False Piety

The Jewish leaders condemn Jesus. They state He must die. But they don’t have authority under Roman rule to conduct executions. So, they must take Him to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor of Judea. Early in the morning on Friday, they present Him at the Governor’s Palace.

The Jewish leaders were concerned about their purity for the Passover and therefore do not enter the palace. If they had entered the home of a gentile, they would have been considered unclean and could not eat the Passover. How ironic?! Jesus becomes the Passover sacrifice for all.

Yet, we must ask ourselves if we do the same thing today? We get up on a Sunday morning, take a shower, put on clean clothes, and head off the worship services. But what did we do on Saturday night? Did we purposely go about doing something against God’s commands or God’s will for us? If so, how can we condemn the Jewish leaders?

Please do not misunderstand. Jesus died so that our sins may be forgiven, even those we purposely commit. But we cannot have a holier than thou attitude when looking at others knowing we are doing the same thing. We may not get caught. We may not make it public. But God knows what we are doing, saying, and thinking.

The fact of the matter is, Jesus was in control throughout the entire process, just as God is still in control. He only spoke when He wanted to. He knew their hearts and allowed them to do what they wanted to do. He did nothing to force anyone along the path. Yet, He followed the path that was previously laid out for Him to follow.

I pray we all give up our holier than thou attitudes. I pray we know that Jesus was and is in control. I pray each one of us know that Jesus gave Himself up for our forgiveness. Give up bad attitudes. Trust Jesus is in control. Know that Jesus forgives you. Allow Him to change your heart.

John 18:28 Then they took Jesus from Caiaphas to Pilate’s headquarters. It was early in the morning. They themselves did not enter the headquarters, so as to avoid ritual defilement and to be able to eat the Passover.

Divine Power

We often hear that Jesus knew all that was going to happen as He was betrayed, faced a false trial, and went to the cross. How do we know that? John tells Jesus knew. Not only did Jesus know but He was in control of the situation. He met His betrayer with dignity.

As Judas was coming with the soldiers, Jesus went to meet them. In that meeting, Jesus continued to care for His disciples. Though He knew they would desert Him in this time of trouble, He wanted to ensure they were not harmed. He had a plan for their future.

When Jesus asks the soldiers who they are looking for, they tell Him they are looking for Him. When He says, “I am he,” they step back and fall to the ground (John 18:6). Why might that be? The statement Jesus speaks could simply be interpreted simply as “I am.” This is the same name God gives Moses when he asks what to tell the Israelites if they ask the name of God. Jesus uses several “I am” statements throughout John to describe who He is.

The soldiers and others fall in reverence and even in worship, though they may not have fully understood why. When in the presence of divine power, there is no other option than to bow down. This is just a glimpse of what will happen when Jesus returns.

Jesus asks a second time who they are looking for and again tells them He is the one they are looking for. They finally gain the courage to take Him into custody and lead Him off for the false trials before the Sanhedrin and Pontius Pilate. I can only imagine the soldiers were wary of their task after having encountered Jesus’ divine power. Yet, they were doing what they were instructed to do and ultimately following God’s plan.

I pray we all know that God is in control. I pray we understand Jesus is the great I Am. I pray each one of us willingly bow down to Jesus and recognize His divine power in all situations.  Know that God is in control. Know that Jesus is the great I Am. Bow down to Jesus. See His divine power.

John 18:4-5 Then Jesus, knowing all that was to happen to him, came forward and asked them, “Whom are you looking for?” They answered, “Jesus of Nazareth.” Jesus replied, “I am he.” Judas, who betrayed him, was standing with them.

Disciple of Jesus

A lot happens in the last week of Jesus’ life before going to the cross. One of the more well-known commands of Jesus was given during those last days. As He is teaching His disciples and preparing them for Him to leave them, He tells them to love one another.

Was it necessary to tell them that? We could assume that command was included in the command to love your neighbor. Yet, Jesus adds one more statement to this command. It is by loving one another that everyone else will know that we are Jesus’ disciples.

