Sunday, December 30, 2018

COME! FOLLOW!



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MUSINGS - December 30, 2018


COME! FOLLOW!


Matthew 4:18-22
As he was walking along the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon (called Peter) and Andrew. They were throwing a net into the sea because they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, "Come, follow me! I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish." They immediately left their nets and followed him. As Jesus went on, he saw two other brothers, James and John, the sons of Zebedee. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee preparing their nets to go fishing. He called them, and they immediately left the boat and their father and followed Jesus.

Jesus said, "Follow me." and they did! They literally dropped everything that mattered to them, their family and their livelihood. And what was their enticement? "I will teach you how to catch people instead of fish." Did they have even an inkling of what that meant? I doubt it. But when God the Son commands, "Come!" they came.

Not everyone that was called came. Matthew 19:20-22
The young man replied, "I have obeyed all these commandments. What else do I need to do?" Jesus said to him, "If you want to be perfect, sell what you own. Give the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then follow me!" When the young man heard this, he went away sad because he owned a lot of property. What did Jesus ask of this man that he did not ask of the others? Nothing! Jesus always asks that he be our only true treasure. Luke 14:26-27
"If people come to me and are not ready to abandon their fathers, mothers, wives, children, brothers, and sisters, as well as their own lives, they cannot be my disciples. So those who do not carry their crosses and follow me cannot be my disciples.

It is my strong belief that the gift of free will is the only thing that we have that truly belongs to us. And that is the one thing that God requires us to give the him. "Not my will but thine." We have to give Him permission to override our free will. This is what Jesus was looking for in those first disciples. And it is still what he is looking for in me and you.

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Saturday, December 29, 2018

CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK AND ACT



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MUSINGS - December 29, 2018


CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK AND ACT


Matthew 4:12-17
When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he went back to Galilee. He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. This was in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali. So what the prophet Isaiah had said came true: "Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali, on the way to the sea, across the Jordan River, Galilee, where foreigners live! The people who lived in darkness have seen a bright light. A light has risen for those who live in a land overshadowed by death."

From then on, Jesus began to tell people, "Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near!"

With his cousin, John, in prison, Jesus begins preaching the same message that John had begun. "Turn to God and change the way you think and act, because the kingdom of heaven is near!" This message had not changed in the last 2000 years. The only change maybe it's that the kingdom of heaven is nearer now than then.

The kingdom is here now but it's incomplete. The followers of Jesus declare him as their King, the Messiah, the anointed one. It is the duty of each and every person in the kingdom to carry that same message everywhere and everywhen, "Turn to God and change the way you think and act."

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Friday, December 28, 2018

JESUS' TEMPTATION



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MUSINGS - December 28, 2018


JESUS' TEMPTATION


Matthew 4:1-11
Then the Spirit led Jesus into the desert to be tempted by the devil. Jesus did not eat anything for 40 days and 40 nights. At the end of that time, he was hungry. The tempter came to him and said, "If you are the Son of God, tell these stones to become loaves of bread." Jesus answered, "Scripture says, 'A person cannot live on bread alone but on every word that God speaks.'" Then the devil took him into the holy city and had him stand on the highest part of the temple. He said to Jesus, "If you are the Son of God, jump! Scripture says, 'He will put his angels in charge of you. They will carry you in their hands so that you never hit your foot against a rock.'" Jesus said to him, "Again, Scripture says, 'Never tempt the Lord your God.'" Once more the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms in the world and their glory. The devil said to him, "I will give you all this if you will bow down and worship me." Jesus said to him, "Go away, Satan! Scripture says, 'Worship the Lord your God and serve only him.'" Then the devil left him, and angels came to take care of him.

40 days and 40 nights appears so often in the Bible

God destroyed the earth with water it to rainef 40 days and 40 nights (Genesis 7:12).Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 24:18).
Moses interceded on Israel’s behalf for 40 days and 40 nights (Deuteronomy 9:18, 25).
The Israelite spies took 40 days to spy out Canaan (Numbers 13:25). 
Goliath taunted Saul’s army for 40 days before David arrived to slay him (1 Samuel 17:16).
When Elijah fled from Jezebel, he traveled 40 days and 40 nights to Mt. Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).


Moses was on Mount Sinai for 40 days and 40 nights (Exodus 24:18).
Moses interceded on Israel’s behalf for 40 days and 40 nights (Deuteronomy 9:18, 25).
The Israelite spies took 40 days to spy out Canaan (Numbers 13:25). 
Goliath taunted Saul’s army for 40 days before David arrived to slay him (1 Samuel 17:16).
When Elijah fled from Jezebel, he traveled 40 days and 40 nights to Mt. Horeb (1 Kings 19:8).

