Today’s Post: My Only Complaint with Social Media

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." Matthew 28:16-20

With just a couple of sentences, Jesus passed the baton to His disciples. Ready or not, Jesus’ mission on earth now belonged to them and us. Before you start feeling guilty about not witnessing to your neighbor or coworker, let’s look at two promises that Jesus gave with the Great Commission.

First, Jesus says, “All authority (or power) in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” We know from theology that God is omnipotent or all-powerful. The disciples aren’t to run their mission by their wits, but with Jesus’ authority. They (and we) really have nothing to fear. Authority over everything and everyone belongs to the One who sends us.

Next, Jesus says, “And surely I am with you always.” Jesus didn’t just send His disciples, He promised to be them. In the going and disciple-making and baptizing and teaching, Jesus was (and is) with His disciples.

The mission is to make disciples. What is disciple? A disciple is simply a follower. If you are on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace (is anyone on there anymore?), LinkedIn or any other social network, you have followers. Essentially, you have disciples. You have influence.

My only complaint with social media is that I encounter every person I’ve ever known on a daily basis: childhood friends in Kansas, college friends from Missouri, church friends from California, ministry colleagues from across the US, and friends in South Carolina. In the words of George Costanza, “Worlds are colliding.”

So, here’s the question: where are you leading your followers?

In 1994, I signed up for CompuServe. I was known as 43925.32924@compuserve.net back then. I spent a good deal of time in a Christian forum (chat room) because it was Christian and had a low flat rate. I met a number of people online who became friends, including a guy named Greg, who wasn’t Christian, but did enjoy the low flat rate.

Greg was sort of like a teetotaler who wondered into a bar and didn’t know what to drink. We had some great conversations about life and faith and ridiculous things. One day, Greg posted a message, “Jesus died for my sins.” Most of us wondered what the punch line was going to be. But, there in community with believers, Greg crossed the line of faith.

Not too long after that our group of virtual friends came together face to face. I had the privilege of baptizing Greg in his Jacuzzi. (It was California, after all).

Rather than chatting up old flames and deceiving ourselves into thinking that that relationship would somehow be more fulfilling than the relationship that we’re in, why not pray about how your followers might one day become Jesus’ followers too? I’m not encouraging you to be obnoxious. The world has enough annoying Christians. But, with Jesus’ power and presence, your influence is significant. How can you help your followers become Jesus’ followers too?

Today’s Post: What God Sees in Us.

When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me more than these?"
"Yes, Lord," he said, "you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Feed my lambs."
Again Jesus said, "Simon son of John, do you truly love me?"
He answered, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you."
Jesus said, "Take care of my sheep."
The third time he said to him, "Simon son of John, do you love me?"
Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, "Do you love me?" He said, "Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you."

Jesus said, "Feed my sheep. I tell you the truth, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go." Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, "Follow me!" John 21:15-19

God’s heart toward us is always leans to reconciliation. If Peter had pledged his allegiance to us, then denied us three times, we might feel that Peter could never be trusted again. If Peter couldn’t be there for us in our time of need, how could we ever count on him for anything else? Out of all of the disciples, the only one who acted worse than Peter was Judas. Maybe it was time to write Peter off. But, this wasn’t Jesus’ response to Peter.

God’s grace overcame Peter’s inability. When Jesus dubbed Peter, “the rock,” (Matthew 16:18)Jesus wasn’t looking at a rock. Jesus was looking at a flake. Peter was the first to jump out of the boat. Peter was the first to declare his allegiance. Peter was the first to draw a sword. Peter was the first crumble under pressure. He was no rock.

Jesus saw something in Peter that Peter didn’t even see in himself. Jesus called Peter. Jesus trained Peter. Jesus restored Peter. Then, Jesus empowered him to serve.

In restoring Peter, Jesus was saying, “You don’t need to lead the charge, Peter. You don’t need to draw a lot of attention. You don’t need to raise your voice or raise a sword. Just feed my sheep.”

When we’re young, it seems that what matters most are the things that draw the most attention. A big result somehow validates our significance. We feel that we are worth something if we have a big win. We don’t really feel more significant. We just become proud.

But, our significance is in Christ. Jesus can accomplish far more through us than we could ever do on our own. Jesus sees potential in us that is beyond our grasp. Jesus also sees that in and of ourselves, we’ll fall flat on our faces. For that He gives us grace.

Jesus asked Peter three times if he loved Him. Peter went along with the first two, but became irritated at the third question. He didn’t feel badgered as much as he probably felt guilty. The three affirmations began to feel like the three denials. Was a rooster about to crow?

Jesus wasn’t shaming Peter. Jesus was gently restoring him. There was no scolding. There was no ridicule. Jesus was putting Peter back into a right relationship. He knew what Peter could be. Jesus hadn’t given up.

