May 14, 2012

This is Not What I Expected! Are You Sure I Got the Right Child??

Most of us have expectations of our children that began long before they were born.  When things were not going to our liking as children, we may have thought, “Well, I tell you one thing.  I’ll never treat my child this way!”

Because we usually believe our way of viewing the world is right, we start early trying to turn our children into “mini-me(s)”.  The parents we will consider today had to change their thinking to receive God’s Gift of a child.  And once they saw what that child became, they may have wondered if this was really what God had in mind, or whether they had completely failed as parents.

Elizabeth and Zachariah, the Parents of John the Baptist

Elizabeth  and Zachariah wanted to be parents, but it did not happen.  Many mothers today know the longing that comes from the inability to conceive.  While some mothers-to-be are in panic at the positive pregnancy test, there are an equal or greater number, who grieve with each pregnancy test that is negative.

It is easy to become bitter and succumb to the thoughts satan offered to Eve:  “God does not love you.  He has not given you what you want.”  But Elizabeth and Zachariah resisted the urge to feel deprived.  Instead they continued to love the Lord God with all their hearts and to obey Him.

Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s Commands and Decrees blamelessly.  Luke 1:6

When God considered who would be the best parents for His very important Servant, He thought of Elizabeth and Zachariah, who were mature in the faith, patient and trusting, even when things did not turn out as they had hoped.

God sent an angel to Zachariah to proclaim the joyful news that Elizabeth would become pregnant.    He told him, “Your prayer has been heard!” Luke 1:13

Are you wondering if God has heard your prayers?  If you did not get an answer the first few times you asked, did you give up?  Zachariah, no doubt, had asked for a child for a long time.  And it appears he did not stop asking.  He never lost hope.  Now he heard the Words he longed to hear.  “Your prayer has been heard.”

Stop for a moment and think of all you have discussed with the Lord.  Know God has not forgotten you.  He has not forsaken you.  He has been listening!  Accept the Word of the Lord to you now, “Your prayer has been heard!”

The angel told Zachariah what kind of man his son would be.  And he told him specifically what he was to name his son.  This might have been the first expectation Zachariah had to give up.  His son would not be Zachariah, Jr.  He was to be called John.

The angel told him, “He will be a joy and delight to you, and many will rejoice because of his birth,  for he will be great in the sight of the Lord.  He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.  He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God. And he will go on before the Lord in the spirit and power of Elijah to turn the hearts of the parents to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous – to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” Luke 1:14-17

Zachariah had been so faithful in his lifetime, but he had been presented with such amazing news, he just had to note, “How can I be sure of this?  I am an old man and my wife is well along in years!”Luke 1:18

Very important lesson:  Never doubt God!  With God, nothing, absolutely nothing, is impossible.  God can supersede any Law in the Universe He has made!  God had a Plan and He was not about to allow Zachariah to speak words of doubt.  He made Zachariah mute on the spot.  The angel said, 

“Now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe My Words, which will come true at their appointed time.” Luke 1:20

(Gulp!  Praise the Lord He has not made me mute every time I spoke words of doubt!)

Zachariah was serving his time as priest at the time of this revelation.  One would think he would run right home and write Elizabeth a note telling her they needed to get together right away!  But he didn’t.  Zachariah stayed at the temple until his time of service was complete.  He was faithful to do what he had been called to do for the time he was called to do it.

But he then went home.  Can you imagine his reunion with Elizabeth?  Zachariah returned mute, and yet filled with news!  Elizabeth did become pregnant, just as the angel said.

And Elizabeth was thankful.  Her words should be our words in the presence of the many miracles the Lord gives us every day.

The Lord has done this for me.  In these days, He has shown His Favor!

  Luke 1:25

Meanwhile Elizabeth’s young niece, Mary, was getting amazing news herself.  The same angel, who spoke to Zachariah, told her, “Even Elizabeth, your relative, is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be unable to conceive is in her sixth month.  For NO WORD FROM GOD WILL EVER FAIL!”  Luke 1:36-37

Mary went to see Elizabeth right away.  When Mary arrived and greeted Elizabeth, John leaped in Elizabeth’s womb.  Remember the angel had told Zachariah that John would be filled with the Holy Spirit before he was born … and now Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit too!

Elizabeth confirmed in Mary the Truth that had been confirmed in her … and the Truth God has for all of us:

Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill His Promises to her! 

Luke 1:45

And so it came to pass, that Elizabeth gave birth to a son.  At the time of his circumcision, the temple officials were going to name him after Zachariah.  Remember poor Zachariah was still mute.  But Elizabeth spoke up, and said, “No!  He is to be called John.”  Luke 1:60

When Zachariah confirmed Elizabeth’s Words by writing a note, his tongue was loosed and he began to praise God!  The neighbors were all talking and wondering what this boy was going to be.  For it was obvious that God’s Hand was with him and his parents.

Even though Elizabeth and Zachariah had to adjust to many unexpected things through the arrival of John, they could never have predicted what John would become.  Have you ever looked at your children, even your adult children, and wondered what they could possibly be thinking.  

John had an unusual flair for fashion, wearing wild-looking clothing made of camel’s hair and a leather belt around his waist.  He lived in the desert wilderness, ate locust, and peached a strange message.  John knew his mission and he set about with great zeal to fulfill it.  

John called people out, challenging them to prepare for the soon coming Messiah.  John minced no words.  (Have you ever wished your children would be just a little more diplomatic in expressing their views?)  

John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, 

“You brood of vipers!  Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? 

 Produce fruit in keeping with repentance.  

And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’  

For I tell you that out of these stones, God can raise up children for Abraham.  The ax is already at the root of the trees, 

and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down

 and thrown into the fire!”

Luke 3:7-9 

Ouch!  One would think with such a brutal message, John would be shunned or at the least, written off as a mad man.  But he wasn’t.  People kept coming, perhaps to hear John slam their neighbors.  But under the Power of the Holy Spirit in John, they were convicted of their sins and were baptized by John.

We don’t hear what Elizabeth or Zachariah had to say in response.  They had done their job of preparing the way for their son, who was preparing the way for God’s Son.  And then one day it happened.  John saw his cousin, Jesus, in a whole New Light!  Stay tuned for the next post where we will join John at the River on that most amazing day when Heaven opened and God spoke!

Thoughts to ponder from today’s post:

Your prayer has been heard!

God’s Words will come true at the appointed time.

No Word from God will ever fail.

Blessed are you who believe the Lord’s Promise will be fulfilled in you.

Know that your children are a Gift from God, brought into the world to reflect His Glory.  Look for God’s Glory, as He unwraps the Gift He has given you!

Posted by on May 14, 2012 in Christian, Encouragement, Joy and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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May 11, 2012

What Can We Learn from Mothers of the Bible?

The word “mother” is mentioned over 300 times in the Bible.  Mothers were very important.  Let’s look at a few of them and see what timeless lessons they have for us.

Eve, Mother of the Human Race

With such an important responsibility, we might think Eve would have been the perfect mother.  However, she got off to a rocky start.

Eve sinned.  There were consequences.  She and Adam had to leave the Garden of Eden.  She would have pain in childbirth.

