7 Statements that got Jesus Crucified

Jesus said a lot of controversial things in His three years of public ministry, enough to confuse some people and anger others to the point of desiring to have him murdered. At College Park’s Good Friday service last night, they had seven vignettes of statements that Jesus Christ made that incited the religious leaders to seek for His death on the cross. These religious leaders thought that by killing the rebel who was stirring up the people and making these claims they would be rid of Him for good. But, because the statements He made were completely true, they had no understanding that by killing their Messiah they were actually saving everyone who believed in Him.

1. “Before Abraham was, I AM” – John 8:58. It might sound like bad grammar, but in this statement Jesus is referring back to the story of Moses when God revealed His great and holy name “I AM who I AM”. Jesus was claiming equality with this God, saying that He too, existed before Abraham. To those who considered Him just a regular man, this was blasphemy. But this was no ordinary man…

2. “I and the Father are One” – John 5:10. Again, Jesus is speaking to the Jewish religious leaders of the day, claiming that He and God were completely equal on every level. If He was just a prophet, then this would have been blasphemy, and crazy talk for a Jew to compare himself to God.

3. “If God were your Father, you would love Me, for I proceeded forth and have come from God, for I have not even come on My own initiative, but He sent Me” – John 8:42. Here Jesus makes 2 bold claims. First, that they do not actually know the God they worship, because they have not recognized and loved Jesus. And second that Jesus came from God, making Himself out to be more than a prophet.

4. “Destroy this temple, and in 3 days I will raise it up” - John 2:19. The Temple was the very place where the Jewish people met God. It was the place of continual sacrifices, making atonement for their sin. In this statement Jesus is claiming to be a temple that will last forever. That the place of sacrifice is finished in His death and resurrection, and He is now the everlasting sacrifice for our sins. When He said it though, the people, including His own disciples, did not understand that He was going to rise from the dead.

5. “No one can come to Me unless granted to Him by the Father” - John 6:65. This statement made even some of His disciples turn away. Jesus was saying to them that salvation is not based on the works of the Law, or anything that they could do on their own effort, because our obedience will forever be incomplete. Our earthly minds would not naturally embrace this kind of salvation – our sin nature is hard wired to desire to earn favor based on our good behavior and deeds. It is only in the wooing of God Himself that we can be saved by faith.

6. “I am the bread that came down from heaven” - John 6:21. Jesus said this one day after breaking two loaves of bread in half and feeding 5,000 people. In this passage He refers back to the manna that was provided for the Israelites while they were wandering in the wilderness, and here claims to be greater than this bread. The disciples respond by asking Him to give us that bread always, and Jesus’ response is that He is the bread of Life, and anyone who eats of Him will never hunger again.

7. “But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven” - Matt 26:64. Jesus made this statement while standing before the High Priest during His trial. The high priest asked Him to tell them plainly whether He is the Christ, the Son of God. Jesus answered by quoting two old testament passages – Psalm 110 and Daniel 7, effectively saying “yes, I am the Christ, the Son of God”. At this, the high priest tore His robes and called for Jesus to be crucified, showing us one of two ways we can handle Jesus. Either by refusing to believe His Word as true, rejecting Him as Messiah, attempting to put Him to death or ignore Him in an effort to continue in our own life. Or by believing that what He said was true, that He is the Messiah, and therefore surrendering our life to Him and believing that through Him alone we have salvation.

Even in light of these statements, Jesus still went to the cross on His own initiative. He chose to obey the Father and die, in order that we could truly live. Friday is called “good” because in the horror of the cross grace and salvation were born. In his song, Phil Wickham says “When blood and water hit the ground, walls we couldn’t move came crashing down. And we were free and made alive, the day that True Love died…”

As we reflect on and remember His death, take heart and lift up your head, because Sunday is coming…

 

Romans 1-3

I love to write out what I am memorizing as I finish chunks of scripture. It helps me synthesize and remember the passages, but this chunk is a bit daunting to think of writing by hand. So, please excuse this long post. I hope you are encouraged by Paul’s letter to the church in Rome as much as I am as I memorize this great letter.