Jesus hasn’t given up on you either. Whatever you thought your life was going to be may have taken a detour toward disappointment. But, your expectations don’t necessarily reflect what God has planned for you. No matter what you’ve done. No matter your success or failure. Jesus sees things in you that you don’t see in yourself. Lean into Him, and He will make it happen.

Today’s Post: Jesus the Friendly Ghost?

While they were still talking about this, Jesus himself stood among them and said to them, "Peace be with you."

They were startled and frightened, thinking they saw a ghost. He said to them, "Why are you troubled, and why do doubts rise in your minds? Look at my hands and my feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

When he had said this, he showed them his hands and feet. And while they still did not believe it because of joy and amazement, he asked them, "Do you have anything here to eat?" They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate it in their presence.

He said to them, "This is what I told you while I was still with you: Everything must be fulfilled that is written about me in the Law of Moses, the Prophets and the Psalms." Luke 24:36-44

The disciples had been talking about a “Jesus sighting,” when suddenly they were in one. Jesus just appeared out of nowhere. He said, “Peace,” but He might as well have said, “Boo!” They were frightened anyway.

Jesus asked about their doubts. He didn’t ridicule them or chastise them for their doubts. Jesus recognized what the disciples needed, then He gave them proof.

What happened next is significant on many levels. First, Jesus offered proof that He wasn’t a ghost. He showed the disciples the wounds in His body from crucifixion. These were real hands and feet with real scars. Rather than having them stand there pinching themselves, He invited them to touch Him and see that He was real. Then, Jesus ate something. Ghosts certainly didn’t eat.

This wasn’t an illusion. It wasn’t a hoax. This wasn’t paranormal activity. This was supernatural activity. Jesus who was dead was raised to life again. He wasn’t a disembodied spirit. Jesus had a spiritual body. This is a significant proof of His resurrection. It’s also a significant sign of what our resurrected bodies will be like one day (1 Corinthians 15:42-57).

God gives us all that we need to successfully live our lives for Him. When we need more understanding, God gives us His Word. When we need to trust more deeply, He lets things get out of control. Well, at least out of our control. When we need to grow, He challenges us with obedience. When we need to become more loving, God gives us a difficult person.

What do you need from God today? Maybe the circumstance you’re in and the people you’re dealing with are part of God’s solution.

Today’s Post: Was the Resurrection a Hoax?

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. Matthew 28:11-15

While Jesus’ followers were scrambling to find Him, His enemies were scrambling to cover it up. The religious leaders really didn’t know what to do. Who broke the seal on the tomb? Who rolled away the stone? Who got passed all of those soldiers? It really didn’t matter to them. They just needed the Sanhedrin’s publicist to get to work.

A lot of hush money was doled out that day. Soldiers had witnessed such a powerful force that they had fainted (Matthew 28:2-4). Now they accepted the payment and willing lied to protect the establishment and to save their own necks.

The religious leaders didn’t experience some glimmer of hope that maybe Jesus was the Messiah after all. This Messiah was inconvenient. This Messiah irritated them. This Messiah didn’t fit into their expectations of what and who a Messiah should be. While they didn’t know for sure what had happened, they were certain that this wasn’t a resurrection. Their minds couldn’t even allow the thought.

They paid off the guards simply because they didn’t want any more trouble. The guards didn’t want trouble either.

Sometimes people think, “Oh, if I had just lived back then, it would be easier to believe. If I could have witnessed these things for myself, then I would have the proof I need.” The guards and the leaders had proof, but they lacked faith. If you’re spiritually blind, you’re spiritually blind. Proof doesn’t give spiritual sight. Faith does.

The cure to spiritual blindness is not proof. The cure is belief in God -- to just take that first step and pray to “the God that I have yet to believe in.”

The religious leaders were threatened by Jesus. He didn’t neatly fit into their system. They trusted in their heritage and their institutions for salvation. They really had no room for a Savior. Their pride prevented them from accepting Jesus.

The guards were frightened and confused. They were Romans. They didn’t know anything about a coming Messiah, except for all of the trouble they had to deal with. They needed job security. They needed an explanation. Their ignorance prevented them from witnessing the power of the resurrection.

On that day, the religious leaders and the guards invented a hoax. They chose to nurture their hurt and their hate rather than opt for health. People are still doing that today. They relegate Jesus to the category of “Good Teacher,” but Jesus proclaimed some pretty outrageous things. If He wasn’t the Messiah, He went well beyond what a “Good Teacher” would teach. Jesus claimed to be God. Jesus can really only be one of three things: A Liar, A Lunatic, or the Lord. Which one is He to you?