THE TRUTH: 

Sin often has consequences that cannot be changed.  However, God’s Grace covers all sins for which we ask and receive God’s Forgiveness.   God has a Plan for our lives.  No matter how many bumpy spots we have, He will work out that Plan.  

God had a Plan for Eve.  He did not turn her back into one of Adam’s ribs and start over.  He allowed Eve to be the first mother, just as He had planned.

However, satan was not left behind in the garden.  He was not walking or dancing anymore … but he slithered into the world outside the garden and he stayed active.

After a new beginning, Eve had children.  However, satan was still active in the first family.  Her first two sons got into conflict.  Cain slew Abel.  

We don’t know the full picture of how Eve raised her sons … or what she thought when one murdered the other.  However, we can do a little psychological post mortem and see how satan might have crept into this family.

Cain’s sacrifice was not pleasing to God.  His brother’s was.  Instead of examining himself to see what he should do to offer an acceptable sacrifice, Cain immediately went to the feeling of:

  1. God has not given me all He could have.  He has not fully accepted me.
  2. I’ll take matters into my own hands and resolve this now.

Is it possible Cain had absorbed the feelings of Eve, his mother?  Those appeared to have been her thoughts in the Garden.

With all the Gifts of God in the garden, Eve may have thought

  1. I’m not as smart as I could be.  God has not given me all He could have.  He has not fully accepted me.
  2. I’ll take matters into my own hands now.

THE TRUTH:

While we may not actively encourage our children to sin, they may pick up attitudes from us.  When there are problems, do we encourage our children to seek God and to wait on His Answer, or do we imply they should be handling things now?  

What can we learn from Eve?  

We can ask God to show us any areas in our life that are not healed, so the pain does not get passed on to our children.  

We can stop listening to any holdovers from our mother’s past and embrace the Plans God has for us and our children now and in our future.

We can communicate God’s Message to our children:  God has a wonderful Plan for your Life, it’s a Good Plan and He will work it out in His Time.  Don’t run ahead and try to take matters into your own hands.

Rebecca, Mother of Jacob and Esau

Let’s look at another Bible mother.   Sometimes sin is not just a subtle seed that grows up into a sin.  Sometimes mothers and fathers act out the sins that their children see first hand.  And sometimes parents actively encourage their children to sin. 

Poor Isaac had enough of a traumatic experience in his youth to last him a lifetime.  After Abraham’s almost sacrificing Isaac to his death,  Isaac went on to have what he felt was a true blessing in God providing Rebekah as his wife.

After their children were born, Isaac must have felt fulfilled and prepared to be part of the line of father to many nations that his father had been promised.

However, in his old age, something horrible happened.  His wife, Rebekah, deceived him.  And it gets worse … she did it, using his own son. 

Isaac loved Esau.  Rebekah loved Jacob.  Esau, as the first born, was due to get the favored blessing of the first son.  Rebekah intervened and gave her favored son, Jacob, specific instructions on how to cheat his way into getting the nod from his father. 

Rebekah’s sin had disastrous results for her and her family.  All of them were caught in a web of deceit she orchestrated.  And her beloved son ended up on the run, far from her.

Satan got a slam dunk.  A husband who could not trust his wife.  One son completely rejected by his mother.  One son led into a treacherous lie followed by the terror that his brother would kill him.

Rebekah carried forth the lie of:

  1. You’re not good enough.  You need more.
  2. Take things into your own hands.  Don’t wait for God.

Sort of sounds like satan uses the same tactics all the time, doesn’t it.  Those lies were the same ones that tripped up Eve, the first mother.

THE TRUTH:

Parents have an awesome responsibility.  Their influence during the formative years of childhood can last a lifetime, even into generations to come.  

Hear the chilling Words of Jesus in relation to that influence.

If anyone causes one of these little ones – 

those who believe in Me — to stumble, 

it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck

 and be drowned in the depths of the sea!

Matthew 18:6

Bathsheba, Mother of David’s Child

Let’s look at a beautiful mother of the Bible.  This mother was so beautiful that she turned the head of the king.  And while her husband was off fighting for the king, she went to bed with the king.  

Bathsheba was the wife of Uriah.  One day King David was walking around on the roof and he saw her bathing.  He wanted her.  He took steps to have her brought to him.  There is no evidence that he wanted her as his wife.  It appears he just wanted to relieve his lust.

As a result of their sexual act, Bathsheba became pregnant.  David had a problem.  You can read more about how he tried to solve things (another example of taking matters into his own hands), but not successfully.

Bathsheba’s husband ended up dead, David did marry Bathsheba, but there were consequences.  The son born to David and Bathsheba became ill and died.  David was told by the prophet, Nathan,  to expect this, as it was God’s Judgement against him.

So what do you make of this mother’s plight?   I believe we may safely assume that the child was mercifully returned to God.  However, God taught His Lesson in part by the removal of the child.  Important Note:  We cannot stretch this into thinking any child who dies is removed as a result of the parents’ sin.  This is not true!  Each life and death is individual. 

THE TRUTH:

 The only thing we know for sure is that nothing can separate us or our children from the Love of God.  We can come to Him in our grief and He will meet us there.  And we have the blessed hope of seeing our children again in heaven.

David said, “I will go to him, but he will not return to me.”

(2nd Samuel 12:23)  David grieved the earthly loss, but looked forward to the heavenly reunion!

Innocent Children of Innocent Mothers

What about the mothers of the innocent children who were killed by Herod’s men in his frantic search for Jesus?  It is said the mothers of those children felt such grief, they refused to be comforted.

How can we explain what seems to us to be senseless deaths of children?  I cannot explain it.

THE TRUTH:

God, our Father and Creator, has the unquestionable Right to do as He wills, and that includes moving the eternal lives of His Creation into whatever setting in heaven or earth.

Whether God designed the circumstances or permitted them, He is God Almighty and every circumstance is within His Power.

He comforts when we trust Him enough to allow Him to comfort us.

Mothers Who Do Not Want to be Mothers 

Bathsheba and the mothers of the babies slain by Herod’s men wanted to be mothers.  But what about mothers who do not want to be mothers?  Is a mother a mother if she chooses not to be?  There are many mothers and fathers who chose not to receive God’s Gift of Life.  They chose abortion.  Many regretted their choice.

Many of these parents have suffered for years, silenced by guilt and satan’s accusations that they are not really parents.  Especially on Mother’s Day, let’s take a moment of mercy to remember those who realized too late they had given up a precious Gift of God.

And let’s pray for mothers (and fathers) who are even now, contemplating returning God’s Gift.

THE TRUTH:

Not every moral choice is right.  Not every circumstance is convenient.  Not every pregnancy is planned by humans.  But there are no unplanned pregnancies in God’s World.  God alone creates Life.

Pray that every mother and father recognize the wonder of the Life God has created and protect it from all harm.  Pray that other spiritual mothers and fathers will reach out in the Love, Mercy and Grace of Jesus to help raise children in the nurture of the Lord.

Stay tuned for the next post in which we will look at what we can learn from Elizabeth, the Mother of John the Baptist.  What do you do when your child doesn’t turn out quite the way you envisioned?  John sounded like a real wild child!

And we will conclude by looking at Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  Mary was a young teenager, who risked public shame to bring the Son of God into the world.  Mary bore many hardships to bring Jesus up in the nurture of the Lord.  Mary loved God enough to surrender her Son to His Will.  Mary walked with her Son to the cross and lovingly relinquished Him to reveal the full Light of God’s Glory!  


