Matthew 28:16-20 NIV
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ I end my study of the gospel of Matthew today. The resurrection of Jesus has occurred and the remaining apostles in Jerusalem travel north to Galilee. Notice that Matthew highlights the suicide of Judas Iscariot. The 12 apostles are now eleven. The women had told them what the angel had directed them to report. In Galilee they would see Jesus, the risen Lord. And just as the women had said they met with Jesus upon a mountain, possibly Mt. Tabor where the transfiguration of Jesus occurred. There the risen Lord Jesus gave them their mission, a mission for every Christian in every place and time. Jesus' final message is known as the Great Commission. Matthew has the distinction of providing the scriptural passage that the church adopts as it's purpose and mission. The other gospels contain similar direction from the Lord, but Matthew's version is the most popular. Compare the other gospels and what that says about the mission of the church. The oldest gospel account is Mark's. He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well.” Mark 16:15-18 NIV Some of what Mark says here is a bit alarming. I wouldn't want people to drink poison because they are believers. But the basic message is to go and preach the saving good news to all creation and the life-giving power of God will accompany their ministry. Luke's gospel is part of the three synoptic gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke. These share so many similarities, word for word in many cases, that scholars suggest that Mark was source material for the authors of Matthew and Luke. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:46-49 NIV Here there isn't so much a sending forth like the other two, but we need to realize that Luke had a sequel called The Acts of The Apostles, or simply Acts. On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.” But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” Acts 1:4-5, 8 NIV What you can see from Matthew, Mark and Luke is a consistent message. 1) Proclaim the good news 2) to everyone everywhere 3) and God will empower the church to do so Finally John's gospel is very different from the other three accounts. Yet the mission of the church is the same. Again Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyoneʼs sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven.” John 20:21-23 NIV The authority of Christ is given to the Spirit empowered church to proclaim forgiveness of sins in the name of Jesus Christ. Both Mark, Luke and John highlight the message of forgiveness as the good news. In Matthew forgiveness is implied in the act of baptism. For in baptism we are dying to the power of sinful temptation in our bodies and rising in the power of God's grace to love others purely. Therefore the gospel is good news about God's choice to show us mercy by forgiving our sins. Paul says it best. All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting peopleʼs sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christʼs ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christʼs behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who had no sin to be a sin offering for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:18-21 NIV Paul helps us to see what forgiveness means. It means that we are no longer estranged from our creator. Sin drove humanity from paradise and an intimate life with God. But now through Christ God is offering a way back into His embrace. Forgiveness restores our relationship with God. We are reconciled and we are called to announce the possibility of reconciliation to all people. John's gospel has an epilogue of sorts in which Jesus establishes Peter as leader of the church. Jesus reconciles with Peter after Peter had denied Him. Jesus gave Peter a mission. FEED MY SHEEP. Take care of my sheep. Tend the flock. This is a particular mission for church leadership. While the church goes about the mission of proclaiming the good news of forgiveness and reconciliation in Christ, the church leadership is to be providing nurture for the workers. Preachers give strength to the body of Christ with life giving words, for the bible is God breathed. The Spirit filled words of the bible FEED the church and on the strength of that spiritual food, we go and make disciples. Returning now to Matthew's gospel and the Great Commission let's break down the different parts. First the Great Commission can be simplified to its basic message: "make disciples". The rest reveals how. The Great Commission is bookended by a promise of the shared power and authority of Christ with the church. As the church goes out into the whole world and makes disciples, Christ goes with us. We have everything we need to accomplish the mission for the all authority in heaven and on earth is given to Christ, and Christ is with the disciple making church. Christ is less likely to be with the sit in the pew and never speak to anyone about Jesus church. Jesus is powerfully with the obedient church that goes out into the world to make disciples. How are disciples made? First make a decision to go, and as you go know that Christ is with you. He has commissioned you, authorized you, and empowered you to be God's representatives in the world, offering forgiveness of sin and reconciliation. Look at your neighbors, family, friends, and associates at work, school, and community organizations. They need the gospel. Go! Second baptize them that believe your message. Mark says those who believe and are baptized are saved. Paul says baptism is to die to sin and rise to Christ. Or donʼt you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life. For if we have been united with him in a death like his, we will certainly also be united with him in a resurrection like his. The death he died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God. In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Romans 6:3-5, 10-11 NIV When believers in the gospel of forgiveness repent and are baptized they enter into a new life reconciled to God. They are now in need of nurture. New believers are like a little toddler learning to walk. They need special attention. They need mentors to walk and work with them until they are confident enough to walk on their own. The Great Commission says to teach them to obey everything Christ has commanded. That sounds very difficult. Many of us won't feel component to teach everything Jesus commanded. There's a lot in the bible to teach! And there are libraries full of books trying to explain it. But let's make it easy. There is really only one law in Christianity. The royal law is to love. If you really keep the royal law found in Scripture, “Love your neighbor as yourself,” you are doing right. James 2:8 NIV For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” Galatians 5:14 NIV Jesus was once asked what is the greatest commandment. Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:37-40 NIV To teach disciples the commands of Christ is to teach them to love. And experience is the best teacher. As you mentor another in the faith give them opportunities to love and space to reflect on their experiences. Lead by example. Love them with Christ's love. Let them join you in ministry and watch you love others. Sit with them at worship and let them experience you loving God. Pray with them and study the scriptures together. Share your thoughts and experiences so they learn from you how you love God. I think that Christ's law of love can be said this way. Love God completely. Love others humbly, especially those in need. Love the church family loyally. Love has three beneficiaries, God, others, and the church family. We learn to love by receiving God's love through forgiveness. Reconciled to God through Christ's blood, God dwells within us through the Holy Spirit. God's love is in us. The work of discipleship is to find that love within, unlock God's love, and learn to live through His love. Or rather let God's love live through you. With God's love empowering us we love others as we love ourselves. We treat others the way we'd wish to be treated. We do as Jesus did. We lift burdens. We feed. We clothe. We shelter. We give. We heal. We set people free from what holds them captive. We teach, heal and liberate in the power and authority of Christ. And we love one another as a witness to the world that Jesus is Lord reigning over all. Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35 NIV And also Jesus prayed to the Father, I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. John 17:22-23 NIV I interpret the glory God gave to Jesus, which Jesus gives to the church, to be the Holy Spirit. Through the indwelling Spirit, we have Christ living in us. With Christ dwelling in our hearts, we have His perfect, lifegiving love to live in and to share. The unity we enjoy with God we enjoy with our brothers and sisters in the church, the body of Christ. We are intimately connected to one another through the Spirit just like the members of the body are connected to each other. When one part hurts the whole body hurts. When one part of the body rejoices the whole body rejoices. The unity of the church is a sign to the rest of the world of the truth of our message. Jesus Christ is Lord! He is our salvation. Through Him is forgiveness of sins, and reconciliation to God, and therefore, access to saving love! It's not too difficult. Love! Love God through worship, prayer, study, tithes and offerings. Love others by serving those in need and telling them about Jesus. Love one another in the church the way God loves you. Forgive as you are forgiven. Give freely as freely as you have received grace upon grace. When you love you are a witness to the truth of the gospel. So go! Make disciples! Baptize them, immerse them in the love of Christ! Love them and teach them to love. And love is with you always to the very end of this life and on forever and ever into eternity. Merry Christmas! |