Today’s Post: He is Risen: Shhhh

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." Matthew 28:1-10

Jesus' arrival on earth came with great fanfare. Angels announced His birth to shepherds abiding in the field watching over their flocks by night. Magi from the East came bearing odd baby gifts: gold, frankincense and myrrh. (I will note with Perry, that the Magi arrived much later, so please remove them from your Nativity scene. Put them in another room, even.) Herod engaged in not really a “manhunt,” actually more of a “toddler hunt” to find this newborn king. Jesus’ birth brought much pageantry.

Jesus was buried in a borrowed tomb. The women came to care for His body. Their greatest obstacle was how exactly to remove the stone to attend the body.

When they arrived, the stone was moved. It was their lucky day. There was an angel sitting there. No choir. No harps. No song. Just these simple words: “He is not here. He has risen.”

The women encountered Jesus en route to the disciples. Jesus simply said, “Hey,” well, “Greetings” and gave them instructions to gather the disciples. No fanfare. His resurrection lacked any sensationalism whatsoever. Jesus didn’t flaunt His victory over sin. He didn’t publically proclaim, “I’m baaaaack!” He didn’t ridicule the religious leaders with “Who’s your daddy? I mean, Deity.” Jesus stayed out of the public eye.

This was a new phase of Jesus’ mission on earth. He proclaimed the Kingdom. He had died for the sins of the world. Jesus rose from the dead and declared victory over sin, death and the grave. Now, He had 40 days to give His disciples the proofs and assurances they needed to spread the Gospel throughout the world.

This was the culmination of three years of training His disciples and showing them what a connection with God meant. While we don’t have a great deal of detail about those 40 days, in the Book of Acts, we see many of the results of this time. The disciples proclaimed the gospel and thousands at a time were saved. The lame were healed. The possessed were delivered. They no longer cowered in courts, but boldly proclaimed the Name.

In those 40 days following Jesus’ resurrection, they had all the assurance they needed to live their lives for Him and eventually to give their lives for Him. When Jesus departed, people could no longer look at Him for teaching or healing or a free lunch. But, they could see Jesus in the lives of His disciples.

As Jesus’ disciple, how do people see Jesus in you? I’m not saying be extra careful today not to speak a harsh word. I’m not saying try harder to pretend to be like Christ. People see Jesus in us when we fully surrender ourselves to Him and allow Jesus to live His life through us. Take a moment right now to surrender this day to Him.

Join Us for Easter at Brookwood Church

Easter services are scheduled for:

Saturday, April 3 - 4 & 5:30 pm
Sunday, April 4 - 9, 10:30 & 11:59 am

Children's programs are available for each service.
For more information, go to: brookwoodchurch.org/easter

“Father, Into Your Hands I Commit My Spirit”

Jesus called out with a loud voice, "Father, into your hands I commit my spirit." When he had said this, he breathed his last. Luke 23:46

I have long held that no one killed Jesus. Yes, Jesus died on the cross, but He wasn’t killed per se.

When the soldiers came to break the legs of the condemned in order to speed up suffocation, they discovered that Jesus had already died. The two criminals were both still alive after six hours of crucifixion. Their legs were broken. Jesus’ legs were not, which actually fulfilled a prophecy (Exodus 12:46; Numbers 9:12; Psalm 34:20). While Jesus’ injuries prior to the cross were much worse than the criminals’, the expectation was that Jesus would still have been alive.

They pierced His side with the sword causing blood and water to flow out. Some have proposed that Jesus actually died of a broken heart, since the blood and water would indicate a cardiac condition (John 19:31-37). A heart attack wasn’t the usual result of crucifixion. A crucified person typically died by suffocation. The soldiers didn’t pierce the other two, but Jesus was pierced as prophesied in Zechariah 12:10.

In His last words on the cross, Jesus expresses trust in the Father. “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit. When he said this, he breathed his last.”

No one could take Jesus’ life from Him. He gave His life as a ransom for many (Matthew 20:28). Jesus willingly gave His life. Whether or not He was killed is really just a matter of semantics.

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

“It Is Finished”

When he had received the drink, Jesus said, "It is finished." With that, he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. John 19:30

Finished. Ended. Completed.

Jesus didn’t say, “Here’s something to get you started. I’ve paid the price for your past sins. Now that your account is no longer in the red, try your best to behave or else you’ll throw the whole thing into jeopardy.” He didn’t say that. Jesus said, “It is finished.”

“Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men” (Romans 5:18). What Adam had started in the garden, Jesus ended on the cross. Jesus provided the way to reconcile us to God. Now, those who have trusted Christ’s work can commune with God just like Adam did originally in the garden.