Posted by on May 11, 2012 in Christian, Encouragement, Joy and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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May 9, 2012

Do You Ever Doubt All The Stuff People Say About Jesus?

Just as in Jesus’ days on earth, today there are all kinds of people talking about Him.  Many profess to have a direct line to Jesus, and freely tell us what we should believe about Him.  The only problem is that the many people who say they speak for Jesus don’t always agree on what He is saying.

Meanwhile, there are many who wonder what the deal is anyway, since it seems that Jesus never speaks to them.  How do we know who to believe?  One of Jesus’ Disciples had this very issue.

Unfortunately, Thomas came to be known as “doubting Thomas”, because he did not instantly believe the report of his friends that Jesus was alive.  

Now Thomas, one of the Twelve,

 was not with the disciples when Jesus came. 

 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord!”

But he said to them,

 “Unless I see the nail marks in His Hands

 and put my finger where the nails were, 

and put my hand into His Side, 

I will not believe.” 

 John 20:  24-25  

This leads many to think Thomas was a weak, “wimbling man”, but was he?

When Jesus announced that Lazarus was dead and He was going to his house, who was ready to go with Him and if necessary, die with Him?  Sounds like Peter, right?  Or maybe, James or John, the sons of thunder?  No!  It was Thomas!

Like Peter, the Rock and James and John, the sons of thunder, Thomas also had another name.  He was called The Twin.  References differ on why he may have been called The Twin. 

The most interesting speculation is that Thomas may have physically looked like Jesus.  He may have been mistaken for Him so many times that He came to be known as The Twin.  While we do not know whether this is true or not, we do know that Jesus desires us to be His Twin.

He wants us to look just like Him and act just like Him.  Look at some of the ways we are encouraged to be just like Jesus:

Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

 Philippians 2:5

Be imitators of God therefore, as dearly loved children.

  Ephesians 5:1

For I have given you an example, 

that you should do as I have done to you. 

 John 13:15

He who says he abides in Him

ought himself also to walk just as He walked.

 1st John 2:6

This is My Commandment,

that you love one another, 

as I have loved you.

 John 15:12

If you cannot imagine that you would ever look just like Jesus, wait ‘til you read this!

But we all, with unveiled face,

 beholding as in a mirror,

 the Glory of the Lord,

 are being transformed into the same Image from Glory to Glory,

 just as by the Spirit of the Lord.  

2nd Corinthians 3:18

Beloved, now we are children of God; 

and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be;

 but we know when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, 

for we shall see Him as He is.

 1st John 3:2

Thomas loved Jesus.  He knew Him intimately.  And he was not about to believe just any report about Him.  Thomas knew that Jesus would show Himself to him in person.  Thomas had such a close relationship with Jesus that he could say confidently that he would not believe all the reports about Jesus, unless he could see Jesus himself.

Thomas’s statements are not ones of distrust of Jesus.  They are statements of ultimate faith, that said passionately, “Jesus, I want to see You!  I myself want to touch You!  If it’s You, I know You will show Yourself to me!”

Do you have to rely only on the reports of others who say they have seen Jesus?  Do you have to depend only on what others say about Him?  Or is it possible for you to see Him and hear Him yourself?

Let Jesus answer those questions.  He said, 

“I will not leave you as orphans; 

I will come to you. 

 Before long, the world will not see Me anymore, 

but you will see Me! 

 John 14: 18-19

The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father; 

and I too will love them

 and show myself to them.”

  John 14:21

Thomas remembered Jesus’ Words and believed.  He knew he himself would see Jesus.  He knew Jesus would show Himself to him!  Jesus did not let him down.

A week later, His Disciples were in the house again,

 and Thomas was with them

  Though the doors were locked, Jesus came

 and stood among them and said, 

“Peace be with you!”  

Then He said to Thomas,

 “Put your finger here; see My Hands. 

 Reach out your hand and put it into My Side. 

Stop doubting and believe!”

John 20:26-27

Jesus will show Himself to you.  He will give you all the evidence you need to know He is alive and loves you very much.  But He also wants you to believe in faith with your spiritual eyes until He opens your physical eyes and shows you plainly that He is present.

When you are confused by what others are saying about Jesus, put their words next to the Words of Jesus.  See if they line up.  Reading what the gospel writers wrote in the Bible is a good start, but know that Jesus is present with you today.  He will show Himself to you!  He will talk directly to you!

And now you know the true story of Thomas, who doubted the reports  of his friends, but never doubted His Very Best Friend, Jesus!

Posted by on May 9, 2012 in Christian, Encouragement, Joy and tagged , , .

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May 7, 2012

Does Jesus Love You?

Many of us will profess our love for Jesus freely, as did Peter.  But we may have a little trouble professing that Jesus loves us.  Chances are, we sang that song “Jesus Loves Me” in our childhood.  But somehow in our adulthood, it sounds a little boastful to say out loud, “Yes, Jesus loves me!”

John, another of Jesus’ Disciples, was a bit hesitant to put his name with his proclamation of Jesus’ Love for him, but he had no trouble referring to himself in his writing as the “Disciple Whom Jesus loved.”  When one comes to know Jesus and has felt the full impact of His Mercy, Grace and Love, it is nearly impossible not to gush, “He loves me!  He knows all about me and yet He still loves me!”

John and his brother, James were called early by Jesus.  It is likely they learned of Jesus from their fishing buddy, Peter.  James and John became part of the inner circle, who saw Jesus‘ miracles up close.  

Jesus was fond of calling people by names that expressed their true selves.  Jesus knew Peter was The Rock upon which He would build His Church.  And right away Jesus called James and John the “Sons of Thunder.”  Their external behavior would seem to verify their names.

James and John were quick to defend Jesus, though their zeal was sometimes misplaced.  When Jesus was rejected by the Samaritans, they wanted to call down “fire from heaven”  and destroy them!

Boldness ran in the family.  Their mother wanted her sons assured of a place in Jesus‘ Kingdom.  She personally approached Jesus on their behalf.

Later, the boys went to Jesus themselves.  

“Teacher,” they said, “We want You to do for us whatever we ask.”

“What do you want me to do for you?” He asked.

They replied, “Let one of us sit at your right 

and the other at your left in Your Glory.”

Jesus told them frankly, “You don’t know what you are asking.”

He then went on to teach them about being a servant to others instead of demanding to be in first place.

Before we are too hard on James and John, take a moment and reflect.  Do we ever say the same thing to Jesus … “We want You to do for us whatever we ask.”  We believe we know what is best for us and we remember Jesus saying at another time, “Ask whatever you wish and it will be done for you!” (John 15:7)

Satan would like us to remember that verse.  Satan does not care if we know the Word of God.  Remember he quoted scripture to Jesus in the desert.  However, satan wants us to have a selective memory and just remember the parts he wants us to remember.

If we only remember the above verse, satan has a powerful open door to operate in our hearts and minds.  Whenever Jesus does not do exactly what we want, satan is quick to remind us that we cannot trust Jesus to come through for us.