Sunday, December 18, 2016
Matthew 28:16-20
Saturday, December 17, 2016
Matthew 27:62-66; 28:1-15
Matthew 27:62-66; 28:1-15 NIV
The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.” “Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard. After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men. The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.” So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.” While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Fake news is the latest topic to clutter social media with finger pointing, blame and rantings. See what I did there? By using the word clutter I cast a negative light on the conversation about fake news. Language is powerful. The pen is stronger than the sword because if you can shape public opinion you can manipulate outcomes. I wonder if that's what's happening as I read Matthew's telling of the Easter story. What is unique about Matthew versus the other gospels is the plot to spread false reports about Jesus rising from the dead. The other gospels mention no guards at the tomb and only Matthew adds the conversation with Pilate as a means to stop a fake resurrection. I am reading the gospel according to Matthew, a product of an early Jewish Christian community, one that suffers the oppression of their fellow Jews for their proclamation that Jesus is the Messiah, the King of the Jews. They are persecuted for their beliefs. They are shunned at synagogues. They are marginalized and despised in public life as a heretical minority. This testimony to their faith reveals also their conflict. I see two agendas at work in this story, the agenda to proclaim Christ is the risen Lord and savior of the world, and the agenda to suppress Christianity. The Jewish religious leaders went to the Roman governor and suggested that rumours going around about Jesus rising from the dead would only make matters worse. His followers would be all the more difficult to manage if they thought of their leader as an immortal, unbeatable victor. Pilate understood their concern and agreed to place guards at the tomb of Jesus. They sealed the tomb to ensure any tampering would be evident. Matthew gives the church the account that an angel opened the tomb with an earthquake of sorts and sat upon the stone that had covered the tomb. The guards were paralyzed with fear over the angels brilliant appearance. The women who'd come to the tomb were instructed by the angel to tell the apostles of Jesus' resurrection and to go to Galilee, for they would see Him there. Just as Jesus' birth was proclaimed by angels to marginalized shepherds, so now at the birth of a new creation of which Jesus is the firstborn, angels proclaim Jesus' resurrection to marginalized women. The marginalized are the ones who first receive the good news from divine messengers. The apostles were not told by angels of the resurrection, nor were priests, kings, or soldiers told of Jesus' birth from death. What does this say about the nature of God? Does it not imply that God has compassion for the poor and marginalized? That the marginalized are closer to hearing God than are the rich and influential? Or is this simply another one of Matthew's scriptural fulfillments? The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim 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, Isaiah 61:1 NIV The angelic messengers passed their message onto the women, who in turn proclaimed the good news to the other disciples. The women were certainly fulfilling the scripture from Isaiah when they told others of Jesus' resurrection, His freedom from captivity in the darkness of the grave. Surely the brokenhearted were comforted and healing in their hearts began. So now we must ask a difficult question. Are we reading fake news? Is the proclamation of the resurrection of Jesus a fabrication from the early church, just as the religious leadership of Israel had warned? None of us were there, so we cannot know for certain... Or can we? The angel said that the apostles would see Jesus in Galilee. Galilee is where Jesus carried out the majority of His preaching and healing ministry. His good news about the coming kingdom of heaven was accompanied by signs that confirmed the kingdom had come in Him. But not simply in Him had the kingdom come. Heaven had come to all who believed. Jesus shared divine power with His disciples and they too proclaimed good news to the poor about the kingdom of God come to them and accompanied their message with signs by healing the sick, casting out demons, and other miraculous events. Reports of miracles in the church have continued through the centuries, even to today. Consider this report from the charismatic magazine Premiere Christianity. (May 2014) Heidi Baker, with her husband Rolland, has spent many years as a missionary in the bush land of Mozambique, South East Africa. Heidi (Mama Aida to hundreds of her beloved children) not only delivers aid and education through the charity Iris Global, she also claims to see miraculous events on an almost daily basis. It wasn’t always so. Early on in her ministry Baker had prayed to see blindness healed, but nothing happened. For over a year she continued to pray, believing one day God would grant the miracle. ‘That day came in a little mud hut church in the middle of Mozambique,’ she recalls. ‘A lady, blind from birth, was led in by a little boy. Compassion hit me and I prayed, “Oh God, let it be now.” The lady fell down in the Spirit and I saw her eyes turn from white, to grey, to brown. I was probably more surprised than she was. I’d never seen that happen before. I was so excited.’ Remarkably it was the first of three cases of blindness that Baker would see healed in the following three days. All three were women called Aida – Heidi’s name in the local language. It was a series of events which profoundly affected her. She says she heard God speak to her about the need for blind spiritual eyes to be opened in the Western world too. ‘God showed me the malnourished Church, eating crumbs from the Father’s table. He called us to see a world that might not be physically destitute, but is spiritually in desperate need.’ If these people are reporting fake news about miracles, I wonder what might be the motivation. Magazine sales? If the news of Christ's resurrection is simply fake news, then it's the biggest hoax of all time. Any intelligent person would conclude there's got to be something more to it than billions of people over the last 2000 years believing a lie because the reality of death is too frightening. The Spirit of The Lord is upon us! The women hurried from the tomb to tell the others. They were frightened and filled with joy at the same time! Who wouldn't be?! Why were they frightened? Because they just experienced something so far out of their ordinary experience they were having difficulty interpreting it. Lucky for them the angels gave them the words to say. They were filled with joy because they believed the news that Jesus is risen! And what happened in their belief and obedience to go and tell others? They saw Jesus! They believed and they obeyed and they saw Jesus. Do you suppose that happens for us today? You can bet on it. I've never seen Jesus the way the gospel portrays in a visible theophany, but I know people who say they have. I have, however, seen Jesus in plenty of people and in loads of situations. The most recent was watching little children respond to the ministry of their Sunday school teacher. Her love for them was evident and the children responded in kind. At that moment I saw Christ in her and through her reaching and teaching the children. It was a grace filled moment for me. Jesus simply told the women the same message given by the angels. "Don't be afraid. Go tell! There you will see me." I wonder if they saw Jesus in all the people in Galilee He and the disciples had touched over the last three years. I know I see Jesus in the lives of those He has touched. Hope is alive. Eyes and hearts are open. And the glory of the Lord shines upon us! Go tell the good news! And let the purveyors of fake news go their own way. For there will always be naysayers, scoffers and doubters. Some will make it their business to pervert the message of Christ, as the Jewish leaders did on that first Easter. Don't be afraid! Go and tell! Christ is risen! Death is conquered! The kingdom of God's miraculous love reigns over us forever! There, among those to whom you tell the good news and share His love, you will see Jesus! |
Tuesday, December 13, 2016
Matthew 27:45-61
Matthew 27:45-61 NIV
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Heʼs calling Elijah.”