Chapter 1:

Paul, a bond servant of Christ Jesus, called as an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which He promised beforehand through His prophets in the Holy scriptures, concerning His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrections from the dead according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord; through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles, for His name’s sake, among whom you also are the called of Christ Jesus. To all those beloved of God in Rome, called as saints, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, because your faith is being proclaimed throughout the entire world. For God, whom I serve in my spirit in the preaching of the gospel of His Son, is my witness as to how unceasingly I make mention of you; always in my prayers offering request, that if perhaps now at last by the will of God I may succeed in coming to you. For I long to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift to you, that you may be established. That is, that I may be encouraged together with you while among you, each of us by the others faith, both yours and mine. I do not want you to be unaware, brethren, that often I have planned to come to you, but have been prevented thus far, that I may obtain some fruit from among you also, even as among the rest of the Gentiles. For I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, to the wise and to the foolish. So, for my part, I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are at Rome.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to all who believe, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, as it is written “for the righteous man shall live by faith”. For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them, for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man, and of birds, of four-footed animals and crawling creatures.

Therefore, God gave them over in the lust of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. Therefore God gave them over to degrading passions, for their women exchanged the natural function for that which is unnatural, and in the same way also the men abandoned the natural function of the woman and burned in their desire for one another; men with men committing indecent acts, and receiving in their own persons the due penalty of their error. And just as they did not see fit to acknowledge God any longer, God gave them over to do those things which are not proper. Being filled with all unrighteousness, wickedness, greed evil; full of envy, murder, strife, malice, deceit; they are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, arrogant, insolent, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, without knowledge, unloving, untrustworthy, unmerciful. And although they know the ordinance of God, that those who practice such things are worthy of death, they not only do the same but also give hearty approval to those who practice them.

Chapter 2:

Therefore, you have no excuse, every one of you who passes judgment, for in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself, for you who judge practice the same things. And we know that the judgment of God rightly falls on those who practice such things. But do you suppose this, O man, when you pass judgment on those who practice such things and do the same yourself, that you will escape the judgment of God? Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindess and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath for yourselves in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; who will render to each person according to his deeds. To those who by perseverance in doing good seek for glory, honor and immortality; eternal life. But to those who are selfishly ambitious, and do not obey the truth but obey unrighteousness; wrath and indignation.

There will be tribulation and distress for every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Greek. But glory, honor and peace to everyone who does good, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. For there is no partiality with God. For all who have sinned without the Law will also perish without the Law; but all who have sinned under the Law will be judged by the Law. For it is not the hearers of the Law who are just before God, but the doers of the Law will be justified. For when the Gentiles, who do not have the Law, do instinctively the things of the law, these, not having the Law, are a law unto themselves, in that they show the works of the Law written on their hearts, their conscience bearing witness and their thoughts alternately accusing or else defending them, in that day when, according to my gospel, God will judge the secrets of men through Christ Jesus.

But, if you bear the name Jew, and rely upon the Law, and boast in God, and know His will, and approve the things that are essential, being instructed out of the Law, and are confident that you yourself are a guide to the blind, a light to those who are in darkness, a corrector of the foolish, a teacher to the immature, having in the Law the embodiment of knowledge and of the truth. You therefore, who teach another, do you not teach yourself? You who preach that one should not steal, do you steal? You who say that one should not commit adultery, do you commit adultery? You who abhor idols, do you rob temples? You who boast in the Law, through your breaking the Law, do you dishonor God?

For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you, as it is written. For indeed, circumcision is of value if you practice the law. But if you are a transgressor of the Law, your circumcision has become uncircumcision. And if the uncircumcised man keeps the requirements of the Law, will not his uncircumcision be regarded as circumcision? And he who is physically uncircumcised, if he keeps the Law, will he not judge you, who, though having the letter of the Law and circumcision, are a transgressor of the Law? For he is not a Jew who is one outwardly, nor is circumcision that which is outward in the flesh. But he is a Jew who is one inwardly, and circumcision is that which is of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the letter, and his praise is not from men, but from God.