How does that affect us today? Sometimes, it seems it is like water rolling off a duck’s back. It goes in one ear and out the other. In other words, we act more like the world, sniping at one another, pointing fingers, blaming, and sometimes cursing one another. That certainly is not what Jesus told us to do.

Please understand, loving does not mean we do not correct one another. However, the language, tone of voice, and attitudes we use will indicate whether we are doing so in a loving way or not. When we love one another from deep within our hearts, we do everything different than the world does. We treat one another with respect. We serve one another. We help one another. We communicate with one another. We even correct one another with gentleness and kindness.

Yes, Jesus rebuked Peter. But that was because Peter was not thinking as God thinks, not because Peter had a different opinion of how-to fish. Getting wrapped around the things of this world and allowing them to get in the way of loving one another is not following Jesus’ command. We need to love one another so that everyone else will know we are Jesus’ disciples.

I pray we all give up taking our cues from the world. I pray we choose to change our hearts to be more like Jesus. I pray each one of us will choose to love one another and show the world we are Jesus’ disciples. Stop following the world. Change your heart. Love one another. Be a disciple of Jesus.

John 13:34-35 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

Mystery of God

We hear it said that Jesus was both fully human and fully God when He walked this earth. Though we may not completely comprehend what this means, we can see glimpses of it in the gospels. We understand the miracles of healing and casting out demons required the power of God.

We also see the power of God in today’s passage. Jesus knew Judas was going to betray Him. It wasn’t because Jesus had followed Judas or overheard his conversation with the Jewish leaders. He knew because God sees everything, at all times, everywhere.

We cannot fully comprehend the concept of seeing all history in a single moment. Yet, that is exactly what God does. He has seen every choice we will make. He has seen the day we were born and the day we will pass from this world and everything in between. Since we live within time, it is difficult for us to understand how this is possible. But God lives outside of time.

The comforting portion of this passage is that Jesus knows who He has chosen. Being one of His chosen gives us comfort. We have been chosen as His brothers and sisters. We have been chosen as His servants. We have been chosen to continue His work on this earth. He is the Good Shepherd. We are to listen for His voice for He continues to speak to us today.

Jesus told the other disciples what was going to happen before it happened so they would believe He was who He said He was. As we read the words John recorded, we, too, should believe. There is mystery about God, but that does not mean we should not believe. In fact, it is the mystery, the unexplainable, of God that should deepen our faith.

I pray we all know we are chosen by God. I pray believe Jesus is both fully human and fully God. I pray each one of us allow the mystery of God to deepen our faith, trusting that one day we will understand. You are chosen by God. Jesus is fully human. Jesus is fully God. Deepen your faith by the mystery of God.

John 13:18-19 “I am not speaking of all of you; I know whom I have chosen. But it is to fulfill the scripture, ‘The one who ate my bread has lifted his heel against me.’ I tell you this now, before it occurs, so that when it does occur you may believe that I am he.”

Lowliest Tasks

As we enter Holy Week, we begin the trek of following Jesus through the last days of His life on this earth. The Passover was arguably the most significant festival and meal for the Jews. They remembered the awesome power of God that freed them from slavery in Egypt.

Though it was a festival of joy, Jesus starts it in a humble act. Though He knew He was going to experience agonizing pain, He also knew He was going to return to the Father. Perhaps that is why He chose to show His disciples one more act of being a humble servant.

Jesus grabbed a towel and a bowl of water. He then knelt down before each disciple and washed their feet. He demonstrated the type of servant He came to be and the type of servant He wants each of us to be. Being willing to do the lowliest of tasks for others is just what Jesus wants us to do. It is when we bow to the desires of Jesus that God will lift us up.

Unfortunately, we too often strive to climb the ladder. We long to be on top, in the spotlight. Yet, that is not what God is calling us to. Or, if he is, he will put us there because we have chosen to be humble servants of his. If we use Jesus as our model to emulate, rather than seeking the applause of the crowd, we will serve others and know that God is smiling on us.

