Betrayal

Readings for today: Matthew 27-28, Psalms 94

These are some of the most gut-wrenching chapters in the Bible. Over and over again, Jesus is betrayed by those He loves and those He came to save. It begins with the abandonment of His disciples and the denial of Peter. Judas, overcome by guilt and shame at what he has done, changes his mind and tries to turn back the clock. Pilate, the one man with the authority to stop the charade, washes his hands of the whole episode. Even the crowds who had sung His praises just a few days before now turn on Jesus. Given the chance to set Him free, they choose Barabbas instead.

Then comes the Cross. Nothing beautiful about it. It stands unparalleled in human history as a horror. A terror. An act of unspeakable evil. It represents the ultimate betrayal. The Cross is where we hung God. The Cross is where we murdered God. The Cross is where we executed God. Creation despising and rejecting her Creator. Humanity lynching her Savior. Sin having it’s way. Satan rejoicing. His victory seemingly complete. 

Jesus’ suffering was unimaginable. After having been flogged and beaten. His flesh in tatters. His blood loss immense. Jesus is forced to shoulder a 300 lbs. Roman cross. (If He just carried the crossbeam - far more likely - it was still 100 lbs.) He carries it some two thousand feet up Golgotha where nails are driven into his hands and feet. The soldiers offer Him wine mixed with gall to numb the pain. He refuses. They strip Him naked so His humiliation and shame will be complete. Crowds gather to make a public spectacle of Him. Even the criminals being executed alongside Him take pleasure in His pain. Finally, He cries out, “My God, my God! Why have you forsaken Me?” Is this even possible? The Father forsaking His only Begotten Son? That’s how Jesus must have felt on some level. Darkness falls. The ground shakes. The Temple curtain protecting the Holy of Holies is torn in two. Tombs are thrown open. The dead are raised. The natural order of things is thrown into chaos as the Author of Life dies.

Jesus didn’t just suffer physically. It was existential. Impacting his heart, mind, and soul. His cry of God-forsakenness reveals the depths of His pain. His body torn. His mind shattered. His heart utterly broken. His soul rent asunder. There is nothing that can compare to the agony He endured as He bore the sin of the world on His shoulders. He hung there alone. Forsaken by all who knew Him. Betrayed by all who loved Him. Jesus hung between heaven and earth, making atonement for humanity in the ugliness of all her sin and satisfying the holy justice of God in all it’s beautiful glory. A price had to be paid. God’s righteous wrath had to be turned away. And Jesus - fully God and fully Man - was the only one who could do it. 

God forbid we ever get comfortable with the Cross. God forbid we ever take for granted what Jesus had to endure. God forbid we despise His sacrifice on our behalf. Jesus suffered and died for my selfishness. My wickedness. My sin. What He endured, I rightfully deserve. It is good for my soul to consider the depth of my betrayal. To ponder the depth of my Savior’s pain. It is good for my soul to reflect on the unfathomable cost of my salvation. It is good for my soul to contemplate how truly fierce and loyal and steadfast and unshakable is the love of God for me. 

Readings for tomorrow: Mark 1-2, Psalms 95

The Great Wedding Day

Readings for today: Matthew 25-26, Psalms 93

I’ve been married almost thirty years but I can still remember my wedding like it was yesterday. No matter where you go in the world today, weddings are special, even sacred occasions. They are accompanied by all kinds of rituals and particular traditions. There are special traditions for the bride, special traditions for the groom, special traditions involving the family. When I got married, one of the things I had to do was meet with my future father-in-law to ask his blessing. It was an incredibly intimidating experience for me as a young man and he asked a lot of hard questions about how I would care for his daughter and provide for her. He knew I was planning on being a pastor and he was a very successful businessman at the time, making a lot of money. I had to tell him I wouldn’t be able to provide the kind of life he would want for his daughter but I promised she’d be happy. Then came the planning. There was a lot of it and it got very expensive very quickly but again, that’s the expectation in our country when it comes to weddings. You spare no expense. You buy flowers that die within the week. At the time, you hired an expensive photographer because we didn’t have iPhones to take good pictures. You might have a videographer as well so you had a video of your wedding that you supposedly will go back and watch. You’re expected to provide food and drink and music and a place to dance. You have toasts from the wedding party and parents. You have the dance between the father of the bride and his daughter and the mother of the groom and her son. Then you have the first dance between the bride and groom, the cutting of the cake, and the big send off. Then there’s the honeymoon. Another typically expensive affair, hopefully in an exotic locale. Again, all of these are rituals and traditions associated with weddings in our culture today.