Chapter 3:

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the benefit of circumcision? Great in every respect! First, that they were entrusted with the oracles of God. What then? If some did not believe, their unbelief will not nullify the faithfulness of God, will it? May it never be! Rather, let God be found true, though every man be found a liar, as it is written “That you may be justified in your words and prevail when you are judged”. But if our unrighteousness demonstrates the righteousness of God, what shall we say? The God who inflicts wrath is not unrighteous, is He? May it never be! For otherwise, how will God judge the world? And if through my lie the truth of God abounded to His glory, then why am I also still being judged as a sinner? And why not say (as we are slanderously reported and as some claim we say) “let us do evil that good may come”? Their condemnation is just.

What then? Are we better than they? Not at all. For we have already charged that both Jews and Greeks are all under sin, as it is written: “There is none righteous, not even one. There is none who understands, there is none who seeks for God. All have turned aside; Together they have become useless. Their throat is an open grave, with their tongues they keep on deceiving. The poison of asps is under their lips. Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Their feet are swift to shed blood. Destruction and misery are in their paths. The paths of peace they have not known. There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 

Now we know that whatever the Law says, it speaks to those under the Law; that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God, because by the works of the Law no flesh will be justified in His sight; for through the Law comes the knowledge of sin. But now, apart from the Law, the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the prophets. Even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe, for there is no distinction. For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace, through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus, whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God, He passed over the sins previously committed.

For the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just, and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Where then is boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? Of works? No, but by a law of faith. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from works of the Law. Or is God the God of Jews only? Is He not the God of Gentiles also? Yes, of Gentiles also, since indeed the God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith, is One. Do we then nullify the Law through faith? May it never be! On the contrary, we establish the Law.

Amen. On to chapter 4!!!

Treasuring Jesus

On Sunday, Pastor Bill taught from Matthew 6:19-24:

Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in and steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. The eye is the lamp of the body; so then if your eye is clear, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness! No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.

This is a rich passage that both convicts and comforts. There is so much to get out of it, but one thing from the sermon stuck out to me that I have been mulling over the past two days.

for where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

Where your treasure is [present tense, right now, in this moment], there will [future tense, later, ultimately at the end] your heart be also.

Treasure leads the heart. Or, to say it backwards, your heart will follow after what you find most important. This is why it is so crucial what we are treasuring right now. What we choose to spend our time investing in at this time is where our hearts will lead us in the future – either closer to Jesus or farther away from Him.

There are many ways I store up treasure on earth – investing my time, energy and talents in things that are just going to burn up one day – rather than storing up treasure that will last for eternity. One would think that eternity would trump temporal every time. But sadly, it doesn’t.

Most often it is because I fail to see Jesus as the ultimate treasure.

When I am pulled in by the things of this world, my “eye” becomes dark and my vision is blurred, and suddenly my allegiance has shifted. You see, it’s not about the stuff; stuff is fine when viewed rightly. It’s about attitude, and recognizing that Jesus and His kingdom are the only things that are going to last forever. Everything else, everything else, is going to burn up. We are called by Jesus to invest our lives in eternal things, and rightly understand that earthly things, while sometimes good, are all temporary.

Where is your treasure being stored right now?

He’s Got the Whole World…..

At Fall Retreat this weekend our speaker Pastor Mark Vroegop (lead pastor of my church – College Park), was speaking on how Christ is the Core of everything from Colossians 1:15-20. I encourage you to read that passage before you watch the video below. The truths he shared with us from those few short verses were so rich – I wish you could have been there! He showed us this video from a talk that Louie Giglio gave as part of one of the sessions, and I was so encouraged by it and was reminded of just how great and glorious our God is. I hope it encourages you as well!

 

Wow. Isn’t our God awesome?

True Confession

I have a theology crush on Matthew Henry. 

Yes, that one. The theologian who lived before America even became a nation. The one who preached the Gospel in Chester, England in the 17th and early 18th Century and died in 1714. The one who was loved and renowned by men such as Charles Spurgeon and George Whitfield.

Henry knew the Bible and wrote with a depth and insight that leaves one breathless. How does he do it?

