|
Matthew 26:38-39 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.” 39 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.”
PERHAPS this is the best place, short of the cross, where we can see that “God so loved the world.” (John 3:16a). Consider “How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure that he should give his only Son to make a wretch his treasure”. (from “How Deep the Father’s Love for Us” by Philips, Craig and Dean) Yes, deep in his soul Jesus is “overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death”. He knows the evil he is about to encounter; he knows how his own people will reject and kill him; and he knows his Father will forsake him so that many born dead in sin, separated from God, will have salvation in his blood. Jesus also knows he will experience what each one of us hates the most – complete isolation. It's as if all mankind and even his Father in Heaven are accusing him. “What do you think?" "He is worthy of death," they answered. Then they spit in his face. (Matthew 26:66-67) Yes, how deep the Father’s love for you that he would subject his Holy Son to the world’s hateful passions. Loving the Father and loving you, Jesus will complete his earthly work. Deeply his soul suffers so that you will never need to feel that overwhelming oppression. Jesus takes on the isolation, the accusations and the condemnation, so you won't have to - ever. What troubles you this day? Call on the One who has suffered overwhelming grief in his soul, even to the point of death for you. Trust his redemption. Live in joy that Jesus has done this for you. The Bible Teaches: 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 Prayer or Profit?
Matthew 21:12-15 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. THIS scene at the temple demonstrates the eternal conflict of personal desires against God’s gracious provision. A space in the temple court called the Gentile Court designed for prayer for non-Jews was being used, instead, by priests and merchants seeking profit. The priests forced people to buy “approved” animals for sacrifice. And even more, they required those animals be purchased with high-grade silver coins. Of course, pilgrims coming from the countryside and far off countries were forced to fulfill these greedy demands if they wanted to complete the sacrificial rites in the temple. In addition, many blind and handicapped people were at the temple hoping to receive offerings from people who came to worship. The offerings were few. In short, one can say the prayer place was a profit place. Men who worshiped money neglected those whose lives depended on offerings. In response, Jesus cleansed the temple. He removed the sin to reveal God’s mercy as the true riches to be gathered at the Temple’s court of prayer. But money has a hard hold on man’s hearts, doesn’t it? The priests and teachers were angry. They became more determined to remove the Lord from his temple. Jesus Teaches: Matthew 5:7 Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy . Matthew 21:10-11 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”
A great crowd was praising Jesus as he entered into Jerusalem. The Passover was beginning, and it was a time for the Jews to remember this week-long festival to celebrate their salvation from Egypt’s slavery. It had happened before in Jerusalem’s history that Messiah pretenders had ridden in similar style. As Jesus rode amid the celebration, those who did not know him asked the very good question, “Who is this?” Certainly they needed to know of the man who was being praised and, it seems, even worshiped. Then Jesus’ followers responded with words that define Jesus’ ministry in many ways. “This is Jesus the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” In essence these words say, “This is the one who has taught magnificent truths of the Kingdom of God. This is the one who has raised the dead – even 30 days before this he raised Lazarus in nearby Bethany. This is Jesus who fed thousands upon thousands of people with a few loaves and fish. This is Jesus who said, “I AM the Light of the World, the Good Shepherd, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Living Water, the Gate, the Bread of Life, from above, not of this world, the Son of God and I Am.” Yes, this is Jesus – Savior born in Bethlehem - who is greater than Moses. This is Jesus who said he has come to save the lost. This is Jesus who has preached repentance for the forgiveness of our sins. This is Jesus who commands us to love God and love others - even our enemies. This is Jesus the Passover Lamb come to take away the sins of the world. This is Jesus, who is the Son of Man, to come on the clouds one day in victory over death.” Who do you say Jesus is? How does your confession impact your life? Jesus Teaches: Know, confess and live all of who Jesus is. Save!
