Burunche’s Blog

Luke 24:1-12 Jesus Has Risen

“On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’” Then they remembered his words.

When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened.”

John 20:1-18 “Early on the first day of the week, while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been removed from the entrance. So she came running to Simon Peter and the other disciple, the one Jesus loved, and said, “They have taken the Lord out of the tomb, and we don’t know where they have put him!”

So Peter and the other disciple started for the tomb. Both were running, but the other disciple outran Peter and reached the tomb first. He bent over and looked in at the strips of linen lying there but did not go in. Then Simon Peter came along behind him and went straight into the tomb. He saw the strips of linen lying there, as well as the cloth that had been wrapped around Jesus’ head. The cloth was still lying in its place, separate from the linen. Finally the other disciple, who had reached the tomb first, also went inside. He saw and believed. (They still did not understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead.) Then the disciples went back to where they were staying.

Jesus Appears to Mary Magdalene

“Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.

They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”

“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.” At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.

He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”

Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”

Jesus said to her, “Mary.”

She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).

Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’”

Mary Magdalene went to the disciples with the news: “I have seen the Lord!” And she told them that he had said these things to her.”

Matthew 28:1-10 Jesus Has Risen “After the Sabbath, at dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary went to look at the tomb. There was a violent earthquake, for an angel of the Lord came down from heaven and, going to the tomb, rolled back the stone and sat on it. His appearance was like lightning, and his clothes were white as snow. The guards were so afraid of him that they shook and became like dead men.

The angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid, for I know that you are looking for Jesus, who was crucified. He is not here; he has risen, just as he said. Come and see the place where he lay. Then go quickly and tell his disciples: ‘He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.’ Now I have told you.”

So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples. Suddenly Jesus met them. “Greetings,” he said. They came to him, clasped his feet and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, “Do not be afraid. Go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me.”

Matthew 28:11-15 The Guards’ Report

“While the women were on their way, some of the guards went into the city and reported to the chief priests everything that had happened. When the chief priests had met with the elders and devised a plan, they gave the soldiers a large sum of money, telling them, “You are to say, ‘His disciples came during the night and stole him away while we were asleep.’ If this report gets to the governor, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble.” So the soldiers took the money and did as they were instructed. And this story has been widely circulated among the Jews to this very day.”

We have differing descriptions of that first Easter morning because of the varying testimony of several witnesses. Luke gets much of his information from Peter, who doesn’t mention John at all, let alone John outrunning him on the way to the tomb. John describes Jesus speaking with Mary Magdalene.

No matter who tells the story, it’s evident that Jesus has risen from the dead and that the tomb is empty, apart from the linen wrappings he has left behind. The Roman soldiers who have been guarding the tomb have run off, in fear of their lives. These men have a great deal to fear, for soldiers falling asleep during guard duty may be put to death. At the same time, who wants to stay around when huge angels show up, causing earthquakes to roll away the stone from the tomb. Jesus has already risen from the dead; however, removing the stone helps his followers believe that he is truly resurrected. And the angel is big enough to sit on the stone, a stone that is probably seven or eight feet in circumference.

Huge numbers of books, songs, poems, etc., have been written about Easter. The basic message is simple: Jesus, the Son of Man, is also the Son of God, the Messiah. In going through with the mock trial and death by crucifixion, Jesus has paid a blood debt for the sins of the whole world. But we must agree that we are sinners who need a Savior; it’s not enough to merely listen to pretty poems or songs. An old Gospel song says, “I’m tired of being stirred but not being changed.” If we are only stirred by the events of Easter but not changed, Easter is meaningless for us, just an excuse to eat a lot of chocolate and jelly beans.

Let’s pray.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, please let Easter dawn in the hearts of all who read these words. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.  

John 19:38-42 The Burial of Jesus

“Later, Joseph of Arimathea asked Pilate for the body of Jesus. Now Joseph was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly because he feared the Jewish leaders. With Pilate’s permission, he came and took the body away. He was accompanied by Nicodemus, the man who earlier had visited Jesus at night. Nicodemus brought a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds. Taking Jesus’ body, the two of them wrapped it, with the spices, in strips of linen. This was in accordance with Jewish burial customs. At the place where Jesus was crucified, there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb, in which no one had ever been laid. Because it was the Jewish day of Preparation and since the tomb was nearby, they laid Jesus there.”

Matthew 27:62-66 The Guard at the Tomb

“The next day, the one after Preparation Day, the chief priests and the Pharisees went to Pilate. “Sir,” they said, “we remember that while he was still alive that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise again.’ So give the order for the tomb to be made secure until the third day. Otherwise, his disciples may come and steal the body and tell the people that he has been raised from the dead. This last deception will be worse than the first.”

“Take a guard,” Pilate answered. “Go, make the tomb as secure as you know how.” So they went and made the tomb secure by putting a seal on the stone and posting the guard.”

It’s Saturday. Jesus has been crucified and his body laid in a tomb belonging to Joseph of Arimathea. Nicodemus and Joseph have wrapped Jesus’ body in spices and strips of linen, doing everything they can before sunset on that fateful day. While all Jesus’ followers are grieving, the chief priests and Pharisees go to Pilate, requesting a Roman guard for the tomb and an official Roman seal. That should fix those pesky individuals who have believed in this upstart Galilean carpenter!