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Letʼs see if Elijah comes to save him.”
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesusʼ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedeeʼs sons.
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesusʼ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And now the terrible cross of Christ. For the torture Jesus endured for us, the details Matthew shares worth is are sparse. Historians have filled us in on what the condemned went through on the cross. It is horrific. Jesus had nails driven through his wrists and ankles most likely. Although the scriptures clearly say hands and feet, which fulfills the description in Psalm 22.
Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.
Psalm 22:16 NIV
Jesus' lungs filled up with fluid. He had to pull and push against his nailed flesh to raise up enough to get air into His lungs. You can imagine the sheer pain, and the anxiety of drowning in your own bodily fluids as well. Add to that the scorn and taunting of the crowd. The cross was a horrific way to die.
The sky went dark at 3 in the afternoon, a sign in the heavens that the Day of the Lord had come. Some have romanticized this sign by saying God the Father could not look upon Jesus and the ugly sins of the world He carried. The sky went dark because God turned His face away from Jesus. I rather interpret the sign to mean that the judgement of the Lord upon the earth has come and His judgment is to condemn sin in the body of Jesus, thus breaking sin's grip on humanity.
...for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand— a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. ...the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.
Joel 2:1-2, 10 NIV
When Jesus cried out "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani" the crowd thought He was calling for Elijah. Instead He was quoting the opening to Psalm 22, a messianic psalm. By doing so Jesus was pointing to the entire psalm which was being fulfilled right there at Golgotha. Take a moment to read the all of Psalm 22. You will see the parallels between what David wrote and what Jesus experienced.
While the psalm deals much with the suffering of the "afflicted one", it ends in hope and praise. Redemption has come. The reign of God is proclaimed to reach the ends of the earth. All will bow and worship the God of Israel.
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.
Psalm 22:27-28 NIV
As ugly as the cross is, it became the beautiful sacrificial offering of the Son of God to atone for, and free us from, sin. The knowledge of God has spread the globe because of this event and the resurrection that followed.
They gave Jesus wine vinegar to drink, a sour acidic refreshment that curbed thirst. Jesus drank it to relieve the dryness of His mouth. It may have even served to revive Him a bit. Some believe Jesus accepted the drink in order to stay alert to the bitter end.
When He breathed His last breath and gave up His spirit, the curtain that separates the most holy place from the rest of the temple, was torn in two. This symbolizes the open access to God Christ's sacrifice won for us all. No longer do our sins separate us from God. His blood perpetually atones for sin once for all.
What happens next is amazing.
and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesusʼ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Matthew 27:52-53 NIV
Only Matthew provides this detail. This sign speaks of the new creation upon us. Caught up in Jesus' resurrection, these resurrected ones follow in His new form of being. Death no longer has a hold on the saints of Christ.
Note that holy people were raised. Holiness is achieved through obedience to the covenant under Moses. But now, through Christ, holiness is given freely, to those who desire it, with the gift of the Holy Spirit. No longer are we separated from God, but God dwells in us through faith in Christ.
The centurion professed that Jesus is the Son of God, a fulfillment of Psalm 22.
They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!
Psalm 22:31 NIV
Because of the cross we know God. Because of Christ God reigns in those who believe.
The details that follow concerning His burial names the women and Joseph of Arimathea. Their tender care and vigil comfort me as I think of how they loved Jesus and mourned for Him. They showed great respect in contrast to the contempt of the crowd. While the apostles fled in fear, the women and Joseph showed courage and were willing to be associated with Jesus.
Where would I be in this scene? Am I one of the taunting crowd or a soldier abusing Christ? Am I one of the disciples standing near weeping and caring for His body? In what ways might I care for the body of Christ, the church? Am I like the apostles hiding out in fear? At one time or another I've been all these. And Christ gave His life for all these.
Praise the Lord for the victory of the cross and the salvation He gave to us all! Forgive me Lord and make me holy. Amen.
From noon until three in the afternoon darkness came over all the land. About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). When some of those standing there heard this, they said, “Heʼs calling Elijah.”
Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled it with wine vinegar, put it on a staff, and offered it to Jesus to drink. The rest said, “Now leave him alone. Letʼs see if Elijah comes to save him.”
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit. At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesusʼ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!”
Many women were there, watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee to care for his needs. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of Zebedeeʼs sons.
As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesusʼ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
And now the terrible cross of Christ. For the torture Jesus endured for us, the details Matthew shares worth is are sparse. Historians have filled us in on what the condemned went through on the cross. It is horrific. Jesus had nails driven through his wrists and ankles most likely. Although the scriptures clearly say hands and feet, which fulfills the description in Psalm 22.
Dogs surround me, a pack of villains encircles me; they pierce my hands and my feet.
Psalm 22:16 NIV
Jesus' lungs filled up with fluid. He had to pull and push against his nailed flesh to raise up enough to get air into His lungs. You can imagine the sheer pain, and the anxiety of drowning in your own bodily fluids as well. Add to that the scorn and taunting of the crowd. The cross was a horrific way to die.