Take this, for example, on John ch. 1:6-9

There was a profound silence concerning him [Jesus], till John Baptist came for a witness to him. Now observe, (1.) The matter of his testimony: He came to bear witness to the light. Light is a thing which witnesses for itself, and carries its own evidence along with it; but to those who shut their eyes against the light it is necessary there should be those that bear witness to it. Christ’s light needs not man’s testimony, but the world’s darkness does. John was like the night watchman that goes round the town, proclaiming the approach of the morning light to those that have closed their eyes, and are not willing themselves to observe it; or like that watchman that was set to tell those who asked him what of the night that the morning comes, and, if you will enquire, enquire ye, Isa. 21:11, 12…

(2.) The design of his testimony: That all men through him might believe; not in him, but in Christ, whose way he was sent to prepare. He taught men to look through him, and pass through him, to Christ; through the doctrine of repentance for sin to that of faith in Christ. He prepared men for the reception and entertainment of Christ and his gospel, by awakening them to a sight and sense of sin; and that, their eyes being thereby opened, they might be ready to admit those beams of divine light which, in the person and doctrine of the Messiah, were now ready to shine in their faces.

And on and on he goes. Henry takes the Word of God and elevates it through his commentary, leaving no doubt in the reader’s mind that this Messiah, this Jesus that he is referring to, is higher and more beautiful than anything on earth, and yet at the same time both personable and approachable. He is both lofty in his review of the Word of God, and understandable in his communication of that Word to us.

His commentary also challenges me out of my complacency and routine. Are we not also, as those whose eyes have admitted “those beams of divine light”, to be “windows” to Christ?  That those whose eyes are still closed and in darkness would look through us and see Christ, as we live and speak the doctrine of repentance for sin and faith in Christ?

So much depth and beauty can be found in the written word; indeed, it is often a window to the very soul of the author penning them.

26: Fingerprints

To finish off this little 26th birthday weekend series, here are:

 26 Fingerprints of God’s Faithfulness

In the past 26 years He has….

1. woken me up each morning

2. answered my prayer to see the world

3. guided my steps each day and in every decision

4. blessed me with the most amazing family

5. provided for each of my 18 surgeries

6. never given up on me

7. given me rest in weary times

8. placed people in my life who encourage, challenge and bless me in countless ways

9. gave me more than I could have asked or imagined for my first home “on my own” here in Indy

10. designed me with a spirit of adventure and independence, able to handle constant moves and life changes growing up

11. provided solid Bible teaching in almost every place we’ve lived

12. kept every single one of His promises

13. continually provided outlets for me to nurture and serve others with the gifts He gave me

14. taught (and is teaching) me what it means to wait with hope

15. placed people in my life as anchors and role models of who He wants me to become

16. provided for my financial needs in full-time ministry

17. always been enough

18. listened and heard every prayer I’ve uttered

19. designed a special place outdoors (parks, trails, benches, forests, beaches, lakes,  etc) in every place He has sent me, knowing that I best connect with Him when experiencing His creation

20. filled my days with surprises

21. shown me how to love people well

22. given my life purpose

23. planned a path for my life that He knows and will bring to pass

24. loved me enough to discipline me when needed

25. perfect timing, even when I think otherwise

26. promised me a future and a hope, and has more in store for me than I could ever ask or imagine!!

“Behold, I am with you and will keep you wherever you go, and will bring you back to this land; for I will not leave you until I have done what I promised you.”   – Gen 28:15

“For the mountains may be removed and the hills may shake, but my lovingkindness will not be removed from you, and my covenant of peace will not be shaken’, says the Lord who has compassion on you.” – Isaiah 54:10

“The Lord your God is in your midst, a victorious warrior. He will exult over you with joy, He will be quiet in His love, He will rejoice over you with shouts of joy!”   – Zephaniah 3:17

amen.

It’s Not About The Weight Anymore (Part 2)

It’s all about the attitude.

“Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God with your body.”  1 Cor 6:19-20

This is our theme verse for this whole topic. And in this week’s post, we are going to be focusing on our attitude towards our bodies, and towards food. What you believe about food and who is in charge of your body are directly linked, and knowing both will help as you seek to make wise choices in both areas.

