June 30, 2012 Mock Worship

Mock Worship Mark 15:15-20 Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. 16 The soldiers led Jesus away into the palace (that is, the Praetorium) and called together the whole company of soldiers. 17 They put a purple robe on him, then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on him. 18 And they began to call out to him, “Hail, king of the Jews!” 19 Again and again they struck him on the head with a staff and spit on him. Falling on their knees, they paid homage to him. 20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him out to crucify him. THOSE horrible soldiers weren’t just content to crucify him, they had to mock him first. The thorny crown, the purple robe symbolized the evil and hatred in their hearts. Their hatred for Jesus was the kind of hatred God’s people had shown against God’s Law for centuries as they hatefully killed his prophets. Evil was running amok in Israel, Judah and the non-Jewish soldiers. The godly Jews, who desired God’s presence and who saw Jesus as their Messiah were shut down. Their voices were weak and silent. Evil seems to be the champion of the day. Yes, that’s the way it seems, doesn’t it? We hear many types of Jesus-mocking speech in our culture. Evil rules tongues and minds. God-honoring speech is covered over. Sometimes the mocking is our being quiet when we should speak. Is there any hope to rid the world of this mocking, hateful, God-killing speech? The Hope is on his way to the cross. Pause and consider, are you in any way mocking God?

June 29, 2012 What Did You Say?

What Did You Say? Mark 15:12-14 “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. 13 “Crucify him!” they shouted. 14 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” DO YOU wonder if those people had any idea what they were saying? Yes, of course, they knew what crucifixion was. They knew if Pilate listened to them, Jesus would die. But do you think they knew what they were saying? Consider for example some of the things you might say. You angrily shout to someone you love, “Shut up!” You tell your kids in a loud voice, “Don’t you ever do that again.” You impatiently tell your wife, “I’ll get it done!” as you leave the house the night after you’ve expressed love to her. You tell your kids, “I know I promised, but…” Do you have any idea what you’re saying? The crowd’s words called to kill Jesus, and they had no idea how their words brought God’s judgment on them. You speak in unloving, impatient, self-focused ways to your family, and you have no idea how your words bring God’s judgment on you. Yes, they do. God is clear, dads about being humble and submissive to your wife—to the point of death!—and not exasperating your children. God is clear, moms, about being humble and submissive to your husbands and not exasperating your children. I know, God commands your children to honor you. My question is, “Do they have an honorable parent to honor?” Watch what you say. Always, always find ways to speak encouragement, patience, love and affirmation to your beloved ones, your neighbors and your church. Before you speak, make sure you have an idea you know what you are saying. Pause and consider your speech.

June 27, 2012 Whatever!

Whatever! Mark 15:6-11 Now it was the custom at the Feast to release a prisoner whom the people requested. 7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. 8 The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did. 9 “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, 10 knowing it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. 11 But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead. YOU’VE been there. You must make a decision you’d rather give to someone else. Perhaps it’s a matter regarding finances, or a household dispute. I guess the “irresponsible” phrase today is “Whatever!” and you just walk away thinking, “I’m not responsible. Don’t blame me for this.” Pilate’s a “Whatever!” guy who wants to find a way out of condemning Jesus to death. The thing is, Pilate had a really good way out. He had the power to simply release Jesus. He didn’t need anyone’s approval. He was the man! But instead, Pilate acted the “Whatever! Man”. He wanted to be politically correct. He didn’t want to look bad to the Jews. He didn’t want to seem weak to the Romans. He was used to killing people. What’s one more, even if it’s wrong? Maybe he could save Jesus in the culture’s way. The horrible truth is, Pilate’s “Whatever!” is still killing Jesus. You’d rather not be responsible to tell the truth against the culture’s accusations. Be sure and strong to defend Jesus. You have the power of his Truth. Pause and consider this “whatever”: Colossians 3:17 And whatever you do…do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus.