The sky went dark at 3 in the afternoon, a sign in the heavens that the Day of the Lord had come. Some have romanticized this sign by saying God the Father could not look upon Jesus and the ugly sins of the world He carried. The sky went dark because God turned His face away from Jesus. I rather interpret the sign to mean that the judgement of the Lord upon the earth has come and His judgment is to condemn sin in the body of Jesus, thus breaking sin's grip on humanity.
...for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand— a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. ...the earth shakes, the heavens tremble, the sun and moon are darkened, and the stars no longer shine.
Joel 2:1-2, 10 NIV
When Jesus cried out "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani" the crowd thought He was calling for Elijah. Instead He was quoting the opening to Psalm 22, a messianic psalm. By doing so Jesus was pointing to the entire psalm which was being fulfilled right there at Golgotha. Take a moment to read the all of Psalm 22. You will see the parallels between what David wrote and what Jesus experienced.
While the psalm deals much with the suffering of the "afflicted one", it ends in hope and praise. Redemption has come. The reign of God is proclaimed to reach the ends of the earth. All will bow and worship the God of Israel.
All the ends of the earth will remember and turn to the Lord, and all the families of the nations will bow down before him, for dominion belongs to the Lord and he rules over the nations.
Psalm 22:27-28 NIV
As ugly as the cross is, it became the beautiful sacrificial offering of the Son of God to atone for, and free us from, sin. The knowledge of God has spread the globe because of this event and the resurrection that followed.
They gave Jesus wine vinegar to drink, a sour acidic refreshment that curbed thirst. Jesus drank it to relieve the dryness of His mouth. It may have even served to revive Him a bit. Some believe Jesus accepted the drink in order to stay alert to the bitter end.
When He breathed His last breath and gave up His spirit, the curtain that separates the most holy place from the rest of the temple, was torn in two. This symbolizes the open access to God Christ's sacrifice won for us all. No longer do our sins separate us from God. His blood perpetually atones for sin once for all.
What happens next is amazing.
and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs after Jesusʼ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
Matthew 27:52-53 NIV
Only Matthew provides this detail. This sign speaks of the new creation upon us. Caught up in Jesus' resurrection, these resurrected ones follow in His new form of being. Death no longer has a hold on the saints of Christ.
Note that holy people were raised. Holiness is achieved through obedience to the covenant under Moses. But now, through Christ, holiness is given freely, to those who desire it, with the gift of the Holy Spirit. No longer are we separated from God, but God dwells in us through faith in Christ.
The centurion professed that Jesus is the Son of God, a fulfillment of Psalm 22.
They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!
Psalm 22:31 NIV
Because of the cross we know God. Because of Christ God reigns in those who believe.
The details that follow concerning His burial names the women and Joseph of Arimathea. Their tender care and vigil comfort me as I think of how they loved Jesus and mourned for Him. They showed great respect in contrast to the contempt of the crowd. While the apostles fled in fear, the women and Joseph showed courage and were willing to be associated with Jesus.
Where would I be in this scene? Am I one of the taunting crowd or a soldier abusing Christ? Am I one of the disciples standing near weeping and caring for His body? In what ways might I care for the body of Christ, the church? Am I like the apostles hiding out in fear? At one time or another I've been all these. And Christ gave His life for all these.
Praise the Lord for the victory of the cross and the salvation He gave to us all! Forgive me Lord and make me holy. Amen.
Wednesday, December 7, 2016
Matthew 27:27-44
Matthew 27:27-44 NIV
Then the governorʼs 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. Then they 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.
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 canʼt save himself! Heʼs 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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After Pontius Pilate gave orders for the crucifixion of Jesus, our Lord was in the hands of Roman soldiers, known for their brutality. The Roman army was a force to be reckoned with. Through force of arms, superior strategy and iron will, the Romans conquered the west and much of northern Africa. Rome ruled the entire Mediterranean, without question, and most of Europe and parts of Arabia. It's one of the greatest empires in human history and their contribution to culture in the west is unparalleled. They were able to influence the world in this way precisely because of their military.
The Roman soldiers mocked and abused Jesus, placing a crown made of thorny vines or thin branches around His head. They beat Him and mockingly bowed before Him, hailing Jesus as king of the Jews.
After they'd had their cruel fun, they led Jesus to the cross on Golgotha, the place of the skull. On the way the forced Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus' cross. At Golgotha, the soldiers offered Jesus wine with poison to shorten His suffering, a standard practice. Jesus refused knowing the wine contained poison. He chose not to take the easy way out, nor corrupt His body. Even as He faced death Jesus was obedient to God and kept Himself pure. The soldiers cast lots for his clothing. The mockery, the gambling for His clothes, and the wine and gall are all fulfillment of scripture.
You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
Psalm 69:19-21 NIV
All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord ,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.
Psalm 22:7-8, 18 NIV
Jesus was hung on the cross with two thieves on either side of Him. The NIV holds out the possibility that these men were revolutionaries by referring to these condemned men as rebels. The Greek word (lestes) is derived from another Greek word (leizomai) that means "to plunder". The Holman Christian Standard bible refers to these condemned men as criminals, but the translation footnotes the alternative revolutionaries.
What does it mean that Jesus died between these two men? They mocked and insulted Him hatefully just like the priests and the teachers of the law. Remember that James and John's mother asked Jesus to allow her sons to sit at His left and right when He came into His kingdom? Her hope was that her sons would have the most favored positions in the kingdom of heaven, but Jesus told them plainly it wasn't for Him to decide who would be to His left and right. It was the Father God's choice alone. And God chose two thieves to be in the positions of highest favor.
The mercy of God is wide! His forgiveness is complete. No one is left out. If the Lord chose two criminals, who hatefully mock, to take the favored places as Jesus came into His kingdom, then how much more will you be welcomed? How much more will you be forgiven? Do you ever think you've done something unforgivable? Do you have trouble forgiving yourself? Consider God's mercy. It is greater than you can ever imagine. Trust in the complete salvation offered us through the cross of Christ.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting peopleʼs sins against them.
2 Corinthians 5:19a NIV
Then the governorʼs 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. Then they 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.
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 canʼt save himself! Heʼs 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.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
After Pontius Pilate gave orders for the crucifixion of Jesus, our Lord was in the hands of Roman soldiers, known for their brutality. The Roman army was a force to be reckoned with. Through force of arms, superior strategy and iron will, the Romans conquered the west and much of northern Africa. Rome ruled the entire Mediterranean, without question, and most of Europe and parts of Arabia. It's one of the greatest empires in human history and their contribution to culture in the west is unparalleled. They were able to influence the world in this way precisely because of their military.
