are wrongly accused. Then we have a strong desire to defend ourselves - to protect our reputation and preserve our honor. But Jesus did not defend Himself. He allowed His reputation to speak for itself. Anyone who actually knew Him, knew the accusations were false. He rested in the fact that even though man accused, He was right with His Father -that was enough.
So, the principle is this: when man accuses, we don't need to defend ourselves because: 1) If we are in the wrong, there is no appropriate defense. In this case we need to acknowledge our guilt and repent. 2) If we are in the right, we need no defense because we are right with Father and ultimately He is our defender and the only opinion that matters. In this case, we forgive our accusers and leave it with God.
I know that in some senses Jesus was a special case in that it was God's desire that He should die for our sin and be raised again from the dead. So, what Jesus did here may not be the right plan for every situation. Yet, He demonstrates a principle here that is often the right plan. He did not answer His accusers.
In life, we will be accused -sometimes rightly and sometimes wrongly. There is a sense in which in either case we do not need to defend ourselves. If we are rightly accused -that is, if we are guilty of something, perhaps an admission of guilt and public repentance is in order -but defending our actions or attitudes is not. We don't want to make excuses for or defend bad choices or wrong behavior.
It is a little more difficult when we are wrongly accused. Then we have a strong desire to defend ourselves - to protect our reputation and preserve our honor. But Jesus did not defend Himself. He allowed His reputation to speak for itself. Anyone who actually knew Him, knew the accusations were false. He rested in the fact that even though man accused, He was right with His Father -that was enough.
So, the principle is this: when man accuses, we don't need to defend ourselves because: 1) If we are in the wrong, there is no appropriate defense. In this case we need to acknowledge our guilt and repent. 2) If we are in the right, we need no defense because we are right with Father and ultimately He is our defender and the only opinion that matters. In this case, we forgive our accusers and leave it with God.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Matthew 27:1-10 "Another View Of Failure"
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Peter betrayed Christ, yet he finished strong. Judas betrayed Christ and committed suicide. This reminds me of what Paul told the church in Corinth: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)
Everyone fails. That is a fact. Every person has made choices that have strayed from God's intentions and plans for us. And everyone who strays from God's plans ends up in broken, hurting places. In these broken places we experience things like guilt, shame, fear, anxiety, and emotional pain. Nobody likes this kind of brokenness, and when we are in these hurting, broken places we have some fundamental choices to make.
Many try to heal themselves -the thousands of different self-help books available indicate the popularity of this route. It never works -or at least not very well or for very long. Many self-medicate with alcohol or drugs or sex. Addictions end in more pain and hopelessness. Some decide to end the pain as Judas did, by suicide -leaving friends and family with the aftermath of guilt and pain. Clearly none of these solutions are God's plans.
But since we all fail and find ourselves in these broken places, God does have a plan for how to get out of brokenness. God's plan involves repentance. The Old Testament (Hebrew) word for repentance means to literally change direction. The New Testament (Greek) word means to change one's thinking. In a sense, repentance involves both things. When we find ourselves in emotional pain and brokenness, we need to first change our thinking -whatever thinking caused us to depart from God's plan needs to change. Our own thinking and our own choices led to this hurting place. We need to understand that and take ownership in our part of what caused the hurt: we left God's plan thinking our own plans were better. As we change our thinking, we can then change the direction we are headed. We don't continue to follow the same path we were on.
After repentance, comes a season of healing and restoration. We cannot bypass this step in the process or we will end up in more brokenness. We must begin making healing choices -making godly friendships, learning to pray, worshiping, studying God's Word, admitting to others our mistakes and hurts, pursuing godly wisdom, etc. If the hurt we are in is big -if the choices we have made have led to devastating brokenness, this step can take a while, and the temptation is to try and quicken the process by pretending that the hurt is all gone, that everything is ok. The problem with trying to shorten the healing and restoration process is that God does not usually give us the new plan quickly. Whatever His plan was before we departed from it, it changes as we experience the reality of the consequences for our choices that have led to the brokenness.