June 27, 2012 The King is Silent

The King is Silent Mark 15:1-5 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, reached a decision. They bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate. 2 “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “Yes, it is as you say,” Jesus replied. 3 The chief priests accused him of many things. 4 So again Pilate asked him, “Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” 5 But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. ARE YOU amazed at Jesus’ silence? Wouldn’t this be a good time for Jesus to find an ally in Pilate? After all, Pilate can save him from the brutal cross. Is Jesus’ silence, perhaps, fatalism because he knows his destiny is the cross? Is he thinking, “Why bother? I’m just going to die anyway. The Father’s will is that I go to the cross. So I’ll just keep quiet. I’d hate to be set free if I’m supposed to die.” If Jesus had thought that, he would have been a self-serving fatalist. Such thoughts point to one’s own glory, and in essence say, “Look at how good I am to suffer.” Yes, the truth is that the Father has ordained Jesus’ suffering, and Jesus responds as the true Son of God. He humbly submits to God’s divine plan to reveal God’s glory through his suffering. Every time Jesus spoke of his suffering to his disciples, he spoke in the third person, i. e. “The Son of Man must be killed.” He pointed away from himself to the prophets and to God, that the Father would be glorified. Pause and consider Jesus’ humble submission.

June 25, 2012 Ignorant

Ignorant Mark 14:63-66 The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. 64 “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death. 65 Then some began to spit at him; they blindfolded him, struck him with their fists, and said, “Prophesy!” And the guards took him and beat him. BLASPHEMY is evil, mocking speech against God. The priest tears his clothes to show he separates himself from the sin. Of course, Jesus had not spoken blasphemy. He had spoken the truth. The real blasphemy occurs here in the priests’ and teachers’ litany of evil, mocking speech against the Holy Lord. These ignorant men are digging a deep hole of words that mock God, and one day they will be condemned. It’s odd, isn’t it? These men accuse Jesus of blasphemy. But Jesus is innocent, and they are guilty. Let’s consider why they act in such ignorance. Where do ignorant acts come from? They come from minds empty of the truth. I know you might think the word “ignorant” is a harsh, judgmental word, but often it’s good to have a “wake up” word to get you to think about it. When I consider how ignorant I am regarding Jesus, I am driven to fill more of him into my mind. When I see how the world today is ignorant of Jesus, I mourn the ignorance, and I strive to teach as many as I can. All of our minds are too empty of the knowledge of Jesus Christ. The truth is we must mourn our own ignorance. We must mourn others’ ignorance. Jesus knew ignorance kills. Do you think he mourned his accusers? Pause and consider that you cannot ignore ignorance.

June 24, 2012 Son of Man Speaks

Son of Man Speaks Mark 14:61 But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” 62 “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” TO DANIEL, God gave this vision of God’s final judgment on earth: Daniel 7:13-14 “I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. 14 He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.” Caiaphas, the high priest questioning Jesus, knew exactly how Jesus was answering his question, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed One?” When Jesus said, “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” he was speaking the message Daniel had received from Heaven. When Jesus responded with his “Son of Man” language, Caiaphas understands he is claiming to be the Son of God, who will establish his throne on earth. Jesus has consistently used the prophets’ words to affirm he is the Messiah. People have believed him or condemned him. It seems as if Jesus may be giving Caiaphas one last opportunity to believe him. In fact, he may be giving his people one last opportunity to believe him. He has clearly spoken the truth, but few have believed. Pause over what you have heard from Jesus and consider your belief in him.

June 23, 2012 What to Say?

What to Say? Mark 14:55-60 The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. 56 Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. 57 Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: 58 “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this man-made temple and in three days will build another, not made by man.’“ 59 Yet even then their testimony did not agree. 60 Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” DO YOU wonder at Jesus’ silence, why he didn’t speak to defend himself? Let me ask you this. Have you ever spoken plainly and truthfully about something, and no one believed you? Perhaps you recognized a new manufacturing method. You told the boss and all around you what would work better. But no one listened. What did you do? Likely, you stopped talking. More words were fruitless. Jesus had come to bear the fruit of the Kingdom of God, but few listened to him. Jesus had plainly spoken Kingdom truths before these men who sought to kill him. He now plainly knew they had no desire to seek the true way. Their desire was to put him away. And so it is with you. You hear Jesus’ truth. Would he give up speaking to you? Is your purpose to stay in your ways and to put Jesus away? He calls you to account. He calls you to action. He calls you to salvation. Why don’t you let him speak? Pause and consider Jesus is speaking to save you.