Category: March2024

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Up Before Dawn

I have always found it hard to sleep the night before I had something big to do the next day. I can only imagine how it must have been for Mary and the other women as they prepared to go to the tomb. Jesus’ burial had been hasty and they were going now to properly care for His body.

Up, before dawn, they were on their way. Who would roll back the stone? Would the soldiers arrest them because they were Jesus’ followers? No matter the questions, they went.

“The Sabbath was over, and it was almost daybreak on Sunday when Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to see the tomb. 2 Suddenly a strong earthquake struck, and the Lord’s angel came down from heaven. He rolled away the stone and sat on it. 3 The angel looked as bright as lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. 4 The guards shook from fear and fell down, as though they were dead.” Matthew 28:1-4 CEV

I don’t know if the earthquake was felt throughout the entire city or just at the garden tomb but it was certainly something unusual. In fact, it was so frightening that season soldiers were paralyzed with fear.

When the women got there, the stoned was rolled away and the tomb was open. The angel appeared to the women and told them to go tell the disciples that Jesus was risen from the dead, just as He said he would.

“She ran to Simon Peter and to Jesus’ favorite disciple and said, ‘They have taken the Lord from the tomb! We don’t know where they have put him.’ 3 Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb.” John 20:2-3 CEV

Peter and John got to the tomb and they went in. They found the cloth had He had been wrapped in and the cloth that had covered His face but there was no body. They left the tomb and went back to the other disciples but Mary stayed.

She was weeping. She stooped down to look inside, she knew Jesus wasn’t there so I’m not sure what she was hoping to see.

“and saw two angels inside. They were dressed in white and were sitting where Jesus’ body had been. One was at the head and the other was at the foot. 13 The angels asked Mary, ‘Why are you crying?’ She answered, ‘They have taken away my Lord’s body! I don’t know where they have put him.'” John 20:12-13 CEV

She was probably startled or even frightened by seeing the angels but her concern was for Jesus. Where have they taken Him? She turned to leave and she saw who she thought was the gardener.

“Jesus asked her, ‘Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?’ She thought he was the gardener and said, ‘Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.’ 16 Then Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni.'” John 20:15-16 CEV

In her darkest hour, in her deepest grief, Mary was looking for Jesus. While Peter and John left and went back the other disciples, Mary stayed. Wondering, searching, weeping.

And then she heard Him call her by name. She knew that voice, she heard the compassion in His tone. It was her Savior and Lord.

It was Jesus! He called her by name.

Our relationship with Jesus is a personal one. He was sent to die for the sins of the world but when we come into relationship with Him it becomes personal. When our eyes are filled with tears and our hearts are fighting fear, if we listen we will hear Him call us by name!

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The Silent Sabbath

I can only imagine what it must have been like to one of Jesus’ disciples on that Sabbath Day.

 “There was a man named Joseph, who was from Arimathea in Judea. Joseph was a good and honest man, and he was eager for God’s kingdom to come. He was also a member of the council, but he did not agree with what they had decided.

52 Joseph went to Pilate and asked for Jesus’ body. 53 He took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in fine cloth. Then he put it in a tomb that had been cut out of solid rock and had never been used. 54 It was Friday, and the Sabbath was about to begin.[a]

55 The women who had come with Jesus from Galilee followed Joseph and watched how Jesus’ body was placed in the tomb. 56  Then they went to prepare some sweet-smelling spices for his burial. But on the Sabbath they rested, as the Law of Moses commands.” Luke 23:50-56 CEV

The quiet, the grief, the anxiousness, the heart break, the disillusionment, the fear.

They had truly believed that He would set up an earthly kingdom and now He, their Messiah, was dead. Hope was gone. Fear invaded their silence – would the soldiers be coming for them next? Would they be accused, tried and crucified?

Across the city there was a commotion going on at Pilate’s court.

“On the next day, which was a Sabbath, the chief priests and the Pharisees went together to Pilate. 63  They said, ‘Sir, we remember what this liar said while he was still alive. He claimed in three days he would come back from death. 64 So please order the tomb to be carefully guarded for three days. If you don’t, his disciples may come and steal his body. They will tell the people he has been raised to life, and this last lie will be worse than the first one.’

