All posts by Luella Campbell

LUKE’S GOSPEL…JUST LIKE THAT! – 63

Bible Study, ,

“Two other men, both criminals, were also led out with him to be executed. When they came to the place called the Skull, they crucified him there, along with the criminals—one on his right, the other on his left. Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” And they divided up his clothes by casting lots.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭32‬-‭34‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Pilate caved in, the die was cast, and Jesus was on His way to Golgotha…just like that! Or was it! So much had happened between Pilate’s domain and the place of the Skull…

The soldiers dumped the heavy crossbeam on Jesus’ shoulders…the last straw. His knees buckled, His legs…the legs that had carried Him for hundreds of kilometres across Israel and beyond, gave way, no longer able to hold up His weary and broken body. He fell!

Some poor, unsuspecting passerby was grabbed and conscripted to do the job, Simon of Cyrene. Did this man ever realise, at that moment, that he was bearing the burden of the Son of God, the Saviour of the world?

Two convicted criminals became Jesus’ companions in death. Ironic, isn’t it, that Jesus chose the like in His lifetime in preference to the religious elite, and now, on the brink of death, He would hang between them on a Roman torture stake. 

What did the two criminals say to each other on the way to their execution? Did they speak or were they engrossed in their own misery? 

The party slowed down for a moment. A few women walked alongside Jesus, weeping in despair at the loss of a champion and a friend. Jesus looked up, blood and sweat blurring His vision, into their tear-stained faces and, in typical “Jesus” fashion…

“Jesus turned and said to them, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me; weep for yourselves and for your children.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭28‬ ‭NIV

The heart of Jesus was always for those whose lack of discernment, poor choices, and rebellious hearts would lead to their downfall. He knew the way ahead for them and their children…and it was not pretty. His death had purpose, their demise would be consequence…and Jesus had wept over Jerusalem for them! 

No lurid details of the process of crucifixion! Luke discreetly pulled the curtain on the scene of the murder. It happened…that was all. Isaiah the prophet had already written the graphic details! 

Luke focused on the grace that poured from the lips of Jesus…towards His fellow-sufferer, towards His tormentors, towards you and me…we who also had a hand in His death that day. 

It was so final! Jesus even had no more use for His bloodstained clothing, including His seamless robe, which symbolised position and status. The soldiers gambled for the filthy, bloodied clothes as for a trophy. 

When it as all finally over, every prophetic utterance fulfilled, every last “i” dotted and “t” crossed, according to the Scriptures, Jesus took His final breath as He handed Himself and His destiny to the Father. 

What an ending to a perfect life!

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…NO TIME FOR NONSENSE – 62

Bible Study, ,

“When Herod saw Jesus, he was greatly pleased, because for a long time he had been wanting to see him. From what he had heard about him, he hoped to see him perform a sign of some sort. He plied him with many questions, but Jesus gave him no answer. The chief priests and the teachers of the law were standing there, vehemently accusing him. Then Herod and his soldiers ridiculed and mocked him. Dressing him in an elegant robe, they sent him back to Pilate. That day Herod and Pilate became friends—before this they had been enemies.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭8‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Herod and Jesus facing off…this Herod Antipas, son of the great Herod who built the temple…the ruler of Galilee, the playboy ruler who thought he could play games with Jesus. 

Pilate saw a gap, a way out of his dilemma. Herod just happened to be in Jerusalem, so Herod would be a good excuse for Pilate to pass the buck because the accused was a Galilean. 

It seems that Herod loved entertainment, so he decided that, since Pilate tried to pawn Jesus,  this “hot  potato”, on him, he would use this opportunity for a little “fun”.

Together with the Roman soldiers guarding Jesus, Herod attempted to coax Jesus to do a little miracle or two. Maybe, just maybe he would release the offender if the show was good enough. Didn’t work! So, they turned the heat up! What about a little “friendly persuasion?”  

Egged on by the audience of bystanders, the ever-present, rulers of Israel, Jesus’ tormentors…Herod and his cronies, the soldiers…began to attack His person, the real Jesus, with mocking and insults. 

That didn’t work either! Jesus was selectively deaf to their taunts. His mind was elsewhere, on His Father and His mission. All their efforts to degrade Him, to lure Him into retaliating or defending Himself, fell on deaf ears, did nothing but boomerang back on them!  

Why did Jesus not take the bait…Why did He not react to this onslaught on Him? He was fully human, fully aware of what they were doing to Him…but He was also fully aware of His mission. He was being shaped into the perfect atoning sacrifice for sin. Had He in any way reacted in “the flesh”, in His humanity, He would have failed the test. 