However, the verse as quoted above is not all John wrote.  No, by the time he transcribed the Words of Jesus, he remembered them all.  This verse was an “if-then” teaching of Jesus.  

If you remain in Me and My Words remain in you, 

ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.  

This is to My Father’s Glory, that you bear much fruit, 

showing yourselves to be My Disciples.

John 15:7-8

Life was not about power and position for James and John or for us.  It is about being in the right position to allow God’s Glory to shine through us.

Life is not about advancing.  It is about remaining.  It is not about our words.  It is about Jesus‘ Words lived out through us.  When we truly line up with Jesus, what we ask will be in line with His Will … and it shall be done to the Glory of God.  

So how did James and John move from wanting whatever they asked of Jesus to just wanting Jesus?  They spent their lives with Him.  They followed Him.  They watched Him.  They listened to Him.  They obeyed His Commands.  Sometimes they messed up in trying to follow His Commands and they learned about being forgiven.  They learned about second (and third … and ongoing) chances.

They learned to give forgiveness to others, even those they thought didn’t deserve it.  In fact, in Acts, it is noted that they ministered to that same group of people to whom they once wanted to set fire!

The more they obeyed Jesus’ Commandments, the more they found they were being enfolded in His Love.  They more they loved Him, the more of their old selves began to fall away to reveal Jesus Himself living through them.  They realized with joy that not only did they love Him, but He also loved them!

Whoever has My Commands and keeps them is the one who loves Me.

  The one who loves Me will be loved by My Father, 

and I also will love them 

and show Myself to them.

John 14:21

John followed Jesus everywhere.  He even followed Him into the Garden of Gethsemane.  He followed Him to the cross where he stood watching with Mary, the Mother of Jesus.  And He heard the One He loved so much bestow on him the Blessing that spoke volumes about Jesus’ Trust in him.

From the cross, Jesus looked at Mary and John, two of the people He loved so much.

When Jesus saw His Mother and the Disciple whom He loved standing nearby,

 He said to His Mother, “Woman, behold your son!”  

Then He said to the Disciple, “Behold your Mother!”

  And from that hour, the Disciple took her to his own home.

John 19:26-27

The two sons of thunder fell into a far greater Love than they could ever have imagined when they first met a man named Jesus.  Thunder and Lightening come together.  The thunder proclaims to our ears what we have seen in the light that pierces the darkness.  And so it was with the Sons of Thunder.  They gave joyful witness to the Great Light they had seen close up and personal.

James was the first disciple to die for the faith.  John was the last disciple to die after a time of imprisonment for his faith.

Take a few moments to reflect on your Love Relationship with Jesus.  Tell Him how you feel about Him.  And let His Love spring up from deep inside of you.  You may find yourself wanting to sing, “Yes, Jesus Loves Me!”

  

Posted by on May 7, 2012 in Christian, Encouragement, Joy and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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April 19, 2012

Do You Love Me?

Jesus appeared to different people at different times in the days following His Resurrection. 

Mark 16: 7 records an angel telling the women, “Now go and give this message to His Disciples including Peter:  Jesus is going ahead of you to Galilee.  You will see Him there, just as He told you before He died.”  It is interesting that Jesus wanted to be sure the Message got through to Peter to let him know Jesus still considered him His Disciple.

Luke 24:32 records how Jesus appeared to two of His Followers on the road to Emmaus.  Within the hour, they were on their way back to Jerusalem, where the eleven disciples and the other followers of Jesus greeted them with these words, “The Lord has really risen!  He appeared to Peter!”  

So Peter had seen the Lord in the days following His Resurrection.  I’m guessing it was a private, intimate encounter.  The details are not recorded.  But perhaps it was in those moments that Peter asked for and received Jesus‘ forgiveness.

However, Peter was to have another encounter, in which Jesus commissioned him to carry out the work he was created to do.  Peter went fishing.  Some of the other followers went with him.  The scene was very reminiscent of Peter’s first fishing trip with Jesus.  They fished all night and got nothing.

John records that at dawn, they saw a man on the beach, but they could not tell who he was.  The man called out to them, “Friends, haven’t you any fish?”  The words “Friends” should have gotten their attention, but they were still focused on their present needs … and failures.  “No,” they answered.

Jesus told them, “Throw out your net on the right hand side of the boat, and you’ll get plenty of them!”  They did and they did!  They couldn’t even pull in the net because it was so heavy with fish.  Does this sound familiar?  Yes, this was a repeat of Peter’s first up close encounter with Jesus!

John recognized Jesus, and said, “It is the Lord!”  But it was Peter, who sprang into action, jumped out of the boat and swam to Jesus.  As Peter jumped out of the water, he received the ultimate welcome home.  Jesus was cooking breakfast!  He had fish and bread waiting for His Disciples.

As much as the “last supper” had been tinted with anticipatory grief, this “first breakfast” was filled with the joy of reunion.  As Jesus fed them the fish and bread, perhaps they remembered that “last supper” when Jesus gave them the bread and said, “I will not eat it again until it finds fulfillment in the Kingdom of God.”  The Kingdom was indeed at hand that morning!

When they had finished eating, Jesus asked Peter,  “Simon, son of John, do you love Me more than these?”  “These” could have referred to any number of things from the other disciples to the things of the world.  Jesus was asking Peter if he would put Him first in his life.

Peter, with all the enthusiasm he had shown from the beginning, said, “Yes, Lord.  You know that I love you.”

Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

Words are pretty, but love is not True Love if it does not compel us to act.  Perhaps Peter remembered another time when Jesus had talked about love.

Anyone who loves Me will obey My Teaching.

  My Father will love them 

and We will come to them and make Our Home with them. 

 John 14;23

Again, Jesus said, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

Peter answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”  Peter must have been wondering if Jesus did not hear him the first time.  Or a more troubling thought.  What if Jesus‘ repeated question was because He doubted Peter’s love for Him?  Peter remembered in shame that his actions had not seemed like those of a friend … and certainly not a friend who loved Him.  What could he ever do to show Jesus how much he loved Him?  But Peter’s thoughts were interrupted by Jesus speaking again.

“Take care of My Sheep.”

Peter perhaps was a little puzzled.  He honestly could not remember Jesus having any sheep or lambs.  But Peter was still thinking in earth world terms.

The third time, Jesus said to Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love Me?”

Now Peter was frankly hurt.  He said, “Lord, you know all things.  You know that I love You!”

Jesus said, “Feed My Sheep!”  Jesus then told Peter how much it would cost him to do what He was asking of him.  It would cost him his very earthly life.  It would involve giving up everything that was Simon in order to become Peter.  Jesus wanted Peter to understand the cost and the benefits of the kind of Love Relationship Jesus wanted with him.

If you love Me, keep My Commands.

  And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Advocate to help you

 and be with you forever — the Spirit of Truth.

  The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. 

 But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you. 

 John 14:15-17

A new command I give you; love one another.

  As I have loved you, so you must love one another. 

 By this everyone will know that you are My Disciples,

 if you love one another. 

 John 13:34-35 

 (Oh, those sheep!)

Peter looked directly into Jesus‘ eyes and felt Love washing him of every sin.  The old Simon who had hung his head in shame began to disappear.  And it was Peter, who answered from his heart … I LOVE YOU!

Jesus said simply, “Follow Me!”