What about in Jesus’ time? Back in the first century, the timing of a wedding was really up to the bridegroom’s father. When he was satisfied that his son had built his prospective bride a home that would uphold the family honor, he would set the date and time for the wedding. He would give permission to his son to then go get his bride and the groom would then gather the wedding party and make a big processional to his bride’s home. One can only imagine the excitement and joy in the community as they hear the music and dancing and laughter and celebration. One can only imagine the bride’s anticipation as she prepares herself for her future husband. A huge feast would be prepared by the groom’s family and the whole community would be invited to celebrate. Now a significant part of this ritual involved the bridesmaids or the “virgins” from the parable Jesus tells. They would have been staying with the bride all day long to help her prepare. And among the many jobs they had was to leave her at a certain point, light torches, and go out to meet the bridegroom and his party to escort them to meet the bride. The torches they carried were typically sticks wrapped in oil-soaked rags and they didn’t burn forever. So when they were about to go out, the bridesmaids would take new rags, soak them in oil, and wrap them around their torch to keep the fire burning. As you can imagine, the groom’s party was often delayed due to all the celebration. Everyone wanted to congratulate him and bless him and pray for him so the torches the bridesmaids carried might go out multiple times over the course of the evening as they waited for the groom to arrive. In the story Jesus tells, half the bridesmaids were foolish. They didn’t prepare well. They brought no oil with them so their torches went out while the other half did bring oil and were able to keep their torches burning. This created a sense of panic among those who had no oil. What would they do? Their mistake would bring shame on the bride and the groom and could mess up the whole ritual procession! So they rush off in search of more. But while they were gone, the bridegroom arrived for his bride and escorted her back to his family home where the feast was waiting and the door was shut. No more guests would be admitted. To admit them late after everyone had arrived would take attention away from the bride and groom and insult the host so they are left outside. And just as aside, these feasts would last for seven straight days so they didn’t just miss out on one night but the whole event.

So why does Jesus use the image of a wedding when talking about the Kingdom of heaven? Jesus knows what’s waiting for Him over the horizon in Jerusalem and He is trying to prepare His disciples for what’s to come. Though they do not know it yet, Jesus is pointing them beyond His death and resurrection to the timing of His second coming, when He, as the bridegroom, returns for His bride, the church. They don’t know anything about the church at this point, of course. As far as they know, the Kingdom of heaven and the kingdom of Israel are the same thing. That’s what they hear when Jesus talks about the kingdom and that’s what they’re expecting when they arrive in Jerusalem. They expect Jesus to take over King David’s throne, cleanse the Temple and re-establish the worship of the Living God, and overthrow the Romans and all the corrupt religious authorities. But Jesus has a different plan in mind. One that doesn’t involve political power or military might but His sacrificial death for all humanity. Though Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth, He refuses to exercise it like a tyrant. He will not give into the devil’s temptation to take control of all the kingdoms of this world. No, Jesus submits to the will of His Heavenly Father. And this is why His Father creates the church as a bride adorned for her husband. He wants the world to see the beauty and glory and majesty of His Son, the bridegroom. He wants the world to wait in eager anticipation, just like the bride waits in eager anticipation, for her wedding day. He wants the nations to join in the celebration as He comes for His bride. He wants the whole world to be part of the feast His Father has prepared.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 27-28, Psalms 94