What was Jesus’ greatest test, His most dangerous moment? He had two choices…fight back and follow the path of fallen humans…or absorb the worst of unjust suffering without retaliating…and win the war.  

Peter understood!

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.”

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬ NIV‬‬

The secret was out! Jesus trusted the Father for the victory! He won the war!

Whoever did the devil’s dirty work…whatever they did to inflict the worst they could think of, it didn’t work because…with His heart and mind on accomplishing the Father’s will, as Isaiah predicted centuries before…

 “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away. Yet who of his generation protested? For he was cut off from the land of the living; for the transgression of my people he was punished.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭7‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And the outcome?

“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities. Therefore I will give him a portion among the great, and he will divide the spoils with the strong, because he poured out his life unto death, and was numbered with the transgressors. For he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭10‬-‭12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

With His eye on the eternal prize, Jesus remained silent. They could ridicule His name, mutilate His body, ruin His reputation in the eyes of man…but they could not turn Him from His purpose…to fulfil the Father’s will. 

“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

1 Peter 2:24 NIV

What purpose! What resolution! Jesus had a mission and, come what may, He would do it!

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We, too, as children of God and followers of Jesus, have a goal to reach and a mission to fulfil…and an example to follow. 

“Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”

‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭3‬ NIV

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…THE WITNESS – 61

Bible Study, ,

“At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and the teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. “If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭66‬-‭71‬ ‭NIV‬‬

The trial… a contest between prosecutor and defence attorney. It gives the defence attorney the opportunity to produce all the evidence and arguments he can to prove the innocence of his client. However, the prosecutor, through witnesses and evidence, must to prove the guilt of the accused. 

In the modern era of sophisticated technology, and the effectiveness  of detective work and forensic science, together with as many reliable witnesses as van be found, a trial is often not much more than a rubber-stamping of the offender’s guilt or innocence. 

Not so the trial of Jesus!

In an ancient Jewish court, guilt or innocence had to be established by the testimony of more than one witness…at least two or three. There was no such thing as forensics in Jesus’ day. The prosecution had to establish the credibility of the witnesses’ stories for the charge to stick. 

“One witness is not enough to convict anyone accused of any crime or offense they may have committed. A matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.”

‭‭Deuteronomy‬ ‭19‬:‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

For Jesus to be found guilty was a headache for the Jewish leaders. First, what was the charge? Blasphemy! Their most violent reaction was against His claim to be the Son of God. This really stuck in their crop, especially as there was more than enough evidence and many witnesses to confirm His claim…in fact, hundreds of sufferers had experienced, and thousands of ordinary people had heard His teaching and witnessed His authority, and His miraculous interventions. 

Second, who would they get to testify to their personal experience of divine favour? Who were the “two or three” credible witnesses who would tell their stories of miraculous healing or deliverance from demonic harassment at the hands of the Son of God? Who would convince the court that Jesus’ claim to deity was true? People were too afraid to side with Him. Look at Peter!

The disciples themselves could have given the court more than enough evidence to acquit Jesus, but…the Sanhedrin was not looking for genuine evidence…  They were digging for a valid reason to condemn Him. 

The witnesses they found couldn’t even agree…

“The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death, but they did not find any. Many testified falsely against him, but their statements did not agree. Then some stood up and gave this false testimony against him: “We heard him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with human hands and in three days will build another, not made with hands.’ ” Yet even then their testimony did not agree.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭55‬-‭59‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…so they gave up on that one!

Well then, what option did the Jewish counsel have to find Jesus guilty so that they could carry out their evil plan? Only one option left…get Him to testify against Himself. They knew that Jesus would never lie or try to defend Himself…so they went for the jugular. 

“If you are the Messiah,” they said, “tell us.” Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, and if I asked you, you would not answer. But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.” They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?” He replied, “You say that I am.” Truth to power!

There! They had Him! From His own mouth He had testified to His role as God’s Messiah, “the Son of Man” of Daniel 7, and His place of authority at the right hand of God.  

“Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”

From the mouth of the one who was Truth itself, they had heard the testimony of His deity. He was claiming to be the very Son of Man of whom Daniel had prophesied…

““In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That did it!

For His accusers, without examining the evidence, His words were the final nail in His coffin. His own confession had absolved them of guilt, so they thought, and sealed His guilt as a blasphemer. 