Did Simon change immediately?  How we wish we could all have such a moment with Jesus from which we rise ready for the tasks at hand.  But it does not work that way.  Every moment of every day requires a new putting away of the old and a renewed taking on of the new.

Peter was eager at that moment, but not ready yet.  Peter, who had been so immeshed with Jesus, became aware of John following them.  Peter asked, “What about him?”

Jesus set Peter straight immediately by telling him if He chose for John to live forever, that should be none of Peter’s business.  Jesus said, “You follow Me!”

I imagine Peter and Jesus walking down the beach into that new day with Jesus continuing to coach the captain of His Team.  “Keep the team together, Peter. Stay awake!  Stay focused!  Be on guard!  Obey Me!  Love Me!  I’m counting on you!  Remember who you are in Me!”

Take a few moments and answer the questions Jesus asked Peter:

(Insert your name) What about you?  Who do you say I am?

(Insert your name) Do you love Me?

If the answer is yes, tell Him with joy!  And listen for what He wants you to do next to take His Love to the world!  

Posted by on April 19, 2012 in Christian, Encouragement, Joy and tagged , , , , , , , .

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April 11, 2012

Peter: Where Do I Go From Here?

On the first day of the week, some of the women followers of Jesus went to the tomb where He had been laid.  But His Body was gone!  Two men appeared to them and reminded them of all that Jesus had told them, including that He would be raised to Life.

The women ran back to the disciples and told them what had happened.  Most of the disciples did not believe them, “because their words seemed to them like nonsense.”  (Luke 24:11)  However, Peter ran to the tomb.

It was true!  Jesus was not there.  Peter was still a man of action.  He wanted to do something … but what?  He did not know where Jesus was.  Luke 24:12 records that Peter “went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”  Perhaps Peter was not just wondering what had happened to Jesus, but he was also wondering what had happened to him.

Have you ever reached a point where you wondered what your life had been about and where you were going now?  Sometimes the various seasons of our lives seem like unrelated dots in a vast, uncharted sky.  We try to connect them in a way that makes everything flow together, ever climbing upward toward heaven, learning and growing.

But in fact, for some of us, our lives seem more like we’re learning to drive a stick shift.  We lurch forward one minute, level out to a smooth ride, and suddenly we’re rolling backward on a steep hill, desperately trying to regain control.

Peter must have asked himself what his life had been all about.  He had been a simple fisherman, who was in a predictable life.  He grew up with fishing and he pretty well figured on fishing for the rest of his life.  It was what people like him did.  You never had to think about whether it was the right choice.  You were just born into it and you lived the life.

Peter’s brother, Andrew, told him one day he had found the Messiah.  Peter checked out this Jesus person for himself.  Peter listened to Jesus from a distance at first.  But there was that day when he had been washing his fishing nets near his boat.  His boat just happened to be close to the crowd that was surrounding Jesus.

Much to his amazement, Jesus climbed into his boat and asked Peter to put out a little further into the water.  Jesus taught from his boat.  Peter later may have laughed, realizing how much Jesus had his number.  Jesus found a way to get Peter closer to Him without making his feel threatened.  

After Jesus finished speaking, he turned his attention to Simon, as Peter was called in those days, and said, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”  Simon was not used to taking orders from anyone and he felt obliged to tell Jesus how useless it was to go back out.

Simon told him, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything.”  

I imagine Peter reflecting on those times of getting to know Jesus.  Peter smiled to himself.  “I called Him Master, even then.  I wonder how I knew that.”

Peter then also remembered saying, “Because You say so, I will let down the nets.”

Peter wondered if he had said that to prove to Jesus that He was wrong and he was right.  He didn’t have much faith then, but Jesus took what he had and worked with it.

When they let down the nets, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break!  So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them.  They ended up with two boats filled so full they began to sink!

Simon recognized that his safe, predictable life was in peril.  This kind of Power frightened him.  He remembered telling Jesus, “Go away from me, Lord.  I am a sinful man!”  Peter remembered it all, as if it were yesterday.  “I called Him Lord.  I wonder how I recognized Him.”

Peter now reflected on why he felt sinful that day.  Peter remembered the way he felt when Jesus looked him in the eyes that day.  It was like being next to a pure, white light that seemed to illuminate his very soul.

Peter shuttered, as he remembered recent history and the crowing of a rooster.  He remembered that same Look in Jesus’ Eyes.  Peter had wanted to cry out that day too, “Go away from me, Lord.  I am a sinful man!”  But the strange thing was that Peter felt drawn to that Light too, warmed by its Glow … and he longed for it now.  He wanted to see that Look one more time.  As emotional as Peter was, he was not prone to tears.  But now he allowed himself to weep and feel the full longing of his heart to just be with Jesus.

Peter thought he knew himself pretty well.  He knew he was a little mouthy.  He was working on it.  He was really trying to think before he just blurted things out.  He remembered that day when Jesus had asked the group who men were saying He was.  They had listed a bunch of people who had died.  They sort of snickered at how everyone was trying to figure out just who Jesus was.

Jesus turned to him that day.  He had that same Look, the Look that seemed like the Door to Infinite Knowledge.  He remembered Jesus was asking him The Question.  Even though there were people all around, Peter had felt like he and Jesus were the only ones in the universe.  “But what about you?”  Jesus asked.  “Who do you say that I am?”

Perhaps it was the Way Jesus said, “I AM.” 

But Peter knew at that moment that he was in the Presence of God Himself.

  He answered immediately, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God!”

Peter remembered Jesus’ Smile and the Way it always seemed to light up His Whole Body.  

Jesus had said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by My Father in Heaven!”  Peter was overwhelmed again when he remembered.  Jesus had blessed him!  He didn’t just say he had the right answer.  He said God Himself gave him the Answer!

And then Jesus told Peter who he was.  He had always been Simon, but Jesus told him he was Peter, the Rock.  Peter was not so sure he liked that.  Didn’t rocks have to stay in one place?  But then Jesus had added that upon that rock, He would build His Church.  Peter didn’t understand then … and he didn’t understand now.  What church?  And if Jesus had in mind building, He needed to show up.  Where was He?

Peter waited for an answer.  Peter searched for Jesus.  But He didn’t come immediately.  Finally, Peter knew what to do.  What do we do when we think we waited long enough for Jesus to act and nothing seems to be happening?  Many of us return to what we know.  We go back to what we think is safe and familiar.  Peter told his buddies, “I’m going fishing.”  And they said, “We’ll go with you.”

Peter discovered a Truth on that fishing trip.  Once you have been with the Master, fishing for men, fish just never look that good again!  Stay tuned for the exciting continuation of what Jesus taught a man named Peter!

Posted by on April 11, 2012 in Christian, Encouragement, Joy and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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April 5, 2012

Peter: Not So Cocky Any More!

The dictionary defines the word, cocky, as “conceited or arrogant, especially in a bold or cheeky way.”  We have noted that one of Peter’s positive traits was his boldness.  However, while Peter proclaimed the Name of the Lord with boldness, he also proclaimed what he believed was his own ability to control things.

In short, there was ample evidence that Peter fit the definition of “cocky.”  So it is somewhat amusing that his failure to control events or even his own emotions was marked by the crowing of a rooster (also called a cock).