I pray we all seek to emulate Jesus. I pray we choose to do what is pleasing to God. I pray each one of us will choose to serve others, knowing it pleases God, and wait for him to lift us up. Emulate Jesus. Please God. Serve others. Seek to be humble like Jesus. Trust God will lift you up.

John 13:3-4 Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands and that he had come from God and was going to God, got up from supper, took off his outer robe, and tied a towel around himself.

Praise the King

How often do you give God the credit? Have you sung Jesus’ praises outside of Sunday morning worship? Do you praise Him when you are not around other Christians? Are you willing to proclaim His mighty deeds, His resurrection, and the blessings you have received?

Praising Jesus may be difficult for us. Our politically correct society tells us not to offend anyone by speaking His name. Of course, Peter and John were ordered by the Jewish leadership not to speak Jesus’ name anymore in Acts 4:17-18. They refused to obey them.

The disciples who were singing Jesus’ praises as He was approaching Jerusalem and entering through its gates were bold. They knew the Jewish leadership was seeking to kill Jesus. They also knew that calling anyone king other than Caesar would bring punishment from the Roman authorities. They sang His praises anyway.

We live in a culture that may not have laws against our praise of Jesus nor against calling Him King. Yet, there are laws that require we not show prejudice toward any one group. Additionally, there are lawyers who will argue any promotion of Jesus is offensive and prejudiced toward other religions. Will we bow to the pressure?

We have a choice to make. We can bow to cultural pressures, or we can bow to the living God. We can restrain our voices of praise in fear of retribution, or we can stand on the cornerstone of Jesus. We must understand that fully following Jesus is countercultural.

I pray we all choose to praise Jesus. I pray we stand with courage on the chief cornerstone. I pray each one of us will be as countercultural as Jesus was and still is today. Choose to praise Jesus. Stand on the chief cornerstone. Be countercultural. Be like Jesus.

Luke 19:37 Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen,

Strange Command

Have you ever done something that someone requested that seemed to be strange? Have you done something on command that you questioned? Would you blindly do something you were told to do by someone you trusted? What if you were concerned it might break the law?

We rarely see someone simply do something they are told to do without questioning it. Obeying on command is virtually unheard of outside of the military. It is especially questioned when we think we might break the law. We may even question someone we trust.

Jesus sent two disciples to go get a colt that had never been ridden on. They were told where to find it and to untie it and bring it to Jesus. I’m sure they were concerned. After all, the owner would be wondering what they were doing and may call on the Roman soldiers to arrest them. But Jesus told them, if they were asked what they were doing, to reply “The Lord needs it.”

The two headed into the village, found the colt, untied it, were questioned, gave the reply Jesus told them to, and they brought the colt to Him. It all happened just as Jesus told them it would. He gave them instructions and the proper response for any questioning. I’m sure they trusted Him, but they also had to be worried…just a little.

We, too, can trust Jesus. He gives us instructions through His words in the gospels. He continues to instruct us through the Holy Spirit. We should be like the disciples. Even if we are concerned that we are not prepared, we should obey and allow things to play out as Jesus desires. When we obey Jesus, things always work out for the better.

I pray we all trust Jesus. I pray we obey His instructions, both in what is written and guidance from the Holy Spirit. I pray each one of us experience things working out for the better, just as Jesus desires. Trust Jesus. Obey Jesus. Obey Jesus’ written word. Follow the Holy Spirit’s guidance. Experience the abundant life.

Luke 19:29-30 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here.

Cry Out to God

How does grief affect you? Have you experienced the deep grief from the loss of a loved one? Have you cried many tears on many different days? Has your soul been shaken by the loss? Have you experienced a loss of energy or physical pains in your grief?

Grief is experienced in many ways be each of us. It affects some of us in one way and others in another. Some of us will weep for days or weeks or months. Others will experience depression, lack of energy, and lack of appetite. Still others will have their faith shaken and their soul rent asunder.

Grief can do strange things to us and cause many different maladies. How do we handle it? Each of us will handle it differently. Some will turn to their jobs as an escape. Others will curl up in the corner and simply want to be alone. Still others will turn to drugs or alcohol as a means to forget…for a little while. What each of us should do in all of these ways of dealing with grief is to pray.

