Several Chapters earlier in John, Jesus had rebuked Peter’s declaration of solidarity – even to the point of dying with Jesus, by saying, “Will you really lay down your life for Me? I tell you the truth, before the rooster crows, you will disown Me three times.” The moment that rooster crowed, Peter realized just how fickle the human race could be. And as the sound of the crowing continued, Peter began to sink deeply into fear and grief as tears fell…for he profoundly realized – he had disowned the Lord.
Tag: Easter
Mark 14:18 ” While they were reclining at the table eating, He said, ‘ I tell you the truth, one of you will betray Me – one who is eating with Me.’ “
Unfortunately, Jesus could say this of many of us. We like to hang out with Jesus, but when the going gets tough, we break faith. Fear, embarrassment, not wanting to offend, wishing to be politically correct will all cause us to deny Him to some degree. When someone questions our religion, or mocks our Christian walk we cave and shy away from taking a stand. Yes, we love to just hang with Jesus…but only when we’re not forced into a difficult situation and have to choose.
Matthew 26: 31 ” Then Jesus told them, ‘ This very night you will all fall away on account of Me, for it is written: I will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ “
Jesus wasn’t chastising the Disciples, He was simply speaking the truth, and fulfilling the prophecy spoken of from Zechariah. Jesus Christ is our Good Shepherd…the one Who cares for, watches over, and provides for the welfare of His flock…Christian Believers everywhere.
Hebrews 10: 11-12 ” Day after day every Priest stands and performs his religious duties; again and again he offers the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when this Priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God.”
We can’t save ourselves. We can try, and try, and try…but nothing we’ll ever do can rescue us from hell. We need a Savior…a High Priest that offered the ultimate sacrifice on our behalf…Himself on the Cross…once for all. And in doing so, gave us the greatest gift ever…the gift of eternal life. Jesus Christ is the only answer for this dying world…will you turn to Him today?
The Tomb’s still empty.
On that Resurrection Sunday they found the stone rolled away and the tomb where they had laid Jesus empty…and somehow we tend to forget the power it took for that miracle to happen. We forget the magnitude of Jesus taking every sin ever committed by mankind on Himself. We downplay the sacrifice He made for us while we were yet sinners. So the next time you’re racked by fear and doubt…remember the tomb’s still empty. When discouragement and anxiety try to take over your life…remember the tomb’s still empty. When the world seems in turmoil and paranoia…remember the tomb’s still empty, and God’s still in control…and if you had been the only person on earth, Jesus would have died for you.
He is Risen!…He is Risen indeed!
Early that morning the women came to the tomb and found the stone rolled away from the entrance. Jesus didn’t need this to happen for the Resurrection to occur, but this gaping hole was a physical sign that something miraculous had taken place. What was left behind was a cold, empty tomb…maybe like your heart today…someplace where Jesus might have been at one time…but is no longer. Today is the best day of the year to renew your commitment to the Lord and start afresh…let Him Arise in your heart today.
Mark 15: 38 ” The curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom.”
This curtain hung between the Holy Place and the Most Holy Place in the Temple. It’s function was to separate all men, even the Priests, from the presence of God. Only the High Priest was able to go beyond the curtain, and that was only once a year, on the Day of Atonement. The moment that Jesus breathed His last breath on the Cross this curtain was torn in an instant from above, downwards. The barrier that separated us from God was suddenly…gone! We no longer needed someone else to inquire of God for us…the middleman now was no longer needed. That open curtain had made a way for us to go confidently into the Most High Place…and to have intimate access to our Lord. That ripped curtain hung as a memorial to the Old Covenant, and the shed Blood of Jesus.
John 19: 23-24 ” When the soldiers crucified Jesus, they took His clothes, dividing them into four shares, one for each of them, with the undergarment remaining. This garment was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. ‘Let’s not tear it,’ they said to one another. ‘Let’s decide by lot who will get it.’ This happened that the scripture might be fulfilled which said, ‘They divided My garments among them and cast lots for My clothing.’ So this is what the soldiers did. “
This inner tunic was extremely well made by someone highly skilled in weaving. The construction so far superior, that all the guards saw it as a prized possession, not to be torn into pieces. They decided instead to cast lots for it, which meant that they would all place a marked lot into a vessel which was shaken by one of them with his face turned away…the first lot to fall out would indicate the person chosen. This game of chance that the guards took part in was foretold of in Psalm 22:18, which is considered a Messianic Psalm…one pertaining to Jesus. Those guards had no idea they were fulfilling Messianic prophecy that day at Golgotha.
Luke 22: 19-20 ” And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave to them, saying, ‘This is My body given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.’ In the same way, after the supper He took the cup, saying, ‘ This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you’ “
You’ve been invited to Dinner! The menu is quite simple, the fare not elaborate. The guest list is small… actually, there are only two names on the list…yours and the Lord. Come, now is the time to draw near to the Communion Table and allow the Lord to serve you. He will tear off a piece of the thin cake of bread and hand it to you, while saying,”This is My body given for you. My body given to save you from eternal death. Do this to forever remind yourself of what I have done for you, and you alone… If you had been the only person on the earth, I still would have gone to the Cross for you.” He will then hand you the cup while saying, ” This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is poured out for you. I have willingly shed My blood in order to give you new life, and a new covenant, not of the Law, but rather of the Spirit.” The table is set, your Lord is waiting…come to the table.
Luke 22: 3-4 ” Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. And Judas went to the Chief Priests and the Officers of the Temple guard and discussed with them how he might betray Jesus.”
The Devil tempted Judas with a simple question…are you a lover of men, or money? Sadly, Judas chose the latter, and this “Blood Money” was his ultimate downfall. The Prophet Zechariah spoke of those thirty pieces of silver, which related back to the Mosaic Law, which stated that if a bull gored a slave and killed him, the owner must pay thirty shekels of silver to the master of the slave as compensation. Interesting enough, the price of a “quality slave” was twice that amount for compensation… Thus, Jesus was sold out by Judas for the price of a mediocre slave.
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