65 Pilate said to them, ‘All right, take some of your soldiers and guard the tomb as well as you know how.’ 66 So they sealed it tight and placed soldiers there to guard it.” Matthew 27:62-66 CEV

These were the same men that had Jesus arrested and hauled to Pilate’s court the day before. They were scared. If Jesus was who He said He was He would be raised from the dead and that was frightening.

There was no silence here.

“ Because we broke God’s laws, we owed a debt—a debt that listed all the rules we failed to follow. But God forgave us of that debt. He took it away and nailed it to the cross. 15 He defeated the rulers and powers of the spiritual world. With the cross he won the victory over them and led them away, as defeated and powerless prisoners for the whole world to see.” Colossians 2:14-15 ERV

The Apostle Paul gives us a glimpse behind the rock that sealed the tomb. Jesus met His enemy; the one who had tempted Him in the wilderness, the one who had stirred up the hatred against Him. There in the world of the spirit, Jesus defeated Satan and his powers; Jesus stripped him and showed the world that Satan had been defeated!

“56 Sin is what gives death its sting, and the Law is the power behind sin. 57 But thank God for letting our Lord Jesus Christ give us the victory!” I Corinthians 15:57-58 CEV

When God seems silent, when our hope is gone, remember there is victory for us in Christ Jesus. Break the silence and raise your voice in praise!

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Why Was Friday Good?

Why is this Friday called Good? Good for whom?

The Road to the Cross stopped here. The sky was dark. The temple curtain was torn in two. The earth quaked. Jesus died.

“Then Jesus gave another loud cry and gave up His spirit and died.51 At once the curtain in the house of God was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks fell apart.” Matthew 27:50-51 NLV

Certainly, it wasn’t good for Jesus disciples and followers. They were crushed and brokenhearted by the events which had just taken place.

Good for Mary? She saw her Son brutally killed. No, it wasn’t good.

“When the Roman officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, ‘Jesus must really have been a good man!’ 48 A crowd had gathered to see the terrible sight. Then after they had seen it, they felt brokenhearted and went home. 49  All of Jesus’ close friends and the women who had come with him from Galilee stood at a distance and watched.” Luke 223:47-49 CEV

“Jesus’ mother stood beside his cross with her sister and Mary the wife of Clopas. Mary Magdalene was standing there too. 26 When Jesus saw his mother and his favorite disciple with her, he said to his mother, “This man is now your son.” 27 Then he said to the disciple, “She is now your mother.” From then on, that disciple took her into his own home.” John 19:25-27 CEV

The devil probably thought it was a good day. The religious leaders and their council thought it was a good day.

“What we preach is God’s wisdom. It was a secret until now. God planned for us to have this honor before the world began. 8 None of the world leaders understood this wisdom. If they had, they would not have put Christ up on a cross to die. He is the Lord of shining-greatness.” I Corinthians 2:7-8 NLV

For the thief hanging on the cross beside Jesus it was a good day. For each one of us, it was a good day!

“ But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. ” Isaiah 53:5 NKJV

For God, the Father, it was good and for Jesus, it was finished!

“Christ never sinned but God put our sin on Him. Then we are made right with God because of what Christ has done for us.” II Corinthians 5:21 CEV

“After Jesus drank the wine, he said, “Everything is done!” He bowed his head and died.” John 19:30 CEV

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:2 ERV

As I’m concluding this writing the words of an old hymn are bubbling up from my soul. Written in 1707, this song tells my story “When I Survey the Wonderous Cross”.

1 When I survey the wondrous cross
on which the Prince of glory died,
my richest gain I count but loss,
and pour contempt on all my pride.

2 Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast
save in the death of Christ, my God!
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them through his blood.

3 See, from his head, his hands, his feet,
sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet,
or thorns compose so rich a crown?

4 Were the whole realm of nature mine,
that were a present far too small.
Love so amazing, so divine,
demands my soul, my life, my all.