Matthew 21:7-9 They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!” IMAGINE if you lived under great oppression in Jerusalem during Jesus’ time. Watch out! The local Jewish government rulers could have you arrested! Be on guard, the vicious Roman authorities under Pontius Pilate could crucify you. And be cautious as you speak to the Pharisees. They don’t like challenges. It matters not what is right. Just obey the authorities, and you’ll live in peace…maybe. Yes, the people of Jesus’ day were another of many generations who had lived under severe political and religious oppression. With fervent hope they longed for the promised Messiah who would proclaim freedom for the captives (Isaiah 61:2). The LORD had spoken through the prophets. When would the Messiah arrive? Fear of heavy laws and abusive leaders marked their lives. In a manner similar to Israel in Egypt, the first century Jews longed for freedom from oppression. That’s why they cried, “Hosanna!” meaning “Save!” “Save! Save! Save us, Jesus of Nazareth!” Could it be on this day freedom would come? On this first day of the week to mark the beginning of Passover week, they called out to Jesus, the miracle-working, powerful teacher from Nazareth, to proclaim the Word’s Promise, “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. From the house of the Lord we bless you.” (Psalms 118:26) “Yes,” they could have called, “save us, Jesus of Nazareth – you who raise men from the dead!” Oh how they hoped he was the Savior. It is time for the Lord’s favor. We know the truth, don’t we? Jesus is, indeed, Savior. Blessed, indeed, is he, the One who has come to save. Do you praise and proclaim his coming into your life? Stop to Do: Declare to Jesus, “Hosanna!” and rejoice in the sure hope of his resurrection. Read Deuteronomy 21-22
Deuteronomy 21:22-23 If a man guilty of a capital offense is put to death and his body is hung on a tree, 23 you must not leave his body on the tree overnight. Be sure to bury him that same day, because anyone who is hung on a tree is under God’s curse. THIS grim passage isn’t very inspiring is it? In truth, this command profoundly affects our lives today. One aspect of the law is that it was to be swiftly administered, so the punishment would deter others. This command is to warn people against such capital offenses as murder, adultery and blasphemy. The execution was stoning. Then the body was hung on a tree as public notice to say, “This is the result of a crime against God and man.” We understand how this impacts us when we know blasphemy was the Jews’ reason for killing Jesus. Matthew 26:65 Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy!” The Jews believed they were following God’s law. And, in essence, they were. Because of Rome’s execution methods, the crime was displayed on the cross. Then Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea followed the law by removing Jesus’ body before sundown. In the Jews’ eyes, then and to this day, Jesus of Nazareth was a cursed blasphemer. It is impossible for such a person to be the Messiah, let alone the Son of God. That’s why Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:23 but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles. The gospel message is very foolish to those who are perishing (1 Corinthians 1:18). We can understand how the world view would be blind to Jesus’ saving work. To confront this challenge, Paul taught of God’s inspiring work to save us: Galatians 3:13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us. Think of it! The Father’s will was to establish the law. Then he sent Jesus to fulfill the law through the penalty of the cross. Now the way of the law is completed. The curse of Christ crucified becomes the eternal blessing. Romans 1:16 I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. Does God’s love inspire you? Jeremiah 32:40 I will make an everlasting covenant with them: I will never stop doing good to them, and I will inspire them to fear me, so that they will never turn away from me. Read Deuteronomy 19
Deuteronommy19:10, 13 Do this so that innocent blood will not be shed in your land, which the Lord your God is giving you as your inheritance, and so that you will not be guilty of bloodshed…13 Show him no pity. You must purge from Israel the guilt of shedding innocent blood, so that it may go well with you. OUR LORD is a gracious God. He protects the innocent and punishes the guilty. Yes, this is evidence of his grace. To live in Christ, is to know sin’s penalty and our Lord’s forgiveness. In this chapter, the heavenly Father first commands refuge cities must be easily accessible to protect the innocent involved in an accidental death. The elders of such cities are to affirm the persons’ innocence, then protect them throughout their lives. This law graciously shields the deceased’s family, too. If, for example, someone angrily killed one whose actions resulted in his brother’s death, that would be capital murder. The guilt must be purged. A just law defends the innocent and shelters others from breaking the law. Is capital punishment difficult for you to accept? Let’s consider this: Life is God’s will; yet, death has defiled his creation. He warned Adam of sin’s death sentence in Genesis 2:16 And the Lord God commanded the man, “You are free to eat from any tree in the garden; 17 but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” Some have said, “Adam didn’t die when he disobeyed.” But he did. Do you see him anywhere? Even worse, mankind died that day, causing us to be born dead in our transgressions (Eph 2:10) in Adam’s penalty. God’s laws are a response to our sin nature. Sure and true justice is God’s way. We can know he is our refuge and our strength (Psalm 46), trusting in his eternal care. Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. |
AuthorBob James Archives
January 2025
Categories |
RSS Feed