September 26 - Denying Jesus

Matthew 26:69-75 And again he denied it with an oath: “I do not know the man.” (Matthew 26:72 ESV)

Sometimes I stop and think about what Jesus must have felt concerning Peter and his other disciples. He knew what was going to happen to him. He knew how hey would all turn their backs on him when trouble began. Yet, still he chose them.

Have you ever denied Christ? Maybe not by what you said, but what about by what you did? Do you think Jesus knew you what you would do or say when he first chose you? I believe that he did.

The beauty of the finished work of grace that Jesus completed lies in the serene undeservedness of Christ's extended forgiveness. We do not deserve it. We could never deserve it. We will never deserve it. Our actions, attitudes, and ethics so often testify to our wretchedness. But Jesus loves us, chooses us, and saves us, even when he knows that at some point we have or will deny him.

Peter was perhaps his closest friend and denied him. Peter went on to do incredible things. We each have denied Jesus somehow sometime, but he chooses still to love us and use us to carry out his will in this life.

September 25 - If What I Said

John 18:19-24

Jesus answered him, “If what I said is wrong, bear witness about the wrong; but if what I said is right, why do you strike me?” (John 18:23 ESV)

Words carry weight. People get pretty messed up about them. The guys interrogating Jesus were really touchy when it came to words. But it is really no surprise. He had outdone them at every turn. All they had left to fall back on was their blind pride and violence.

Jesus never said anything wrong, but sometimes I do. My mouth has got me in a lot of trouble over the years. I've made stupid promises. Said hurtful things. And let it have a free reign far too often.

There have been plenty of times that I have deserved to get popped in the mouth for something ridiculous that I said, but I never have. Jesus was beaten by thugs for saying something true that hurt the religious tightwads' feelings. Kind of makes you want to take a better look at what and how you say things.

September 24 - Not Everyone

John 7

For not even his brothers believed in him. (John 7:5 ESV)

Sometimes the people you love the most can be the harshest critics. Maybe family are your biggest critics, often it is family, perhaps it is close friends or peers. The simple truth is that the more we operate inside of Godly community, the more we love, and are loved; the more vulnerable we become to rejection at the hands of those same people.

Jesus was rejected by His hometown of Nazareth. He was rejected by His own brothers, at least until after his resurrection. He was betrayed for thirty pieces of silver by one of His chosen twelve Apostles. He was denied by His best friend. His own Father turned His back on Him in His final moments.

Sometimes, many times, the Christian existence will call, send, and guide us into territory where life's many potential vulnerabilities become realities. Thankfully we follow someone that has already faced that kind of hardship and overcome it. We can carry our cross with the full faith that Christ leads us into His own glory. That is, He leads us into the glory of God, by the grace of God.

September 23 - Are You?

John 18:12-18

The servant girl at the door said to Peter, “You also are not one of this man’s disciples, are you?” He said, “I am not.” (John 18:17 ESV)

In every journey of faith there is a decision point. Truthfully there are many many times you will be faced with tough decisions. But some of those will be more difficult than others.

Jesus had been arrested and his disciples fled. Well, almost all of them. Peter and another disciple had followed Jesus into the compound of the Jewish High Priest. It was a dangerous place for them to be found.

While there Peter was identified as a follower of Jesus. Suddenly his anonymity was gone, and he was faced with a potentially mortal question. "Are you a disciple?" And Peter did the unthinkable, he denied Jesus.

You will probably find yourself in a similar place in this life. At some point down the road you will be on hostile territory, surrounded by people who don't understand you, and they will pointedly ask if you have any allegiance to Jesus. Sometimes this can be an overt kind of persecution that leads possible violence. Or, as is often the case in western cultures, it is the prelude to quiet disdain and snarky rejection.

How will you answer the question when you are asked? Will the weight of the circumstances influence your decision?

September 22 - Jesus, the Christ

Mark 14: 53-65

But he remained silent and made no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Christ, the Son of the Blessed?” (Mark 14:61 ESV)

Jesus was put on trial as a sham. Those in power had predetermined the trial's outcome. They had orchestrated false witnesses, with disagreeing testimonies. All of it was done under pretenses of maintaining Judaism. In reality, it was about squeezing Jesus out. The religious fat cats were afraid of the affect Jesus would have on their coffers.

But the seeds had been sown. Not all of those in power doubted Jesus' claims. Many of the common people had been undeniably touched by Jesus' miracles. The disciples and many others had come to see Jesus as the Christ. The Messiah the Old Testament writers promised would bring redemption to Jews and the rest of the world.

The high priest was a different matter all together. He had the most to lose because of Jesus. And using a tool straight out of the pit of Hell, a tactic used by Satan himself during the temptation in the wilderness, he attacked Jesus' identity.