The Roman soldiers mocked and abused Jesus, placing a crown made of thorny vines or thin branches around His head. They beat Him and mockingly bowed before Him, hailing Jesus as king of the Jews.
After they'd had their cruel fun, they led Jesus to the cross on Golgotha, the place of the skull. On the way the forced Simon of Cyrene to carry Jesus' cross. At Golgotha, the soldiers offered Jesus wine with poison to shorten His suffering, a standard practice. Jesus refused knowing the wine contained poison. He chose not to take the easy way out, nor corrupt His body. Even as He faced death Jesus was obedient to God and kept Himself pure. The soldiers cast lots for his clothing. The mockery, the gambling for His clothes, and the wine and gall are all fulfillment of scripture.
You know how I am scorned, disgraced and shamed; all my enemies are before you. Scorn has broken my heart and has left me helpless; I looked for sympathy, but there was none, for comforters, but I found none. They put gall in my food and gave me vinegar for my thirst.
Psalm 69:19-21 NIV
All who see me mock me; they hurl insults, shaking their heads. “He trusts in the Lord ,” they say, “let the Lord rescue him. Let him deliver him, since he delights in him.” They divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment.
Psalm 22:7-8, 18 NIV
Jesus was hung on the cross with two thieves on either side of Him. The NIV holds out the possibility that these men were revolutionaries by referring to these condemned men as rebels. The Greek word (lestes) is derived from another Greek word (leizomai) that means "to plunder". The Holman Christian Standard bible refers to these condemned men as criminals, but the translation footnotes the alternative revolutionaries.
What does it mean that Jesus died between these two men? They mocked and insulted Him hatefully just like the priests and the teachers of the law. Remember that James and John's mother asked Jesus to allow her sons to sit at His left and right when He came into His kingdom? Her hope was that her sons would have the most favored positions in the kingdom of heaven, but Jesus told them plainly it wasn't for Him to decide who would be to His left and right. It was the Father God's choice alone. And God chose two thieves to be in the positions of highest favor.
The mercy of God is wide! His forgiveness is complete. No one is left out. If the Lord chose two criminals, who hatefully mock, to take the favored places as Jesus came into His kingdom, then how much more will you be welcomed? How much more will you be forgiven? Do you ever think you've done something unforgivable? Do you have trouble forgiving yourself? Consider God's mercy. It is greater than you can ever imagine. Trust in the complete salvation offered us through the cross of Christ.
God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting peopleʼs sins against them.
2 Corinthians 5:19a NIV
Tuesday, December 6, 2016
Matthew 27:1-26
Matthew 27:1-26 NIV
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. “Thatʼs 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 potterʼs 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 potterʼs field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Donʼt you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
Now it was the governorʼs custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
While Pilate was sitting on the judgeʼs seat, his wife sent him this message: “Donʼt have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of 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 the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
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 manʼs blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Sanhedrin decided Jesus of Nazareth must die for what they considered blasphemy. Jesus had admitted that He was indeed God's messiah, the One anointed with divine authority to rule over Israel in a kingdom that has no end. So offended were they by the idea that a simple Galilean would be the Christ that they tore their robes. They hit Jesus and spit in His face, bound Him and took Jesus to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.
Judas witnessed this travesty and was sickened at the thought. He was responsible for handing an innocent man over to die. Judas returned the 30 pieces of silver paid to him by throwing it on the temple floor. Then he hung himself in despair and utter shame.
The priests told Judas that the death of an innocent man was no concern of theirs. It was Judas' responsibility. The actual phrase translated in the NIV as "That's your responsibility" is literally "See to it yourself".
To see to it is to perceive with your eyes and/or your mind. It's not simply to assume responsibility, but to understand your part. This same phrase is used by Pilate when he washed his hands, claiming no responsibility for Jesus' death. Pilate's wife warned him to have nothing to do with Jesus, for she'd had a nightmare about Jesus.
We can't miss the irony implied by the use of this phrase. In fact irony is all over this narrative. Judas is paid slave's redemption price, 30 pieces of silver. Jesus' blood is the redemption price, so to speak, to atone for the sin of the world.
Jesus is held prisoner along with another, Jesus Barabbas. The name Barabbas means "son of father" or "son of Abba". Do you see the irony there? The Son of The Father is on trial for His life along with the son of Abba. Abba is a term of endearment for God the Father. More than that, I think Barabbas is a play on words. The teachers of the law were called rabbi, which means teacher or master. Some teachers even went by the title of "Father". Is Matthew playfully saying Barrabas is akin to the teachers of the law? Barrabas is described as notorious. Popularly he was known as a criminal, perhaps a thief or murderer. The religious leaders are determined to kill Jesus of Nazareth. They heard from Judas that He is innocent, yet they were not concerned.
Pilate offers to release Jesus, son of Abba, or Jesus the messiah. The crowd, urged on by the priests, called for the release of Barrabas. When they did, Pilate told them to "See to it yourself". They answered, "His blood be upon us and our children". Again, such irony! For Jesus' blood is the atoning sacrifice for their, and our, sins. His blood is on them. Not only are they, and we, responsible for His death, but they, and we, are recipients of God's mercy through Jesus' blood.
The greatest of all ironies is that the priests, Pilate and the crowd think they are choosing the fate of Jesus, whom they believe to be a heretic and an impostor, but in reality God has willed these events to unfold. Underneath the narrative is the great irony: God is in control of what's happening for the benefit of a bunch of murderers!
Ray Boltz, a Christian singer, recorded a song called The Hammer, in which he described how we are responsible for the nails driven into the flesh of Jesus as He died upon the cross.
Here's the chorus.
And I cried
Who nailed Him there
This Child of peace and mercy
Who nailed Him there
Come and face me like a man
Who nailed Him there
And the crowd began to mock me
I cried Oh my God I just don’t understand
Then I turned and saw the hammer
In my hand!
I'm a murderer. I am responsible for the death of an innocent man. My sin is the reason Jesus bled and died upon the cross. I see it. I see it with my eyes and my mind. I see to it myself. And I am forever indebted to Him.
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. “Thatʼs 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 potterʼs 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 potterʼs field, as the Lord commanded me.”