Part 1: Food

What first pops into your head when you think about food? Or, another way to ask the same question, what does food mean to you?

Security?

Planning?

Comfort?

Work?

Joy?

Stress?

Necessity?

Money?

Sustainment?

Deserved?

As I have been pondering on this question for the past few months, I have come to a startling revelation. For me, food means joy and comfort, for the most part. But even more than that, deep down I believe that I deserve food, and even good food, not just any old food. For a little while I tried to deny it – of course I don’t really believe that I deserve food, I told myself. No, I said, I believe all those verses that talk about how everything we have comes from God (Acts 17:28, Col 1:15, John 17:7), and that without Him there is nothing (John 1:3) and the ones that talk about gluttony being against God (side note: more to come on that in the next post!) and that our bodies are temples (1 Cor 6:19).

Right?

Yes. But then right alongside those beliefs came slowly creeping in the self-made belief that I deserve to eat whatever I want, whenever I want, regardless of the consequences. As I thought about what, and when, I ate, and realized that often it wasn’t because I was hungry. It was because I was sad, or lonely, or tired, or bored, or it was chocolate and I couldn’t refuse it, or because it was just sitting there, or it was mealtime, or I just felt like it.

There are many factors that lead me to this kind of thinking, including our culture. We live in a culture that declares our independence from responsibility. You want it, you can have it. In fact, you deserve it! Treat yourself, and don’t pay any attention to the consequences. You can just take a pill to cover whatever your decisions bring – excessive weight gain, diabetes, high cholesterol, back pain, knee pain, etc (note: I realize that some of those things can be genetically prone, but at the same time the truth is that we bring a lot of it on ourselves by our poor choices, especially when it comes to how and what we eat). This is why the Scriptures repeatedly tell us to set our minds on the things above, not on the things of the earth (Col. 3:2), and to NOT be conformed to this world (Rom. 12:2), and to discipline ourselves for godliness (2 Tim. 2:1-7), and to be set apart from the world.

Part 2: Our bodies

Ok. Let’s move on to our attitude regarding our bodies. Our attitude towards food and how we eat is one insight into who we believe is in charge of our body. For me I have realized that it all boils down to this: when it comes to food, I love myself more than I love Jesus and His Word. Ouch. This is the one that I tried the hardest to deny, and then on Sunday I read a couple excerpts from an excellent book called A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent that hit me hard and caused me to see the ways that I put self-love above Christ-love. Vincent says that:

“One of the leading causes of my natural tendency to self-love is fear. I fear that if I do not love myself there would be no one left to love me quite so well as I do. An even more significant cause of self-love is a lack of persuasion that there is someone out there who is worthy to be loved more than I.” (p. 29-30)

When I am sad, or lonely, or tired, or bored, and I turn to food, I am in essence saying that food will satisfy me more than Christ could, and that I doubt Christ’s ability to fully love me. I am loving myself more than I love Christ by focusing on my own emotions and trying to satisfy them on my own instead of turning to Christ and allowing Him to be my soul’s satisfaction. The problem with self-love is that we can never love ourselves enough. The food doesn’t work, so then we turn to other things. In talking about lusts, Vincent says “They promise me fullness, and their promises are so deliciously sweet that I often find myself giving in to them as if they were friends that have my best interests at heart.”

The food is not to blame. When viewed rightly food is a great blessing, as is everything that comes from the Lord. But in order for it to be a blessing, I must view it rightly: first, as coming from the Lord, second, as something that I do not deserve, and third, as a means of satisfying my physical hunger, not something given to satisfy my emotions or indulge my whims.

And then, the heart of it really comes down to learning to love Christ more than I love myself. See, the two really are linked. Because as I learn to put Christ first, and turn to Him to satisfy my heart and hunger, then my attitude towards food will automatically fall into line. And then, amazingly, all of a sudden it isn’t about the weight anymore. It’s about Jesus, and loving Him more than food or myself, just as He created it to be.

As you’ve read through this (and congrats if you’ve made it this far!!), I would love to hear any thoughts/comments or reflections from you on how you answered the first question, and anything the Lord has put on your heart so far.