Yes, Good Friday! The day the road ended at the cross.

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Facing Trials

We all face trials. In fact, Jesus had just told His disciples to pray because they were going to have trials ahead. That’s why Jesus prayed, He needed strength to make it through the next few days, those days when His earthly road would end at the cross.

“Jesus replied: Do you really believe me? 32 The time will come and is already here when all of you will be scattered. Each of you will go back home and leave me by myself. But the Father will be with me, and I won’t be alone. 33 I have told you this, so that you might have peace in your hearts because of me. While you are in the world, you will have to suffer. But cheer up! I have defeated the world.” John 16:31-33 CEV

I have defeated the world! And He did, but first there were the trials and the battle.

When Jesus was arrested in the garden the soldiers took Him to Caiaphas the high priest and the council. These were the men who had given Judas the money for the betrayal. They questioned Him and then led Him off to Pilate, the governor of Jerusalem. All of this was done in the wee hours of the morning.

“Everyone in the council got up and led Jesus off to Pilate.” Luke 23:1 CEV

Their charge: He claims to be the Messiah, our King. After Pilate questioned Jesus he said, “I don’t find him guilty of anything.” The Jewish leaders persisted and said He started this teaching in Galilee and it has spread here.

That was Pilate’s out. If Jesus was from Galilee He should be judged by Herod, who ruled that region. So, Pilate sent Him to Herod. Herod was excited to meet Jesus, he was hoping to see a miracle.

“He had heard many things about Jesus and hoped to see him work a miracle. 9 Herod asked him a lot of questions, but Jesus did not answer.” Luke 23:8-9 CEV

The chief priest and the council made many accusations about Jesus to Herod, but all Herod did was mock and insult Jesus. He dressed Jesus in a royal robe and sent Him back to Pilate.

“Pilate called together the chief priests, the leaders, and the people. 14 He told them, ‘You brought Jesus to me and said he was a troublemaker. But I have questioned him here in front of you, and I have not found him guilty of anything that you say he has done. 15 Herod didn’t find him guilty either and sent him back. This man doesn’t deserve to be put to death! 16-17 I will just have him beaten with a whip and set free.’” Luke 23:13-17 CEV

But that wasn’t good enough for the council. They wanted Jesus to die.

“18 But the whole crowd shouted, ‘Kill Jesus! Give us Barabbas!’ 19 Now Barabbas was in jail because he had started a riot in the city and had murdered someone. 20 Pilate wanted to set Jesus free, so he spoke again to the crowds. 21 But they kept shouting, ‘Nail him to a cross! Nail him to a cross!’

22 Pilate spoke to them a third time, ‘But what crime has he done? I have not found him guilty of anything for which he should be put to death. I will have him beaten with a whip and set free.’

23 The people kept on shouting as loud as they could for Jesus to be put to death. 24 Finally, Pilate gave in. 25 He freed the man who was in jail for rioting and murder, because he was the one the crowd wanted to be set free. Then Pilate handed Jesus over for them to do what they wanted with him.” Luke 23:18-25 CEV

The physical abuse that Jesus suffered was horrific.

“…the Lord gave him the punishment we deserved. 7 He was painfully abused, but he did not complain. He was silent like a lamb being led to the butcher, as quiet as a sheep having its wool cut off. 8 He was condemned to death without a fair trial. Who could have imagined
what would happen to him? His life was taken away because of the sinful things my people had done.” Isaiah 53:6-8 CEV

This was written by Isaiah approximately 400 years before Jesus died on the cross.

Jesus knew before He came to earth what a brutal death He would endure and He came willingly! He faced the trial so we could go free! AMEN!

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From the Garden

It’s so hard for me to write this morning. My heart is pounding, there’s a lump in my throat and my eyes are holding back the tears. Jesus knows the cross is before Him, so He prays from the garden.