Paul introduces a legal term here: “justification.” Commonly, we’ll say, “Well, if you feel justified, go right ahead.” Whether we mean that the person is justified by a reason or an excuse depends on our confidence in their decision. In the case of salvation, justification is not after the fact. We are justified at the beginning. It’s a declaration. The judge looks at our sin, and then looks at the price Jesus paid, and declares believers to be righteous. It’s a done deal. It is finished.

We cannot make ourselves righteous. We cannot earn righteousness. We could never measure up. If we try to depend on our own righteousness or goodness, we’re in trouble. “You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly” (Romans 5:6). It’s the only way.

Now, if Jesus’ work is finished, and if He has declared us to be righteous, why do unrighteous thoughts and behaviors keep cropping up? God declares believers to be righteous. It is finished. But, when we look at ourselves, we might say, “not so much.”

So, we look to another theological word (boy, you’re getting your money’s worth today), sanctification. This is the practical working out of our salvation. Justification is a done deal. Through sanctification the Spirit empowers us to live our lives every day. On the days that we blow it, we remember that “he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6). The act of our salvation was finished at the cross and declared when we crossed the line of faith. The daily part is, well, daily. It’s not working harder. It’s surrendering and allowing the Spirit to do His work in us and through us.

If you’re tempted to beat yourself up today, remember that there are no A+ Christians or D- Christians. God isn’t finished with you yet, but what He provides was finished at Calvary.

Jesus said, “I Am Thirsty”

Later, knowing that all was now completed, and so that the Scripture would be fulfilled, Jesus said, "I am thirsty." A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus' lips. John 19:28-30

Out of the seven last sayings of Jesus before His death, this one is unique. After hanging on the cross for six hours, this statement is the most human of His words.

The soldiers had offered Jesus another drink earlier in the day, wine mixed with myrrh (Mark 15:22-23), but He refused it. Myrrh was a narcotic. Considering the gifts the wisemen brought, you would wonder if they’d ever been to a baby shower before (Matthew 2:11). The gifts of the Magi were unusual and symbolic. The soldiers offered the drink not so much to ease Jesus’ pain, but to ease their own.

Jesus didn’t want the wine with myrrh. He didn’t want to be numb to the pain. Jesus chose to suffer for us.

But, then, six hours later, Jesus was thirsty. The soldiers offered the only drink that they had with them, wine vinegar. It wasn’t given out of cruelty. They weren’t making vinaigrette at the foot of the cross. This wine vinegar was a poor man’s drink. They gave Him the drink that they had as unpleasant as it would have been.

The drink was delivered in a sponge on the end of a hyssop branch. This wasn’t just a sponge on a stick. Here on the last day of Passover just prior to the Sabbath, the branch was actually a symbol.

When the angel visited Egypt as the last of the 10 plagues to take the life of every first born son, the Israelites were instructed, “Go at once and select the animals for your families and slaughter the Passover lamb. Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. Not one of you shall go out the door of his house until morning. When the LORD goes through the land to strike down the Egyptians, he will see the blood on the top and sides of the doorframe and will pass over that doorway, and he will not permit the destroyer to enter your houses and strike you down” (Exodus 12:21-23).

The Israelites’ homes were passed over because of the markings by the blood of the lamb. For us, the blood of the Lamb, Jesus, exempts us from the penalty of spiritual death.

There is really nothing that separates us from the love of God except for willingness to receive His gift. Jesus has made the way. Our place is to follow.

Oh How He Loves Us So

About the ninth hour Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani?"—which means, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Matthew 27:46 & Mark 15:34

Jesus expected to be despised and rejected by men. He didn’t come to earth to win a popularity contest. Jesus came to save the lost, even when the lost, especially the religious leaders, didn’t appreciate the saving. Their rejection was no surprise.

Jesus just wasn’t the kind of Savior that they wanted. He didn’t live up to their expectations. Jesus came and proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah, yet the Jews were still under Roman oppression. Where was His horse? Where was His sword? Where was His army? What kind of “Messiah” was this? The religious leaders rationalized that this must be a false one. Jesus couldn’t be it. He was a disappointment to them.

Jesus also knew that He would be rejected by the Father when He took on all of our sins. He knew full well the purpose of His coming. Taking on our sin was the focus of His mission on earth. This is what He was humanly born to do. Yet, Jesus had never experienced separation from the Father. He had never been rejection by the Father. They were intimately connected. They were One.

When Jesus utters this phrase, which is given to us in both Aramaic and English (from the Greek), His lament is not a complaint. What He experienced was not a surprise. It wasn’t remorse.

Beyond the ridicule and the physical pain leading to His death, this experience of separate from the Father was Jesus’ true agony. Don’t get me wrong. Jesus fully felt the pain of His wounded and broken body. But, separation from the Father was incalculable degrees worse than the physical pain.