When Jesus talked plainly about what would happen to Him, Peter rebuked Him and said, “Never Lord, this will not happen to You.”  Jesus rebuked Peter and spoke directly to satan.  It was satan who was influencing Peter to only see things from his point of view instead of from the spiritual view Jesus wanted for Peter.

At what we have come to call “The Last Supper”, Jesus revealed there was one among them who would betray Him.  Each disciple asked Jesus, “Is it I?”  They wondered if there was something within them they had not yet recognized.

Have you ever asked yourself:  Is there anything within me that does not completely line up with what God wants for me?  Sometimes our actions serve as a warning to us that we are not as pure as we think we are.  Sometimes we do not recognize the stumbling blocks satan is attempting to put up to keep us from fully participating in God’s Kingdom.

Many of us have puzzled over why David was considered a man after God’s own heart.  David did a number of things that seemed very unlike God.  However, the key point is that David knew he did not always line up with God’s Will for His Life.  And he made so many mistakes, he finally accepted that he was not doing too well in recognizing his own limitations.

He asked God to check him out, to be his Quality Control, before he messed up again.  Are we brave enough to pray as David did?

Search me and know my heart;

test me and know my anxious thoughts.

See if there is any offensive way in me,

and lead me into the Way Everlasting.

Psalm 139:23-24

Jesus gave Peter a warning, when He told him satan had already asked for the disciples.  Jesus said satan wanted to sift them like wheat.  Put bluntly, satan wanted to separate them from Jesus and from each other.  In a very touching moment, Jesus showed how much of an Intercessor He was.  He said,

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.

  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

Luke 22:32

Jesus spoke directly to the person Peter had been — Simon.  He was praying for Simon Peter’s humanly weak side.  And Jesus had faith that Simon would overcome and turn back to Him.  Jesus was counting on Peter, the Rock, to bring unity, not division, to his disciple brothers.

However, Peter had not reached the level of maturity we saw in David.  He was still convinced he could prevail through his own strength.  Peter responded,

Lord, I am ready to go with You to prison and to death!

Luke 22:33

It was at this point Jesus revealed to Peter that indeed before the rooster (cock) crowed, Peter would deny three times that he even knew Jesus.

The disciples went with Jesus to the Garden of Gethsemane, where He went apart to pray.  Jesus told His Disciples to pray they would not enter into temptation.  Jesus was very clear that satan was actively roaming and threatening.

But when Jesus returned from praying, He found His Disciples sleeping.  Again, He told them, “Get up and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.”  Jesus knew He could intercede for them, but the time had come for them to take authority over satan.  They were going to be sitting ducks if they continued to sleep.

In fact, Judas and the soldiers were approaching at that moment.  Peter had a sword, and he knew how to use it.  He lopped off the ear of a Roman soldier.  Jesus told Peter to put his sword away.  Jesus then healed the soldier’s ear.

Jesus wanted Peter to use his sword, but not his physical one.  He wanted him to realize they were in the midst of a spiritual battle.  He wanted Peter “prayed up” and connected with His Father.  He wanted Peter to have the victory over satan by using the Sword of the Spirit, just as He had done in the dessert when He was tempted.  What is this Sword of the Spirit?

Paul identified the Sword in Ephesians 6:17.  The Sword of the Spirit is the Word of God!

Peter was now unable to use his physical sword.  Jesus had told him to put it away.  Peter was about to lose Jesus from physical sight.  He thought he had learned the lesson from water walking that he would be ok if he just kept his eyes on Jesus.  Stripped of his sword and with his Leader looking powerless, Peter, who thought he was a giant, turned into a mouse.

Peter, the man who stood out from the crowd, now became a part of the crowd.  He followed, but at a distance.  When the world gets tough and Jesus does not act like we think He should act, are we guilty of continuing to follow Him, but at a distance?  Is our trust in Him weakened?  Are we back to looking at what He might do next before we decide whether we will still follow?

Peter followed the crowd into the courtyard.  When some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. 

Peter was already feeling the chill of what he believed was Jesus’ absence.  As his Lord was being tried, Peter was also being tried.  God threw out the first exam question through a servant girl.  The girl saw Peter seated there in the firelight.  She looked closely at him, and said, “This man was with Him.”  How would you have answered?  Peter denied it.

Woman, I don’t know Him!

Luke 22:57

Test Question Two:  A little later, someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”

“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.

Luke 22:58

Test Question Three:  About an hour later, another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with Him, for he is a Galilean.”

Peter replied, “Man I don’t know what you’re talking about!”

Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed.  The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.  Then Peter remembered the Words the Lord had spoken to him:  “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown Me three times.”

Why does a rooster crow?  In researching this question, I found the rooster is actually close to his hens, who are sitting on the eggs.  The rooster crows periodically to announce to all that this is his territory.  And the rooster crows to warn his hens of danger when there is an intruder.  Jesus had warned Peter at different times to be on the lookout for satan.  Now Jesus was warning Peter again that satan had entered His Territory.

Was it the crowing of the rooster that revealed Peter’s sins to him?  Or was it the Look of the Lord that brought revelation so bright that no sin could hide?  The Bible does not tell us how Jesus looked at Peter.  Some assume it was probably with extreme disapproval … or perhaps a look that said, “Peter, I told you so.”

But I believe Jesus looked at Peter the way He always did.  He looked at him with Love, seeing the old Simon, but also knowing who Peter was.  I believe Jesus looked through the Eyes of Love.  Jesus still saw Peter as the Rock he was destined to be.

We don’t know whether Peter was at the cross.  There is no mention of Peter again until after Jesus’ Resurrection.  Scriptures say Jesus’ Disciples fled and Judas killed himself.  Where was Peter?  And since we are taking this journey to the cross together, where would you have been?

In the next blog post, we’ll look at Peter’s amazing return to true boldness, as he runs into an empty tomb … and later has an amazing reunion with Jesus!

But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.

  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

Luke 22:32

Posted by on April 5, 2012 in Christian, Encouragement, Joy and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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April 2, 2012

Peter: Let’s Roll!

While the disciples were all different, they had one important common characteristic.  They were men of passion and action.  No where was this more visible than in Simon Peter, the rugged fisherman.

Simon and his brother, Andrew, were fishermen by trade.  One day Andrew heard Jesus speak.  Andrew hurried back to his brother with amazing news.  He told Simon he had found the Messiah!  Simon decided to check out this Jesus.

What he found in Jesus changed his life forever.   Jesus saw Simon, as He sees each of us.  Jesus saw him as the world saw him, but He also saw Simon as Peter.  Peter means “the rock”,  the man Peter was destined to be.  

One day when the disciples were sitting around talking, Jesus asked them who others said He was.  They named John the Baptist, Elijah, and others. 

Jesus turned to the group and said, “But what about you?  Who do you say that I am?”  We would have thought Peter’s brother, Andrew, would be the first to answer, since it was he, who had told Peter he had found the Messiah.  But no, there was apparent silence from Jesus’ group … except for the eager beaver, Peter.  I imagine him waving his hands, like a boy in school, saying, “I know!  I know!”  

Peter indeed did know.  He professed to Jesus,  ”You are the Messiah, the Son of the Living God!”

