A Way When It Seems There Is No Way
Father, thank You for Your direction throughout this day. I was glad I was able to accomplish some out-of-the-norm tasks. Work went well too! Thank You for Your impact even in the normal stuff of life!
John 20:1-10 (<<click here to read the passage)
There seem to be so many obstacles in our lives in getting to where we want or need to be. Some of course are just the way things are done.
You can’t be a concert pianist just because you want to be. It takes hours and hours of practice and devotion to develop the skills necessary…and if you do not have any gifting in that area, your efforts will be for naught.
Successful relationships don’t just happen. It takes dedication on the part of both parties, a willingness to forgive, and many other components to have fulfilling and genuine interaction with those close to us.
Other times, the things we desire just are not meant to be. Many couples yearn for a child, and for numerous reasons, that cannot be the case. But I have seen adoption bring great joy to both parent and child.
Sometimes, no matter how hard we work at it, we cannot achieve professional goals in life. Businesses fail. Promotions go to others. Grand dreams stagnate and we are left with nothing to show for all our efforts.
A note in my Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation got me thinking. Concerning verse 1…
Early on Sunday morning, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene came to the tomb and found that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance. NLT
…it said,
The stone was not rolled away from the entrance to the tomb so Jesus could get out. He could have left easily without moving the stone. It was rolled away so others could get in and see that Jesus was gone. (Emphasis mine.)
Mark’s Gospel tells us that the large stone concerned the women who went to anoint Jesus’ body after the Sabbath.
On the way they were asking each other, “Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance to the tomb?” Mark 16:3 NLT
It was an obstacle they could not overcome in their own strength…but God took care of it for them! Matthew’s Gospel tells us,
Suddenly there was a great earthquake! For an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled aside the stone, and sat on it. Matthew 28:2 NLT
How many times do obstacles in life stop us in our tracks? There are mountains that we feel are unconquerable and so we give up. Yes, there are some things we are not meant to have or pursue even. But…what if that is not the case but God is just waiting to “roll the stone away” for us?
Oh, ye of little faith! Call upon God to do what only God can do! As the saying goes, God will make a way when it seems there is no way. And don’t forget, the stone wasn’t rolled away for Jesus to get out, it was so others could get in!
Nov 9th, 2021, Tues, 7:15 pm
Do What We Can Do
With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God.
….I will give glory to your name forever,
for your love for me is very great.
….You have rescued me from the depths of death. Psalm 86:12-13 NLT
John 19:38-42 (<<click here to read the passage)
It would be interesting to know what motivated Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus to do what they did. In many ways Joseph’s actions were…I want to say brave, but I’m not sure that’s the right word. To a degree, the time for heroism had passed. Yes, not just anyone could have gone to Pilate to request Jesus’ body, but from the Jewish angle, as we spoke of yesterday, the leaders’ task had been completed. Jesus was dead and that’s all they cared about…it was a done deal. So, claiming the body, took no great courage on that front.
Too, I wonder did either of them know enough of Jesus’ teachings to realize that their act was just one additional piece of God’s plan and not the culmination of it? The disciples – those closest to Him – hadn’t truly comprehended what the end result would be. So, I can’t imagine these two experts in the Law would have had much of a leg up on His closest followers.
But the thing is, they did act. When everyone else ran, when everyone else went into hiding, Joseph and Nicodemus acted. That in and of itself took courage, that everyone else had lost, despite all their arguments of staying by Jesus’ side…no matter what happened.
They may not have understood the part they played, but I would dare say that they acted not out of obligation, for they would have had none. I truly believe they acted out of love. They probably felt this was the end. But even though they never came forward to give Jesus their support when, at least from a human perspective, He needed it the most in life, they honored Him the best they could in His death.
Surely, they believed that Jesus was the Messiah – that He was God’s anointed One. Who else could have done what He did? God’s stamp of approval touched everything He had ever done. And though many of the Jewish religious leaders were blinded by their own selfish desires, at least Joseph and Nicodemus – and others maybe? – were open to the alternative that Jesus was who He claimed to be.