Paul writes, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We will never be good enough to achieve righteousness. Jesus made the way for us to be united to God. He bore the brunt in His body and in His soul, so we wouldn’t have to.

“But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and by his stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5, KJV). Oh, how He loves us so.

Her Son and Her Savior

Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother's sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to his mother, "Dear woman, here is your son," and to the disciple, "Here is your mother." From that time on, this disciple took her into his home. John 19:25-27

This scene is unimaginable for any parent, especially for a mother. Jesus’ body was so injured from the beatings and the scourging that the two criminals on either side would have looked relatively healthy in comparison. Now, His broken body is hanging on the cross, and His mother is suffering as any mother would.

Mary, like most parents, might have thought, “Put me on the cross. Let me suffer for Him. God, do this to me, but spare Him.” But, Mary knew that Jesus was suffering not only as a Son, but also as her Savior.

Mary knew that this day was coming. As Jesus was being dedicated as a baby at the temple, Simeon prophesied, “ ‘Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace. For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all people, a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.’

“The child's father and mother marveled at what was said about him. Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too" (Luke 2:28-35).

Standing at the foot of the cross, a sword was certainly piercing Mary’s soul that day. Mary was not divine. She couldn’t call upon supernatural power to alleviate her pain. Mary was a mother whose heart was broken.

Jesus’ earthly father, Joseph, had passed away at some point in Jesus’ life. We’re not sure when. Jesus would no longer be available to care for His mother. Hanging on the cross, Jesus took responsibility for his mother’s continued care. It’s what a good son would do. He turned her care over to the disciple whom He loved, John. (John never calls himself by name in his gospel). “Dear women, here is your son.” John is your son now. He will take care of you. Then, to John, “Here is your mother.”

As Jesus was dying to provide salvation for all of the world, His thoughts turned to providing for His earthly mother. Her needs were not insignificant. Jesus’ care for Mary reflects His care for us. Our needs are significant to Jesus. Not just our spiritual needs, but all of our needs.

What do you need today? Jesus cares about everything you need.

Do You Want God’s Power or His Presence?

One of the criminals who hung there hurled insults at him: "Aren't you the Christ? Save yourself and us!"

But the other criminal rebuked him. "Don't you fear God," he said, "since you are under the same sentence? We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong."

Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom."

Jesus answered him, "I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise." Luke 23:39-43

This conversation seems a bit unusual at first. Two convicts being executed use a handful of their last breaths to debate. One expresses a fear of death and offers a temporal solution: “Save yourself and us!” The other expresses a fear of God and asks for an eternal solution: “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” The first wants to save his neck. The second wants to save his soul.

The first criminal says, “Jesus, if you are who you say you are, then get me out of this mess.” None of us would ever say anything like that.

The second criminal brings some perspective to the first, “Considering where you are ‘hanging out’ right now (sorry), you might want to take God a little more seriously at this point.” The second criminal got it. He had nothing to lose, and everything to gain. He was dying anyway, so why miss out on eternity too? This life was over for him.

One thief wanted Jesus’ presence. The other thief wanted Jesus’ power. One thief wanted an eternal relationship. The other wanted a temporary fix.

I would venture to guess that none of us have suffered anything as horrible as crucifixion. But, we do suffer in other ways. What is causing you to suffer today? Are you asking Jesus for a quick fix or a transformation? Are you seeking His power or His presence? Are you interested in what He can do for you or in being closer to Him?

His power might erase our problem, but His presence will erase our fear.

Save Yourself, Jesus

"He saved others," they said, "but he can't save himself! He's the King of Israel! Let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe in him. He trusts in God. Let God rescue him now if he wants him, for he said, 'I am the Son of God.' "
Matthew 27:42-43

God doesn’t prove Himself on demand. He just isn’t manipulated that way. Sure Jesus could have commanded angels to come and rescue Him. God could have rescued His Son and wiped out the entire world (again). But, the most powerful, God-like thing that Jesus could do was to hang on the cross.

The people who heard Jesus proclaim, “I am the Son of God” saw many proofs: the hurting healed (John 5), the hungry fed (John 6:1-14), the possessed delivered (Matthew 8:16), the dead raised (John 11), and the sinners forgiven (Matthew 9). They were skeptical anyway. If Jesus had called the legion of angels to rescue him, no doubt someone would have complained, “Well, obviously he wasn’t attached to the cross very well. They sure don’t crucify like they used to.” You get the picture.

Jesus did absolutely nothing to warrant this cruelty. He was completely innocent of all sin and wrongdoing. Sure Jesus offended the religious leaders, but He just told them the Truth. He didn’t love them any less.