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
“You have said so,” Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Donʼt you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
Now it was the governorʼs custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
While Pilate was sitting on the judgeʼs seat, his wife sent him this message: “Donʼt have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of 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 the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
They all answered, “Crucify him!”
“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
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 manʼs blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”
All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”
Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Sanhedrin decided Jesus of Nazareth must die for what they considered blasphemy. Jesus had admitted that He was indeed God's messiah, the One anointed with divine authority to rule over Israel in a kingdom that has no end. So offended were they by the idea that a simple Galilean would be the Christ that they tore their robes. They hit Jesus and spit in His face, bound Him and took Jesus to the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate.
Judas witnessed this travesty and was sickened at the thought. He was responsible for handing an innocent man over to die. Judas returned the 30 pieces of silver paid to him by throwing it on the temple floor. Then he hung himself in despair and utter shame.
The priests told Judas that the death of an innocent man was no concern of theirs. It was Judas' responsibility. The actual phrase translated in the NIV as "That's your responsibility" is literally "See to it yourself".
To see to it is to perceive with your eyes and/or your mind. It's not simply to assume responsibility, but to understand your part. This same phrase is used by Pilate when he washed his hands, claiming no responsibility for Jesus' death. Pilate's wife warned him to have nothing to do with Jesus, for she'd had a nightmare about Jesus.
We can't miss the irony implied by the use of this phrase. In fact irony is all over this narrative. Judas is paid slave's redemption price, 30 pieces of silver. Jesus' blood is the redemption price, so to speak, to atone for the sin of the world.
Jesus is held prisoner along with another, Jesus Barabbas. The name Barabbas means "son of father" or "son of Abba". Do you see the irony there? The Son of The Father is on trial for His life along with the son of Abba. Abba is a term of endearment for God the Father. More than that, I think Barabbas is a play on words. The teachers of the law were called rabbi, which means teacher or master. Some teachers even went by the title of "Father". Is Matthew playfully saying Barrabas is akin to the teachers of the law? Barrabas is described as notorious. Popularly he was known as a criminal, perhaps a thief or murderer. The religious leaders are determined to kill Jesus of Nazareth. They heard from Judas that He is innocent, yet they were not concerned.
Pilate offers to release Jesus, son of Abba, or Jesus the messiah. The crowd, urged on by the priests, called for the release of Barrabas. When they did, Pilate told them to "See to it yourself". They answered, "His blood be upon us and our children". Again, such irony! For Jesus' blood is the atoning sacrifice for their, and our, sins. His blood is on them. Not only are they, and we, responsible for His death, but they, and we, are recipients of God's mercy through Jesus' blood.
The greatest of all ironies is that the priests, Pilate and the crowd think they are choosing the fate of Jesus, whom they believe to be a heretic and an impostor, but in reality God has willed these events to unfold. Underneath the narrative is the great irony: God is in control of what's happening for the benefit of a bunch of murderers!
Ray Boltz, a Christian singer, recorded a song called The Hammer, in which he described how we are responsible for the nails driven into the flesh of Jesus as He died upon the cross.
Here's the chorus.
And I cried
Who nailed Him there
This Child of peace and mercy
Who nailed Him there
Come and face me like a man
Who nailed Him there
And the crowd began to mock me
I cried Oh my God I just don’t understand
Then I turned and saw the hammer
In my hand!
I'm a murderer. I am responsible for the death of an innocent man. My sin is the reason Jesus bled and died upon the cross. I see it. I see it with my eyes and my mind. I see to it myself. And I am forever indebted to Him.
Matthew 26:57-75
Matthew 26:57-75 NIV
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 chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”
Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. 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?”
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all.
“I donʼt know what youʼre talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
He denied it again, with an oath: “I donʼt know the man!”
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I donʼt know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It seems odd to be writing about the passion of Christ during the season of advent, but then isn't advent about waiting expectantly for the king? The cross of Jesus is the ironic coronation of the king of the Jews, the acknowledgement that Jesus odd the Christ. As I write there is Christmas music playing and a festive feeling in the air. That night in the courtyard of Caiphas the atmosphere was anything but festive. A dark and foul evil hung overhead as the chief priests and scribes assembled to judge Jesus as a heretic. Peter followed Caiphas' men who arrested Jesus, all the way into the courtyard of the high priest's home.
While Peter waited with the guards to learn the outcome of the trial, inside the Sanhedrin looked for evidence against Jesus worthy of a death sentence. They could not find any, until two witnesses said Jesus claimed He'd destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. What Jesus said about rebuilding the temple was a symbolic reference to His resurrection. The high priest charged Jesus to speak to the allegation, but Jesus remained silent. Angered, the high priest asked Jesus, "Are you the messiah or not?" Jesus spoke up saying, more or less, "You just said so yourself." Then Jesus referenced a Daniel prophecy about the messiah.
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13-14 NIV
The reference about seeing the Son of Man riding on the clouds implies the whole passage, which is a way of saying that Jesus is the Son of Man, the One chosen by God to rule forever. At this the high priest charged Jesus with blasphemy against God, and so did the rest. They spit in Jesus' face, struck Him with their fists and ridiculed Him.
Meanwhile in the courtyard Peter is approached three times about being a follower of Jesus. In fear for His life Peter denied it. The third time he even called down curses upon himself as proof that he was not lying. A contemporary version of this might be saying something like, "I swear on my mother's grave, I'm not lying." Or perhaps one might say, "May God strike me dead if I'm not telling the truth." Whatever the nature of his cursing, it wasn't simple profanity. It was a means to convince his accusers of his innocence. Peter wanted desperately for them to believe he had nothing to do with Jesus of Nazareth.
Then the rooster crowed and Peter broke down crying out in the street, because he realized he had just denied Christ exactly as Jesus predicted. How did Jesus know? The only answer is that Jesus has insight into the future, that He understood the weakness of human character. It feels like Peter and Judas and the scattered disciples are all playing a part in this passion play, performing roles they didn't rehearse or choose. Yet somehow they play into what God has planned, the redemption of Israel and the world through the death and resurrection of His Son. Even the teachers of the law, the chief priests and elders of Israel play their role as antagonists. Did they have a choice or was this all preordained? I'd like to think we all have a choice to choose good over evil, but even though our spirits are willing our flesh is weak.
