Passover

November 22, 2011
The Life of Jesus; read today: Pilate sentences Jesus; John 19:13-15

Darby: John 19:14. (now it was the preparation of the passover; it was about the sixth hour;) and he says to the Jews, Behold your king!

Funny how we can see sometimes what is right in front of us but not see it at all.  The Jewish people should have realized what was happening here.  Here was a person that they could pretty much tell had no sin in His life.  Passover was a time that a lamb was to be taken that was perfect and given up for the sins of the people.  The comparison was there, why did they not see it?

I see the same in me however.  I want the people around me to change, the fix themselves so that I can have a better life and be happy.  Just recently I realized it is not all them, it is me as well.  I need to see the reality that is me and get off of my self-centeredness.  I need to see that Jesus died for me and that because of that I need to be the best me that I can be.

It was so easy though, when i could blame everyone else and not me.

Read for next time: Pilate delivers Jesus to be crucified; John 19:16

Who is on the throne?

November 21, 2011
The Life of Jesus; read today: Pilate tries to release Jesus again; John 19:12

Weymouth: John 19:12. Upon receiving this answer, Pilate was for releasing Him. But the Jews kept shouting, "If you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar's. Every one who sets himself up as king declares himself a rebel against Caesar."

Pilate has to make a decision here  He can pander to the crowd knowing that an innocent man will die, thereby being able to keep his position.  His other option is to release Jesus, in doing so he will get the Jewish leaders mad and they will tell his boss that he allowed a man to claim he was better than Cesar (the name is sort of like being called the king).   In other words, keep himself on the throne, or let Jesus claim the throne.

Every day I face a choice.  Though I have accepted Jesus as my saviour, there are times when I take Him off of the throne and put myself up there in his place.  It is my desire to have what I want, and it usually is not healthy choice.  The times that I have done better are when I can put Jesus up there and every day take time out to pray to Him, read the word and do some worship.

Just like Pilate I have a choice.  Every day, I pray that I make the right one.



Read for next time: Pilate sentences Jesus; John 19:13-15

The greater sin

November 20, 2011The Life of Jesus; read today: Pilate questions Jesus again; John 19:8-11

KJV: John 19:11. Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above:  therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.

Jesus acknowledged that Pilate was sinning here.  The greater sin, if there is such a thing of one sin being bigger than another, was that the Jewish authorities had turned Him over to Pilate to be killed. This is something that has a parallel in our modern life.

When I have an addiction it is a sin, there is no way to make that something that it is not  What will need to be looked at is the cause of it.  For many who have problems of co-dependency and/or addictions, the problems did not start in our adult years.  They go back to what is called the 'family of origin'.  People can affect you in many ways, some may even be very Christian like.  The truth is, that you were affected, and though your sin is sin, the fact that it affected you makes it sin as well.


One of the first steps to healing is to forgive.  So you need to do what Jesus did for Pilate, you must learn to forgive them.  This is not an easy task. It is so easy for us to hold on to our lifestyle the way it is.  It is however, necessary if we wish to grow.

Read for next time: Pilate tries to release Jesus again; John 19:12

Find no fault

November 18, 2011
The Life of Jesus; read today: Pilate tries to release Jesus; John 19:4-7

BBE: John 19:4. And Pilate went out again and said to them, See, I let him come out to you to make it clear to you that I see no wrong in him.

It is possible to see Jesus as the way to salvation but not act on it.  Here he was with a man that he found no wrong in, yet he lacked the internal moral strength to do anything about it.  He knew the right thing to do and yet he avoided it.  For him it was a one time deal. Jesus was there and he had one chance to save him.

In my life before coming a Christian, I had the Gospel presented to me a number of times.  I said, yes, I see that Jesus was a good man, that He died for me, I just do not think that is for me.  Unlike Jesus and His one chance at being kept from being death, I had many chances to have Jesus as my savior.

It is possible to reject Jesus and then come to Him later. Pilate however did not have that chance. I am sure the Word would have told us about it if he had.  I must realize when I tell others about Jesus that, like me, it is up to them to receive or reject and let them live with their choice.

Read for next time: Pilate questions Jesus again; John 19:8-11

Royality

November 17, 2011
The Life of Jesus; read today: Pilate's soldiers crown and mock Jesus; Matthew 27:27-30; Mark 15:16-20; John 19:1-3

ESV: John 19:2. And the soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe.

A crown and a robe of purple. That is was a sign of royalty in its day.  So these would be expected to be given to Jesus as He was the King of the Jews.  But these were not quite what they seem. The crown was made of thorns, and as it would be pushed on His head the spikes would break through the skin and He would bleed.

