“The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head. They clothed him in a purple robe.” John 19:1
In each of the Gospel’s Jesus is portrayed in a unique fashion. In Matthew’s Gospel He is called the King of the Jews. It was as the King of the Jews that Jesus stood before Pilate. Pilate asked Him if He was a king to which Jesus replied that His Kingdom was not of this world. If it was of this world then His followers would fight but His kingdom was a spiritual kingdom.
The soldiers felt that if Jesus was a king then He should look like a king. A king wore a crown and royal robes so they gathered together a few thorny branches and twisted it into a crown, which they put upon His head. The crown cut into His skin causing blood to run down His face. They then put a purple robe on Him and gave Him a rod, which they pretended was a scepter. A scepter was a symbol of power and a king always carried His scepter. When Queen Esther went into the king’s presence she would have been put to death if the king had not held out his scepter to her.
Once they had Jesus dressed as a king then they mocked Him. They pretended to do homage to Him and He just stood there. Scripture tells us that he could have called over ten thousand angels to come to rescue Him but He chose to take the abuse. The soldiers did not know that they were mocking the king of the universe. They felt that they were protected because they were part of the armies of Caesar. If Jesus was a king then He could have called His army to come to His rescue but since He did nothing they assumed that He was just another criminal.
Pilate didn’t understand the man that stood before Him. He did not understand that this was a king, the King of all kings including Caesar in Rome. The soldiers did not know that this was a king. They would never have treated a king in the manner that they treated Jesus. However, even the disciples did not know that Jesus was a king. They had thought that He might have been a king but when He was arrested then they knew that this was not an earthly kingdom. Even then they did not realize that the kingdom of which Jesus spoke was a spiritual kingdom.
Today we see the kingdom growing. Jesus’ kingdom has citizens from every tribe and nation in the world. To those who observe the kingdom from an earthly viewpoint it only looks like another organization. However, the kingdom of King Jesus reigns in the hearts of His followers from all over the world. Someday the kingdom that is invisible to the world will be made known and the King who wore the crown of thorns will wear the royal diadem. He will reign in power, majesty and justice. They soldiers may have thought that they were making sport of a prisoner but they actually were acting out what would someday be reality. He is king.
Saturday, April 4, 2009
23741
Moses prays in Psalm 90 that we will be taught to number our days. The title of this post is the number of my days. I have reached the retirement age though I have been retired for ten years. God has blessed me by allowing me to live comfortably these past years. I have had ministry opportunities which is how a Christian should view retirement. Retirement should be a time to do ministry for the kingdom. Who knows what the next 1826 days will bring but as long as I am able I want to continue to minister for the kingdom.
Friday, April 3, 2009
Exploitation
The following is from New Jersey News:
Three pastors of a nondenominational church in Randolph used members' donations and proceeds from selling the $5 million church building to buy a $1.6 million mansion in Mendham Township, a $450,000 schooner in Jersey City and life-coaching classes, state officials said yesterday.
In chapter two of Habakkuk the prophet pronounces five woes.
Woe against selfish ambition
Woe against covetousness
Woe against exploitation of others
Woe against drunkenness
Woe against idolatry
We exploit someone when we take more than we give, when we treat people like things.
Three pastors of a nondenominational church in Randolph used members' donations and proceeds from selling the $5 million church building to buy a $1.6 million mansion in Mendham Township, a $450,000 schooner in Jersey City and life-coaching classes, state officials said yesterday.
In chapter two of Habakkuk the prophet pronounces five woes.
Woe against selfish ambition
Woe against covetousness
Woe against exploitation of others
Woe against drunkenness
Woe against idolatry
We exploit someone when we take more than we give, when we treat people like things.
Why Thirty Pieces of Silver?
“Then one of the Twelve— the one called Judas Iscariot— went to the chief priests and asked, "What are you willing to give me if I hand him over to you?" So they counted out for him thirty silver coins. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over.” Matthew 26:14-16
We do not know what motives Judas had in betraying Jesus. We know that he was greedy and he had been pilfering money from the common purse. He had recently become upset with Jesus for not rebuking the woman when she poured expensive perfume over the feet of Jesus. Whatever his motives were he was compelled to betray Jesus for thirty silver coins, the price of a common slave.