The film Seven, starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Stacey, gives an incredible example of freedom of will and our slavery to fleshly passions. Brad Pitt's character is a hot head. It gets the best of him often. The serial killer used his knowledge of the young detective's rage issues against him. He predicted how he would behave under certain circumstances and, as if some unseen force was controlling him, the overwhelmed detective did exactly as the killer foresaw.
The truth is that God had chosen this path for Jesus and no one was going to stop it. In some ways Jesus seems to willingly seal His own fate in obedience to the plan. The rest of the cast of characters play out their roles as God has foreseen, according His knowledge of them. And God knows each of us intimately, better than we know ourselves.
I wonder what role I'm playing in God's plan for the world. I look at my journey through life so far and I wonder how much is a result of my choices and how much was preordained by divine will. For certain I've denied Christ by my sinful choices and I've blessed His name by obedience and worship. I think of the following passage from John's gospel.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last...
John 15:16a NIV
Paul told the church that we were chosen from the very beginning.
For he chose us in Him (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Ephesians 1:4 NIV
God's election of those who will believe is preordained. It's a difficult concept because God is eternal, the One who is, who was, and who is to come. Time bound, we do not experience life the way an eternal being does. If we knew the consequences of our choices ahead of time, we might make different choices, but not necessarily so. We know overeating leads to poor health. We know smoking and drinking and sexual promiscuity has proven consequences, and yet we continue, like suicidal lemmings, to march to our doom. We have freedom to choose, but we are not fully free from our weaknesses.
That night at Caiphas' home the will of God and the will of men collide. There are consequences and casualties. Freedom and imprisonment is revealed in strange ways. Jesus is the One in chains and on trial... or is He? Peter is imprisoned by his fear of death. The elders of the Sanhedrin are imprisoned by their blindness and deafness to who Jesus is. Only Jesus seems to be free to choose, and He chooses His Father's will.
We may weep bitterly over our sins and failures. We may gnash our teeth out of frustration at our opponents. But Christ is Savior of us all and there is deliverance from our prisons because He chose the cross.
Hallelujah!
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 chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward. Finally two came forward and declared, “This fellow said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and rebuild it in three days.’ ”
Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent. 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?”
Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all.
“I donʼt know what youʼre talking about,” he said. Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”
He denied it again, with an oath: “I donʼt know the man!”
After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”
Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I donʼt know the man!”
Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It seems odd to be writing about the passion of Christ during the season of advent, but then isn't advent about waiting expectantly for the king? The cross of Jesus is the ironic coronation of the king of the Jews, the acknowledgement that Jesus odd the Christ. As I write there is Christmas music playing and a festive feeling in the air. That night in the courtyard of Caiphas the atmosphere was anything but festive. A dark and foul evil hung overhead as the chief priests and scribes assembled to judge Jesus as a heretic. Peter followed Caiphas' men who arrested Jesus, all the way into the courtyard of the high priest's home.
While Peter waited with the guards to learn the outcome of the trial, inside the Sanhedrin looked for evidence against Jesus worthy of a death sentence. They could not find any, until two witnesses said Jesus claimed He'd destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days. What Jesus said about rebuilding the temple was a symbolic reference to His resurrection. The high priest charged Jesus to speak to the allegation, but Jesus remained silent. Angered, the high priest asked Jesus, "Are you the messiah or not?" Jesus spoke up saying, more or less, "You just said so yourself." Then Jesus referenced a Daniel prophecy about the messiah.
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Daniel 7:13-14 NIV
The reference about seeing the Son of Man riding on the clouds implies the whole passage, which is a way of saying that Jesus is the Son of Man, the One chosen by God to rule forever. At this the high priest charged Jesus with blasphemy against God, and so did the rest. They spit in Jesus' face, struck Him with their fists and ridiculed Him.
Meanwhile in the courtyard Peter is approached three times about being a follower of Jesus. In fear for His life Peter denied it. The third time he even called down curses upon himself as proof that he was not lying. A contemporary version of this might be saying something like, "I swear on my mother's grave, I'm not lying." Or perhaps one might say, "May God strike me dead if I'm not telling the truth." Whatever the nature of his cursing, it wasn't simple profanity. It was a means to convince his accusers of his innocence. Peter wanted desperately for them to believe he had nothing to do with Jesus of Nazareth.
Then the rooster crowed and Peter broke down crying out in the street, because he realized he had just denied Christ exactly as Jesus predicted. How did Jesus know? The only answer is that Jesus has insight into the future, that He understood the weakness of human character. It feels like Peter and Judas and the scattered disciples are all playing a part in this passion play, performing roles they didn't rehearse or choose. Yet somehow they play into what God has planned, the redemption of Israel and the world through the death and resurrection of His Son. Even the teachers of the law, the chief priests and elders of Israel play their role as antagonists. Did they have a choice or was this all preordained? I'd like to think we all have a choice to choose good over evil, but even though our spirits are willing our flesh is weak.
The film Seven, starring Brad Pitt, Morgan Freeman and Kevin Stacey, gives an incredible example of freedom of will and our slavery to fleshly passions. Brad Pitt's character is a hot head. It gets the best of him often. The serial killer used his knowledge of the young detective's rage issues against him. He predicted how he would behave under certain circumstances and, as if some unseen force was controlling him, the overwhelmed detective did exactly as the killer foresaw.
The truth is that God had chosen this path for Jesus and no one was going to stop it. In some ways Jesus seems to willingly seal His own fate in obedience to the plan. The rest of the cast of characters play out their roles as God has foreseen, according His knowledge of them. And God knows each of us intimately, better than we know ourselves.
I wonder what role I'm playing in God's plan for the world. I look at my journey through life so far and I wonder how much is a result of my choices and how much was preordained by divine will. For certain I've denied Christ by my sinful choices and I've blessed His name by obedience and worship. I think of the following passage from John's gospel.
You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last...
John 15:16a NIV
Paul told the church that we were chosen from the very beginning.
For he chose us in Him (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight.
Ephesians 1:4 NIV
God's election of those who will believe is preordained. It's a difficult concept because God is eternal, the One who is, who was, and who is to come. Time bound, we do not experience life the way an eternal being does. If we knew the consequences of our choices ahead of time, we might make different choices, but not necessarily so. We know overeating leads to poor health. We know smoking and drinking and sexual promiscuity has proven consequences, and yet we continue, like suicidal lemmings, to march to our doom. We have freedom to choose, but we are not fully free from our weaknesses.