Jesus answered boldly. He loudly declared the truth of his identity for all in attendance to hear. He gave them a chance to believe. Jesus, the Christ, gives all who would ask of him the chance to believe.

September 21 - Remorse & Regret

Matthew 27:1-10

And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:5 ESV)

Judas Iscariot returned the money he had received for betraying Jesus. Then he went and hung himself. The chief priests rejected his plea for forgiveness because they refused to acknowledge that anything wrong had taken place. They then used the thirty pieces of silver to purchase a field called the field of blood.

Judas threw the money into the Temple out of disgust. He was disgusted with his own actions, but he was also probably disgusted with the responses of the religious leaders. He realized his erroneous ways

Judas was remorseful, he regretted his actions, that much is clear. However, he did not take his sin to the one place where it could be dealt with. He did not take his sin to Jesus. He did not repent. Instead he ended his own life.

Judas Iscariot's story is tragically sad. It is the story of a what can happen when we deal with our sin in the wrong way. Jesus does save us from sin. He died for that very thing. But we have to take it to him, we have to believe that he will do it, and we have to entrust our lives to him.

September 20 - What Is Your Judgement?

Matthew 26: 57-68

"What is your judgment?” They answered, “He deserves death.” (Matthew 26:66 ESV)

Jesus received an unfair judgement. Arrested in secret. Tried in the middle of the night. He faced a sham trial, with false witnesses, shady-power-hungry adjudicators, and a corrupted militant mob like police force. Jesus was judged guilty. He was declared deserving of death.

Ironic seems like such a pitifully inadequate word to describe the scenario. He was wrongly accused. Wrongly judged. Wrongly killed. All so that he might bring an opportunity for eternal life to the very men who were killing him.

"What is your judgement?" They asked. Well, thanks to Jesus all that have entered into salvation have entered into a judgement of life.

September 19 - With a Kiss

Luke 22:1-6, 47-53

but Jesus said to him, “Judas, would you betray the Son of Man with a kiss?” (Luke 22:48 ESV)

A kiss is not typically thought of as the sign for rejection, betrayal, and pain. The Bible even reads in one passage that believers are to "greet one another with a kiss." So it makes it that much more interesting that Judas chose a kiss for his method to signal the mob.

Chances are pretty good that you have been rejected in your life. Perhaps you have suffered a horrible betrayal at the hands of someone very near and dear to you. Jesus can sympathize. In fact, he often warned his followers that such would be the case for those following him.

We all know that the sting of betrayal is bitter. It hurts a lot. With that being said, we should strive to take extra special care not to wound our friends and neighbors. When we greet them it should be with the kiss of friendship, not that of betrayal.

September 18 - Prophecy: Silver

Promise: Zechariah 11:12-13Fulfillment: Matthew 26:14-15

Then one of the twelve, whose name was Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests and said, “What will you give me if I deliver him over to you?” And they paid him thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14, 15 ESV)

Prophecy can be a tricky thing. Some people start to get really weird and strange when they talk about it. But the cool thing that Biblical prophecy does over and over again through both the Old and New Testament, is confirm that Jesus was exactly who he claimed to be.

Sometime around 500 B.C. the Old Testament prophet Zechariah foretold that the one who betrayed the Messiah would be paid thirty pieces of silver for handing him over to the authorities. Zechariah wrote about things that he could not have possibly understood or imagined without divine inspiration. It was more than an educated guess. It was foreknowledge granted by the Holy Spirit.

Jesus' disciple Judas was the guy who handled the money for the ministry. He mist have been in love with money in order to betray Jesus like he did. Thirty pieces of silver was the price he got for betraying Jesus. But Jesus paid far more than that for you and I.

If there is one thing that I can take away from this story beyond the confirmation that prophecy brings—it is that you and I have value to God. Yes, Jesus was betrayed for what seems like a paltry amount of money. But that isn't the point. The point is that through his cheap betrayal, he was willing to sacrifice something of an incalculable value for a people that he believed was worth it.

God thinks you were worth it. That's pretty cool. To Him you are far more important than some silver. You are even more important to Him than His own life.

September 17 - Prophecy: Betrayal

Promise: Psalm 41:9Fulfillment: Matthew 26:47-56

Even my close friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted his heel against me. (Psalm 41:9 ESV)

And he came up to Jesus at once and said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” And he kissed him. Jesus said to him, “Friend, do what you came to do.” Then they came up and laid hands on Jesus and seized him. (Matthew 26:49, 50 ESV)

Prophecy can be a tricky thing. Some people start to get really weird and strange when they talk about it. But the cool thing that Biblical prophecy does over and over again through both the Old and New Testament, is confirm that Jesus was exactly who he claimed to be.