Meanwhile, the disciples have quietly gathered someplace, perhaps in the upper room where they shared the Passover meal with Jesus. Everybody is stunned, with nothing to say. Sure, Jesus made all those statements comparing himself to Jonah, but how can they possibly believe now that they have watched Jesus die? All the celebrations of Passover have lost their appeal, and everyone sits there quietly grieving. Some of the women go to the tomb and return reporting that authorities have posted Roman soldiers and have put a seal on the rock blocking the entrance to the tomb. Things look about as bleak as they can get.

Perhaps you can relate to those disciples on Holy Saturday. You thought your life was working well, but circumstances beyond your control have turned everything into a disaster. Your hopes and dreams have been dashed to the ground, and you scarcely have the energy to pray. These days, your prayers are mostly of the “God, help!” variety. Now the obstacles to God fulfilling His perfect Will in your life appear as huge and as permanent as that stone that blocked the tomb entrance, the one with the Roman seal on it. You don’t need Roman soldiers guarding a tomb, for you have people whom you have trusted who have betrayed you and who are adamantly persisting in their misconduct. You thought you were doing God’s will and fulfilling His purpose for your life, but now you just want a way of escape.

I’ve been there. I know exactly how you feel. Repeatedly, we have endured crises that threaten decades of devoted work. Things look bleak. At times, it’s tempting to ask God why he brought us to our current location if our best efforts are to be thwarted.

As part of my daily devotional reading, I am re-reading the Book of Job. God allows Job to endure the loss of family, wealth, and health. Job’s wife even encourages him to curse God and die. But throughout all that suffering, Job endures. Eventually, Job realizes that God is far greater than he is and that God’s ways are not to be traced. Once Job reaches that point, God restores everything Job has lost, even multiplying it.

Take heart! On Easter Sunday, Jesus’ followers will find themselves ecstatically rejoicing over his resurrection. God is the God of the impossible, and he can also resurrect anything in your life that deserves renewal. God can even give you something better than whatever you have lost. God specializes in resurrections, and He can renew, restore, resurrect, and deliver!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us are in despair. Our hopes and dreams have been crushed and all we have left is a tomb with a dead body. But You are the Lord, the God of heaven and earth, and nothing is impossible for You. Please help us to hold on and trust until we see Your excellent provision. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

John 19:1-4 The Soldiers Mock Jesus “So then Pilate took Jesus and scourged Him. And the soldiers twisted a crown of thorns and put it on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe. Then they said, “Hail, King of the Jews!” And they struck Him with their hands.

Pilate then went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him.”

John 19:5-16 Pilate’s Decision “Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, “Behold the Man!”

Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, “Crucify Him, crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him.”

The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God.”

Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, “Where are You from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

Then Pilate said to Him, “Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?”

Jesus answered, “You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore, the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin.”

From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar’s friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.”

When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, “Behold your King!”

But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!”

Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?”

The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”

Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus [d]and led Him away.

John 19:17-24 The King on a Cross  And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was: JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin.

Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, “Do not write, ‘The King of the Jews,’ but, ‘He said, “I am the King of the Jews.” ’ ”

Pilate answered, “What I have written, I have written.”

Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. They said therefore among themselves, “Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be,” that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

“They divided My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots.” Therefore the soldiers did these things.

John 19:25-27 Behold Your Mother “Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, “Woman, behold your son!” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold your mother!” And from that hour that disciple took her to his own home.”

John 19:28-30 It Is Finished “After this, Jesus, knowing that all things were now accomplished, that the Scripture might be fulfilled, said, “I thirst!” Now a vessel full of sour wine was sitting there; and they filled a sponge with sour wine, put it on hyssop, and put it to His mouth. So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.”

John 19:31-37 Jesus’ Side Is Pierced “Therefore, because it was the Preparation Day, that the bodies should not remain on the cross on the Sabbath (for that Sabbath was a high day), the Jews asked Pilate that their legs might be broken, and that they might be taken away. Then the soldiers came and broke the legs of the first and of the other who was crucified with Him. But when they came to Jesus and saw that He was already dead, they did not break His legs. But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. And he who has seen has testified, and his testimony is true; and he knows that he is telling the truth, so that you may believe. For these things were done that the Scripture should be fulfilled, “Not one of His bones shall be broken.” And again another Scripture says, “They shall look on Him whom they pierced.”

John 19:38-42 Jesus Buried in Joseph’s Tomb “After this, Joseph of Arimathea, being a disciple of Jesus, but secretly, for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus; and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took the body of Jesus. And Nicodemus, who at first came to Jesus by night, also came, bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about a hundred pounds. Then they took the body of Jesus, and bound it in strips of linen with the spices, as the custom of the Jews is to bury. Now in the place where He was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. So there they laid Jesus, because of the Jews’ Preparation Day, for the tomb was nearby.”

It’s impossible to beat a first-hand account of Jesus’ trial and crucifixion. Of all the disciples, John was the only one who never ran away and who followed Jesus throughout his trials, his crucifixion, and even his burial. John was the one to whom Jesus entrusted the care of his mother Mary.

There are other accounts of the events of that Friday. When Jesus cried, “It is finished!” and died, the huge veil that divided the Holy of Holies from the rest of the temple was torn from top to bottom, as if God the Father Himself was tearing away the barrier between God and men. As Jesus was dying, there was darkness and an earthquake, and many of God’s faithful who had died came to life and walked throughout Jerusalem. Even if God the Father was allowing his Son to die, He was already demonstrating His authority over death and life.