The Essential Nature of Humility

Readings for today: Matthew 23-24, Psalms 92

Humility is an “essential” in the Christian life. Literally, one cannot follow Jesus without developing this character trait. Frankly, it’s Jesus’ main beef with the Pharisees and scribes and other religious leaders of his day. He didn’t criticize their theology so much as their focus on the minutiae of the Law rather than the purpose the Law was designed to serve. The religious authorities majored in the minors. They specialized in regulating all kinds of behavior. They had the best of intentions. They had honest concerns about ritual purity and that’s no small thing. Especially in the ancient world. But over time they became prideful. Their goal was to serve the Law rather than allow the Law to serve humanity. Remember their attacks on Jesus over Sabbath-keeping? The religious leaders had all kinds of regulations governing how many steps one could take on the Sabbath or how much effort a person could put in before something became “work” and they forgot the purpose Sabbath-keeping was to serve which was blessing. By keeping the Sabbath, humanity would be blessed. They would experience more joy and more peace and more life and more love but the strict regulations robbed the people of these blessings. When Jesus healed on the Sabbath - bringing joy and peace and life and love to the person on the receiving end - the religious leaders went crazy. And that’s when Jesus reminds them that “Sabbath is made for man not man for the Sabbath.”

Matthew 23 is a series of discourses where Jesus contrasts the pride and arrogance of the religious leaders with the humility of the ordinary, everyday Israelite. He clearly demonstrates the difference between serving the Law and serving humanity. He calls the religious leaders, in no uncertain terms, to repent and humble themselves. Sadly, there is little evidence any of them ever did in Jesus’ lifetime. In fact, they redouble their efforts to have him arrested, tried, tortured, and killed. This chapter is worth reflecting on especially if you’ve been a Christian for a long time. It seems the longer we follow Jesus, the more tempted we are to major on the minors ourselves. Focus on the non-essentials instead of the essentials. It’s why so many believers switch churches over small things or finer points of theology while neglecting the higher call to unity and community. We seem so quick to give up on each other, especially if we don’t agree on everything or feel let down or get disappointed. We don’t put each other first. We don’t assume the best of each other. We don’t seek the mind and heart of Christ. It’s heartbreaking.

Humility is defined by Jesus who was by His very nature God and yet didn’t consider His status as God something to be held onto. He didn’t consider His perfection more important than relating to us in our imperfection. He didn’t consider His purity more important than meeting us in the midst of our impurity. He didn’t consider His power and authority and rights as the Son of God worth holding onto if it created a barrier between us and Him. No, Jesus let all of those things go. He emptied Himself in order to become our servant. He humbled Himself to death on a cross. He deliberately and intentionally chose to decrease so that we might increase. And if we truly want to follow Jesus, we must do the same for each other and the world around us. We must serve rather than be served. We must proclaim a gospel that is truly good news not bad news. We must seek to call people to life and light and love and joy and blessing rather than curse them or shame them or condemn them for not measuring up. I don’t know about you but when my time comes and I stand before the Lord, I do not want to hear “Woe to you” but instead “Well done, good and faithful servant.”

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 25-26, Psalms 93

Owners vs. Stewards

Readings for today: Matthew 21-22, Psalms 91

I raised my kids to be independent thinkers. Strong-willed young women and a young man who can make their way in the world. I love how each of them is finding their place and it is a privilege to walk the journey with them. One of the many lessons I’ve tried to teach them is the difference between stewardship and ownership. When we grow up, we don’t own much. Everything from food to clothing to a roof over our heads is provided. Our job is to be good stewards. Clean our rooms. Follow the house rules. Take care of what we’ve been given. Then we get older. We graduate from high school. Become legally responsible. We start to become owners. We get a job. We pay the bills. We buy things like our own cars or cell phones. As a parent, I no longer have much authority over how my child takes care of their home or how much money they spend on gas or the number of apps they download on their phone.

All four Gospels tell the story of Jesus cleansing the Temple and this creates all kinds of confusion and chaos. When Jesus drives out the money-changers and turns over the tables of the loan sharks, the Jewish religious leaders ask Him an important question. “By what authority are you doing these things? Who gave you this authority?” (Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭23‬ ‭CSB‬‬) In other words, who gave you the right to disrupt the Passover? Who told you to bring in the blind and the lame and begin healing? Will you not put a stop to the praises of the children? Jesus’ reply could not be more clear, My house shall be called a house of prayer but you make it a den of robbers. Jesus is claiming rightful ownership of the Temple. He is making it clear to the religious leaders that their stewardship of the sacred places has come to an end. The rightful owner is now on the scene and He will do with His house as He wills. And what is His will? His house shall be a place of prayer. A hospital for healing. A sanctuary for praise.  