Why do we love babies? Well, sure they are cute and cuddly, soft and round. They have that new baby smell. Think about this: it’s easy to love a baby because a baby has never done anything wrong. A baby hasn’t sinned. They’re completely innocent. Who wouldn’t love a baby?

Jesus was as innocent as a newborn baby. He never sinned. He was never unkind. When He said, “Bless your heart,” it was to actually bless people.

There were really only two choices of what to think about Jesus that day. Either to exclaim with the centurion, “Surely this man was the Son of God!" (Mark 15:39) or shout and jeer with the crowd. If they couldn’t embrace who He was, then they had to deflect who He claimed to be.

Jesus stayed on the cross. His mission was nearly complete. One day, He will return with a legion of angels. In the meantime, Jesus is patient with us, even those who would mock and ridicule Him.

Are we as patient with others as Jesus is? Can we see things from their point of view? Do we say, “Shame on you for being so disrespectful” or do we say, “If you knew Jesus, like I know Jesus, you would feel very different?”

Father, Forgive Them

Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing." And they divided up his clothes by casting lots. Luke 23:34

In the next week or so, we are going to focus on the events surrounding Jesus’ death on the cross, especially the last seven things that He said before He died. For those who occasionally doubt what Jesus thinks of us, these words will reassure us of His great love for us as He gave Himself for our reconciliation with God.

After beatings, torture and humiliation, the first thing that Jesus says on the cross is a prayer: “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” His prayer was not, “Okay, Father, let’s get this over with” or “Help me cope with my circumstances.” He prayed to offer grace to His clueless tormentors.

For the soldiers at the foot of the cross, it was all in a day’s work. They were carrying out a court order. They were punishing three criminals: two thieves and a heretic. They didn’t see themselves as offering the Lamb of God for the sins of the world. Roman soldiers would have worshipped mythical gods like Jupiter and Apollo, Venus and Cupid. Their relationship with gods would have been cause and effect. Natural disasters expressed their gods’ displeasure. There was certainly no personal relationship with their gods.

For these soldiers the thought that God had come in the flesh and was dying to save them would have seemed ludicrous. The reality is that grace and forgiveness truly are ludicrous from a human point of view. Maybe it’s even just as ridiculous as crucifying a man who never sinned.

Some might be tempted to point fingers and place blame for Jesus’ death. The religious leaders were so threatened. The mob was so angry. The Romans were so callous. They were all to blame in one way or the other.

Let’s take a step back. If Jesus hadn’t died, we couldn’t be saved. Jesus came to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45). If no one had crucified Jesus, He wouldn’t have died as a sacrifice for our sins. Secondly, how can anyone hold Jesus’ death against the people He forgave?

Jesus’ heart toward us is never “Father, retaliate against them” or “Father, punish them” or “Father, just give them what they deserve” or worse yet, “Father, give them what they think will make them happy.” Jesus’ heart toward us is to always lead with forgiveness. Because He can forgive so freely, we are able to forgive as well.

Where do you need God’s forgiveness today?
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9). Where do you need to offer God’s forgiveness today? “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). 

Jesus Arrested. News at 6.

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, "Friend, do what you came for."

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus' 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?"

At that time 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. Matthew 26:47-56

Jesus’ arrest really wasn’t interesting material for tabloid television. It was fairly uneventful. Jesus wasn’t taken forcibly. There were no tazers. There were no handcuffs. While Jesus could have called in His own angelic SWAT team, He simply cooperated. Jesus had already surrendered Himself to the Father’s will back in the garden. It was a done deal. There was no need to protest. There was no need to struggle. God was in control.

Peter, being his impulsive self, picked up a sword and wildly swung. We can assume that his target wasn’t merely an ear. As Peter jabbed, Jesus’ thought wasn’t “don’t stop there,” or “seriously, dude, that’s pathetic.” Jesus simply instructed His disciples, “No more of this.” Violence was not on the agenda for that day.

Then, in a poignant moment, according to Luke, Jesus touched the man’s ear, and he was healed (Luke 22:51). You wonder what was going through the servant Malchus’ head at that point (John 18:10): “Are you SURE this isn’t the Messiah? My ear was on the ground. I was bleeding profusely. Now look. It’s like nothing ever happened.” But, nothing would deter their cause that day.

Jesus was able to calmly approach the arrest because things were settled between Him and the Father. He had surrendered Himself completely. Jesus was emotionally and spiritually prepared for that day.

What things are rocky inside of you today? What is unsettled? What answer or direction do you need? What reassurance could God provide? What is going on in you that is anything but calm today? I want to challenge you to carve out a short amount of time, even your daily commute, to surrender these things to God.

When You Have to Go It Alone

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. "Could you men not keep watch with me for one hour?" he asked Peter. "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak."