Why do we call the day of Jesus’ death “Good Friday?” On that day, Jesus died for the sins of the entire world, a sinless man dying for our sins. This sacrifice was the ultimate blood sacrifice, obliterating the need for continuing to sacrifice lambs as the Passover instructions required. Jesus’ entire ministry was focused on his eventual death and resurrection. Now we call this day “Good” because Jesus did what none of us could do, die for the sins of others. We all are sinners in need of a Savior. On Good Friday, our Savior, Jesus Christ, died to deliver all of us from our sins. Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, no words are sufficient to praise You for what Jesus has done for us. We can only thank You and promise to live for You. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 22:1-13 The Plot to Kill Jesus

“Now the Feast of Unleavened Bread drew near, which is called Passover. And the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might kill Him, for they feared the people.

Then Satan entered Judas, surnamed Iscariot, who was numbered among the twelve. So he went his way and conferred with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray Him to them. And they were glad, and agreed to give him money. So he promised and sought opportunity to betray Him to them in the absence of the multitude.

Jesus and His Disciples Prepare the Passover

Then came the Day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover must be killed. And He sent Peter and John, saying, “Go and prepare the Passover for us, that we may eat.”

So they said to Him, “Where do You want us to prepare?”

And He said to them, “Behold, when you have entered the city, a man will meet you carrying a pitcher of water; follow him into the house which he enters. Then you shall say to the master of the house, ‘The Teacher says to you, “Where is the guest room where I may eat the Passover with My disciples?”’ Then he will show you a large, furnished upper room; there make ready.”

So they went and found it just as He had said to them, and they prepared the Passover.”

The scribes and Pharisees have a major problem: they fear the crowds who have hailed Jesus as Messiah only a few days earlier. How can Jesus be apprehended “in the absence of the multitude?” The appearance of Judas Iscariot is an incredible gift to these terrible men. Why is Judas choosing to betray Jesus? Judas has gotten exactly the same treatment as all the other disciples, even though he has been raiding the poor box and hiding the money for himself. Only in eternity will we know the real answer to that question; meanwhile, it’s enough to know that there are two sets of preparations going on here. Judas is preparing to betray Jesus and Jesus and the disciples are preparing to celebrate Passover.

Jesus’ instructions to his disciples are fascinating, for most men refuse to carry water, feeling that is work for women and children. Many have postulated that the man carrying the water is a member of the Essene sect, where John the Baptist may have spent time, and that the landlord of the house is sympathetic to the Essenes and to Jesus. By now, the disciples are likely well-known in Jerusalem; at any rate, when they tell the landlord they need the guest room so the Teacher can celebrate Passover with his disciples, the landlord complies immediately. This situation is very similar to the response of the donkey owner on Palm Sunday.

The disciples are really clueless as they simply anticipate a nice Passover celebration with Jesus. Do the disciples know what Jesus is facing? Not at all. Are the disciples deliberately ignoring the hostility of the religious authorities? Possibly. But how many of us would love to ignore a deteriorating situation?

John 13 tells us about that last night Jesus shared with his disciples. “Now before the Feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world to the Father, having loved His own who were in the world, He loved them to the end. And supper being ended, the devil having already put it into the heart of Judas Iscariot, Simon’s son, to betray Him, Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into His hands, and that He had come from God and was going to God, rose from supper and laid aside His garments, took a towel and girded Himself. After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded. Then He came to Simon Peter. And Peter said to Him, “Lord, are You washing my feet?”

Jesus answered and said to him, “What I am doing you do not understand now, but you will know after this.”

Peter said to Him, “You shall never wash my feet!”

Jesus answered him, “If I do not wash you, you have no part with Me.”

Simon Peter said to Him, “Lord, not my feet only, but also my hands and my head!”

Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.” For He knew who would betray Him; therefore He said, “You are not all clean.”

So when He had washed their feet, taken His garments, and sat down again, He said to them, “Do you know what I have done to you? You call Me Teacher and Lord, and you say well, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you. Most assuredly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.”

The last night Jesus spends with his disciples, he serves all of them, including Judas. Does Jesus know that Judas is betraying him? Certainly. But Jesus is giving Judas one last chance to repent. Sadly, Judas leaves part-way through the meal, missing the wonderful teaching Jesus gives the rest of the disciples. But Judas has already rejected Jesus, and he doesn’t want anything to dissuade him. If Judas stays, he might repent betraying Jesus.

What about us? Sure, we’re willing to be kind to those whom we love, but how do we treat those who betray us? Jesus washed Judas’ feet; are we prepared to do something similar? Years ago, one of our nurses led a strike that embarrassed the hospital and cost it much-needed support. At that point, I had a choice that was really no choice. As a Jesus follower, I had only one option-I had to treat this man with love and compassion. I have never regretted that decision.

May God help us so that we will minister to all those around us, not merely to those who are easy to love.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to minister to all those around us as You do, blessing the just and the unjust, caring for those who hate us as well as though who love us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 21:1-4 The Poor Widow’s Offering (Mark 12:41–44)

“Then Jesus looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, and He saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” He said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. For they all contributed out of their surplus, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.”