God's plans for us change. This is a good thing. This means that no matter how bad the choices we have already made, or how real the consequences of the choices we have made, God has a wonderful and meaningful plan for us from wherever we are at this moment. God's new plan takes into account the consequences of our previous choices.
So, when we find ourselves in broken places, as we all do from time to time, this is the path that God has laid out: repentance, healing & restoration, and the renewed ability to pursue God's perfect plan. This is the path that leads to salvation. All others lead to more pain and ultimately to death.
Lord, grant me the humility to admit when I have chosen wrongly -to repent and make healing choices so that I can be restored to choose Your plans for me. Thank You, Jesus, for the fulness of Your salvation -taking in to account even my mistakes and making my mess into a message of hope. Amen.
When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”
“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”
So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Peter betrayed Christ, yet he finished strong. Judas betrayed Christ and committed suicide. This reminds me of what Paul told the church in Corinth: "Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death." (2 Corinthians 7:10)
Everyone fails. That is a fact. Every person has made choices that have strayed from God's intentions and plans for us. And everyone who strays from God's plans ends up in broken, hurting places. In these broken places we experience things like guilt, shame, fear, anxiety, and emotional pain. Nobody likes this kind of brokenness, and when we are in these hurting, broken places we have some fundamental choices to make.
Many try to heal themselves -the thousands of different self-help books available indicate the popularity of this route. It never works -or at least not very well or for very long. Many self-medicate with alcohol or drugs or sex. Addictions end in more pain and hopelessness. Some decide to end the pain as Judas did, by suicide -leaving friends and family with the aftermath of guilt and pain. Clearly none of these solutions are God's plans.
But since we all fail and find ourselves in these broken places, God does have a plan for how to get out of brokenness. God's plan involves repentance. The Old Testament (Hebrew) word for repentance means to literally change direction. The New Testament (Greek) word means to change one's thinking. In a sense, repentance involves both things. When we find ourselves in emotional pain and brokenness, we need to first change our thinking -whatever thinking caused us to depart from God's plan needs to change. Our own thinking and our own choices led to this hurting place. We need to understand that and take ownership in our part of what caused the hurt: we left God's plan thinking our own plans were better. As we change our thinking, we can then change the direction we are headed. We don't continue to follow the same path we were on.
After repentance, comes a season of healing and restoration. We cannot bypass this step in the process or we will end up in more brokenness. We must begin making healing choices -making godly friendships, learning to pray, worshiping, studying God's Word, admitting to others our mistakes and hurts, pursuing godly wisdom, etc. If the hurt we are in is big -if the choices we have made have led to devastating brokenness, this step can take a while, and the temptation is to try and quicken the process by pretending that the hurt is all gone, that everything is ok. The problem with trying to shorten the healing and restoration process is that God does not usually give us the new plan quickly. Whatever His plan was before we departed from it, it changes as we experience the reality of the consequences for our choices that have led to the brokenness.
God's plans for us change. This is a good thing. This means that no matter how bad the choices we have already made, or how real the consequences of the choices we have made, God has a wonderful and meaningful plan for us from wherever we are at this moment. God's new plan takes into account the consequences of our previous choices.
So, when we find ourselves in broken places, as we all do from time to time, this is the path that God has laid out: repentance, healing & restoration, and the renewed ability to pursue God's perfect plan. This is the path that leads to salvation. All others lead to more pain and ultimately to death.
Lord, grant me the humility to admit when I have chosen wrongly -to repent and make healing choices so that I can be restored to choose Your plans for me. Thank You, Jesus, for the fulness of Your salvation -taking in to account even my mistakes and making my mess into a message of hope. Amen.
Sunday, February 19, 2012
Matthew 26:69-75 "When We Fail"
Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, and a servant-girl came to him and said, “You too were with Jesus the Galilean.” But he denied it before them all, saying, “I do not know what you are talking about.” When he had gone out to the gateway, another servant-girl saw him and said to those who were there, “This man was with Jesus of Nazareth.” And again he denied it with an oath, “I do not know the man.” A little later the bystanders came up and said to Peter, “Surely you too are one of them; for even the way you talk gives you away.” Then he began to curse and swear, “I do not know the man!” And immediately a rooster crowed. And Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said, “Before a rooster crows, you will deny Me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.