All of these 40 days had to do with times of trial and temptation. Because it is a recurring time if testing, some have said that it is not to be taken literally but symbolic. I see no reason to believe that it is both symbolic of testing and a literal time if trial.

Whether you take it symbolicly or literally the truth is that Jesus was tested by every sin that we are. He was both fully God (who can not be tested be sin) and fully human it was necessary that he be vulnerable to sin and yet remained sinless.

Hebrews 2:18
Because Jesus experienced temptation when he suffered, he is able to help others when they are tempted.

Hebrews 4:15-16
We have a chief priest who is able to sympathize with our weaknesses. He was tempted in every way that we are, but he didn't sin. So we can go confidently to the throne of God's kindness to receive mercy and find kindness, which will help us at the right time.

Because Jesus understands sin from the human perspective, he is the perfect judge for our frailties and failures.

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Sunday, December 23, 2018

FAITHFUL JOSEPH



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MUSINGS - December 23, 2018


FAITHFUL JOSEPH


Matthew 2:13-15
After they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. The angel said to him, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, because Herod intends to search for the child and kill him." Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and left for Egypt that night. He stayed there until Herod died. What the Lord had spoken through the prophet came true: "I have called my son out of Egypt."

It is a good thing that God had given Jesus Joseph as a father. Had I been his father, I would have tried to negotiate with God. "Why do we need to go all the way to Egypt? There are plenty of countries a lot closer where we could hide. Plus I've got a business to run with steady clients. If we go that far away, I'll have to try to make s living in a land where I don't even speak the language."

However, Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and left for Egypt that night. He didn't argue or make suggestion to God. He woke from his dream, gathered his family, and left for Egypt.

We here s lot about Mary being chosen by God to birth Jesus. I seldom think of how Joseph was also chosen to raise the Son of God to manhood. What an awesome task and responsibility Joseph was given.

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Saturday, December 22, 2018

TRULY WISE MEN



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MUSINGS - December 22, 2018


TRULY WISE MEN


Matthew 2:9-12
After they (the wise men from the east) had heard the king, they started out. The star they had seen rising led them until it stopped over the place where the child was. They were overwhelmed with joy to see the star. When they entered the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary. So they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasure chests and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. God warned them in a dream not to go back to Herod. So they left for their country by another road.

When the wise men visited King Herod of Judea and said that they were seeking the King of the Jews, Herod wasn't happy. He was man jealous of his power. So much so that Herod murdered his wife Mariamne, her two sons, her brother, her grandfather, and her mother because he suspected that they were plotting against him.

Then men from the east came seeking a new King. He told the wise men to find this new King and report back to him so that he might go and worship him.

They were not fooled and followed the warning from God not to return to Herod.

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Thursday, December 20, 2018

GOD'S PLAN

MUSINGS - December 19, 2018


GOD'S PLAN


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Matthew 1:18-25
The birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. His mother Mary had been promised to Joseph in marriage. But before they were married, Mary realized that she was pregnant by the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph was an honorable man and did not want to disgrace her publicly. So he decided to break the marriage agreement with her secretly. Joseph had this in mind when an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream. The angel said to him, "Joseph, descendant of David, don't be afraid to take Mary as your wife. She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you will name him Jesus He Saves, because he will save his people from their sins." All this happened so that what the Lord had spoken through the prophet came true: "The virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and they will name him Immanuel," which means "God is with us." When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him to do. He took Mary to be his wife. He did not have marital relations with her before she gave birth to a son. Joseph named the child Jesus.

About 700 years before the birth of Jesus, the prophet Isaiah warned the Jewish people,
"Listen now, descendants of David," Isaiah said. "Isn't it enough that you try the patience of mortals? Must you also try the patience of my God?

Their constant rejection of God and refusal to follow His commandments was testing His patience. But God had a plan in place for the redemption of all people.

So the Lord himself will give you this sign: A virgin will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and she will name him Immanuel God Is With Us. (Isaiah 7:13-14,)

We are at the end of Advent and the celebration of Christ's birth is near. We will hear the remarkable stories of angelic announcements to the shepherds, the birth in a stable, and the visit of the wise men. Matthew doesn't mention any of that.

Earlier he established Jesus long earthly ancestral lineage from Abraham through David to Jesus. Now he reveals his true heavenly lineage from God, She is pregnant by the Holy Spirit. And reminds his readers that God had revealed that to His people long ago.

God always has had a plan for our/your/my salvation. This is the true reason we celebrate Christmas.