Luke 21:29-33 The Lesson of the Fig Tree (Matthew 24:32–35; Mark 13:28–31)

“Then Jesus told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. So also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.”

Luke 21: 34-38 Be Watchful for the Day

“But watch yourselves, or your hearts will be weighed down by dissipation, drunkenness, and the worries of life—and that day will spring upon you suddenly like a snare. For it will come upon all who dwell on the face of all the earth. So keep watch at all times, and pray that you may have the strength to escape all that is about to happen and to stand before the Son of Man.”

Every day Jesus taught at the temple, but every evening He went out to spend the night on the Mount of Olives. And early in the morning all the people would come to hear Him at the temple.”

Jesus is winding up his ministry. Jesus has fulfilled the prophecy in Zachariah 9:9-13 by entering Jerusalem to the adulation of the crowds on an untrained donkey colt. On approaching Jerusalem, Jesus weeps because he knows that its inhabitants have no idea who he is, nor will some of them know until he returns as a conquering King. As soon as Jesus reaches the temple, he drives out those selling sacrificial animals and birds and those changing money into the temple script. As Jesus is ousting these cheats, he quotes the Scripture: “It is written, “My house shall be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers!”

Now Jesus is in the temple, teaching the disciples as much as possible, knowing his time to teach is almost gone. During these teachings, Jesus predicts the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans. Behind Jesus, inside the temple, his disciples can hear rich people coming forward to make generous donations, sounding trumpets as they do so to gain the maximum amount of public acclaim. But after the rich people have gone, one humble little lady creeps to the offering box and quietly drops in two small coins, the smallest denomination possible. As the Son of God, Jesus knows this woman and points her out to the disciples, explaining that she has made a more significant contribution than all those rich show-offs. The rich people may have given liberally, but they have plenty of wealth left. This little lady has gladly given God everything she possesses. Jesus wants his disciples to take note, for soon they too will be called on to give everything they have, including their lives.

Jesus continues to warn his disciples to be watchful, using fig trees as an illustration. Fig trees bear leaves and fruit at the same time, and the fruiting of the fig trees heralds the beginning of summer. In the same manner, Jesus says, the Kingdom of God will manifest itself so unmistakably that nobody can doubt its arrival. Jesus warns the disciples to be careful to focus on the Kingdom of God and not to become ensnared in earthly problems.

The disciples probably are listening but not really comprehending how urgently Jesus wants them to understand these truths. After all, Jesus has just entered Jerusalem to shouting and singing crowds. Surely, the religious authorities will be afraid to do anything to him. No, this Passover should be a lovely peaceful one, and the disciples are looking forward to celebrating the festival. Jesus is the only one who realizes what is about to happen to him.

Today is the Wednesday of Easter week, the day before Maundy Thursday and the horrors of Good Friday. Throughout Lent, we have been looking at some of Jesus’ teachings from the Book of Luke, realizing that throughout his ministry, Jesus was always preparing his followers for his death and resurrection.

What might we learn from the story of this humble lady recklessly casting everything she owns into the offering chest out of love for God? How much does our faith cost us? Is a faith that costs nothing really faith or a social convention?

Are we looking for the appearing of the Kingdom of God, or are we allowing our problems to overwhelm us? In a few days, we will celebrate the joys of Easter, but for now, we need to ask ourselves these questions. The magnificent thing for those of us who live this side of Calvary is that we KNOW that Jesus will be resurrected and that the Kingdom of God continues to be with us. But let’s remember that widow lady and her two copper coins. How much are we willing to risk for the sake of Christ and the Kingdom of God? We need to decide because those fig trees are beginning to put out leaves. The Kingdom of God is here; are we entering into it fully?

May God help us, so that we will joyfully give whatever He asks, knowing that He has already given us so much more!

PRAYER:  Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to sacrifice whatever You ask, knowing that You only want the very best for us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 12:49-53 Christ Brings Division

“I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled! But I have a baptism to be baptized with, and how distressed I am till it is accomplished! Do you suppose that I came to give peace on earth? I tell you, not at all, but rather division. For from now on five in one house will be divided: three against two, and two against three. Father will be divided against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

First, Jesus predicts his upcoming death as a form of baptism. We under-value baptism if we fail to realize that the act of baptism is a re-enactment of Jesus’ death and resurrection. While many denominations practice infant baptism as a form of dedicating the infants to Jesus, there is something particularly significant about adult baptism. Adults should understand what they are doing and why they are doing it. Sometimes, adult baptism is also employed as a form of re-dedication. Although I had been baptized as an infant, later when joining a church that practiced adult baptism, I went through the ritual and found it very meaningful. On two separate occasions my husband and I have undergone baptism while prayer warrior friends have laid hands on us, re-dedicating us for new work. In both those cases, the friends approached us, feeling led to do so by God.

Jesus knows that his baptism is going to be a baptism of spiritual fire. It is from these verses that we derive the expression of “baptism by fire” to indicate the experience someone undergoes when taking on a new position that proves to be incredibly difficult.

Jesus continues to warn the disciples what they will face so that when he is no longer present, they will not falter. Make no mistake! Even in Jesus’ lifetime, following him is a costly decision. Jesus has already angered the ruling Jewish religious authorities, and if the Romans choose to do so, they can wipe out all the disciples by crucifixion. Even though Judas thinks he’s cleverly hiding his betrayal of Jesus, his fellow disciples sense that something is terribly wrong. But here Jesus is warning about something even more painful than treachery by a colleague.