Like us, they were by no means perfect. And though their faith may have been small, they contributed in a way that no one else did.
Lord Jesus, we are all imperfect in our faith. We probably have faulty ideas as to what the truth really is, but You love us in spite of it all. You understand us far better than we understand ourselves. Help us to have the courage to do what we can do, no matter how behind the scenes it may be. Amen.
Nov 8th, 2021, Mon, 7:20 pm
No Broken Bones
A bit of an odd night, Father, with us all over the place. Be with each of us, I pray and bring us all safely back together again. Amen.
John 19:31-37 (<<click here to read the passage)
We’ve all been in situations where those in charge (or even those who have placed themselves in charge) operate solely by their own agenda. Things are rolling along at a seemingly normal pace when suddenly everything comes to a screeching halt or takes an unexpected sharp left turn. Of course, they get what they want because they are in charge, and whoever may stumble or fall or be left behind or, for that matter, be left for dead, it makes no difference to them. All else is sacrificed for them and their agenda.
The Jewish leaders had gotten what they wanted. Jesus’ death was imminent, and they wanted everything brought to a quick conclusion. The two thieves hanging on either side of Jesus were inconsequential. Their deaths meant nothing to those watching them breathe their last ragged gasps for air. And Jesus? He was a good as dead and now any amount of lingering messed up their celebration. The Sabbath was at hand, and a special Sabbath it was, for it was the Passover Sabbath. They were free and clear with the meddling prophet from Nazareth out of the way. They were in charge and all else was sacrificed so they could return to their agenda.
But again, we must acknowledge Who was truly in charge – though the Jewish leaders and the Romans both thought they were. All of them were simply characters fulfilling their roles. For in truth, every single one of them was bringing God’s agenda to fruition. God’s plan would not be thwarted.
Little things once more proved that every detail was pointing to God’s will coming to be.
Jesus was the once and for all Passover Lamb. His sacrifice fulfilled the Law’s demand for a perfect, spotless lamb, even down to His bones not being broken.
The Jewish leaders…asked Pilate to hasten the deaths of those being crucified by ordering that their legs be broken. So that their bodies could be taken down. There was a celebration to attend to!
So the soldiers came and broke the legs of the two men crucified with Jesus. But when they came to Jesus, they saw that he was already dead, so they didn’t break his legs. vs31-33 NLT
Jesus’ bones were not broken. The Old Testament Law found in both Exodus 12:46 and Numbers 9:12 established that the Passover lamb’s bones were not to be broken. Psalm 34:20, one of King David’s writings foretold the same,
For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; not one of them is broken! NLT
And the Apostle John, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, points out that as they gazed upon Jesus’ lifeless body that a portion of the Old Testament writings of the prophet Zechariah was also fulfilled.
“I will pour out on the house of David and on the people of Jerusalem, the Spirit of grace (unmerited favor) and supplication. And they will look at Me whom they have pierced; and they will mourn for Him as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him as one who weeps bitterly over a firstborn. Zechariah 12:10 AMP
Lord Jesus, why should we not place our utmost trust in You? With the whole world in Your hands, we are safe and secure. Only when our hands lay hold of things do they begin to go awry. Keep us close we pray. Amen.
Nov 7th, 2021, Sun, 6:07 pm
Self-Entitlement
Father, there is just so much needless tragedy in our world today. I’m sure Your heart is grieved as well. Bring peace to those who have suffered loss and wisdom to those who need it, too. Amen.
John 19:28-30 (<<click here to read the passage)
One thing that continues to disturb me over the last couple of years, is the overtaking attitude of self-entitlement. A definition I found online reads,
Self-entitlement is when an individual perceives themselves as deserving of unearned privileges. These are the people who believe life owes them something; a reward, a measure of success, a particular standard of living.
That mentality in our society is crippling and what is even more heartbreaking is that it has soundly infiltrated the church, too.
First off, self is the lead-in word of the phrase. If there is any word that stands squarely against the standards that Jesus taught and fleshed out each day that He walked among us, it is the concept of self.
Now there are phrases where the word self factors in in an excellent way with Jesus’ standards…but these phrases are not easy to live up to.