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Monday, December 17, 2018

DIDN'T BELIEVE

MUSINGS - December 17, 2018


DIDN'T BELIEVE


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Mark 16:9-13
After Jesus came back to life early on Sunday, he appeared first to Mary from Magdala, from whom he had forced out seven demons. She went and told his friends, who were grieving and crying. They didn't believe her when they heard that he was alive and that she had seen him.

Later Jesus appeared to two disciples as they were walking to their home in the country. He did not look as he usually did. They went back and told the others, who did not believe them either.

There was a lot of disbelief going on that Sunday morning when Jesus rose from the dead. The women who went to embalm him encountered an angel who told them that Jesus was alive, but they didn't believe and fled in fear.

When Jesus appeared to Mary Magdalene she ran to tell the good news to the disciples, they refused to believe her.

When Jesus appeared to two of his disciples they ran to tell the others but were not believed.

When I was first told of a risen savior, I didn't believe. Much later I had my eyes opened and believed.

Jesus has commanded his followers to spread the good news where ever we go. We can only tell. We can not force belief upon them. However, by telling others the good news, we've opened the way for Jesus to appear to them also.

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Thursday, December 13, 2018

THIS MAN WAS THE SON OF GOD

MUSINGS - December 12, 2018


THIS MAN WAS THE SON OF GOD


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Mark 15:33-39
At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. At three o'clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, "Eloi, Eloi, lema sabachthani?" which means, "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" When some of the people standing there heard him say that, they said, "Listen! He's calling Elijah." Someone ran and soaked a sponge in vinegar. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink. The man said, "Let's see if Elijah comes to take him down." Then Jesus cried out in a loud voice and died. The curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom. When the officer who stood facing Jesus saw how he gave up his spirit, he said, "Certainly, this man was the Son of God!"

It had always amazed me that in this whole narrative of the crucifixion only one man saw Jesus for who he truly was/is. An officer in the army of Rome currently identified Jesus as the Son of God. It wasn't because of Christ's mighty works of power or his incredible revelation of the true meaning of the scriptures that convinced this soldier. It was Jesus death, how he gave up the spirit that demonstrated to this man the righteousness if Jesus. Mark doesn't record the words that Jesus spoke from the cross that other gosples do. They show Christ's strength and compassion. They show how even in death he asked God to forgive his tormenters and executioners.

It is for us to live lives that reflect the face of Christ's to those around us so that they might also believe.

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Tuesday, December 11, 2018

PICK UP YOUR CROSS

MUSINGS - December 11, 2018


PICK UP YOUR CROSS


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Mark 15:21
A man named Simon from the city of Cyrene was coming into Jerusalem from his home in the country. He was the father of Alexander and Rufus. As he was about to pass by, the soldiers forced him to carry Jesus' cross.

Who was this man, Simon, whose name and those of his sons is included in this narrative? The Bible sheds no further light than that which is given here. However since the names of the sons are given, it can be sent y assumed that they were known by the original readers.

I did a Google search and found this information.

Cyrene was located in northern Africa in eastern Libya. A Greek city in the province of Cyrenaica, it had a Jewish community where 100,000 Judean Jews had been forced to settle during the reign of Ptolemy Soter (323–285 BC) and was an early center of Christianity.

The Cyrenian Jews had a synagogue in Jerusalem, where many went for annual feasts. Some interpret the passage as indicating that Simon was chosen because he may have shown sympathy with Jesus. Others point out that the text itself says nothing, that he had no choice, and that there is no basis to consider the carrying of the cross an act of sympathetic generosity.

Mark 15:21 identifies Simon as "the father of Alexander and Rufus". Tradition states that they became missionaries; the inclusion of their names may suggest that they were of some standing in the Early Christian community at Rome. It has also been suggested that the Rufus (in Greek: Ῥοῦφον or Rhouphon) mentioned by Paul in Romans 16:13 is the son of Simon of Cyrene. Some also link Simon himself with the "men of Cyrene" who preached the Gospel to the Greeks in Acts 11:20.

Whoever he may have been, Simon certainly did not know when his day began that he would be called upon to carry a cross. Likewise, we never know when a figurative cross may be ours to carry. Troubles seldom come upon us with prior warning. We must always be prepared to pick up our cross and follow Jesus.

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Monday, December 10, 2018

LONG LIVE THE KING OF THE JEWS

MUSINGS - December 10, 2018


LONG LIVE THE KING OF THE JEWS


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Mark 15:15-20
Pilate wanted to satisfy the people, so he freed Barabbas for them. But he had Jesus whipped and handed over to be crucified. The soldiers led Jesus into the courtyard of the palace and called together the whole troop. They dressed him in purple, twisted some thorns into a crown, and placed it on his head. Then they began to greet him, "Long live the king of the Jews!" They kept hitting him on the head with a stick, spitting on him, and kneeling in front of him with false humility. After the soldiers finished making fun of Jesus, they took off the purple cape and put his own clothes back on him. Then they led him out to crucify him.