Imagine how you would feel if someone lived in your home and trashed the place. I have a good friend who owns a rental house in the Denver area. Several years ago, a tenant used his house to grow weed and cook meth. After going to court to get his tenant evicted, my friend had to gut the house and start over. It cost him thousands of dollars not to mention the time and effort he had to put in to get his house back in working order so it could be rented again. Now put yourself in Jesus’ sandals. The people you’ve entrusted your home to have trashed the place. They have turned it into a den of robbers. Exploiting the pilgrims who come for Passover each year. They make hefty profits by price gouging the people, especially the poor. So He makes a whip of cords and drives them out. He turns over the tables and throws them out. Do you understand now why Jesus is so upset? Zeal for His own home has consumed Him and He will do whatever it takes to restore His house to it’s former glory.  

Now let me give you an even more radical take. Jesus doesn’t just assert His authority over His house, He asserts it over all of creation with the fig tree. Not only that but He tells His disciples that if they have faith and embrace the Kingdom life, they will be able to operate with His authority in the world. They will be able to do to the fig tree what Jesus did! Why? They are no longer tenants in God’s Kingdom but sons and daughters! In a sense, we’ve been given an “ownership” stake in all of creation and God expects us to exercise dominion and authority and responsibility in His name and for His glory.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 23-24, Psalms 92

Forgiveness

Readings for today: Matthew 17-18, Psalms 89

It’s the million dollar question. I get it all the time. It gets asked in some form or fashion by lots of different people as they navigate relationships in life. How many times must I forgive? The world’s answer is clear. Not very many if any at all. The world tells us that when we are hurt, when we’ve been betrayed, when we’ve been attacked, when we are disappointed or let down to cut that person out of our lives. We are to end the relationship. It could be with an organization. It could be with a church. It could be a friendship. It could be a marriage. Forgiveness is not something we should offer that other party unless they earn it. We withhold forgiveness until they confess their sin against us and work hard to regain our trust. We demand restitution and reparation and only then will we consider extending the grace of forgiveness. Where has that gotten us as a society? Not very far. Relationships are broken and fractured in all sorts of ways. People feel more isolated than ever. Marriages don’t last very long. Families break up as kids split their time between households. Churches and other organizations are weakened as people leave at the first sign of disappointment.

Jesus offers us a different way. A much harder and more difficult way to be sure but one that promises so much more in terms of relational benefit. The way of Jesus recognizes that every single human being is a sinner. Every single human being is broken. Every single human being is imperfect and therefore prone to anger and impatience and vulnerable to hurt and disappointment. However, rather than encouraging people to cut and run, Jesus challenges us to remain connected through forgiveness. How many times must we forgive? This was the question the Apostle Peter asked him along the way. Probably because he was struggling to forgive his fellow disciples! Jesus response is legendary. Seventy times seven. In other words, as often as it takes. Why? Because that’s what God does for us.

So what is forgiveness? Is it the resolution of every feeling? Is it the end of all conflict? Does it give the other person a pass? Does it mean the person will never again sin against you? Is it fundamentally unjust? Does it mean we have to forget what they’ve done or pretend it didn’t happen? Not at all. Forgiveness is honest. It acknowledges the depth of the hurt. Forgiveness is courageous. It never forgets but is a conscious decision not to hold the hurt against the person. Forgiveness is just. It never denies the pain. Most of all, forgiveness sets us free. We are no longer bound by our hurt. No longer held back by our pain. No longer locked a cycle of bitterness or anger or frustration. And this is why Jesus calls His followers to forgive freely and often and as many times as it takes. He wants us to live in freedom. No longer held back by what’s happened in the past. No longer paralyzed by fear of what might happen in the future. This is what makes forgiveness so powerful.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 19-20, Psalms 90 (No devotionals on Sundays)

The Fickle Nature of the Human Heart

Readings for today: Matthew 15-16, Psalms 88

In his book, The Righteous Mind, author Jonathan Haidt argues persuasively that human beings are not rational creatures but instead are driven by emotion and desire. He compares the head/heart relationship to that of a human rider on a large elephant. The brain relates to our heart much like a rider relates to the elephant. Yes, there are times when it seems like the rider is in control. He or she guides the elephant one way or another using reins or perhaps a stick of some kind. But if the elephant decides to go their own way, the rider has little choice but to hang on. The same is true for the brain’s relationship to the heart. Yes, there are plenty of time when it seems like the brain is guiding the decision-making process using rationality and logic. But if the heart decides to go its own way, the brain has very little power to get it to change direction. Perhaps this is why Jesus warns us about the folly of “following our hearts.”