The Psalmist cries out to God. He knows it is only God who can bring solace, peace, comfort, and ultimately joy again. He asks God to shed his grace on him. There is nothing the Psalmist is saying that God does not already know. Yet, God desires us to cry out to him in our grief. He wants us to bare our souls and our grief to him. God wants to help. Yet, he can only help if we are open to him helping. So, we all need to go to God in prayer in the midst of our grief.

I pray we all know we will grieve differently than others. I pray we choose to turn to God in our grief. I pray each one of us trusts that God knows how we feel and will provide the peace, comfort, and joy we seek. Turn to God. Trust God to provide. Trust God understands. He has grieved over us, too.

Psalm 31:9

Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress; 

my eye wastes away from grief, 

my soul and body also.

Rejoice and Be Glad

How will your day go today? Will you have a good day? Are you looking forward to today? Are you thankful for the gift of today? What will you do with the gift you have been given? Will you rejoice in your gift? Are you glad you have received this gift?

We all have good days and bad days based on our perception. Whether we want to admit it or not, our perception can be skewed. Deciding whether a day is good or bad is often based on whether we get what we want or not. Honestly, we can be fickle about it.

The Psalmist tells us that God has made each day. In other words, God has put nature in motion. It is God’s will that the sun rises, there is rain, there is sunshine, it is cold, or it is hot. Stating that God has made the day is putting trust in him. Trusting in him allows us to rejoice in the gift of having one more day. Our rejoicing will give us a joyful attitude.

Make no mistake, not every day is filled with rainbows and unicorns. Yet, by trusting in God and rejoicing in his gift, each day can be a joyful day. Even when things go wrong, we can be thankful that God has gotten us through it. Our trust in him includes having confidence that God is with us always with us.

Our outlook on the day is determined by us. If we decide to rejoice and be glad when we wake up, the day will be better than it would be if we decided to be angry and spiteful or depressed and playing the victim. The closer our relationship with God, the more we trust him. The more we trust him, the easier it is for us to rejoice and be glad he has given us one more day.

I pray we all choose to be thankful for the gift of today. I pray we trust God has given us today for a reason. I pray each one of us will rejoice and be glad about the gift we have received from God. Be thankful today. Trust God. Rejoice in your gift. Be glad God has given you today.

Psalm 118:24

This is the day that the Lord has made; 

let us rejoice and be glad in it.

Gate of the Lord

Are you looking for doors to open to you? Have you been pounding on doors that just won’t open? Have you considered you have been knocking on the wrong doors? Are you willing to knock on the right door? Will you walk through the right door when it is open?

Door knocking can be frustrating, tiring, and nerve racking. When those doors don’t open, it can be disappointing. We can become depressed when door after door remains closed. It is especially disheartening when it is a dream of ours that doesn’t come true.

There is one door we all can walk through, if we are willing. It is one we may feel we don’t deserve…, and we would be correct. We can walk through the door of righteousness. Jesus opened the gate for us. He has prepared the way, and He stands on the other side with His arms wide open waiting to welcome us.

When Jesus went to the cross and rose again on the third day, He threw open the gate for each of us to walk through. All we need to do is accept Him as our Lord and Savior. When we do, we walk through the gate of Lord, and we enter righteous. Not because of anything we have done but because of what He has done for us.

Most of us believe we are unworthy. Yet, God has deemed us worthy. We should not doubt our worthiness to God. We are his creation. He loves us more than we can comprehend. Rather than telling ourselves we are unworthy, we need to be thankful that God loves us. We need to trust that God loves us and he knows what he is doing.

I pray we forget the doors that won’t open. I pray we seek the door that God has opened to us. I pray each one of us will trust that God loves us and has deemed us worthy to walk through his gate. Seek God’s open gate. Trust God loves you. Know that you are worthy. Walk through the Lord’s gate righteous.

Psalm 118:19-20

Open to me the gates of righteousness, 

that I may enter through them 

and give thanks to the Lord. 

This is the gate of the Lord; 

the righteous shall enter through it.