At last Jesus is greeted as King of the Jews, which is the same as the term translated as Messiah. But it is not by the Jewish people. It is by the Roman soldiers. And it not in earnest but mockingly. Dressed in a robe fit for a king and given a crown of thorns they kneel before him in contempt.

Little did they know that He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, death on a cross. This is why God has given him an exceptional honor-- the name honored above all other names-- so that at the name of Jesus everyone in heaven, on earth, and in the world below will kneel and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:8-11)

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Saturday, December 8, 2018

BRAVERY IN WEAKNESS

MUSINGS - December 08, 2018


BRAVERY IN WEAKNESS


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Mark 14:66-72
Peter was in the courtyard. One of the chief priest's female servants saw Peter warming himself. She looked at him and said, "You, too, were with Jesus from Nazareth!" But Peter denied it by saying, "I don't know him, and I don't understand what you're talking about." He went to the entrance. Then a rooster crowed. The servant saw him. Once again she said to those who were standing around, "This man is one of them!" Peter again denied it. After a little while the men standing there said to Peter again, "It's obvious you're one of them. You're a Galilean!" Then Peter began to curse and swear with an oath, "I don't know this man you're talking about!" Just then a rooster crowed a second time. Peter remembered that Jesus said to him, "Before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don't know me." Then Peter began to cry very hard.

I've heard so many times about Peter denying Jesus that I totally missed an important fact: Peter was there at the temple. The others had abandoned Jesus and gone into hiding. But Peter was there. Even after the servant girl accused him the first time, he stayed near his Master. Again she saw him and called attention to him and he denied Jesus, but he still stayed near. A third time he is recognized as being a Galilean and a follower of Jesus. If he was recognized by his accent, that means that he had been talking, probably trying to get information on how the trial was going. Again, he was there.

Previously, when reading this section of scripture, I've always focussed on Peter's weakness, his betrayal. But now I see that he was the bravest of Jesus's followers even in his weakness. He was there. His remorse was so great that he cried and cried very hard.

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Friday, December 7, 2018

YES I AM

MUSINGS - December 07, 2018


YES I AM


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Mark 14:53-65
The men took Jesus to the chief priest. All the chief priests, leaders, and scribes had gathered together. Peter followed him at a distance and went into the chief priest's courtyard. He sat with the guards and warmed himself facing the glow of a fire. The chief priests and the whole Jewish council were searching for some testimony against Jesus in order to execute him. But they couldn't find any. Many gave false testimony against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some men stood up and gave false testimony against him. They said, "We heard him say, 'I'll tear down this temple made by humans, and in three days I'll build another temple, one not made by human hands.'" But their testimony did not agree even on this point. So the chief priest stood up in the center and asked Jesus, "Don't you have any answer to what these men testify against you?" But he was silent. The chief priest asked him again, "Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus answered, "Yes, I am, and you will see the Son of Man in the highest position in heaven. He will be coming with the clouds of heaven." The chief priest tore his clothes in horror and said, "Why do we need any more witnesses? You've heard him dishonor God! What's your verdict?" All of them condemned him with the death sentence. Some of them began to spit on him. They covered his face and hit him with their fists. They said to him, "Prophesy!" Even the guards took him and slapped him.

Illegally arrested and illegally tried. The "verdict" was decided long before this mockery of a trial began: The chief priests and the whole Jewish council were searching for some testimony against Jesus in order to execute him.

Many lies were told that night but one truth rang out: Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?" Jesus answered, "Yes, I am. The truth was told but they couldn't handle the truth. Instead of the truth setting him free it convicted him.

Many today refuse to accept Jesus for who he claims to be. But millions of witnesses over the last two thousand years have testified that he is their Lord and savior, the one true Messiah.

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Thursday, December 6, 2018

THE ARREST

MUSINGS - December 06, 2018


THE ARREST


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Mark 14:42-52
Get up! Let's go! The one who is betraying me is near." Just then, while Jesus was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve apostles, arrived. A crowd carrying swords and clubs was with him. They were from the chief priests, scribes, and leaders of the people. Now, the traitor had given them a signal. He said, "The one I kiss is the man you want. Arrest him, and guard him closely as you take him away." Then Judas quickly stepped up to Jesus and said, "Rabbi!" and kissed him. Some men took hold of Jesus and arrested him. One of those standing there pulled out his sword and cut off the ear of the chief priest's servant. Jesus asked them, "Have you come out with swords and clubs to arrest me as if I were a criminal? I used to teach in the temple courtyard every day. But you didn't arrest me then. But what the Scriptures say must come true." Then all the disciples abandoned him and ran away. A certain young man was following Jesus. He had nothing on but a linen sheet. They tried to arrest him, but he left the linen sheet behind and ran away naked.