“Jesus went out to the Mount of Olives, as he often did, and his disciples went with him. 40 When they got there, he told them, ‘Pray that you won’t be tested.’ 41 Jesus walked on a little way before he knelt down and prayed, 42 ‘Father, if you will, please don’t make me suffer by drinking from this cup. But do what you want, and not what I want.’ 43 Then an angel from heaven came to help him. 44 Jesus was in great pain and prayed so sincerely that his sweat fell to the ground like drops of blood.” Luke 22:39-44 CEV

There’s no easy way to put this. We are the reason that Jesus was in that garden painfully pouring out His heart to the Father. It was our sin that condemned Him to death. The Father chose our lives over His and Jesus willingly gave up His life as a ransom for us all.

“For the Son of Man did not come to be cared for. He came to care for others. He came to give His life so that many could be bought by His blood and be made free from sin.” Mark 10:45 NLV

Instead of praying as Jesus instructed them, the disciples fell asleep. When Jesus woke them, He told them they should have been praying for strength because they were about to be tested in a greater way than they ever had been before.

“While Jesus was still speaking, a crowd came up. It was led by Judas, one of the twelve apostles. He went over to Jesus and greeted him with a kiss. 48 Jesus asked Judas, ‘Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’” Luke 22:47-48 CEV

Judas betrayed Jesus with a sign of affection, a kiss. Jesus’ words must have cut his heart like a knife. Jesus, the Son of God, who could have destroyed them all with a word from His lips or a wave of His hand allowed them to arrest Him and take Him away.

“ Jesus was arrested and led away to the house of the high priest, while Peter followed at a distance.” Luke 22:54 CEV

Impetuous Peter, who had just sliced off a man’s ear, followed the arresting party from a distance.

A crowd had gathered in the courtyard of the high priest and were sitting around a fire. A girl recognized Peter as someone who had been with Jesus. Peter denied it.

Then someone else pointed out that Peter had been with Jesus, and he denied it. One more time, another man insisted that Peter must have been with Jesus.

“This time Peter began to curse and swear, ‘I don’t even know the man you’re talking about!’ 72 At once the rooster crowed a second time. Then Peter remembered that Jesus had told him, ‘Before a rooster crows twice, you will say three times that you don’t know me.’ So Peter started crying.” Mark 14:71-72 CEV

“ The Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered that the Lord had said, ‘Before a rooster crows tomorrow morning, you will say three times that you don’t know me.’” Luke 22:61 CEV

Betrayed by a kiss and now denied with a curse!

Is it any wonder that Jesus was in such anguish as He prayed in the garden? Those who knew Him best left Him alone in the time of His greatest need.

“I am not praying just for these followers. I am also praying for everyone else who will have faith because of what my followers will say about me. 21 I want all of them to be one with each other, just as I am one with you and you are one with me. I also want them to be one with us. Then the people of this world will believe that you sent me.” John 17:20-22 CEV

These are just a few of the words that Jesus was praying before He was arrested. He prayed for us, from the garden and He’s still praying for us today.

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The Heart of the Matter

When you’re on a long trip with people who don’t understand the path or the purpose of your journey it’s important to have a guarded heart. If not, discouragement and frustration creep in and get you off course.

Guard your heart.

“My child, pay attention to what I say. Listen carefully to my words… Guard your heart above all else, for it determines the course of your life. 24 Avoid all perverse talk; stay away from corrupt speech. 25 Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you.” Proverbs 4:20-25 NLT

This is where we find Jesus and his disciples.

The cross is imminent but Jesus’ closest friends, His twelve apostles, really have no understanding of what’s about to happen.

“The chief priests and the teachers of the Law of Moses were looking for a way to get rid of Jesus, because they were afraid of what the people might do. 3 Then Satan entered the heart of Judas Iscariot, who was one of the twelve apostles. 4 Judas went to talk with the chief priests and the officers of the temple police about how he could help them arrest Jesus. 5 They were very pleased and offered to pay Judas some money. 6 He agreed and started looking for a good chance to betray Jesus when the crowds were not around.” Luke 22:2-6 CEV

At the heart of the matter was Judas’ greed. He was looking for a way to earn a quick dollar. He left his heart unguarded.