He went away a second time and prayed, "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done."

When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, "Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour is near, and the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. Rise, let us go! Here comes my betrayer!" Matthew 26:39-46

At perhaps the most agonizing moment of Jesus’ life, he needed the support of the disciples. Even though He had come to earth with eyes wide open concerning His mission, the reality was almost too much to bear. As much as He desired to enlist His friends in this lament, Gethsemane was the starting point of a path that He had to walk alone.

Sure it would have been great to have the support and comfort of His companions, but they weren’t available to Him. Whether it was a very late night or they just couldn’t comprehend the weightiness of the matter, even Jesus’ inner circle of Peter, James and John couldn’t hang with Him.

There alone with the Father in the garden, Jesus makes an impassioned plea, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will." Jesus wasn’t trying to abort His mission at this point. His will wasn’t necessarily opposed to the Father’s will. He speaks with surrender. Considering the physical suffering of the cross, the emotional suffering for His people, and the spiritual suffering of separation from the Father, Jesus desired one last assurance before the arrest took place.

Jesus’ second prayer reaffirms His commitment to His mission: "My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done." The events that will in moments transpire are completely unavoidable if people are ever to be reconciled to God. Jesus wakes His disciples up in time for the arrest.

When we face trouble, it’s a blessing to have another person by our side. But, it’s also easy to depend on the other person and avoid seeking God about the problem. No one likes to go down any painful path alone. But, loneliness will lead us to the One who can answer our prayer. Even if the answer is to walk in obedience to our mission here on this earth, we have assurance that it’s God’s answer.

What are you facing these days that even the closest people around you don’t seem to understand? Most of us are overdriving our headlights emotionally. We simply can’t take on much more. But, there is One, our Father, who has the capacity to listen and to direct us. He never sleeps. He is never checked out. He is always available.

Overwhelmed with Sorrow

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, "Sit here while I go over there and pray." He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. Then he said to them, "My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me." Matthew 26:36-38

Jesus consented to His mission long before He was wrapped in swaddling clothes. As God, He knew that there was no other way to redeem anyone except that He would lay down His life.

One of the mysteries of faith is that Jesus is fully God and fully man. This is not a 50/50 equation. He is 100 percent God and 100 percent man. That is difficult to wrap our minds around, but that’s okay.

As His crucifixion neared, Jesus went to the Gethsemane to pray and to work through some intense feelings. One might think that the Son of Man who so brashly proclaimed His divinity to the religious leaders would approach His death with more of a “git ur done” attitude. But, Jesus was overwhelmed with sorrow.

As a man, Jesus had never experienced death, especially a death accompanied by such torture and humiliation. Anyone who can sit through the scenes in the movie, The Passion of the Christ, without falling apart, must have a heart of stone. The agony is overwhelming. Jesus knew what was coming.

As God, Jesus faced taking on “the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6). This may have brought more anguish than the prospect of physical pain. Jesus had never been separated from the Father, not even in a small degree. Now, the Holy One, who had always been set apart from evil, would take on all of it and face separation from the Father.

The driving aspect of Jesus’ sorrow was over the lostness of people. He viewed us as “harassed and helpless like sheep without a shepherd” (Matthew 9:36). Jesus knew that there was no other way for us to be reconciled with God. We certainly couldn’t save ourselves.

At Gethsemane, Jesus proves many things to us. He gives us the most extreme example of fully surrendering ourselves to God. Jesus doesn’t present obedience to the Father as the path to a problem-free life. He shows us that there is something better than a life devoid of troubles; namely, a blessed life.

Jesus expressed that real men experience real emotions. It’s okay to be overwhelmed. It’s okay to feel sorrowful. It’s okay to take those things to the Father.

Jesus showed us how important we are to Him. At great personal sacrifice, He died for our sins. “God so loved the world that He gave His One and Only Son…” (John 3:16).

Where do these words intersect with your life today? What are you feeling deeply that you need to lay before God? What are you struggling with that you need might need to surrender to Him?

Open Mouth, Insert Foot

Then 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. 'But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee."

Peter replied, "Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will."

"I tell you the truth," Jesus answered, "this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times."

But Peter declared, "Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you." And all the other disciples said the same. Matthew 26:31-35

How many times in a moment of emotion have we pledged our undying commitment to something? If we can just get one more chance, we will never ________ or we will always ________. Fill in the blank.

Why couldn’t it be that easy? We could just declare what we wanted to be, and boom, it would happen. We could be thinner, smarter and better looking all in one fell swoop.

Peter’s sentiment bore some truth. While he expressed this in an idealistic and impulsive way, according to history, Peter did die for Jesus and never disowned him, later on. But, for now, there were a few things Peter needed to work out.