The robe also would not be comfortable to wear.  Jesus had just been whipped by the Roman guards and the wounds were still fresh.  The robe would have been put on His bloody body.  As the wounds began to heal, the cloth from the robe would have the blood dried on to it, and  become one with it.  Any movement of the robe would have hurt the bruised skin and where it was dried on, it would once again rip the flesh and reopen the wound.

I sometimes think I have it so tough. I have had so many problems in this world.  I have nothing like Jesus went through. Most of my problems are my own fault, none of what Jesus went through was His fault.  When I am tempted to cry out, 'unfair', I need to meditate on what Jesus went through so that I could have life, and life eternal.



Read for next time: Pilate tries to release Jesus; John 19:4-7

Peer pressure

November 8, 2011
The Life of Jesus; read today:  Pilate releases Barabbas; Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:38-40

It is so easy for us in current day to judge the people in the crowd when Jesus was being sent to Pilate.  If I had been around would I have done what they did?

ESV: Matthew Chapter 27
 [20] Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.
[21] The governor again said to them, Which of the two do you want me to release for you? And they said, Barabbas.

I can tell myself all I want that I would never do to Jesus what they did, I would have stood up and tried to stop it, but there are two little words that would have kept me from doing so I am sure: peer pressure.

I know you are thinking that peer pressure is only done by youth and teens so that they can fit in and not be a dork.  It really takes place in adult life also. We all want to be accepted so we will give in often to be part of the group.  On the radio last week I heard a story about a man who was in a board meeting and he disagreed strongly with the person next to him on the issue being discussed at the time and they both let each other know.  At one point the chairman took a vote saying that those who agree would signify by standing.  One by one all the men stood up till he was the last one, and then, he stood us as well.  Though he disagreed, he let the peer pressure take over in him.

We are no different.  We want acceptance and to be part of what everyone is doing.  We would have been part of that crowd as well.  And we would have let the one who did not give in to pressure die.

Read for next time: Pilate's soldiers crown and mock Jesus; Matthew 27:27-30; Mark 15:16-20; John 19:1-3

BFF

November 8, 2011
The Life of Jesus; read today:  Herod's soldiers mock Jesus; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:11-12


Jubilee2000: Luke Chapter 23
[11] And Herod with his court despised him and mocked [him] and arrayed him in a gorgeous robe and sent him again to Pilate.
[12] And the same day Pilate and Herod were made friends together, for before they were at enmity between themselves.

It is sometimes amazing what will bring people together.  Using the social networking sites can be an experience.  I live in Oklahoma and we have had some earthquakes here the last few days.  On Facebook and Twitter I have seen the talk about these things increase, especially since the one we had most recently happened during a thunder storm.  People were all excited we might be in the end times.

Another thing I have noticed on these social network sites, trying to talk about Christianity. If you are low key about it then nothing happens but no one really notices.  If you tend to make a stand, then it is time for you to be bullied for your belief.  Generally it is by groups of people that would not get along together.  Things have not really changed.  Herod and Pilate were enemies of each other, but over the matter of Jesus, though both knew it was wrong, they stood together and became best friends. For their friendship Jesus had to die.

Understand, taking a stand will bring out enemies.  It is just amazing how that can bring people who would not otherwise be together to form a common bond.



Read for next time: Pilate releases Barabbas; Matthew 27:15-26; Mark 15:6-15; Luke 23:13-25; John 18:38-40

Seeking signs

November 7, 2011
The Life of Jesus; read today:  Jesus before Herod; Luke 23:8-10

BBE: Luke Chapter 23 [8] Now when Herod saw Jesus he was very glad, having for a long time had a desire to see him, for he had had accounts of him, and was hoping to see some wonders done by him.
[9] And he put a great number of questions to him, but he said nothing.

Why did Herod want to ask Jesus these things.  Like Pilate he was sure to know of the things Jesus had done.  Unlike Pilate, he wanted a sign.  I believe that God still uses signs and wonders today.  However, they come not when people seek them, but when they seek God.  Herod wanted a sign so he could talk about how he had Jesus doing things for him and raising his stature.  That is the wrong reason.

I need to remember each day to keep my heart pure so that I will follow after Jesus not for what He can do for me, but so that I can thank the person who gives all life.




Read for next time: Herod's soldiers mock Jesus; Mark 15:1-5; Luke 23:11-12

What is the truth

November 4, 2011
The Life of Jesus; read today:  Jesus before Pilate; Matthew 27:1-14; Luke 23:1-7; John 18:29-38

ESV: John 18:38. Pilate said to him, What is truth? After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, I find no guilt in him.