In Jesus’ role as prophet, he is foretelling a time when entire families will split over his teachings, with some family members holding fast while others violently oppose them. Ever since Christianity has come into existence, this prediction has come true. Even today, former Muslims, Buddhists, and Hindus who accept Christ may live in danger of being killed by their own family members as heretics. The very relationships most of us hold dear may lead to our deaths if family members oppose us.

If following Jesus can lead to such horrible results, why would anyone choose to do so? Jesus himself gave the answer when counseling his disciples. “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No man comes to the Father, except by me.” (John 14:6) When we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord, he changes our hearts and the Holy Spirit begins to work in us. Galatians 5:19-23 tells us “The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.”

Who among us wants to suffer? Who among us wants any of the horrors described to characterize their lives? Once you have experienced the love, the joy, and the peace of knowing Jesus, you are willing to sacrifice.

There is a video, a one-man show, in which a skilled actor portrays the disciple John as an old man on the Island of Patmos, describing his visions that he records in the  Book of Revelation. One of the most touching scenes comes near the end of the video. Obviously, John has been witnessing to the Roman commander, who has hitherto ignored all his efforts. But as the video is ending, the commander summons John to his office, and the video closes with John beginning to tell the commander about Jesus.

Tradition tells us that John was not martyred, nor did he die on Patmos. John likely died in Ephesus as a very old man. But the other disciples all will die as martyrs. Here is the list:

1. Saint Peter
   Crucified upside down in Rome. His remains were buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican.
2. Saint James the Greater
   Beheaded. His remains were buried in St. James Church, Compostela, Spain.
3. Saint James the Less
   Stoned and beaten to death. His remains are buried in the Holy Apostles Basilica, Rome, Italy.
4. Saint Jude Thaddeus
   Beaten to death with clubs and hacked with an axe. His remains were buried in St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican.
5. Saint Philip
   Crucified by soldiers. His remains are buried in the Church of the Dodici, Rome, Italy.
6. Saint Thomas
   By blows of spears. His remains were buried in St. Thomas Cathedral, Mylapore, India.
7. Saint Simon
   Stabbed with a sword. His remains are buried at the Altar of Crucifixion, Vatican.
8. Saint Bartholomew
   Crucified. His remains were buried in St. Bartholomew Church, Rome, Italy.
9. Saint Andrew
   Nailed to an “X” shaped Cross. His remains are interred in the Cathedral of Amalfi, Italy.
10. Saint Matthew
    Crucified. His remains were buried in St. Matthew Cathedral, Messina, Sicily.
11. Saint John
    Died of natural causes. His remains were buried in St. John Basilica, Ephesus, Turkey.
12. Saint Mathias
    Crucified. St. Mathias is the replacement of Judas Iscariot who committed suicide after betraying Christ. His remains were buried in St. Mathias Abbey, Trier, Germany.

As we approach Easter, let us remember Christ’s death and resurrection and let us remember that as Jesus’ followers, we too may have to undergo baptisms by fire.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, keep us true, no matter what! In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 12:35-48 The Faithful Servant and the Evil Servant

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

Then Peter said to Him, “Lord, do You speak this parable only to us, or to all people?”

And the Lord said, “Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his master will find so doing when he comes. Truly, I say to you that he will make him ruler over all that he has. But if that servant says in his heart, ‘My master is delaying his coming,’ and begins to beat the male and female servants, and to eat and drink and be drunk, the master of that servant will come on a day when he is not looking for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in two and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. And that servant who knew his master’s will, and did not prepare himself or do according to his will, shall be beaten with many stripes. But he who did not know, yet committed things deserving of stripes, shall be beaten with few. For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

“Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning; and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master, when he will return from the wedding, that when he comes and knocks, they may open to him immediately. Blessed are those servants whom the master, when he comes, will find watching. Assuredly, I say to you that he will gird himself and have them sit down to eat, and will come and serve them. And if he should come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants.”

As Jesus’ time on earth is dwindling, he continues to warn his disciples. Today Jesus tells the story of servants waiting for their master who has gone to attend a wedding feast. Typically, these feasts last several hours, with the master returning late at night or early in the morning. The second watch is from 9-12 PM. The third watch is from 12 PM to 3 AM. Most masters expect the servants to snap to it, open the door, and take care of them. Faithful servants will have towels girded around their waists in preparation for washing the master’s feet and tending to his other needs as soon as he returns home, no matter how late the hour. But Jesus puts an extra twist on the story. Jesus is promising that if his servants are faithful, he will gird himself and serve his servants, no matter the hour.

“But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. Therefore, you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Jesus is quoting a local proverb about being watchful. Now Jesus continues.

Jesus describes an evil servant who begins misbehaving as soon as the master leaves the house, getting drunk, beating his fellow servants, and generally misconducting himself. Not only will such a servant be severely disciplined, but Jesus warns that such a servant might even be cut in two! Jesus ends by saying, “For everyone to whom much is given, from him much will be required; and to whom much has been committed, of him they will ask the more.”