You and I hear it all the time. We are inundated with the same messages day after day. Do what feels good. Do what feels right. Be true to yourself. These platitudes sound so promising until one actually decides to act on them. If one chooses to follow one’s heart, one quickly ends up in a ditch. Why? Our hearts are broken. Our hearts are corrupt. Our hearts are filled with all kinds of evil thoughts and intentions. Evil? Really? Perhaps you think “evil” is too strong of a word. Okay. Try selfish. I think most of us would agree that our natural way of operating is to take care of ourselves first. Make sure our own needs get met first. Fulfill our own desires before we give or serve others. Our culture reinforces this idea. Put yourself first. Take care of yourself. You deserve a break. Make yourself the first priority. Unfortunately, the American church too often uncritically blesses this mindset. I love what a Korean pastor, Jay Kim, recently wrote, “The uniquely American emphasis of the gospel is seeing faith as a means to personal benefit, rather than a sacrificing of personal benefits for eternal rewards.”

Jesus is clear. We are not the center of the universe. Our hearts are not pure. Our hands are not clean. Our desires are oriented inward rather than outward and result in a defilement that affects the whole person. This is why behavior management is no substitute for the gospel. We cannot work from the outside in. We must work from the inside out. Our hearts have to be regenerated by the Holy Spirit. Renewed and restored by the indwelling presence of God Himself. Only then will our lives begin to reflect His true glory. The reality is too many Christians are working far too hard at cleaning the outside of the cup. Making sure they live morally upright lives. They major in the minors. And it ends up crippling our witness. Christ wants our hearts. He will not settle for less. It doesn’t matter if you are a Pharisee, a disciple, or a Syrophoenician woman. It doesn’t matter whether you are sick or well. Free or oppressed. Rich or poor. Christ wants your heart. He wants to transform you from the inside out. He wants your love and devotion far more than your outward obedience to His commands.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 17-18, Psalms 89

The Importance of Rest

Readings for today: Matthew 11-12, Psalms 86

Medical professionals all agree that healthy adults need around 7-8 hours of sleep a night. Rest is an essential part of our overall health and well-being not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Sadly, we live in a society where rest seems to be in short supply. According to recent studies by the Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, 70% of Americans reported insufficient sleep at least one night a month. 11% report insufficient sleep every night. Sleep-related problems impact some 50-70 million Americans of all ages and socio-economic classes and seem largely due to technology, anxiety, lifestyle demands, and the lack of education around the impact of sleep loss. As the “sleep debt” piles up, so do the consequences. It is estimated that our collective lack of sleep is costing us over 100 billion a year in lost productivity, medical expenses, sick leave, etc. Throw in the fear fostered by our culture and is it any wonder we see a marked rise in hate and outrage as sleep-deprived, chronically anxious people begin acting out in all sorts of ways?

Now listen to the words of Jesus. “All things have been entrusted to me by my Father. No one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son desires to reveal him. “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew‬ ‭11‬:‭27‬-‭30‬ ‭CSB‬‬)

What a difference! What a contrast! All things have been given to Jesus by His Heavenly Father. All authority in heaven and on earth has been entrusted into His hands. All things were made through Him and without Him nothing was made that has been made. Jesus reigns. He rules. He sits on heaven’s throne. As such, He is the only one with the authority to set us free from our anxiety and restlessness. He is the only one with the power to grant us a peaceful sleep. Furthermore, this is His great desire. To grant us rest. He is no tyrant. No dictator. No abusive strongman. He is a gentle and humble King who loves His people dearly. His yoke is therefore easy. His burden is therefore light. He doesn’t seek to pile on. He is not like human rulers who seek to accumulate as much control over our lives as possible. His goal for us is “soul-rest.” The kind of rest that sinks deep into your bones. The kind of rest you can only get when you truly believe someone benevolent and good and righteous and faithful sits on the throne of eternity and is watching over your life.