Till next time…..

Two Weeks Later

“This I recall to mind, and therefore, I have hope. The Lord’s lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. ‘The Lord is my portion’, says my soul, therefore, I have hope in Him. The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him.” – Lamentations 3:21-25

What a great difference a day can make! It is hard to believe that today is the two week mark since my surgery. Even more amazing is that just two weeks later I feel almost back to normal! The swelling is almost gone, as well as the bruising. My energy continues to increase a little bit each day, and my need for medicine continues to decrease. In fact, the past three days I haven’t needed any during the day, and only tylenol at night to help me sleep! The Lord has been so faithful these past two weeks, and I love how He created our bodies to heal quickly. Although I’ve gone through the surgery/healing process many times, I am still amazed each time at how quickly I begin to regain energy.

Day 10, last Thursday, was my “hump day”, as I call it, where my energy/output exceeded my weariness/pain. On day 10 I was able to once again bend forward, lift more than 10 pounds, sneeze and blow my nose! It was great to be awake the entire day, and even more to have enough energy to bake cookies and brownies for the open house we had that night, and then hang out with all the fun people who were able to join us for the evening! I do still tire somewhat easily, and I am so thankful for a few more days to rest and recover this week.

Jesus continues to give me confirmations that this was the right time to have the eye removed, including last Friday when Dr. Lee called to let me know that all the pathology reports on my eye and the cyst came back normal, but that when they cut into the eye, they found a completely benign tumor that had formed from scar tissue. It is nothing to be worried about, but the presence of the tumor is most likely one of the primary causes of the calcification of my eye and the increase in pressure. It has probably been developing since the eye shut down shortly after I was born, but over the last few years had really begun to harden and become a problem.

Isn’t the Lord just so amazingly good? My prayer for months before surgery was that the Lord would continue to lead me, and show me that this was where He wanted me to be. One thing Dr. Lee and I had talked about was to have the surgery done at a point where afterwards I wouldn’t regret it or wish that I had kept the eye. So I’ve been praying that the Lord would confirm my steps and make that very thing true of my choice, and He has done so in some way or another pretty much every day since Tuesday, May 17th. I have felt every single one of your prayers, and have loved your words of encouragement both before and after the operation. They truly spoke courage into my soul on days when I was in pain, and gave me strength to press on. So thank you, dear ones, for walking this path with me. I love you all and am abundantly blessed to know each one of you.

The Sun Stops Shining

The crucifixion from Matthew 27, Mark 15, Luke 23 and John 19

“So, you’re a King, are you?” the Roman soldiers jeered. “Then you’ll need a crown and a robe.” They gave Jesus a crown made out of thorns. And put a purple robe on him. And pretended to bow down to him. “Your Majesty!” they said.

Then they whipped him. And spat on him. They didn’t understand that this was the Prince of Life, the King of heaven and earth, who had come to rescue them. The soldiers made him a sign – “Our King” and nailed it to a wooden cross. They walked up a hill outside the city. Jesus carried the cross on his back. Jesus had never done anything wrong. But they were going to kill him the way criminals were killed.

They nailed Jesus to the cross.

“Father, forgive them,” Jesus gasped. “They don’t understand what they are doing.”

“You say you’ve come to rescue us!” people shouted. “But you can’t even rescue yourself!”

But they were wrong. Jesus could have rescued himself. A legion of angels would have flown to his side – if he’d called.

“If you were really the Son of God, you could just climb down off that cross!” they said. And of course they were right. Jesus could have just climbed down. Actually, he could have just said a word and made it all stop. Like when he healed that girl. And stilled the storm. And fed 5,000 people.

But Jesus stayed.

You see, they didn’t understand. It wasn’t the nails that kept Jesus there. It was love.

“Papa?” Jesus cried, frantically searching the sky. “Papa? Where are you? Don’t leave me!”

And for the first time – and the last – when he spoke, nothing happened. Just a horrible, endless silence. God didn’t answer. He turned away from his Boy.

Tears rolled down Jesus’ face. The face of the One who would wipe away every tear from every eye.