An armed mob came to arrest the Lamb of God. He was a public figure, always in the Temple or the synagogues, never hiding but confronting those so called religious and civil leaders. And yet they set upon him at night when he was at prayer. How they must have feared him to come in great numbers and armed with weapons if war.

They may not have believed that he was the long awaited Messiah, but they had witnessed his miraculous power and feared it. I'm reminded of the old hymn lyrics, "He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set him free." He could have slain them with a word. But he didn't come to murder but to save ... even those who came against him. In his dying breath he prayed, "Father, forgive them. They know not what they do."

How great a love he had and has for all of us.

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Tuesday, December 4, 2018

THEY HAD ONE JOB TO DO

MUSING - December 03, 2018


THEY HAD ONE JOB TO DO


Mark 14:32-42
Then they came to a place called Gethsemane. He said to his disciples, "Stay here while I pray." He took Peter, James, and John with him and began to feel distressed and anguished. He said to them, "My anguish is so great that I feel as if I'm dying. Wait here, and stay awake." After walking a little farther, he fell to the ground and prayed that if it were possible he might not have to suffer what was ahead of him. He said, "Abba! Father! You can do anything. Take this cup of suffering away from me. But let your will be done rather than mine." He went back and found them asleep. He said to Peter, "Simon, are you sleeping? Couldn't you stay awake for one hour? Stay awake, and pray that you won't be tempted. You want to do what's right, but you're weak." He went away again and prayed the same prayer as before. He found them asleep because they couldn't keep their eyes open. They didn't even know what they should say to him. He came back a third time and said to them, "You might as well sleep now. It's all over. The time has come for the Son of Man to be handed over to sinners. Get up! Let's go! The one who is betraying me is near."

This person had one job to do, paint two parallel yellow lines in the middle of the road. For mile upon mile he had done just that. And then something happened. Maybe he dozed for just a moment or maybe he was distracted momentarily. For what ever the reason, he failed to do the one thing he was supposed to do.

Jesus gave Peter, James, and John one job to do, wait and stay awake. He had told them, "My anguish is so great that I feel as if I'm dying." Three times he prayed and they slept. One simple job, and they failed ... repeatedly!

Imagine for a moment that your best friend had just told you that they felt like they were dying and they asked you to wait and watch over them while they prayed. What would you do? Now put yourself in the other place. You are the one who feels like your dying. What would you expect of your friends?

I would expect to pray with my friend and have them pray with me. I certainly wouldn't expect them to fall asleep when I was at my darkest hour.

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Saturday, December 1, 2018

YOU DON'T MEAN ME DO YOU?

MISSING - December 01, 2018


YOU DON'T MEAN ME, DO YOU?


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Mark 14:17-21
When evening came, Jesus arrived with the twelve apostles. While they were at the table eating, Jesus said, "I can guarantee this truth: One of you is going to betray me, one who is eating with me!" Feeling hurt, they asked him one by one, "You don't mean me, do you?" He said to them, "It's one of you twelve, someone dipping his hand into the bowl with me. The Son of Man is going to die as the Scriptures say he will. But how horrible it will be for that person who betrays the Son of Man! It would have been better for that person if he had never been born."

Jesus declared, "One of you is going to betray me.' It is nearly inconceivable that those who traveled with him, who heard him speak, and who witnessed all that he had done, would betray him. As we read in yesterday's devotion, Judas was making plans to do just that. If you are at all familiar with the Easter story, you know that Judas did indeed betray him by leading the authorities to him. As we get further along in this narrative we'll discover that all of them betrayed him, not as Judas did, but abandoned him when he could have used their support and their testimony at his trial.

But if I pull back my judgement of these men, and ask myself, "Would I have done better?" I have to answer honestly, I don't know. I pray that I'm strong enough to be able to stand and claim him as my Lord even when faced with the cruelest that men can devise. However, I also pray that I'm never put to that test.

Christ declared in Matthew 10:32-33, "I will acknowledge in front of my Father in heaven that person who acknowledges me in front of others. But I will tell my Father in heaven that I don't know the person who tells others that he doesn't know me."

I try to live my life so as to daily give him his honor and glory. I pray that his light shine through me. Do you?

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