“When the time came for Jesus and the apostles to eat, 15 he said to them, “I have very much wanted to eat this Passover meal with you before I suffer...After the meal he took another cup of wine in his hands. Then he said, ‘This is my blood. It is poured out for you, and with it God makes his new agreement. 21  The one who will betray me is here at the table with me! 22 The Son of Man will die in the way that has been decided for him, but it will be terrible for the one who betrays him!’ 23 Then the apostles started arguing about who would ever do such a thing.” Luke 22:14-23 CEV

The purpose of the Passover had always been the shedding of lamb’s blood to make an atonement for the sins of the people. At the heart of this Passover was the shedding of the blood of the Lamb of God.

“The next day, John saw Jesus coming toward him and said: Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!” John 1:29 CEV

Jesus guarded His heart. He knew there was suffering ahead; He knew the one who betrayed Him was sitting at the table with them acting as if nothing was wrong. Jesus continued to serve those who should have been serving Him. His heart was pure.

“The apostles got into an argument about which one of them was the greatest. 25  So Jesus told them:.. The most important one of you should be like the least important, and your leader should be like a servant. 27  Who do people think is the greatest, a person who is served or one who serves? Isn’t it the one who is served? But I have been with you as a servant.” Luke 22:24-27 CEV

No greed, pride, or self-serving ambition filled His heart. Only love, compassion, purpose, forgiveness, mercy and grace were in the heart of Christ that night. He laid aside His anguish, His sorrow and His suffering to continue to minister to the needs of His disciples.

He had a guarded heart.

Because He kept His heart pure He died for us. If we guard our hearts we will live for Him.

It’s all a matter of the heart!

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Are We There Yet?

No, but we’re getting closer!

We’re almost at the end of the road, that road that led to the cross.

Jesus had made His historic entry into Jerusalem. People were cheering and shouting, excited to have the Miracle Worker in their town. The first place Jesus went was to the Temple.

Because it was the time of Passover the town was filled with people and so was the Temple. Merchandisers had set up booths in the Temple, they were selling things. Jesus chased them out and said this:

“He told them, ‘The Scriptures say, “My house should be a place of worship.” But you have made it a place where robbers hide!’” Luke 19:46 CEV

The animosity toward Jesus began to rapidly increase.

“Each day, Jesus kept on teaching in the temple. So the chief priests, the teachers of the Law of Moses, and some other important people tried to have him killed. 48 But they could not find a way to do it, because everyone else was eager to listen to him.” Luke 19:47-48 CEV

These were Jesus’ final days. He spent them preaching – encouraging and instructing the people. Warning them of things to come. His heart was for the people; He wasn’t concerned about His own safety and protection.

How do we find that kind of resolve? How do we find strength in the time of adversity? Let’s see what Jesus did.

“Don’t spend all of your time thinking about eating or drinking or worrying about life. If you do, the final day will suddenly catch you 35 like a trap. This day will surprise everyone on earth. 36 Watch out and keep praying that you can escape all that is going to happen and that the Son of Man will be pleased with you.

37  Jesus taught in the temple each day, and he spent each night on the Mount of Olives. 38 Everyone got up early and came to the temple to hear him teach.” Luke 21:34-38 CEV

He didn’t spend His time worrying about the concerns of life. Remember, He was 100% human. He knew what it was like to be hungry, to have taxes to pay, to have family concerns. He had people who depended on Him. He had responsibilities and if anyone had cause to worry, He did.

His instruction to the people in the Temple and to us is simple. Don’t spend all your time worrying about things. “Watch and pray”. That’s what He did; each day he taught in the Temple and each night He went to the Mount of Olives, this was His place of prayer.

Did He ask the Father, “are we there yet”? This week, these last few days were what He had been preparing for. Thousands of years of prophesy had been speaking of this time, this week, this Passover.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying.” Hebrews 12:2-3 ERV

I’d like to encourage you with this. Watch and pray. Don’t worry. We’re almost there!

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Confrontation on the Road

Having lived in Idaho and Montana for many years we were used to confrontation on the road. Other places have traffic jams, so did we!

There were times we would wait for herds of deer and elk; at other times we would fall in behind a cattle drive. We’ve even experienced the occasional confrontation with a band of sheep but most intimidation came from the bison in Yellowstone and the grizzlies in Glacier.