Even though it was midday, a dreadful darkness covered the face of the world. The sun could not shine. The earth trembled and quaked. The great mountains shook. Rocks split in two. Until it seemed that the whole world would break. That creation itself would tear apart.

The full force of the storm of God’s fierce anger at sin was coming down. On his own Son. Instead of his people. It was the only way God could destroy sin, and not destroy his children whose hearts were filled with sin.

Then Jesus shouted out in a loud voice “It is finished!”

And it was. He had done it. Jesus had rescued the whole world.

“Father!” Jesus cried. “I give you my life.” And with a great sigh he let himself die.

Strange clouds and shadows filled the sky. Purple, orange, black. Like a bruise.

Jesus’ friends gently carried Jesus. They laid Jesus in a new tomb carved out of rock. How could Jesus die? What had gone wrong? They didn’t know anything anymore. Except they did know their hearts were breaking.

“That’s the end of Jesus,” the Leaders said.

But, just to be sure, they sent strong soldiers to guard the tomb. They hauled a huge stone in front of the door to the tomb. So that no one could get in.

Or out.

To be concluded on Sunday……..

copyright 2007 by Zondervan

A Dark Night in the Garden

The garden of Gethsemane, from Luke 22, Mark 14, John 18

The wind was picking up now, blowing clouds across the moon, shrouding the garden in darkness. “Stay up with me?” Jesus asked his friends. They said yes and waited under the olive trees, but they were tired and soon fell asleep.

Jesus walked ahead alone, into the dark. He needed to talk to his heavenly Father.

He knew it was time for him to die. They had planned it long ago, he and his Father. Jesus was going to take the punishment for all the wrong things anybody has ever done, or ever would do.

“Papa! Father!” Jesus cried. And he fell to the ground. “Is there any other way to get your children back? To heal their hearts? To get rid of the poison?”

But Jesus knew – there was no other way. All the poison of sin was going to have to go into his own heart. God was going to pour into Jesus’ heart all the sadness and brokenness in people’s hearts. He was going to pour into Jesus’ body all the sickness in people’s bodies. God was going to have to blame his Son for everything that had gone wrong. It would crush Jesus.

But there was something else, something even more horrible. When people ran away from God, they lost God – it was what happened when they ran away. Not being close to God was like a punishment. Jesus was going to take that punishment.

Jesus knew what that meant. He was going to lose his Father – and that, Jesus knew, would break his heart in two. Violent sobs shook Jesus’ whole body. Then Jesus was quiet. Like a lamb. “I trust you Papa,” he said. “Whatever you say, I will do.”

Suddenly, through the trees, a glitter of starlight flashed off steel. Into the quiet garden came whispers, muffled voices, clanking metal – and the sound of boots marching.

Jesus stood up. He woke his friends. “Now is the time,” he said gently. “Everything that was written about me – what God has been telling his people all through the long years – it’s all coming true.”

And into the night, with burning torches and lanterns, with swords and clubs and armor, they came – an army of soldiers. Judas led them straight to Jesus so they would arrest him. Jesus was waiting for them.

Peter lept up, took a sword and tried to defend Jesus. He sliced off a guard’s ear. Jesus immediately touched the guard and healed him. “Peter,” he said, “this is not the way.”

Peter didn’t realize that no army, no matter how big, could ever arrest Jesus. Not unless Jesus let them. Then Jesus, who had never done anything except love people, was arrested, as if he were a criminal. Jesus’ friends were afraid. So they ran away and hid in dark shadows.

The guards marched Jesus off and took him to the Leaders. The Leaders put Jesus on trial. “Are you the Son of God?” they asked.

“I Am,” Jesus said.

“Who do you think you are? To call yourself God? You must die for calling yourself the Son of God!”

Only the Romans were allowed to kill prisoners, so the Leaders made a plan. “We’ll tell the Romans, ‘This man wants to be our King!’ And then they will crucify him.”

But it would be all right. It was God’s Plan.

“It was for this reason that I was born into the world,” Jesus said.

To be continued tomorrow……

Copyright 2007 by Zondervan