Zechariah had prophesied four hundred years before that one close to Jesus would betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. “I told them, ‘If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’ So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.” Zechariah 11:12 For the price of a common slave one of those closest to Jesus betrayed Him and handed Him over to die.
After Jesus was arrested and tried, Judas realized that he had committed a terrible sin. He then went back to the elders who had paid him the money and said that he had sinned. The rulers didn’t care. They had their man. Judas then took the money and threw it into the temple and went out and hanged himself. He did not see any way that he could be forgiven for what he had done.
Now the Jewish leaders had a problem. They didn’t know what to do with the money as it was “blood money”. They couldn’t put it back into the temple treasury so they decided to use it to buy a field that use to be used as a place where the potters would throw there broken pottery. The field would be used as a graveyard for those that couldn’t be buried in the regular cemetery as they had died by their own hand. The field was known as the potters’ field.
The value that Judas and the rulers had placed on Jesus was the price of a common slave. I suppose it was fitting that the King of the universe who came to the earth as a servant, who lived His life as a slave, should be bought and sold as a slave and die as a slave.
How do we treat the King of kings and Lord of lords? Are we selling Him for s few silver coins and the pleasures of this world? Are we any different than Judas when we betray the Lord for a few coins? Jesus demands our total commitment. He wants us to be a bond slave. He is the pearl of great price and we are selling Him for the price of a common slave.
We do not know what motives Judas had in betraying Jesus. We know that he was greedy and he had been pilfering money from the common purse. He had recently become upset with Jesus for not rebuking the woman when she poured expensive perfume over the feet of Jesus. Whatever his motives were he was compelled to betray Jesus for thirty silver coins, the price of a common slave.
Zechariah had prophesied four hundred years before that one close to Jesus would betray Him for thirty pieces of silver. “I told them, ‘If you think it best, give me my pay; but if not, keep it.’ So they paid me thirty pieces of silver.” Zechariah 11:12 For the price of a common slave one of those closest to Jesus betrayed Him and handed Him over to die.
After Jesus was arrested and tried, Judas realized that he had committed a terrible sin. He then went back to the elders who had paid him the money and said that he had sinned. The rulers didn’t care. They had their man. Judas then took the money and threw it into the temple and went out and hanged himself. He did not see any way that he could be forgiven for what he had done.
Now the Jewish leaders had a problem. They didn’t know what to do with the money as it was “blood money”. They couldn’t put it back into the temple treasury so they decided to use it to buy a field that use to be used as a place where the potters would throw there broken pottery. The field would be used as a graveyard for those that couldn’t be buried in the regular cemetery as they had died by their own hand. The field was known as the potters’ field.
The value that Judas and the rulers had placed on Jesus was the price of a common slave. I suppose it was fitting that the King of the universe who came to the earth as a servant, who lived His life as a slave, should be bought and sold as a slave and die as a slave.
How do we treat the King of kings and Lord of lords? Are we selling Him for s few silver coins and the pleasures of this world? Are we any different than Judas when we betray the Lord for a few coins? Jesus demands our total commitment. He wants us to be a bond slave. He is the pearl of great price and we are selling Him for the price of a common slave.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Three Assurances
God gives Habakkuk three great assurances:
1. The assurance of God's grace
2. The assurance of God's glory
3. The assurance of God's government.
God tells Habakkuk that the righteous shall live by his faith. He then tells him that the world will be filled with the knowledge of His glory. His glory is over all the earth but not everyone sees the glory but there is coming a day when the whole world will know of His glory. Finally He tells Habakkuk that He is in His holy temple, He is in control, He is sovereign.
When we think about God's glory we are reminded that His glory is visible in creation, in the church, and in the cross. Often we do not see His glory but someday the whole world will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.
1. The assurance of God's grace
2. The assurance of God's glory
3. The assurance of God's government.
God tells Habakkuk that the righteous shall live by his faith. He then tells him that the world will be filled with the knowledge of His glory. His glory is over all the earth but not everyone sees the glory but there is coming a day when the whole world will know of His glory. Finally He tells Habakkuk that He is in His holy temple, He is in control, He is sovereign.