His heart was in the right place. The problem was that the rest of him just wasn’t quite there. For any of us that have made a new year’s resolution, we can certainly relate.

Sure enough, while Peter waited in the courtyard during Jesus’ trial, three different people ask him if he was one of Jesus’ disciples. Three times Peter denied belonging to Jesus. Then, the rooster crowed, and Jesus’ words sunk in. (Matthew 26:69-75). At times it would certainly seem easier to die for Christ than to live for Him. Peter probably felt that Jesus would be done with Him at this point.

But, a remarkable thing happened. Not 60 days from those denials, Peter stood up and spoke to thousands on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2:14-41). As his sermon concluded, about 3000 accepted the message and were baptized (Acts 2:41). Apparently, Jesus wasn’t finished with Peter.

What are the things that you would like to be, but just aren’t? What would you like to stand up and declare? Don’t give up on it. Just don’t expect everything to happen all at once. Maybe you’ve even made a complete fool of yourself like Peter, if you’re humble about it, God can even use your foolishness (and mine) to help you grow.

You Are What You Eat

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to his disciples, saying, "Take and eat; this is my body."

Then he took the cup, gave thanks and offered it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it anew with you in my Father's kingdom."

When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. Matthew 26:26-30

It’s interesting that Jesus chose food as the lingering symbol of His death. Most people are remembered with a memorial service and a final resting place. The resurrected Christ had neither.

Why food? Well, food is readily available. Most of us encounter it several times a day. Unless we choose, we are never really without food.

In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus prays, “Give us this day our daily bread.” Our physical life depends on nutrition and nourishment.

After His 40 day fast in the desert, the Devil tempted Jesus by asking Him to turn stones into bread. Quoting Deuteronomy 8:3, Jesus replied, “'Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4; Luke 4:4).

Jesus went further by telling the Jews, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. If anyone eats of this bread, he will live forever. This bread is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world” (John 6:50-51). Just as our physical life depends on physical food, our spiritual life depends on Christ’s sacrifice. Our goal is not necessarily to take communion every day, but to recognize that our wellbeing, physically and spiritually, is tied to Christ.

Food is also personal. When we eat something, it literally becomes part of us. “You are what you eat,” you know. Jesus’ hope for us was never that we would try hard enough and live up to His example. Our hope comes from that fact that Jesus is present in us. The only way that we can truly live a Christian life is for Jesus to live His life through us. Our job is to avoid getting in His way. As we surrender ourselves, our plans, and our ways to Him, He is able to come shining through.

For today, I want to encourage you to do something that’s perhaps a bit unorthodox. When you pick up your sandwich and drink a soda or sweet tea, thank Him for providing all that you need to live – physically and spiritually. This won’t replace an official communion service, but it is a daily reminder of how good God is to us – all the way around.

Bad Baby Names

When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. And while they were eating, he said, "I tell you the truth, one of you will betray me."

They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, "Surely not I, Lord?"

Jesus replied, "The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born."

Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, "Surely not I, Rabbi?"

Jesus answered, "Yes, it is you." Matthew 26:20-25

I don’t know of anyone who has ever named their child “Judas.” Jerry Seinfeld used to joke that if people named their child “Jeeves,” that child would inevitably turn out to be someone’s butler. “To the Peace Center, Jeeves.”

“Judas” really isn’t the name recognition that any of us want. Judas was driven by greed. As the disciples treasurer, he tended to help himself (John 12:4-6).

Judas’ specific actions of betrayal were prophesied hundreds of years before they happened. Psalm 41:9 foretells that “Even my close friend, whom I trusted, he who shared my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.” We find the fulfillment in Luke 22:3-4. Zechariah predicted the exact price of 30 pieces of silver that would be paid, 500 years before it happened (Zechariah 11:12; Matthew 26:14-15). Both Jeremiah and Zechariah revealed that the money would be returned and would be used to purchase a Potter’s field (Zechariah 11:12-13; Jeremiah 19:1-13; 32:6-9; Matthew 27:3-10).

Was Judas’ wickedness a part of God’s plan? Judas plays a unique, if undesirable, role in the days leading to Jesus’ death. It would be easy to turn Judas into some sort of detestable beast, a Hannibal Lecter-type disciple. Certainly he was something that we could never become. Yet Judas’ sin and ours drove Jesus to the cross of Calvary. We’re not so innocent. Fortunately, through Christ’s death and His forgiveness, we are redeemed.

Judas regretted his actions to the point of taking his own life (Matthew 27:5). If only he had known that even his actions were forgivable. No one is unredeemable.

There is no sin bigger than God’s ability to forgive. What is dragging you down these days? Wouldn’t you like to be free? Give what is binding you to God and seek His forgiveness. He’d love to forgive you.