The road to the cross didn’t have any of these but there were confrontations all the same. Yesterday we saw the people in Jesus’ hometown becoming so angry with Him that they dragged Him to the edge of a cliff.

Now that’s confrontation – but it didn’t stop Him for preaching.

“Jesus went to the town of Capernaum in Galilee and taught the people on the Sabbath. 32  His teaching amazed them because he spoke with power.” Luke 4:31-32 CEV

In Capernaum, He encountered a man possessed by a demon. The man was prompted to cause a scene; he yelled out at Jesus telling those around that this was God’s Son.

“Jesus ordered the evil spirit to be quiet and come out. The demon threw the man to the ground in front of everyone and left without harming him. 36 They all were amazed and kept saying to each other, “What kind of teaching is this? He has power to order evil spirits out of people!” 37 News about Jesus spread all over that part of the country.” Luke 4:35-37 CEV

Confrontation isn’t always a bad thing. God used this situation to show His power and His compassion.

When Jesus left this meeting He went to the house of Simon for dinner. Once again, He was confronted with a situation that needed His attention. Simon’s mother-in-law was running a high fever and lying in bed. Before doing anything else Jesus spoke to the fever and it left the woman.

“ So Jesus went over to her and ordered the fever to go away. Right then she was able to get up and serve them a meal.” Luke 4:39 CEV

After dinner there was an even greater encounter.

“ After the sun had set, people with all kinds of diseases were brought to Jesus. He put his hands on each one of them and healed them. 41 Demons went out of many people and shouted, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But Jesus ordered the demons not to speak because they knew he was the Messiah.” Luke 4:40-41 CEV

All who came to Jesus, He touched and healed. He silenced the demons. Don’t let this go unnoticed. Jesus didn’t want or need their affirmation. He didn’t want anything that would discredit the works of God.

“ But something more important than John speaks for me. I mean the things that the Father has given me to do! All of these speak for me and prove that the Father sent me.” John 5:36 CEV

Jesus said, even the testimony of John the Baptizer wasn’t as important to His calling and ministry as the works that the Father was doing through Him. His credibility and reputation were established by the Father. Nothing else.

We may not be confronted by a bison, or a demon possessed person, but we face other confrontations that are even more dangerous.

“ Our foolish pride comes from this world, and so do our selfish desires and our desire to have everything we see. None of this comes from the Father. 17 The world and the desires it causes are disappearing. But if we obey God, we will live forever.” I John 2:16-17 CEV

When confronted we should do like Jesus, speak to the issue, and then go forward by God’s power and not our own.

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Unstoppable

Yesterday we saw Jesus facing down His greatness enemy and He emerged victorious.

“Jesus returned to Galilee with the power of the Spirit. News about him spread everywhere. 15 He taught in the Jewish synagogues, and everyone praised him.” Luke 4:14-15 CEV

He came back full of power and ready to take on the world with the Good News of God’s love and forgiveness. He went back to His hometown and this happened.

“he was given the book of Isaiah the prophet. He opened it and read, 18 ‘The Lord’s Spirit has come to me, because he has chosen me to tell the good news to the poor. The Lord has sent me to announce freedom for prisoners, to give sight to the blind, to free everyone who suffers, 19 and to say, ‘This is the year the Lord has chosen.’

20 Jesus closed the book, then handed it back to the man in charge and sat down. Everyone in the synagogue looked straight at Jesus. 21 Then Jesus said to them, ‘What you have just heard me read has come true today.’ 22 All the people started talking about Jesus and were amazed at the wonderful things he said. They kept on asking, ‘Isn’t he Joseph’s son?’…

 You will tell me to do the same things here in my own hometown that you heard I did in Capernaum. 24  But you can be sure that no prophets are liked by the people of their own hometown…28 When the people in the synagogue heard Jesus say this, they became so angry 29 that they got up and threw him out of town. They dragged him to the edge of the cliff on which the town was built, because they wanted to throw him down from there. 30 But Jesus slipped through the crowd and got away.” Luke 4:17-30 CEV

Now wait a minute!