When we think about God's glory we are reminded that His glory is visible in creation, in the church, and in the cross. Often we do not see His glory but someday the whole world will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord.
Why Herod?
“When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform some miracle.” Luke 23:8
Jesus never had any time for Herod. Herod was called the king but he really did not have any power. The only authority he had was given to him by Rome, but the Romans despised him. He had no backing from the Jewish leaders because they looked upon him as an impostor. He was not really a Jew.
Jesus was sent to Herod because Pilate didn’t want to make a decision concerning Jesus. When Pilate learned that Jesus was from Galilee he had Jesus sent to Herod who was the governor of Galilee. Pilate was hoping that that would be the end of his part in this mock trial.
Herod was delighted when Jesus came to him. He had often wanted to see Jesus but had never had the opportunity. Jesus had no use for Herod calling him that “old fox”. Herod wanted to see Jesus because he heard that Jesus could perform miracles. He was wishing that Jesus would perform a miracle for him. Maybe Jesus would turn water into wine or walk upon the water. Herod really didn’t care what miracle Jesus did as long as Jesus performed a miracle for him. Herod did not care about the message of Jesus or even the person of Jesus. He was only interested in being entertained by Jesus.
There are many people today who are like Herod. They are not interested in having their lives changed but they are interested in witnessing a miracle. These people love miracle healing services and they talk about how God healed them physically but they have never committed their lives to Him. Their interest in Jesus is like Herod’s interest. They will serve Jesus for what He will do and not for whom He is.
Jesus had nothing to say to Herod. He was willing to answer the High Priest or the Roman governor but He had nothing to say to Herod. Pilate was searching for the truth but Herod was only looking for pleasure. He was interested in Jesus if there was something in it for him. When Jesus did not perform a miracle he had no further interest in Jesus and sent Him back to Pilate.
Today there are many people who will serve Jesus for what they will get out of it. Jesus has called us to follow Him. He has not promised that we will be rewarded in this life for following Him. He has not promised that we will see miraculous deed performed. The only thing He has promised us is that He will be with us to the very end of the age. Why are you following Jesus?
Jesus never had any time for Herod. Herod was called the king but he really did not have any power. The only authority he had was given to him by Rome, but the Romans despised him. He had no backing from the Jewish leaders because they looked upon him as an impostor. He was not really a Jew.
Jesus was sent to Herod because Pilate didn’t want to make a decision concerning Jesus. When Pilate learned that Jesus was from Galilee he had Jesus sent to Herod who was the governor of Galilee. Pilate was hoping that that would be the end of his part in this mock trial.
Herod was delighted when Jesus came to him. He had often wanted to see Jesus but had never had the opportunity. Jesus had no use for Herod calling him that “old fox”. Herod wanted to see Jesus because he heard that Jesus could perform miracles. He was wishing that Jesus would perform a miracle for him. Maybe Jesus would turn water into wine or walk upon the water. Herod really didn’t care what miracle Jesus did as long as Jesus performed a miracle for him. Herod did not care about the message of Jesus or even the person of Jesus. He was only interested in being entertained by Jesus.
There are many people today who are like Herod. They are not interested in having their lives changed but they are interested in witnessing a miracle. These people love miracle healing services and they talk about how God healed them physically but they have never committed their lives to Him. Their interest in Jesus is like Herod’s interest. They will serve Jesus for what He will do and not for whom He is.
Jesus had nothing to say to Herod. He was willing to answer the High Priest or the Roman governor but He had nothing to say to Herod. Pilate was searching for the truth but Herod was only looking for pleasure. He was interested in Jesus if there was something in it for him. When Jesus did not perform a miracle he had no further interest in Jesus and sent Him back to Pilate.
Today there are many people who will serve Jesus for what they will get out of it. Jesus has called us to follow Him. He has not promised that we will be rewarded in this life for following Him. He has not promised that we will see miraculous deed performed. The only thing He has promised us is that He will be with us to the very end of the age. Why are you following Jesus?
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Why Did Peter Deny the Lord?
