"Then they spit in his face and struck him" [Matt 26:67]
"I gave my back to those who strike,
and my cheek to those who pull out the beard;
I hid not my face from disgrace and spitting." [Is 50:6]
In what appears to be a fist fight that Jesus is clearly losing, God's sovereignty seems to shine so brightly in the backdrop, reducing this to but a minor scuffle when compared to the real battle being fought in the heavens for the souls of men. So as men boxed with God, God boxed with sin. Though it is natural to have seen this abuse and disgrace and to have "esteemed him stricken," Jesus was doing a work so great that we would've cheered him on had we been there and understood that, "he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed." [Is 53] !!!!!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Love
I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. John 15:9
When Jesus asks you to remain in His love, He is asking you to obey Him completely. Not some of the time, not only on those things that you like or that are easy, but in all areas. Now, I know that may seem hard to do, but the good news is that your first step is just to be willing. Be willing to ask for His help. Pray, sing a hymn, sit in quiet, take a walk and talk with the Lord-do anything that illustrates your willingness to the Lord, and do it as often as you can. Your willingness turns into His opportunity to use you for His loving purpose on this earth. It is truly amazing to realize that you were loved by God even before you were born, because God knew you and wanted you from the start. That kind of complete and unconditional love is beautiful and exciting. Thank the Lord for loving you more than life itself.
~By Sherana Harris
When Jesus asks you to remain in His love, He is asking you to obey Him completely. Not some of the time, not only on those things that you like or that are easy, but in all areas. Now, I know that may seem hard to do, but the good news is that your first step is just to be willing. Be willing to ask for His help. Pray, sing a hymn, sit in quiet, take a walk and talk with the Lord-do anything that illustrates your willingness to the Lord, and do it as often as you can. Your willingness turns into His opportunity to use you for His loving purpose on this earth. It is truly amazing to realize that you were loved by God even before you were born, because God knew you and wanted you from the start. That kind of complete and unconditional love is beautiful and exciting. Thank the Lord for loving you more than life itself.
~By Sherana Harris
Friday, August 7, 2009
The Cross, Part 3: Alone
"Then all the disciples left him and fled" [Matt 26:56]
Even after the abundance of love Christ displayed among his followers, a realization of His unpopularity along with fear for their own safety, causes the disciples to "flee from the Lord." "For it is written, I will strike the Shepard, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered."
Among these disciples was Peter himself, who boldly exclaimed, "I will never fall away." Yet, the love of God is fully expressed, for we all(like the disciples) "left him and fled" in our hears with sinful desires and still the Lord was gracious and loving enough to pursue us as we fled. "All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;" So there is no use in supposing that there was some sort of innate goodness within the hearts of men that motivated Christ to be dragged away by His betrayers. It was not for any good works that we'd done, but instead because we were incapable of doing anything good at all, that He is willfully led away "like a lamb that is led to the slaughter." And standing all alone without any companion or fellow worker to aid him in this great act of redemption, "his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him."
"Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded." "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." The betrayed is crucified for the betrayer, the one who remained faithful died for we who "left him and fled." How is this not the greatest act of love and the most amazing display of grace?
"For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Soli Deo Gloria!
Even after the abundance of love Christ displayed among his followers, a realization of His unpopularity along with fear for their own safety, causes the disciples to "flee from the Lord." "For it is written, I will strike the Shepard, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered."
Among these disciples was Peter himself, who boldly exclaimed, "I will never fall away." Yet, the love of God is fully expressed, for we all(like the disciples) "left him and fled" in our hears with sinful desires and still the Lord was gracious and loving enough to pursue us as we fled. "All have turned aside; together they have become worthless;" So there is no use in supposing that there was some sort of innate goodness within the hearts of men that motivated Christ to be dragged away by His betrayers. It was not for any good works that we'd done, but instead because we were incapable of doing anything good at all, that He is willfully led away "like a lamb that is led to the slaughter." And standing all alone without any companion or fellow worker to aid him in this great act of redemption, "his own arm brought him salvation, and his righteousness upheld him."
"Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded." "For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly." The betrayed is crucified for the betrayer, the one who remained faithful died for we who "left him and fled." How is this not the greatest act of love and the most amazing display of grace?
"For one will scarcely die for a righteous person - though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die - but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Soli Deo Gloria!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
The Cross, Part 2: Not as I will
"Nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will" [Matt 26:39]
Although it seems possible for the will of Jesus to be contrary to the Father's, there was never a moment in which Jesus actually acted upon any impulse that wasn't aligned with the Father's gracious plan of salvation. "For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me." And in this setting aside of ones own will, we see yet another instance in which Christ was, "tempted as we are, yet without sin." Since most of us will never even be tempted to such a great magnitude, because usually "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood," it is comforting to know that Christ was not only "tempted as we are" but in a far greater way, and yet was sustained by the same Spirit that is now being poured out freely upon those who believe! It may very well be that this was the greatest temptation of all for our Lord. To give up his will, his desires, and even his very life for the sake of the Father's will and desires - even for the sake of our own lives was Christ our Lord crucified!
Although it seems possible for the will of Jesus to be contrary to the Father's, there was never a moment in which Jesus actually acted upon any impulse that wasn't aligned with the Father's gracious plan of salvation. "For I have come down from heaven, not to do my own will but the will of him who sent me." And in this setting aside of ones own will, we see yet another instance in which Christ was, "tempted as we are, yet without sin." Since most of us will never even be tempted to such a great magnitude, because usually "In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood," it is comforting to know that Christ was not only "tempted as we are" but in a far greater way, and yet was sustained by the same Spirit that is now being poured out freely upon those who believe! It may very well be that this was the greatest temptation of all for our Lord. To give up his will, his desires, and even his very life for the sake of the Father's will and desires - even for the sake of our own lives was Christ our Lord crucified!
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
The Cross, Part 1: Grief
"My soul is very sorrowful, even unto death" [Matt 26:38]
And it is here in the garden, that the reality of the cross and all that it would cost our Lord, begins to weigh heavily upon his soul; Seemingly to the point that it becomes impossible to bear. "Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour." "For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world - to bear witness to the truth."
If then the Father were to save the Son from "this hour," then Jesus would not be able to bear witness to the truth that the "Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life." And yet it was for this very truth that Christ was born into this world; to atone for the sins of man and "raise him up at the last day." Therefore, to be saved from this hour is impossible, because it would make God a liar. The cup of suffering had to be drank by Christ himself before anyone else, as he is "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." It would later pass to the disciples; "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with." And for the cross, there have been countless men and women who endured the same sorrow "even unto death." Yet, their is much in this seemingly gloomy passage in which to find joy, for "if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Indeed, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." [Phil 3:10-12, Rom 8:17] Therefore, the Lord's grief expressed at the cross is both a weight and a glorious crown to the believer.
And it is here in the garden, that the reality of the cross and all that it would cost our Lord, begins to weigh heavily upon his soul; Seemingly to the point that it becomes impossible to bear. "Now my soul is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father save me from this hour'? But for this purpose I have come to this hour." "For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world - to bear witness to the truth."
If then the Father were to save the Son from "this hour," then Jesus would not be able to bear witness to the truth that the "Father's will is that everyone who looks to the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life." And yet it was for this very truth that Christ was born into this world; to atone for the sins of man and "raise him up at the last day." Therefore, to be saved from this hour is impossible, because it would make God a liar. The cup of suffering had to be drank by Christ himself before anyone else, as he is "the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep." It would later pass to the disciples; "You will drink the cup I drink and be baptized with the baptism I am baptized with." And for the cross, there have been countless men and women who endured the same sorrow "even unto death." Yet, their is much in this seemingly gloomy passage in which to find joy, for "if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory." Indeed, "I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain to the resurrection from the dead." [Phil 3:10-12, Rom 8:17] Therefore, the Lord's grief expressed at the cross is both a weight and a glorious crown to the believer.
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