In verse 37 Jesus had just said His reason for coming, to bear witness to the truth.  Now I am sure that Pilate knew who Jesus was. I am sure that the politics of the era were all to familiar to him. Having followed what was going on I am sure he understood the teachings of Jesus, or at least have heard about them.  So he asks an interesting question. "What is the truth?"

That is a question that we all must ask.  As a Christian I believe I have the truth, not a truth. Some may say that I am judgemental because I believe that way. My answer is that I am not the one that judges, God does.

I may present the truth to some one and they may choose to ignore it.  It is no longer my problem.  Pilate asked about the truth and he had it in front of him.  All he does with it is to try convince the people not to kill Jesus.  He does nothing to try to stop what is happening.  Likewise when people hear the truth they can accept it as the truth, understand that it is a truth, or reject it.  My job is to present it, there choice is theirs.

Read for next time: Jesus before Herod; Luke 23:8-10

Was Judas co-dependent?

November 4, 2011
The Life of Jesus; read today:  Remorse of Judas; Matthew 27:1-10 Acts 1:16-20


NHEB: Matthew Chapter 27
[3] Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,
[4] saying, "I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood." But they said, "What is that to us? You see to it."
[5] He threw down the pieces of silver in the sanctuary, and departed. He went away and hanged himself.

For the last two years I have been part of a group that meets at my church that deals with addictions and co-dependency issues. I have learned many things over that time. One is that no one regrets something that they are about to do.  The only time that they regret what they do is after the fact.  The person who drinks does not regret it till after he looses his job.  The co-dependant spouse does not regret their actions till they realize what they have helped create, or are hurt because of it.

Judas realized too late the situation he was in.  I am thinking that he was a really co-dependant or had an addiction problem.  He wanted Jesus to be a man of action and by betraying Him, Judas could force the situation.  Only Jesus did not have the same agenda that Judas did.  He had his own agenda and it meant redemption for all, not just freedom for the Jewish people.

And so he regrets what he did, and commits suicide.  He could have thought things through and realized it was not as bad as it seemed.  Or better yet, he could have talked it out with Jesus, seen what Jesus had in mind. He could have thought it out and seen the consequences.

And that is something that I need to see in myself as well.  The actions that I take are what will influence my life in the future.  If, before I do the thing that is hurtful, I take the time to think what my actions will do, to call a friend to help me get through it, then I will not do the thing that is destructive in my life.  But that is hard to do.


Read for next time: Jesus before Pilate; Matthew 27:1-14; Luke 23:1-7; John 18:29-38

Passover

November 2, 2011
The Life of Jesus; read today:  Jesus lead from Caiaphas to Praetorium; John 18:28

ABP: John 18:28. Then they led  Jesus from  Caiaphas unto the praetorium. And it was morning; and they did not enter into the praetorium, that they should not be defiled; but that they should eat the passover.

It is interesting that they would sentence a man to death is such a way.  They did not want the blood on their own hands, so they took Him to the Roman leaders. More importantly they wanted to keep themselves pure so that they could eat the Passover meal, the very thing that Jesus was a symbol of.

Most interesting to me is that they wanted to do it in such a respectable way. When we read the book of Acts, we see that stoning was common as they did it to Stephen and many of the new converts.  So why could they not do it here?  They wanted to make sure that Jesus had the most horrible death possible.He was to put to shame so that His story would be discredited.

In life we will face many challenges from many people. They will try to discredit us.  Just keep moving forward. Like Jesus, in the end you will be vindicated.



The Apostolic Bible Polyglot is a Greek-English Interlinear coded to Strong's numbers. Free printable PDFs can be downloaded and printed editions can be purchased at http://www.apostolicbible.com

Read for next time: Remorse of Judas; Matthew 27:1-10 Acts 1:16-20

The whole world

November 1, 2011
The Life of Jesus; read today:  Sanhedrin beats Jesus; Matthew 26:67-68; Mark 14:65


GodsWord: Mark 14:65. Some of them began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him with their fists. They said to him, "Prophesy!" Even the guards took him and slapped him.  

I posted a joke one day on my Facebook page. It said that ‘somedays I feel like the whole world is against me but I know that is not true, there are at least three third world countries that do not know who I am!”

In Jesus case, the whole world was against Him.  It was bad enough that the Jewish leaders were beating on Him, they convinced the guards to do it as well. The fact is that He did take all the weight of the world, including those third world countries, on Himself.  

I can not begin to understand the pain He went through. When I am feeling loneley, rejected and hurt, it would do me  good to take the time to look at this verse once again.  


Read for next time: Jesus lead from Caiaphas to Praetorium; John 18:28