Jesus knows that very soon his enemies will catch up with him. At that point, Jesus will undoubtedly die. Even though Jesus knows he will be resurrected, he can’t control the disciples but can only rely on teaching them as much as possible while he still has time and pray that they are listening and that it will be enough.

What about us? Are we ready? It’s tough to be faithful. Many of us are overwhelmed with minutiae, feeling as if we are being stoned to death with popcorn. It’s difficult to focus on God’s will when our jobs, our families, our health, our finances are all screaming for attention. As one veteran missionary was fond of saying, “I feel as if I’m a Coca-Cola and everybody has a straw.”

Recently, we learned that someone has misrepresented a situation and has proven faithless. How can we remain faithful in a faithless world? Jesus provides us the answer.

1. Servants are to be ready, no matter the time of day or night. When we are living for God and not for ourselves, even when things become difficult, we still will respond appropriately. Forty years ago, my husband and I were on our way down I-55 heading toward Memphis when we came upon a road traffic accident just after it occurred. A sedan car with five people in it had crossed the median, plowing into a motor home driven by a man who had just retired. The man was towing a small car behind the motor home. His wife was driving a pickup and towing a large boat behind it. As an EMT, my husband rushed to the car that had caused the accident in the first place. Unfortunately, everyone in that vehicle was dead. I rushed to examine the driver of the motor home. With help from the local ambulance service, I was able to speak with a surgeon at the nearest hospital, warning him that I thought the man had an injury to his small intestine from his seatbelt. (I was correct.) The ambulance transported the man, who was uninjured. I drove the pickup towing the boat, and my husband drove our vehicle to the hospital.
2. Servants must wait patiently. One of the many life lessons my husband and I have learned is that no information is ever wasted. My husband learned to bend metal while he was in junior high and high school. More than 30 years later, he was able to create a blunt curette from a chromed bicycle spoke using the brass valve stem from a large lorry tire as part of the handle so that I could remove retained products of conception and save a lady’s life. I worked in a hospital laboratory in the summer of 1969. 24 years later, I established the first laboratory at what is now the Assemblies of God Hospital, Saboba and developed a transfusion service.
3. Servants don’t get to choose the time and place of their service. It was a blistering hot summer day in New Orleans, Louisiana, and we were driving on the interstate highway that crosses the town. Suddenly, we saw an elderly African-American lady parked at the opposite side of the road, obviously in need of assistance. We had to get off at one exit and then re-enter the highway in the opposite direction to reach this lady. This incident took place in 1997, well before the time when everyone carried cell phones. We rescued this lady from her overheated vehicle, and my husband was able to drive her car while I drove ours as we took her home. We learned that this lady was a fervent Christian and that she had been praying for God to send help when we appeared. This lady’s name was Margie and she became a close friend and prayer partner.
4. Servants must serve with no thought of recompense. God keeps the books. Service that demands praise is not service but manipulation. One of the key points of Jesus’ story about the Good Samaritan is that the Samaritan never demanded anything from the man whose life he saved, nor from the inn-keeper. The Samaritan simply cared for the man, brought him to the inn, and even left money to care for the man while he continued his journey. One of the struggles we continually face as missionaries is choosing information about our efforts to share with people. We need as much help as possible, but at the same time, we are not sharing details to glorify ourselves but only to describe what God is doing. Sometimes the line between information and self-aggrandizement is a very thin one!

May God help us to be faithful in small things as well as great ones. May we remember that Jesus promised that even cups of water given in his name still count in the Kingdom of God.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, help us to follow hard after You all the days of our lives and to serve out of love for You, not looking to see how we will benefit. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 12:13-21 The Parable of the Rich Fool

“Then one from the crowd said to Him, “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.”

But He said to him, “Man, who made Me a judge or an arbitrator over you?” And He said to them, “Take heed and beware of covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses.”

Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods. And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’

“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Hoo-boy! Jesus is forever getting requests for help, and this morning’s request is a doozy! A young man pushes his way to the front of the crowd with a demand. “Teacher, tell my brother to divide the inheritance with me.” As the Son of God, Jesus probably looks at this man and knows the whole situation-the father’s death, the struggles over the inheritance, the sibling rivalry that has gone on for years. But Jesus also is wise enough to keep the main thing the main thing. If Jesus assists this man, he will be overwhelmed with others bringing similar complaints. Calvary is fast approaching and Jesus doesn’t have time to settle petty squabbles. Besides, there are already long-standing traditions regarding inheritances. There is no reason for Jesus to become embroiled in this situation.

David Guzik in his Enduring Word Commentary says this: “According to the law of the day, the elder brother received two-thirds of the inheritance and the younger brother received one-third (Barclay). This man did not ask Jesus to listen to both sides and make a righteous judgment; he asked Jesus to take sides with him against his brother.” Guzik goes on to point out that if both brothers were truly following God, the elder would be willing to share while the younger would be more interested in God’s Kingdom than in earthly riches. But obviously, this young man doesn’t see things that way, so Jesus tells one of his most memorable parables.

“So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.” Jesus wants this greedy young man to realize that being rich toward God is an eternal condition, while being rich on earth is a temporal one. Accidents, health problems, illnesses-all sorts of tragedies can hit while we’re busy gloating over riches or plotting how to get even more.

There’s a story about two men watching as a hearse bearing the body of the local millionaire passed by. One man asked the other, “How much money did that man leave?” “All of it,” the second man replied simply. We came into this world with nothing, and when we die, we will leave everything we have amassed behind. Paradoxically, the only treasures we can lay claim to are heavenly ones, and that leads to Jesus’ second story.