Just as Peter had recognized and professed publicly who Jesus was, Jesus recognized and professed publicly who Peter was.  To that point, Peter had been called Simon.  Now Jesus said,

Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, 

for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood,

 but by My Father in Heaven.

  And I tell you that you are Peter,

 and upon this rock I will build My Church,

 and the gates of Hell will not overcome it.  

I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; 

whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, 

and whatever you loose on earth, will be loosed in heaven.

Mark 16:17-19

Peter was more like the Rocky we know from the movie, “Rocky”, impulsive, reactionary, talk first, act first, think later.  He still had a few sharp, rocky edges, but Jesus continued to call him by his new name, Peter, the Rock.  Peter was destined to be immovable, the solid foundation of the Kingdom of God.  Jesus was going to trust Peter with the Keys to that Kingdom!

The mutual acknowledgement is an important message to us.  Each of us has a time when we need to step forward boldly and profess our Love for Jesus.  He, in turn, will be happy to introduce us to His Father, as one of His Own.

Whoever acknowledges Me before men,

 I will also acknowledge Him before My Father in Heaven!

Matthew 10:32

Peter, James and John appeared to be Jesus’ inner circle.  They alone witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus.  They alone were present when Jesus raised a little girl from the dead.  They received an up close and personal view of the Kingdom.

While Peter’s boldness in professing the Power of Jesus was notable, he also had equal boldness in professing what he believed to be his own power.  In spite of having that up close view of the Kingdom of Heaven to which he would be handed the keys, Peter continued to see things from his earthly view.

At one point when Jesus spoke clearly about what would happen to him, Peter took Jesus aside and rebuked Him.  Can you imagine the arrogance that would permit Peter to rebuke the One he had already identified as the Son of God??  Peter said, “Never, Lord!  This shall never happen to you!”

Jesus spoke first of all to the unseen being sitting on Peter’s shoulder.  Jesus said,

Get behind Me, satan!

  You are a stumbling block to Me;

 you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.

Matthew 16:23  

Jesus would never call Peter, satan … but He allowed Peter to hear Him speak to the enemy in Peter’s Presence.  It was important for Peter to recognize that satan was crafty and would make him a target as holder of the Keys to the Kingdom.  It was important for Peter to know all Power belonged to God the Father, including setting the ways and times that Prophecy would be fulfilled.

For all his bravado, Peter had a secret problem.  He could become afraid, just like other mere mortals.  And he had a tendency to “take his eyes off the ball.”  The outside world called to Peter on a regular basis and he just had to look.  Did Jesus want Peter to stop looking at the world around him?  No!  In fact, Jesus wanted Peter to look and then relinquish the controls to Jesus.  Jesus wanted Peter to follow Him, as they flew faster and higher than Peter could have ever dreamed.

Jesus once came to the disciples walking on the water.  The disciples were terrified.  “It’s a ghost!” they called out in fear.  Jesus said to them, “Take courage.  It is I.  Don’t be afraid.”  Jesus wanted them to be bold and courageous.

Peter took the challenge.  Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, tell me to come to you on the water.”  Peter was smart enough to know he could never walk on water without Jesus.  Good first step!

Jesus invited him to come.  Peter did it!  He walked on water!  Like a child taking his first steps or riding a bicycle for the first time, he delighted in actually doing it!  But Peter fell.  Why?  He looked away from Jesus and had the very human thought, “This can’t be happening.”  Scripture records, “when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink, he called out, ‘Lord, save me!’”

Jesus did save him.  He reached out His Hand and caught him.  Then Jesus gently chided him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”  The Bible records no more water walking practice, but I like to think there may have been.  Peter was used to approaching life as a powerful swimmer, his muscular arms cutting through the waves.  Jesus wanted Peter to learn the new skill of surrender to Him.  He wanted Peter to learn how to float!

Peter had many more lessons before the last days of Jesus’ visible time on earth.  The arrest of Jesus was to provide Peter’s final exam.  Was he ready to accept the Keys to the Kingdom?  Stay tuned for the next post where we will view with Peter the trial, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus.

Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat.  But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail.  And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers.

But he replied, “Lord, I am ready to go with You to prison and to death.”

Jesus answered, “I tell you, Peter, before the rooster crows today,

 you will deny three times that you know Me.”

Luke 22:31-34

Posted by on April 2, 2012 in Christian, Encouragement, Joy and tagged , , , , , , , , .

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March 29, 2012

Judas: Kiss of Death?

After supper, Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray.  While He was there, a large crowd arrived.  They were armed with swords and clubs.  They had been sent from the high priests and the elders of the church.  Remember they had wanted to avoid crowds.  However, they weren’t above using a crowd for their purposes … terrorism.

Judas led the group.  The money jingling in his pocket, he must have felt he was now in the driver’s seat.  No doubt he enjoyed the moment when all eyes were on him.  This was indeed what satan had in mind.  He wanted Judas to believe it possible that he was above Jesus.  Everyone would remember Judas for a long time to come.  He would have a legacy, and this was just the beginning.

Satan was correct in that perverted truth.  Judas would be remembered eternally, but not in the way he thought.  Judas had arranged a signal with those there to arrest Jesus.  “The one I kiss is the Man,” said Judas. “Arrest Him.”

In Jesus‘ Time, it was a usual greeting between men to bestow a kiss on the cheek.  The kiss was, not only a greeting, but also a gesture that meant, “Peace be with you.”  Receiving such a kiss involved trust that the one bestowing the kiss was being truthful in their intent.

Judas kissed Jesus on the cheek.  Jesus knew Judas’ intent.  He knew all history would call Judas His Enemy.  And so Jesus did what He had taught.   He turned His Cheek and accepted Judas’ kiss.

Not only had Jesus taught His Disciples to turn the other cheek to an enemy, He had also told them plainly, they were not enemies.  They were His Friends.  John 15:15-17 records Jesus saying to His Disciples (including Judas):

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.

 Instead, I have called you Friends,

 for everything that I learned from My Father, I have made known to you.

  You did not choose Me, but I chose you 

and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit — fruit that will last – 

and so that whatever you ask in My Name the Father will give you. 

 This is My Command:  Love each other!

Judas was Jesus’ Friend.  Jesus would not take back the Gift of Friendship He had given Judas.  Matthew 25:50 records Jesus’ Response to Judas:

“Do what you came for, friend.”

Perhaps Judas would later remember the Words Jesus had spoken at another time,

Greater Love has no one than this:  to lay down One’s Life for One’s Friends.

John 15:13

Satan’s mission is to kill and destroy.  He uses people for his purposes.  He lures, tempts, and actively recruits.  He gets his subjects to renounce their allegiance to God.  If they attempt to turn back, he regularly reminds them of how far they have fallen.  He assures them the Father would never want to take them back.  Many believe the lie and continue their allegiance to satan.

But many remember the days of love, joy and peace they have given up.  They still hear the Voice of Jesus, their Shepherd, who has come out into the wastelands to search for them.  The day comes when they meet the Master once again.

The pure Light of His Love illuminates every dark place … reveals every sin.  The difference in how Jesus and satan treat exposed sin is stunningly different.  Satan accuses.  Jesus loves.  Satan says the sinner has used up all his chances.  Jesus says, “I want to forgive you.  I will forgive you when you choose to give up your sins and follow Me.  Though your sins be as scarlet, they can be as white as snow.”