Human beings were made to rest. Rest one day out of every seven. It’s what we call a Sabbath. We were made to rest one-third out of every day. It’s what we call sleep. We were made to rest in an intimate relationship with God that would relieve all the pressure that comes from life in this world. It’s why Jesus tells us not to be anxious. God is in control. It’s why Jesus tells us not to worry. God is in control. It’s why Jesus tells us not to be afraid when we see all the upheaval and turmoil in the world around us. God is in control. It is the sovereignty of God that gives rest to our souls.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 13-14, Psalms 87

God Doesn’t Live in a Box

Readings for today: Matthew 9-10, Psalms 85

I love theology. I went to one of the top theological schools in the world to get my degree. I received my doctorate from another top school. I continue to study theology for a living. I am passionate about the subject. Right theology is critically important because what we think about God matters. It matters here on earth as well as in eternity. Wrong theology can be abusive and terrorizing. Right theology can be incredibly freeing and life-giving. And of course, there’s a whole spectrum in between. And that’s why I’ve taken theological stands over the years that placed me at odds at times with the prevailing authorities in the denominations I’ve served.

In today’s reading we see what happens when theology gets in the way. When theological principle becomes more important than ministering to the needs of people. We see what happens when we desire to be right over the desire to be merciful. Jesus is attacked by the scribes for claiming to forgive sins. He is attacked by the Pharisees because of the company he kept. He is even questioned by the disciples of John the Baptist over a lack of fasting. The final insult comes when he is accused of casting out demons by the power of the devil himself. What did Jesus do to merit such treatment? He healed a paralytic. He ate a meal with a tax collector and his friends. He healed a woman with a serious medical issue and raised the dead. Finally, he cast out a demon from a demon-possessed man. One would think the scribes and Pharisees and other religious leaders of his day would rejoice over what Jesus was doing. His miracles were signs of the inbreaking power of the Kingdom of God. But their theology got in the way. They had used their knowledge of the Law and the Prophets to put God in a box and they expected Him to stay there. But God cannot be controlled. He is untamable. He is not safe. He continually breaks through the boundaries we set for Him through our limited understanding which is why we should always approach Him with deep humility.

Sadly, the spirit of Pharisaism is alive and well today. I have seen it and experienced it on any number of occasions. I have been accused over the years of any number of things simply because I don’t believe God can be limited to any human theological “system.” Now don’t get me wrong. I absolutely believe God will never contradict His Word but the Bible is not a systematic theology textbook. The God who reveals Himself through Jesus Christ and in the pages of the different books that make up the Old and New Testament is a wild God who proves over and over again that He simply will not allow us to fence Him in. It’s why Jesus’ words today are so important, “Go and learn what this means: I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” If only we could learn how to embrace God’s love as well as God’s law! He would take us to places we’ve never dreamed and do things through us we never thought possible.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 11-12, Psalms 86

John the Baptist

Readings for today: Matthew 3-4, Psalms 82

John the Baptist is one of the most fascinating figures in all the Bible. He is Elijah reborn. The one whom Malachi prophesied would prefigure the coming of the Messiah. He is the messenger. The final Old Testament prophet. Like the prophets of old, he lives an ascetic lifestyle. He dwells in the desert. Survives on locusts and wild honey. Wears clothing made from wild camel hide. From birth, he was set apart as a Nazarite which meant no wine touched his lips nor would he cut his hair. He was filled with the Holy Spirit and he was sent to prepare the way for the coming of the Lord. 

John preached a message of repentance. In keeping with his prophetic forebears, he pulled no punches. He showed no fear. In the face of political and religious opposition, he spoke the truth. He called out the Pharisees for their hypocrisy. He called out the immoral behavior of Herod the tetrarch. He called out the sins of the people as they came to be baptized. He called them to obedience. Called them to surrender. To sacrifice. To devote their lives to Yahweh. And revival began sweeping the region. 