Self-denial and self-sacrifice.
Not too many volunteers to pursue those are there.
Jesus said,
“If anyone wishes to follow Me [as My disciple], he must deny himself [set aside selfish interests], and take up his cross [expressing a willingness to endure whatever may come] and follow Me [believing in Me, conforming to My example in living and, if need be, suffering or perhaps dying because of faith in Me]. Matthew 16:24 AMP
The Apostle Peter struggled at first, but he eventually learned what it meant to truly follow Jesus. He said in 1 Peter 2:11,
Dear friends, I warn you as “temporary residents and foreigners” to keep away from worldly desires that wage war against your very souls.
This world constantly shouts, “I want what’s mine! I’ve got to look out for myself, nobody else is going to! I’m sick of everyone else getting the good stuff, it’s my turn to get what’s coming to me! Nobody can make me do whatever I don’t want to do!”
If anyone was “entitled” it was Jesus. He made everything from nothing. Nothing, absolutely nothing, would be at all, if not for Him. Yet he claimed not one thing, but willingly gave up his very life.
The Amplified Bible states the last portion of verse 30 this way,
He [Jesus] said, “It is finished!” And He bowed His head and [voluntarily] gave up His spirit.
The study notes in the Amplified Bible then goes on to say,
This wording implies that Jesus voluntarily and sovereignly released His spirit from His body in submission to God’s plan.
Jesus claimed no rights. He demanded nothing. He gave everything. My study Bible says that the word finished is the same as “paid in full.”
We don’t deserve everything we want, what we deserve is paying the penalty for our sin. But the very last words of Jesus from the cross?
“It is finished!” …it is paid in full!
Jesus set before us the example of self-denial and self-sacrifice. How are we living our lives?
*Life Application Study Bible New Living Translation
Nov 4th, 2021, Thurs, 8:04 pm
One More Point of Proof!
A day of great variety, Father! Thank You for the opportunity to encourage a fellow believer in difficulty. I would pray that his faith would be strengthened as he carries on.
John 19:16-27 (<<click here to read the passage)
As I read through today’s passage, John referenced an Old Testament passage of Scripture that was fulfilled during Jesus’ crucifixion. In this text, the division of Jesus’ garments by the Roman soldiers was prophesied in one of King David’s psalms.
I wanted to read the alluded to verse in context, so I opened the entire chapter of Psalm 22. It shouldn’t be surprising that that single verse wasn’t the only point of prophecy to come to fruition in Christ’s suffering. There were several in this chapter alone!
Here are several verses from that psalm. Some references are very obvious and for clarity, I have tagged some with their corresponding New Testament passages. (If you click on the bolded New Testament text it will open the passage.) But before you read it, I want to point out that David lived 1000 years before Jesus. I find it amazing!
1 My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? (Matthew 27:46)
….Why are you so far away when I groan for help?
2 Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer.
….Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.
……..
6 But I am a worm and not a man.
….I am scorned and despised by all!
7 Everyone who sees me mocks me.
….They sneer and shake their heads, saying,
8 “Is this the one who relies on the Lord?
….Then let the Lord save him!
….If the Lord loves him so much,
….let the Lord rescue him!” (Matthew 27:41-44)
9 Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb
….and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.
10 I was thrust into your arms at my birth.
….You have been my God from the moment I was born.
11 Do not stay so far from me,
….for trouble is near,
….and no one else can help me.
……..
14 My life is poured out like water,
….and all my bones are out of joint.
….My heart is like wax,
….melting within me.
15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
….My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. (John 19:28)
….You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
….an evil gang closes in on me.
….They have pierced my hands and feet.
17 I can count all my bones.
….My enemies stare at me and gloat.
18 They divide my garments among themselves
….and throw dice for my clothing. (John 19:23-24) NLT
Lord Jesus, before the world even came into being You had already set into place how You would redeem us. You knew we would rebel, but You loved us so and made plans to reconcile us to Yourself. Throughout the Old Testament, You planted Your word in Your prophets as one more point of proof that You and You alone are God! All praise to You!
Nov 3rd, 2021, Wed, 7:43 pm