Luke 12:14-34 Do Not Worry

Then He said to His disciples, “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; nor about the body, what you will put on. Life is more than food, and the body is more than clothing. Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap, which have neither storehouse nor barn; and God feeds them. Of how much more value are you than the birds? And which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? If you then are not able to do the least, why [d]are you anxious for the rest? Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. If then God so clothes the grass, which today is in the field and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, how much more will He clothe you, O you of little faith?

“And do not seek what you should eat or what you should drink, nor have an anxious mind. 30 For all these things the nations of the world seek after, and your Father knows that you need these things. But seek the kingdom of God, and all these things shall be added to you.”

“Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Jesus fully realizes that even though his disciples may not have said anything, they too are concerned about the costs of living. After all, it’s the group of women following Jesus who have been helping provide for his needs as well as for the disciples. What happens if Jesus is taken away? What will they do? How will they survive? True, the disciples have left their homes and businesses, but these men are practical, and they must think of their futures…or must they? Jesus’ answer to that question is simple: “Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. Sell what you have and give alms; provide yourselves money bags which do not grow old, a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches nor moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Trust God and He will provide for you. Notice what Jesus is NOT saying. Jesus is NOT saying, “Sit down, fold your hands, and refuse to work.”

John Wesley repeatedly told his followers to “Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can.” When the quiet revolution called Methodism swept through England, former alcoholics stopped drinking and began working industriously. The Methodist movement was noted not only for its piety but also for its practicality, for these people from humble backgrounds became industrious workers, helping those around them. Rather than focusing on personal gain, these people were now magnificent benefactors, despite their humble situations.

There is a glorious old hymn penned by Paul Rader. Paul Rader was one of the foremost evangelists of the early twentieth century, pastoring and founding churches and going on radio in its infancy. Please consider these words:

1. Fear not, little flock, from the cross to the throne, From death into life He went for His own;
All power in earth, all power above, Is given to Him for the flock of His love.

Refrain:
Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe;
Only believe, only believe; All things are possible, only believe.

2. Fear not, little flock, He goeth ahead, Your Shepherd selecteth the path you must tread;
The waters of Marah He’ll sweeten for thee, He drank all the bitter in Gethsemane.

3. Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot, He enters all rooms, “the doors being shut,”
He never forsakes; He never is gone, So count on His presence in darkness and dawn.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, many of us are suffering financially and we are struggling to believe that You will provide for us. Please help us not to overlook anything You have already built into our situations, since any detail might lead to relief in our situations. We ask all this in the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 12:8-12 Confess Christ Before Men

“Also, I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.

“And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.”

“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.”

Jesus is teaching urgently. This morning, after rebuking the Pharisees for hypocrisy, their hostility is so obvious that even the very air is charged with their indignation. Make no mistake-these men are going to bring Jesus down by any means possible and they don’t care who suffers with him. Many of the religious leaders feel that if they can just eliminate Jesus, all will be well. Who knows when the Romans will also take offense and begin slaughtering Jews for no reason?

While religious leaders are fuming and scheming, Jesus is challenging his disciples. “Also, I say to you, whoever confesses Me before men, him the Son of Man also will confess before the angels of God. But he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.” At this point, the disciples are likely gazing in confusion. When the disciples began following Jesus, they were entranced by the beauty of his teaching and the purity of his personality. No sacrifice was too much for the privilege of following Jesus and being part of his inner circle. But things are becoming difficult. Now Jesus is speaking as if not only he but also the disciples are going to be on trial. The disciples have never expected anything remotely like this! And now Jesus is threatening to denounce anyone who refuses to bear faithful witness to the angels….to the angels!  

If the disciples are worried, Jesus is about to give them even more about which to worry. “And anyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but to him who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven.” “Blasphemes against the Holy Spirit?” The disciples aren’t even certain who or what the Holy Spirit truly is. Presumably, Jesus has been teaching the disciples that the Holy Spirit is the unseen presence of God, for now Jesus makes a final statement.

“Now when they bring you to the synagogues and magistrates and authorities, do not worry about how or what you should answer, or what you should say. For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” Now the disciples are really worried! Nobody wants to be hauled into the synagogues or before magistrates and authorities. These men have been willing to cast out demons and heal the sick; they have walked long distances to preach about the Kingdom of God. Nobody wants to be interrogated, but it looks as if interrogation is going to come, no matter the circumstances.

It’s too bad that nobody has recorded the rest of Jesus’ explanations. Undoubtedly, Jesus wants to encourage his men, not to discourage them. We might wish that we could hear those explanations. But even without further explanations, these verses have comforted and encouraged believers for thousands of years.

Reading these verses, I am immediately reminded of the many times in my life I have had to face unfriendly critics. As the head of two different mission hospitals, I have weathered many meetings with unfriendly local leaders and politicians. I have been accused of all kinds of misconduct, despite the fact that I have always been innocent. Each time I have needed words or composure, God has graciously given it to me. And each time I have found myself surviving and being encouraged as the Holy Spirit has given me words and courage.