That day came for Judas.  When he saw that Jesus had been condemned, he realized the gravity of what he had done.  He regretted what he had done.  He tried to make it right in the only way he knew.  He returned the money to the chief priests and acknowledged he had betrayed an innocent man.  Judas still believed money could solve anything.  However, the chief priests were unmoved by the money or Judas’ tears of remorse.  Judas had served his purpose for them.  They were done with him.

Overcome with remorse, Judas hanged himself.  And so ends the story of Judas … or does it?  Many have debated whether Judas went to heaven or hell.  The Bible documents Judas’ remorse and his attempts to make up for his sin.  However, simple remorse and our feeble attempts to “make up” for our sins will never be enough to save us.

The only Way to Freedom is to bow to our Lord and Savior and acknowledge Him as our Creator and the Only One with the Authority to forgive sins.  Then we must truly repent of our sins and with His Grace and Forgiveness, stop sinning.  We know Judas was sorry.  We don’t know whether he ever acknowledged Jesus as his Lord and sought His Forgiveness.

While we may never forget Judas, what outshines Judas’ story is the Story of Jesus and the Tremendous Love He showed for His Friend, Judas.  When Jesus talked to His Father from the cross, He said,

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.

Luke 23:34

Was Jesus speaking of the crowd, the soldiers, the high priests and elders, Pilate, Herod, the disciples who fled under pressure … or Judas …

or was He seeing into the future and thinking of you and me?

Praise God!  Jesus our Lord and Savior is even now looking for us,

 and calling to us to come home!   

  

Posted by on March 29, 2012 in Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , .

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March 28, 2012

Judas: Betrayer or Friend?

Jesus had a friend named Judas Iscariot.  He chose Judas to be His Friend.  Judas traveled with Him.  He saw the many miracles of Jesus.  He heard all the teachings.  He had the opportunity for long personal talks with Jesus.

Jesus trusted him with the money for his group.  Judas was the treasurer.  He was a part of the inner circle.  But if you hear the name, Judas, what comes to mind?  Most of us think of the one who betrayed Jesus to death.

How did this young man come so close to the Kingdom of God and then lose it all?  Judas, like Eve, was taken in by a an offer from satan.  Satan offered what seemed to be a better deal than what God was offering.

There is evidence that Judas loved money.  Money is a short step from power, another of Judas‘ desires.  John 12:4-6 reveals that Judas “was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.”

Timothy later aptly notes, “For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil.  Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”  (2nd Timothy 6:10)

Judas, like some of the other disciples, expected Jesus to overthrow the Roman rule and function as an earthly king.  Judas loved the cause he thought Jesus represented.  There is little evidence that Judas loved Jesus.

Shortly before Jesus’ Death, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, made a bold proclamation of her love for Jesus.  She poured expensive perfume all over His Feet and wiped His Feet with her hair.

Judas was horrified!  He quickly pointed out that the perfume could have been sold and the money used to feed the poor.  Judas had heard Jesus tell a rich, young ruler that he should sell all he had, give the money to the poor and come follow Him.  So weren’t Judas’ thoughts in line with what Jesus had preached?

Judas missed the point.  Selling all one’s possessions and giving the money to the poor were only the first two steps before the all important step of following Jesus.  In the case of the rich man, Jesus wanted to remove any obstacles that would keep the potential follower from looking back.  Jesus wanted him fully focused on Him for His Provision.  

Mary was focused on Jesus.  Judas was not.  Judas was focused on the money and what he believed the money could do.  He, perhaps, saw all the money that could have been added to treasury of which he had control … the treasury from which he was stealing.

When satan tempted Jesus in the desert, Jesus won every round by quoting the Word of God.  Eventually satan tired of the game and left Jesus.  However, scripture reveals “when the devil had finished all this tempting, he left Him until an opportune time.”  (Luke 4:13)  Satan is patient and persistent … and he looks for the “opportune time” to lure his prey.

Satan found his opportune time with Judas.  Judas, fueled by the love of money and power, and hungry for the True Love he had refused to accept from Jesus, was an easy target.

As Jesus‘ Ministry expanded, the crowds following him, grew,  The chief priests decided the only solution was to eliminate Jesus.  They plotted ways to accuse Him and kill Him.  However, they recognized Jesus had a number of supporters.  They were concerned that a riot might ensue if they tried to take Jesus from the midst of a crowd.

They were eager to deal with Him before the Jewish Passover Celebration.  Time and strategy were of the essence.  Judas knew the time was right.  He was disillusioned with how Jesus’ Ministry was going.  And Jesus was not offering any hope for the future.  In fact, He was now frankly talking about a dismal end to His Time on earth and it was sounding as if He expected the disciples to fall with Him.

Judas undoubtedly had listened to the “other side” as well as somewhat listening to Jesus.  Judas saw his opportunity to gain status with the prevailing rulership, make money and get out of the group, who was going to be defeated soon.  Judas defected.  He agreed to deliver Jesus to His enemies under cover of darkness and before the Passover celebration began.  He agreed to do all of this for … you guessed it … money.

The night before the Passover, Judas, along with the other disciples, joined Jesus for supper.  Jesus said many important things that night.  But in the midst of it all, Jesus dropped a bombshell.  He revealed that there was one among them, who would betray Him.

The disciples asked one by one, “Lord, is it I?” While the others referred to Jesus as Lord, Judas never called Him Lord.  He only referred to Him as Teacher.  This is a crucial point.  When we see Jesus only as a great teacher, but not our Lord and Savior, satan has a major open door to our thoughts.

In John 13:13, Jesus said, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and rightly so, for that is what I am.”  Judas did not ever call Him Lord.

Judas said to Jesus, “Surely You don’t mean me, Rabbi.”  Jesus answered, “You have said so.”  (Matthew 26:25)  Jesus never once called Judas a betrayer.  He still saw him as a wonderful creation of God, who had every right and privilege God had given him.  This included the right to choose who he would be.  Judas would choose whether he would be a follower or a traitor.

But Jesus knew it was the time to decide.  No more one foot in one world and one foot in another.  Jesus told him, “what you are about to do, do quickly.” (John 13:27)  Judas made his choice.

Having opened the door to satan and closed the door to Jesus as Lord, Judas was ripe for picking.  As soon as Judas took the Bread Jesus offered him, John 13:27 records, satan entered into Judas.  From the time of Judas’ surrender to the power of evil, satan directed Judas’ every move.  

In the next post, we will follow Jesus and Judas into the Garden of Gethsemane. Satan must have loved the repeating of history.  He liked to believe he had brought mankind and God to their knees in the perfect Garden of Eden.  Once again, he returned to a Garden to deliver what he was sure would be the final defeat of God’s Kingdom.

Whoever eats the bread or drinks the cup of the Lord in an unworthy manner will be guilty of sinning against the Body and Blood of the Lord.  

Everyone ought to examine themselves before they eat of the bread and drink from the cup.  

For those who eat and drink without discerning the Body of Christ eat and drink judgement on themselves.

 1st Corinthians 11:27-29

As soon as Judas took the bread, satan entered into him.

 John 13:27

Posted by on March 28, 2012 in Christian, Encouragement, Joy and tagged , , , , , , .

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