That night at Caiphas' home the will of God and the will of men collide. There are consequences and casualties. Freedom and imprisonment is revealed in strange ways. Jesus is the One in chains and on trial... or is He? Peter is imprisoned by his fear of death. The elders of the Sanhedrin are imprisoned by their blindness and deafness to who Jesus is. Only Jesus seems to be free to choose, and He chooses His Father's will.
We may weep bitterly over our sins and failures. We may gnash our teeth out of frustration at our opponents. But Christ is Savior of us all and there is deliverance from our prisons because He chose the cross.
Hallelujah!
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Matthew 26:45-56
Matthew 26:45-56 NIV
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesusʼ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
“ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Matthew 26:31 NIV
The quoted verse is Zechariah 13:7. It comes in the context of God promising to cleanse Jerusalem and the house of David of their sin. God will purge the city of idols and false prophets. He will strike the one closest to Him (the king, the son of David) and the little ones (the citizens) will scatter. He will strike down 2/3 of them and refine the surviving 1/3 to fashion them into an obedient and holy people. Of course God doesn't do the actual killing. Enemy nations do that. But Zechariah interpreted the times as driven by God's will.
The sleeping disciples were surprised by Jesus when He returned from ardent prayer. He told them to rouse from their slumber because His time had come and His betrayer had arrived. Judas prearranged a signal, with the men of the high priest, by kissing Jesus to identify the man they were to arrest. As the men grabbed Jesus the startled disciples fled the scene. One grabbed a sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Jesus stopped the violence saying all who use the sword will die by it. Very clearly Jesus believed what was happening was the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus, the Son of David, the one closest to God, is struck and the sheep scatter. Judas will later hang himself out of shame. Peter will wander the streets crying bitterly for his denial of Christ. The refiners fire will expose their impurities, purge their ranks and refine them, making them ready to lead the church.
The terrible failure of the disciples at Gethsemane will become a wake up call for them. They all rallied after Jesus' resurrection and found their courage. Rather than deny Jesus, they proclaimed Him boldly, even at the prospect of prison and death.
As sad as the betrayal and arrest of Jesus is, it became the very means by which a purified church found its courage and strength. For at their darkest moment the Lord was planning to raise them in the grace of the Lord Jesus by filling them with the Holy Spirit. It gives me pause to consider that any trial or failure is to be honored as part of the Lord's will. It should be honored as much if not more than pleasant moments and victories, for trials form us more than easy living.
Think of a time you felt like you'd never recover from a trial, challenge, tragic loss or epic failure. What happened? You likely did recover, although not without scars. You recovered wiser and stronger. God turned a difficulty into a blessing. Allow such times to cleanse you of that which is not of God. Look to The Potter to shape your life into a fitting vessel for the Lord's use.
Consider how Joseph, a slave, was transformed into a savior. You may remember that he was able to interpret dreams and shared with his brothers dreams in which they would all bow before him. In jealousy they threw Joseph into a dry well and then sold him into slavery. In Egypt Joseph served his master Potiphar faithfully, but again was betrayed by Potiphar's lusty wife. Joseph was imprisoned for many years, but God did not forget him. Joseph was called upon to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. He proved to be insightful and filled with wisdom, so Pharaoh placed Joseph second in command over all of Egypt. Later when Joseph's father Jacob died, his brothers assumed that Joseph would exact his revenge. But Joseph had a different perspective.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Genesis 50:20 NIV
What can God do with your life's betrayals and failures? Stay awake and trust in the Lord to work out His good purposes for you and this world.
Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him.
Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”
Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesusʼ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
“Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.” Then all the disciples deserted him and fled.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:
“ ‘I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’
Matthew 26:31 NIV
The quoted verse is Zechariah 13:7. It comes in the context of God promising to cleanse Jerusalem and the house of David of their sin. God will purge the city of idols and false prophets. He will strike the one closest to Him (the king, the son of David) and the little ones (the citizens) will scatter. He will strike down 2/3 of them and refine the surviving 1/3 to fashion them into an obedient and holy people. Of course God doesn't do the actual killing. Enemy nations do that. But Zechariah interpreted the times as driven by God's will.
The sleeping disciples were surprised by Jesus when He returned from ardent prayer. He told them to rouse from their slumber because His time had come and His betrayer had arrived. Judas prearranged a signal, with the men of the high priest, by kissing Jesus to identify the man they were to arrest. As the men grabbed Jesus the startled disciples fled the scene. One grabbed a sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.
Jesus stopped the violence saying all who use the sword will die by it. Very clearly Jesus believed what was happening was the fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus, the Son of David, the one closest to God, is struck and the sheep scatter. Judas will later hang himself out of shame. Peter will wander the streets crying bitterly for his denial of Christ. The refiners fire will expose their impurities, purge their ranks and refine them, making them ready to lead the church.
The terrible failure of the disciples at Gethsemane will become a wake up call for them. They all rallied after Jesus' resurrection and found their courage. Rather than deny Jesus, they proclaimed Him boldly, even at the prospect of prison and death.
As sad as the betrayal and arrest of Jesus is, it became the very means by which a purified church found its courage and strength. For at their darkest moment the Lord was planning to raise them in the grace of the Lord Jesus by filling them with the Holy Spirit. It gives me pause to consider that any trial or failure is to be honored as part of the Lord's will. It should be honored as much if not more than pleasant moments and victories, for trials form us more than easy living.
Think of a time you felt like you'd never recover from a trial, challenge, tragic loss or epic failure. What happened? You likely did recover, although not without scars. You recovered wiser and stronger. God turned a difficulty into a blessing. Allow such times to cleanse you of that which is not of God. Look to The Potter to shape your life into a fitting vessel for the Lord's use.
Consider how Joseph, a slave, was transformed into a savior. You may remember that he was able to interpret dreams and shared with his brothers dreams in which they would all bow before him. In jealousy they threw Joseph into a dry well and then sold him into slavery. In Egypt Joseph served his master Potiphar faithfully, but again was betrayed by Potiphar's lusty wife. Joseph was imprisoned for many years, but God did not forget him. Joseph was called upon to interpret the dreams of Pharaoh. He proved to be insightful and filled with wisdom, so Pharaoh placed Joseph second in command over all of Egypt. Later when Joseph's father Jacob died, his brothers assumed that Joseph would exact his revenge. But Joseph had a different perspective.
You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
Genesis 50:20 NIV
What can God do with your life's betrayals and failures? Stay awake and trust in the Lord to work out His good purposes for you and this world.
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