I like Peter. If there is an ordinary guy in the Bible, it's him. He was a complicated jumble of right and wrong and good and bad and profound and foolish. We see him draw his sword, preparing to defend Jesus with his life, and then a few hours later he is skulking around pretending not to know Jesus at all.
What we don't see here in this passage is that Jesus restored and forgave him; but He did. In fact, what seems clear is that Jesus was not surprised and not angry. He already knew what was going to happen. He had already warned Peter that he was going to fail. And what we know from later Scripture is that after Peter was restored, he went on to become the catalyst at Pentecost, a mighty preacher, a foundational teacher in the early church, and ultimately a martyr for the Kingdom of Christ. Jesus already knew that was going to happen as well. At this point in the story, Peter is struggling, but the story isn't finished yet. Peter finishes strong.
This brings me to us. Because Peter was such an ordinary guy, we ordinary people are a lot like him. We are, in fact, just like Peter. One minute we are praying and worshiping and serving God with all of our hearts, and the next we are saying or doing or thinking something completely wrong and contrary to everything Christ has done in us. We too are a complicated jumble of right and wrong and good and bad and profound and foolish. And we too are forgiven. Jesus already knew our junk when He called us.
Don't misunderstand. I'm not saying that our sinful garbage is ok. It is harmful to us and hurtful to the Kingdom and not at all ok with God. But whatever we are struggling with today, God already knew -it didn't take Him by surprise. And we are already forgiven. So, when we fall down, we get back up and set our hearts on Jesus and get back to Kingdom work. Just like Peter. Whatever the struggles of the past and even the present, by God's grace we can finish strong. Just like Peter.
Dear Father, I ask that you allow our failures and struggles of today to become our testimonies tomorrow. Thank You that even knowing our weaknesses and failures, You chose us to be Your own. But we don't want to stay in the harmful, hurtful cycle of failure. Help us, Lord, to finish strong. Amen.
I like Peter. If there is an ordinary guy in the Bible, it's him. He was a complicated jumble of right and wrong and good and bad and profound and foolish. We see him draw his sword, preparing to defend Jesus with his life, and then a few hours later he is skulking around pretending not to know Jesus at all.
What we don't see here in this passage is that Jesus restored and forgave him; but He did. In fact, what seems clear is that Jesus was not surprised and not angry. He already knew what was going to happen. He had already warned Peter that he was going to fail. And what we know from later Scripture is that after Peter was restored, he went on to become the catalyst at Pentecost, a mighty preacher, a foundational teacher in the early church, and ultimately a martyr for the Kingdom of Christ. Jesus already knew that was going to happen as well. At this point in the story, Peter is struggling, but the story isn't finished yet. Peter finishes strong.
This brings me to us. Because Peter was such an ordinary guy, we ordinary people are a lot like him. We are, in fact, just like Peter. One minute we are praying and worshiping and serving God with all of our hearts, and the next we are saying or doing or thinking something completely wrong and contrary to everything Christ has done in us. We too are a complicated jumble of right and wrong and good and bad and profound and foolish. And we too are forgiven. Jesus already knew our junk when He called us.
Don't misunderstand. I'm not saying that our sinful garbage is ok. It is harmful to us and hurtful to the Kingdom and not at all ok with God. But whatever we are struggling with today, God already knew -it didn't take Him by surprise. And we are already forgiven. So, when we fall down, we get back up and set our hearts on Jesus and get back to Kingdom work. Just like Peter. Whatever the struggles of the past and even the present, by God's grace we can finish strong. Just like Peter.
Dear Father, I ask that you allow our failures and struggles of today to become our testimonies tomorrow. Thank You that even knowing our weaknesses and failures, You chose us to be Your own. But we don't want to stay in the harmful, hurtful cycle of failure. Help us, Lord, to finish strong. Amen.
Friday, February 17, 2012
"Matthew 26:57-68" The Problem With Heresy Hunters
Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled. But Peter followed him at a distance, right up to the courtyard of the
high priest. He entered and sat down with the guards to see the outcome....