1,000 years before Jesus was born in a manger the Jewish king David prophesied that Jesus would be betrayed by a friend. Judas became the embodiment of that prophecy. Mere hours after having sat at the table with him for what theologians call The Last Supper, Judas showed up with a mob in the Garden to arrest Christ.

Have you ever been betrayed? Have you ever had a good friend just completely let you down? Probably. Life is messy, relationships are messy, and bad things happen. People are imperfect.

Jesus was, and is, perfection personified and he was still betrayed. He still felt the horrible hurt associated with rejection and betrayal. It helps me to know that my savior can identify with my problems. He isn't some aloof out of touch spirit that is disconnected from present reality. He walked the earth. He lived breathed, laughed, cried, and hurt. He identifies with my pain. And he went through pain of his own to help me through.

September 16 - I Am He

John 18:1-11

When Jesus said to them, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:6 ESV)

Armed men showed up with a secret team in the middle of the night to arrest Jesus. He had withdrawn to a secluded place he often visited for a time of private prayer and preparation with a chosen few of his followers. They came seeking him—knowing who he was, his reputation, and his power.

Jesus identified himself when the armed force asked for him. As he did they withdrew from him and fell before him on the ground. They were tripping all over themselves, taken aback by the power of his identity and his declaration. Why?

Because their reasons for approaching him were corrupt, whereas he was holy. Their power was founded on the broken rules of men, and his was seated in the foundations of heaven. Their identity existed based on the controlling fear of their office, while Jesus' identity echoed from across eternity as the Son of God.

The identity of the Son of God bears weight. So much so that his life, death, and resurrection irrevocably altered the destiny of the universe. It was enough to make a mob fall over themselves, it was enough to confound the religious hypocrites, and it is enough to forever change the direction of our lives.

September 15 - Pray

Luke 22:39-46

And when he came to the place, he said to them, “Pray that you may not enter into temptation.” (Luke 22:40 ESV)

There are books on prayer, sermons on prayer, and countless opinions on prayer. Jesus told his followers as he was going off to pray for strength for the difficulties to to come, that they should pray. If Jesus told his disciples to pray there was a good reason. One we can learn from.

Why would Jesus tell his followers to pray? He wanted them to ask God for the same kind of strength he was looking for. He wanted them to be ready. He wanted them to overcome the temptations just around the corner.

Temptation can be stifling. If you haven't positioned yourself for the battle it can be nearly impossible. Prayer is something we can do that sets us up for success. Why? It isn't magic. If you approach it as such your results may not be what you were hoping for. However, if you remember it as the relational interaction between Father and child that it actually is, then you will be encouraged, strengthened, and prepared to face down temptation.

September 14 - Asleep on the Job

Mark 14:32-42

And he came and found them sleeping, and he said to Peter, “Simon, are you asleep? Could you not watch one hour?" (Mark 14:37 ESV)

I'm not overly fond of sleep. It usually strikes me as a huge waste of time. I do a lot of my writing at night just before bed. This is also when I do a good bit of reading and study. I'm just wired a little differently and tend to think more clearly in the moments leading up to slumber. However, there are times when I hit my pillow and feel sleep begin to edge it's way in. This doesn't discount my eagerness to tackle my daily routine of reading, writing, and study, my spirit is indeed eager and willing; but sometimes my flesh is weak.

I wonder, how often do we find ourselves asleep at the wheel? What garden has Jesus drawn you into? Where has He asked you to post up for prayer, to sit, and pray, and watch? Did you fall asleep on the job? Sometimes we shut our eyes and drift away, even as our destiny is unfolding just a few feet away. It's not an issue of unwillingness or disbelief, it's a matter of laziness. What if we didn't fall asleep on the job?

Jesus, Help me to love you, to listen to you, and to follow you better. Lead me into the garden of your choosing. Strengthen me to stay the course. Embolden me to zeal for your charge, your love, and your will. Amen.

September 13 - When They Sang

Mark 14: 26-31

And when they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. (Mark 14:26 ESV)

Since the beginnings of Christianity believers have come under fire for their worship. Worship has long been a chief means of showing devotion and love for God. Often there is nothing more powerful for advancing your trust in God than uninterrupted worship.

I love that the last recorded activity involving Jesus and his entire entourage of disciples is a moment of collective singing to God. They worshipped God, togethers with the Son of God. For you and I that should highlight just how critical worship is for our spiritual well-being. Jesus, knowing he was soon to enter a time of intense difficulty and torment, chose to worship one final time with his friends.

Moments of private worship are enjoyable, and connected with prayer and reflection they are wonderful opportunities for development. But joining in with a group of friends to lift up your voice to heaven is a beautiful experience. It is a safe place. Because the reality of our hard world is sometimes waiting just on the other side of a song.