God called John to serve a very special purpose. Though it meant prison. Though it would eventually cost him his life. John was called to prepare the way for Jesus. To make His path straight. To lift up every valley. To tear down every mountain. To straighten out the crooked and smooth the rough edges. He was called to lay the groundwork for the ministry of the Messiah so that all people might see the salvation of God. His calling was not to fame. Fortune. Safety. Security. Comfort. Peace. As soon as his ministry gets rolling, he hands it off. As soon as he is becoming popular, Jesus shows up on the scene. As soon as he really starts getting traction, he steps aside.

"Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!” (John‬ ‭1:29‬) This is our calling as well. To step aside. To get out of the limelight. To do all we can to point everyone to Christ. It may not make us popular. It may not gain us fame or fortune or a good reputation. It may cost us some of our rights. Some of our freedoms. Some of us may indeed be put in prison. Some of us indeed may lose our lives. (Not necessarily here in America but certainly in many places around the world.) The calling John received from God has been given to the church. To preach the good news of the gospel to the ends of the earth. To call people to repentance before the Lord. To call people to surrender their lives to Jesus before it’s too late. Before the day of judgment comes. Before the ax is laid to the root of the tree and the wicked are cut off. We too must make straight the path for Jesus. We too must lift up every valley. Tear down every mountain. Straighten out the crooked and smooth over the rough edges. In short, we must do all we can to remove every barrier to Christ. We must ourselves get out of the way so that others will see Jesus. 

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 5-6, Psalms 83 (No devotionals on Sundays)

Prophetic Fulfillment

Readings for today: Matthew 1-2, Psalms 81

One of the things I look most forward to when I read the Bible every year is the transition between Old and New Testaments. To finish the Old Testament after months of being immersed in the history and story and struggles of God’s chosen people and then to see it fulfilled in the birth of Jesus Christ is powerful. It never gets old. It never fails to hit me. I love reading through the genealogy and reflecting on all the work it took to get from the call of Abram to the birth of Christ. I think about all the different ways God orchestrated His plan, bending their often sinful, selfish decisions to His perfect will. I think about all the times the plan of God seemingly comes under threat only to have God act miraculously and powerfully to protect the line of the Messiah. I think of the four hundred year enslavement in Egypt, the forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the victories and defeats, the corruption of the kings, the scattering and exile of the nation, and the glorious, unexpected return. As I’ve often said, there is no greater miracle than the preservation of God’s chosen people.

Matthew clearly has a deep appreciation what has come before as well. He speaks often of the fulfillment of what was spoken by the prophets. Everything from the genealogy to the miraculous conception of Jesus in the womb of his virgin mother to the birthplace of the Messiah to the flight into Egypt to the massacre of the innocents and the eventual settlement in Nazareth was all foretold. It was all planned. It was all sovereignly decreed by the Lord in advance. It’s a powerful witness that highlights the inextricable relationship between the Old and New Testaments. One cannot study the life of Jesus in a vacuum. We can’t pretend He came on the scene out of nowhere. As confusing and challenging as it is at times to read, we simply cannot jettison the Old Testament because it shapes the world and cultural context into which Jesus was born. He was a Jew. Born to Jewish parents. Circumcised on the eighth day. Raised among God’s covenant people. Taught the Torah and the histories and the words of the prophets from a very young age. The Old Testament was Jesus’ Bible and He Himself is the fulfillment of all the Law and Prophets.

So as we make the turn into more familiar, more comfortable territory, I want to encourage to take time to thank God for all that you have read so far this year. Thank God for the Law and the Prophets. Thank God for the history of His people. Thank God for the men and women who came before us and came before Jesus who were used by God to further His great salvation plan. Thank God for the Jewish people and how God continues to use them to further His purposes in the world. Most of all, pray for our Jewish friends to recognize their Messiah and come to saving faith in Jesus Christ.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 3-4, Psalms 82

What’s Your Response to Jesus?

Readings for today: Matthew 2, Luke 2:39-52

Jesus evokes the strongest reactions. Wise men from the east. Probably pagan astrologers who watched the skies over Babylon. Men who possibly had been raised on the stories of their fabled Jewish forebears, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, come to Israel following a star. The heavenly sign was so compelling they traveled who knows how many miles over how many weeks to worship and offer gifts to a newborn king.  