At the beginning of the message they were excited to have Jesus there but at the end when He said that He had fulfilled the Scripture and that they weren’t accepting of Him, they tried to kill Him.

These were people who had seen Him grow up, people who knew His parents, people who had been kids and he probably played with them. Something, someone, had stirred up such anger toward Jesus that they physically dragged Him out of town and were trying to throw Him off a cliff.

I think it’s interesting that just days before this the devil had tried to get Jesus to jump off a cliff to prove He was God’s son and now an angry mob is trying to throw Him off one but He slips away in the confusion of the mob.

He is unstoppable!

The road to the cross was not an easy one. One moment people love you and the next they are trying to kill you. In spite of all of this He kept preaching, teaching, healing, loving and showing compassion.

“God loved the people of this world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who has faith in him will have eternal life and never really die.” John 3:16 CEV

If Jesus had stopped walking that road we would be lost and have no hope for peace with God. Thank God Jesus was unstoppable!

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Adversity on the Road

Jesus is just about to start His public ministry; He has been baptized.

“ While everyone else was being baptized, Jesus himself was baptized. Then as he prayed, the sky opened up, 22  and the Holy Spirit came down upon him in the form of a dove. A voice from heaven said, “You are my own dear Son, and I am pleased with you.” Luke 3:21-22 CEV

The very next thing that happens is Jesus goes alone into the desert on a 40 day fast.

“When Jesus returned from the Jordan River, the power of the Holy Spirit was with him, and the Spirit led him into the desert. 2 For 40 days Jesus was tested by the devil, and during that time he went without eating. When it was all over, he was hungry.

3 The devil said to Jesus, “If you are God’s Son, tell this stone to turn into bread.”

4  Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say, ‘No one can live only on food.’ ” Luke 4:1-4 CEV

What I’ve read and what I’ve been told it this. Within about 3 days the hunger pains go away but when they return it is a sign that the body is depleted, and it will begin to break down vital tissue to stay alive.

Jesus was hungry. He was at his weakest and that’s when the devil intensified the temptation.

“If” you are God’s Son! The temptation was to get Jesus to doubt who He was. If. How many times have we been faced with the temptation to wonder if we are called, if we were good enough, if God loves us.

If.

But listen to Jesus’ response. It is written. The Scriptures say. When we are attacked with life’s ifs, we need to know what the Scripture says.

First the devil attacked His identity, then he attacked Jesus’ humility and finally he attacked His divinity.

“Then the devil led Jesus up to a high place and quickly showed him all the nations on earth. 6 The devil said, “I will give all this power and glory to you. It has been given to me, and I can give it to anyone I want to. 7 Just worship me, and you can have it all.”

8  Jesus answered, “The Scriptures say: ‘Worship the Lord your God and serve only him!’ ” Luke 4:5-8 CEV

This was the temptation that the devil himself couldn’t resist. The Bible tells us that satan said he would place his throne above God’s.

“ For thou hast said in thine heart, I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God: I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the north:” Isaiah 14:13 KJV

Surely, he thought Jesus would fall into the same pit he did, the pit of pride. Not being successful there he pulled out one more temptation that he figured would trip Jesus up. The devil used the very thing Jesus was drawing on for strength, the Scriptures.

“Finally, the devil took Jesus to Jerusalem and had him stand on top of the temple. The devil said, “If you are God’s Son, jump off. 10-11  The Scriptures say:

‘God will tell his angels to take care of you. They will catch you in their arms, and you will not even hurt your feet on the stones.’ ”

12  Jesus answered, “The Scriptures also say, ‘Don’t try to test the Lord your God!’ ”

13 After the devil had finished testing Jesus in every way possible, he left him for a while.” Luke 4:9-13 CEV

Two things insured Jesus’ success against the attacks and temptations of the devil. The Word of God, which is the sword of the Spirit and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. God has also given these to us; empowering us to be victorious over all the works of the enemy.

Watch out for the pitfalls on the road. Because of the cross we are victorious!

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