Helen Roseveare was a WEC missionary doctor who served in Belgian Congo as it gained its independence and became Zaire. During the upheavals that followed, roving bands of terrorists descended on the mission hospital and school where Roseveare was working. Roseveare describes a critical situation in which these verses came true. One bright boy realizing that the terrorists would destroy everything in the school room, chose to remain and pretend to be deaf and mute. As the terrorists queried the boy, he kept his hands behind his back, repeatedly making the sign of the cross, taking courage from the Holy Spirit. Not only did the boy save the school supplies, but he also saved numbers of people who had escaped into the jungle.

Today, you might be facing a difficult situation. Perhaps you too are about to undergo interrogation by those who hope to discredit you, even though you have done nothing wrong. Take courage! The same promises Jesus gave the disciples are still available to you. God doesn’t play favorites and the Holy Spirit will help you and give you the words and the courage to face all your troubles.

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and caring for us. Lord, help us to trust You and to remember that You are the One who gives us the words and that if we bear witness of You before men, You will tell the angels about us. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.

Luke 12:1-3 Beware of Hypocrisy

“In the meantime, when an innumerable multitude of people had gathered together, so that they trampled one another, He began to say to His disciples first of all, “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known. 

Therefore, whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”

Luke 12:4-7Jesus Teaches the Fear of God

“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him! “Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

It’s another grueling day of ministry. The disciples are worried because the crowds are pressing in so tightly that those in the front are about to be trampled. And Jesus is not preaching on the shore of the Sea of Galilee; otherwise, the disciples could have gotten him-and them-into a boat and pushed off into shallow water for some relief. But Jesus doesn’t appear worried; in fact, he is calmly proceeding with his teaching.

“Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known.”  Anytime someone mentions leaven, we need to take note. Originally, leaven was used to brew beer in Egypt and the term has become a symbol for something pagan and evil. Leaven is also used to cause bread to rise, and a very small amount of leaven will result in several loaves of bread. For leaven to work properly, it must be thoroughly mixed in with the dough. This mixing means that once the leaven has been added, you can’t separate the leaven from the rest of the dough, for it spreads throughout the entire ball of bread dough.

Jesus is doing his best to instruct his disciples while he remains with them. One of the constant dangers for anybody working in religion is hypocrisy, appearing to be one thing while actually being the opposite. The scribes, Pharisees, and lawyers are perfect examples of such behavior because they are forever criticizing others with no thought to their own vicious natures. Professing to teach about a loving God, these men are merciless, issuing scathing edicts and generally making others miserable, all in the name of a God whom they don’t really know.

“Therefore, whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.” Now Jesus is warning his disciples that every action they take is already known to God and there is nothing they can hide from God. Those of us who have grown up in small towns have learned this lesson early. There are no secrets in a small town, for no matter how circumspectly you might behave, the neighbors will still notice everything and talk about it. Now Jesus is advising the disciples that an all-knowing, all-wise Heavenly Father will certainly see and hear every word we utter and everything we do, even if we try to hide from everyone. And wrong-doing will certainly become apparent, to the point that people will stand on one flat roof, shouting out gossip to the neighbors.

“And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do. But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear Him who, after He has killed, has power to cast into hell; yes, I say to you, fear Him!” God is the only Judge who has the power to cast sinners into hell; therefore, we should all fear Him. Frightening, isn’t it, to think of someone who knows everything about us and who can cast us into hell? But wait, for Jesus isn’t through.

“Are not five sparrows sold for two copper coins? And not one of them is forgotten before God. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” Here Jesus is quoting a common proverb, but turning it on its head. Jesus is reminding his audience of how cheaply sparrows are sold; yet, God knows each one of those sparrows. Now Jesus is reassuring the audience that the same God who counts the sparrows and who knows each of them will also take care of those who believe in Him. The key is to truly worship God and not to slide into hypocrisy.

One problem with hypocrisy is that it’s so easy to become a hypocrite-a little joking, a little criticism, a few snide remarks, and you too can find yourself looking down your nose at people who sin just the way you do yourself. Jesus wants his disicples to be whole-hearted followers of God, for anything less will lead to disaster. At the same time Jesus is warning that there are no secrets hidden from God, he is also encouraging his listeners that each of them is precious to God. A God who keeps track of sparrows can certainly keep track of individuals.

The title of this series is “It was always about Calvary.” That title has been given because everything that Jesus did during his time on earth was focused toward a single goal: preparing his disciples and himself for the events of Good Friday and Easter and preparing the disciples to carry on the Gospel, the Good News, after Easter. Each time Jesus teaches, he is teaching the disciples and his listeners for today, but he is also teaching them for eternity, so that when he is no longer present physically, they will still remember.

This morning, you might feel as if nobody understands your situation and nobody cares. Troubles are about to overwhelm you and you feel as if you are drowning. But I tell you now that the same God who counts the sparrows and who knows each of them also knows you and the problems you are facing. Nobody is so small that they escape God’s notice. And the same God who counts the sparrows stands waiting to listen to your problems and to help. Why not call on Him?

PRAYER: Father God, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, many of us feel completely overwhelmed! Family problems, problems at work, financial challenges, health challenges, friends who have deserted us-Lord, it all feels like too much for us to bear. But You are the One who can bear our burdens far better than we can. Father, this morning we beg you to take our burdens and help us to realize we are not alone. Give us the strength and the courage to trust You and to do the little we can, depending on You to make up for our deficiencies. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.