Jesus evokes the strongest reactions. The king of Israel. Descendent of Esau through his father who had converted, Herod was raised a Jew. However, he was not of the Davidic line and therefore was considered a pretender at best to the throne. Furthermore, he reigned at the whim of Caesar, his first allegiance being to the Roman Empire rather than Yahweh. He received the news the wise men brought and was troubled. The news of a new king being born would be a threat to his own power. So he marshals his forces and lays waste to the entire region surrounding Bethlehem, killing all the male children under two years of age. 

Jesus evokes the strongest reactions. Joseph and Mary are traveling home from their annual trek to Jerusalem. After they make camp for the night, they realize Jesus is not with them. He has remained behind. So back they go frantic in their search for their now 12 year old son. For three days, they searched high and low throughout the city only to find him in the Temple, sitting among the teachers, listening and asking questions. “Why have you treated us like this?” Why disrespect us? Why not obey us? Why did you not come when it was time to go? Their anger and frustration is palpable. And Jesus humbles himself and returns with them to Nazareth. 

Jesus evokes the strongest reactions. The Heavenly Father looks down on His Son. Sees him in danger and sends an angel to warn his parents. Sees him at the Temple listening and learning from the teachers of the Law. Sees him as he grows up under the love and guidance of Joseph and Mary. The Father sees it all and grants the Son favor. Blessing. Wisdom. Strength. Preparing him for the day when he would launch his ministry. Laying the groundwork for what’s to come. 

What’s your reaction to Jesus? How do you receive Him? Is it with a glad heart? Do you feel yourself compelled to seek Him and grow a relationship with Him like the wise men? Is it fear? Do you, like Herod, respond in fear and anxiety to the idea that Jesus would be your Lord and Savior? Is it frustration? Like Joseph and Mary, does Jesus sometimes confound your expectations? Or do you respond with love and devotion? Is Jesus finding greater “favor” with you with each passing year? 

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 3, Mark 1:1-11, Luke 3, John 1:15-34

God’s Call

Readings for today: Matthew 1, Luke 1:1-2:38

There’s a church in Israel built over the top of Zechariah’s home. It’s in the hill country of Judah. It commemorates the place where Mary and Elizabeth met after receiving the incredible news that their two boys would change the world. I love the statue pictured above. It’s a beautiful depiction of both women, both pregnant, marveling at all God had done for them. They were the most unlikely participants in God’s divine drama. One woman, Elizabeth, barren and advanced in years past the point of ever getting pregnant. Another woman, Mary, still very much a teenager, unmarried, and a virgin. Both women receive an angelic visitation from Gabriel who “stands in the presence of God” and is sent to deliver the good news of John and Jesus’ births. Both women are overshadowed by the Holy Spirit as their wombs are blessed with the miracle of new life.

And what a life they were given! Their boys would be great before the Lord. One would be filled with the Holy Spirit from conception. His call would be to turn the hearts of the children of Israel back to God. He would preach in the spirit and power of Elijah and he would prepare the way for his cousin who would be called “Son of the Most High.” The other child would be conceived by the Holy Spirit and would be given the throne of David in order to reign over the house of Jacob forever. He would be called holy and the Son of God. The first of these two boys would be named John. The second would be named Jesus. One can only imagine the conversations Elizabeth and Mary had during the three months Mary stayed with them.

It’s tempting to read these stories and believe that these women were somehow different than us. More holy. More righteous. More special in some way. Nothing could be further from the truth. God simply chose them to play a particular role in His great salvation plan. You and I have been called to play particular roles as well. Roles only we can play. Roles specifically suited for our unique mix of personality, passion, and ability. Yes, we may not receive angelic visitations but the call of God comes to us just the same. It comes through His Word and in prayer. It comes to us through our brothers and sisters in Christ. It comes to us as we survey the great needs of the world around us. And those whom God calls, God equips. Those whom God calls, He qualifies. He sends His Holy Spirit to “overshadow” all the work we do in His name. Friends, if you trust in Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, you have been called and invited to play a vital role in God’s salvation plan! God wants to use YOU to help bring about His Kingdom on this earth! Seek His wisdom so you may know not only what your role may be but how best to fulfill that role in your life.

Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 2, Luke 2:39-52