“I tell you the truth,” Jesus answered, “today – yes, tonight – before the rooster crows twice you yourself will disown me three times.” Mark 14:30
Peter was confident that he would never deny the Lord. He said that if all the others were to fall away he would not. Peter had confidence in the flesh. He was a strong, powerful fisherman who was not afraid of anyone. It seemed ridiculous to him that anyone, especially, Jesus would think that he would disown the Lord.
However, within a few hours Peter not only disowned Christ but he did it three times. What had happened to the brave man who was willing to die for Jesus? Peter showed in his life the principle that Paul had to learn, that is, we are only strong when we stand in God’s strength and not in ours. Paul knew the meaning of the phrase; “my strength is made perfect in weakness.” He understood that it wasn’t his weaknesses that caused his failures but rather his strengths. When he learned to give his strengths to God then God could work through his weaknesses for His glory.
Peter had to learn that truth as well. The day of Christ’s arrest made that very clear to him. He saw how he had been so strong when things were going well but when things went wrong then he turned away and denied the Lord.
It wasn’t until after the resurrection that Peter came to understand his dependency upon the Lord. He had failed but he was not cast out. He was cast down but he would rise up again. His own strength brought failure but Christ’s strength brought victory.
Did Peter ever fail again? One time the Judaizers had come from Jerusalem and condemned the Jews for eating with the Gentiles. Peter succumbed to their criticism and separated himself from the gentiles. It wasn’t until Paul came and rebuked him that he understood that he had once again succumbed to the old temptation. I am sure that Peter went to his grave knowing that whenever he depended upon his own strength then he was heading for a fall.
We are so much like Peter. We take pride in our strengths saying that we would never fail in those areas. We are not like others because we are strong. In our society we look down upon the weak and honour the strong. However, in our strengths we find that we don’t need God. Our weaknesses are the things that bring us to God. We need to take no confidence in our strengths but take confidence in the strength of our God. He is the One that can take our weakness and use them for His glory.
We so often find that we condemn people like Peter who deny their Lord but it was people like Peter that Jesus used to build His church. We are often too strong for God to use but we are never too weak if we give our weaknesses to Him and depend upon Him for His strength. Remember the Lord's words to Paul, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Peter was confident that he would never deny the Lord. He said that if all the others were to fall away he would not. Peter had confidence in the flesh. He was a strong, powerful fisherman who was not afraid of anyone. It seemed ridiculous to him that anyone, especially, Jesus would think that he would disown the Lord.
However, within a few hours Peter not only disowned Christ but he did it three times. What had happened to the brave man who was willing to die for Jesus? Peter showed in his life the principle that Paul had to learn, that is, we are only strong when we stand in God’s strength and not in ours. Paul knew the meaning of the phrase; “my strength is made perfect in weakness.” He understood that it wasn’t his weaknesses that caused his failures but rather his strengths. When he learned to give his strengths to God then God could work through his weaknesses for His glory.
Peter had to learn that truth as well. The day of Christ’s arrest made that very clear to him. He saw how he had been so strong when things were going well but when things went wrong then he turned away and denied the Lord.
It wasn’t until after the resurrection that Peter came to understand his dependency upon the Lord. He had failed but he was not cast out. He was cast down but he would rise up again. His own strength brought failure but Christ’s strength brought victory.
Did Peter ever fail again? One time the Judaizers had come from Jerusalem and condemned the Jews for eating with the Gentiles. Peter succumbed to their criticism and separated himself from the gentiles. It wasn’t until Paul came and rebuked him that he understood that he had once again succumbed to the old temptation. I am sure that Peter went to his grave knowing that whenever he depended upon his own strength then he was heading for a fall.
We are so much like Peter. We take pride in our strengths saying that we would never fail in those areas. We are not like others because we are strong. In our society we look down upon the weak and honour the strong. However, in our strengths we find that we don’t need God. Our weaknesses are the things that bring us to God. We need to take no confidence in our strengths but take confidence in the strength of our God. He is the One that can take our weakness and use them for His glory.
We so often find that we condemn people like Peter who deny their Lord but it was people like Peter that Jesus used to build His church. We are often too strong for God to use but we are never too weak if we give our weaknesses to Him and depend upon Him for His strength. Remember the Lord's words to Paul, “My strength is made perfect in weakness.”
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