September 12 - Love Before Foundations

John 17:20-26

Father, I desire that they also, whom you have given me, may be with me where I am, to see my glory that you have given me because you loved me before the foundation of the world. (John 17:24 ESV)

Before you were born God loved you. Before the difficulty you are facing cropped up in your life. Before you had your current job and present relationships.

Before the world was, God knew your name. He knew your need. He cared for you deeply.

There is something to be said for the incredible sovereignty of God. His power and plan stretches across history in either direction. Before the furthest flicker of ancient beginnings God already existed. After the last anything on this Earth, God will exist. He has been there, seen those moments, and lived them—and He has loved you throughout all of them.

September 11 - In Truth

John 17:10-19

Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17:17 ESV)

Is truth objective? Is it subjective? Does it change based on the situation and individual? Is it constant regardless of circumstances?

People have been arguing about the nature of truth for a long long long time. Philosophers, theologians, and various other thinkers have defined and redefined their take on truth numerous times over the years. That's not to say they're right, or even close. But the general consensus is that truth is personal, flexible, and private—which is false.

Jesus prayed his high priestly prayer and included a lengthy bit about the disciples and what he hoped for them. He asked God to "sanctify them in the truth." A singular declarative statement which narrows truth down to something more pointed than the generalities and vagueness our modern era passes for truth.

Jesus went on to define truth. He said that truth is God's Word. In other words, Jesus believed that the Bible, for him it was the Old Testament, was the truth that God would use to redeem, changed encouragement and instruct his people. I am encouraged to know that Jesus saw our need for centralized truth. I am even more encouraged to find that he had prepared that truth before those men were ever even born.

And here is the big idea for you and I. Jesus wants us to be sanctified, cleaned, and set apart, through the careful reading and application of the Bible. Because it is not enough to think we know truth. No, we need to be in truth.

September 10 - Now They Know

John 17:6-9

Now they know that everything that you have given me is from you. (John 17:7 ESV)

Jesus lived out a life of demonstrative teaching. Everything he did and said was an intentional part of his leading and guiding his followers into a closer relationship with him. All of it was designed to draw them closer to Christ and closer to the Father.

I think a good question we can ask ourselves is "what do people know about God by looking at my life?" The possible answers to that question say a lot about how we are going through this life. It says a lot about how we are communicating Christ to those around us.

Jesus wants you and I to be his messenger. As the disciples learned to look to the Father through the Son, so will people look to the Son through those he has saved. So, think about the people in your life. Because of you, what do they now know?

September 9 - Having Accomplished

John 17:1-5

I glorified you on earth, having accomplished the work that you gave me to do. (John 17:4 ESV)

Knowing you have accomplished a great task is incredibly fulfilling. There is not quite anything like it. When I was growing up on the farm it was great getting that sense of accomplishment from finishing something that my dad had for me to do. Jesus' Dad had set a task before him as well.

Jesus' task was to bring about the salvation of mankind. He said himself that he came "to seek and to save that which was lost." A task that he accomplished. Restoration was made ready. It is possible.

Jesus brought glory to His Father when he accomplished the task. When God sets a task before you accomplishing it brings glory to Him as well. And even sometimes when we fail, the simple act of pursuit and obedience is a way in which we bring Him glory. Because God gets glory when we long to be restored to relationship with Him. And if there is anything worth having been accomplished, it is bringing glory to God.

September 8 - Do You?

John 16:25-33 Jesus answered them, “Do you now believe? (John 16:31 ESV)

Belief is powerful. It shapes our hearts. Shapes our motives. It drives us toward many things. There are so many different kinds of beliefs. They are nigh innumerable. Some beliefs people merely jump into with little in the way of evidence, while others are based off of things they have seen, heard, and understood.

Jesus heard what his disciples had to say about him. Their reassurances about who he was. He desired to further reinforce their belief in him and was communicating to them an aspect of his relationship with God the Father. He was building their belief, much as he had done for nearly three years.

What do you believe pr disbelieve about Jesus? What is your belief in Jesus based on? Do you believe in him? Who is he to you?

September 7 - Sorrow & Joy

John 16:16-24

So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. (John 16:22 ESV)

I have been pretty fortunate in life. Rarely have I known what is it like to experience true sorrow. There have been a few isolated incidents, but in nearly every occasion the sorrow has been short-lived. There are some that experience deep sorrow on a daily basis. The circumstances of their life is terribly tragic.

Jesus knew that his followers were about to experience a deep level of sorrow. They had yet to grasp the severity of what was about to befall Jesus. Knowing their lack of understanding of the situation he was offering them comfort for what they could not yet understand.

Jesus still offers comfort for sorrow. An essential theme of the Gospel is that he not only understands sorrow, but he is the answer for the sorrow in our world. The kind of joy that is God-given cannot be taken away by people or circumstances. And one day when we see Jesus we will understand that only in him is our joy made complete.