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
It is very likely that the high priest and elders and religious authorities sincerely thought that they were doing the right thing, protecting the people from a blasphemous heretic. But they were wrong. They were so wrong that, in essence, they were accusing God of evil -a serious charge.
I have to wonder, how did these men get to this point? How did religious men -men who actually affirm and serve the One True God -end up charging The Messiah with blasphemy, mocking Him, and deciding to kill Him? How did religious teachers and spiritual leaders end up watching the greatest movement of God on this earth and come to the conclusion that it was evil and had to be stopped?
This concerns me because I am a spiritual leader and teacher. It would be easy to assume that these leaders that accused Jesus were simply evil people and that their inherent evilness caused them to do evil things. But this event is historical; this really happened. And in real life, people are complicated and there are reasons that otherwise decent people make horribly wrong decisions and choices.
I think it is probable that these leaders missed the fact that Jesus was the Messiah because Jesus didn't act like the Messiah they were expecting. There is a sense in which the actual Truth when it finally was revealed did not exactly match the doctrines and theology they had been formulating and teaching for years. And if Jesus was not actually the Messiah, they felt it was their duty to protect the people and defend the glory of God. That is what spiritual leaders do, right?
But what if that's not what we are supposed to be doing? What if my job as a spiritual leader is not so much to protect those under my care from wolves and heretics as it is to teach them how to spot and avoid wolves and heretics? What if my job is to teach people how to love God and hear His voice and follow His leading? That, of course, would be a much more difficult job -I mean, anyone can become adept at spotting heretics. Spotting heretics is easy -they think differently than us. Learning to love God? That is more difficult. That is a heart thing, not just a mind thing.
So, teaching people to actually love God and authentically pursue truth by listening and obeying is difficult. But the rewards are great; those under our care end up loving God, hearing His voice, and following His leading.
Father God, help me not to get so caught up in defending my doctrinal positions and theological understandings that I miss the bigger point. Teach me, instead, to love You and in loving You, to love others as You love them. Amen.
The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”
Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”
“He is worthy of death,” they answered.
Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him and said, “Prophesy to us, Messiah. Who hit you?”
It is very likely that the high priest and elders and religious authorities sincerely thought that they were doing the right thing, protecting the people from a blasphemous heretic. But they were wrong. They were so wrong that, in essence, they were accusing God of evil -a serious charge.
I have to wonder, how did these men get to this point? How did religious men -men who actually affirm and serve the One True God -end up charging The Messiah with blasphemy, mocking Him, and deciding to kill Him? How did religious teachers and spiritual leaders end up watching the greatest movement of God on this earth and come to the conclusion that it was evil and had to be stopped?
This concerns me because I am a spiritual leader and teacher. It would be easy to assume that these leaders that accused Jesus were simply evil people and that their inherent evilness caused them to do evil things. But this event is historical; this really happened. And in real life, people are complicated and there are reasons that otherwise decent people make horribly wrong decisions and choices.
I think it is probable that these leaders missed the fact that Jesus was the Messiah because Jesus didn't act like the Messiah they were expecting. There is a sense in which the actual Truth when it finally was revealed did not exactly match the doctrines and theology they had been formulating and teaching for years. And if Jesus was not actually the Messiah, they felt it was their duty to protect the people and defend the glory of God. That is what spiritual leaders do, right?
But what if that's not what we are supposed to be doing? What if my job as a spiritual leader is not so much to protect those under my care from wolves and heretics as it is to teach them how to spot and avoid wolves and heretics? What if my job is to teach people how to love God and hear His voice and follow His leading? That, of course, would be a much more difficult job -I mean, anyone can become adept at spotting heretics. Spotting heretics is easy -they think differently than us. Learning to love God? That is more difficult. That is a heart thing, not just a mind thing.
So, teaching people to actually love God and authentically pursue truth by listening and obeying is difficult. But the rewards are great; those under our care end up loving God, hearing His voice, and following His leading.
Father God, help me not to get so caught up in defending my doctrinal positions and theological understandings that I miss the bigger point. Teach me, instead, to love You and in loving You, to love others as You love them. Amen.
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