Was Jesus guilty as charged? He was accused of being a blasphemer because He claimed to be the Son of God. Is He the Son of God? Where is the proof? 

“…and who, through the Spirit of holiness, was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬ ‭NIV

The resurrection!  Much as they tried, including lies and false witnesses, his accusers could not disprove that Jesus had risen from the dead! Not then! Not now! Not ever! Many have tried!

It’s no wonder the Jewish leaders tried to cover up the evidence of Jesus’ resurrection. The last thing they needed was the unassailable proof…evidence…that Jesus was everything He said He was and He had done everything He said He would do, even to rising from the dead!

Paul put the final nail in the coffin of Jesus’ accusers and executioners…he provided the evidence that Jesus did, indeed rise again, and that He revealed Himself to many witnesses that He was alive. 

“For what I received I passed on to you as of first importance: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, and then to the Twelve. After that, he appeared to more than five hundred of the brothers and sisters at the same time, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. Then he appeared to James, then to all the apostles, and last of all he appeared to me also, as to one abnormally born.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭15‬:‭3‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

That Jesus died is real. He still bears the marks of the nails and the spear. That He rose again is just as real. There are too many witnesses, even today, to deny that He is alive, and that He makes Himself known to those who believe in Him. The millions who have lived and the millions who live now, and the lives that have been transformed by the power of the risen Jesus, are the witness to the truth that He is the Son of the Living God and that He reigns in glory over His eternal kingdom.  

So the verdict, “Guilty as charged!” boomeranged on Jesus’ accusers. Peter indicted them with fiery words. “You are the wicked ones who killed Him! You are all guilty of murder!” However, not only are the ones who condemned Him to death or the ones who nailed Him to the cross guilty. The whole world is responsible for killing the Son of God, “Guilty as charged!” 

The miracle of the cross is that, in His dying, Jesus paid our debt, died in our place for our sin…and rose again to prove that everything He promised is true…forgiveness, reconciliation, eternal life, and a new nature…His own…so that we can live with Him, His Father, and His Spirit, in His realm, as His forever family.  

Was Jesus guilty of blasphemy? No! Therefore, the charge, the verdict, and the crucifixion were illegal…and yet, Jesus endured the injustice without retaliation for one reason…

“When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.””

‭‭1 Peter‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬-‭24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…for us…and it worked!

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…WHY? – 57

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LUKE’S GOSPEL…WHY? – 57

“For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. So Pilate decided to grant their demand. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus was arrested, tried, and found guilty in a Jewish court, handed over to a Gentile, Pilate, to carry out their sentence. Why did Pilate declare Him innocent after questioning Him but sentence Him to death anyway? 

Did Pilate act according to his findings, according to the truth, according to his conscience? Why did he have an innocent man flogged to the point of death? Was that justice? Was that the way the representative of Rome governed in a Roman colony?

Why did Pilate cave in to the demands of the Jewish leaders and the Jewish public? Who was really in charge? Was he afraid of the people, concerned about saving his own skin, worried about  the consequences if he released Jesus…a riot, an insurrection, the collapse of law and order? Was he in danger of losing his position if the situation got out of hand?

So, Pilate’s decision was, in the end, all about himself. 

He was known to be a cruel and ruthless man.

“Now there were some present at that time who told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭13‬:‭1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

It seems that Pilate’s dealings with the Jews do not paint a picture of a just man or a wise ruler. So, could anyone expect anything different from him in Jesus’ case? His defence of Jesus was weak and unconvincing… even his wife warned him but he ignored her…and he quickly absolved himself of guilt, and to get rid of his problem, by washing his hands of his own decision. 

Does this mean that Jesus was crucified because of Pilate’s bad judgment ? 

If we take a step back and look at the bigger picture, we will see that the guilt was never Pilate’s alone. We can trace the reason for Jesus’ death right back  to Genesis 3. From the moment the first pair changed allegiance from their Creator to the deceiver, and the whole human race with them, it was for the sin of the whole world that God demanded the death penalty, and the mercy of God that chose to pay the price Himself.  

So, God orchestrated Jesus’ death…and the way it would happen…but, at the same time, He holds humanity responsible for the choices that brought about His Son’s death. 

This is the mystery of God’s sovereignty! Centuries before, Isaiah prophesied…

“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand. After he has suffered, he will see the light of life and be satisfied; by his knowledge my righteous servant will justify many, and he will bear their iniquities.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭10‬-‭11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and Peter confirmed, on the day of Pentecost…

“This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Why, then, did Jesus suffer in such a terrible manner? Why did Pilate have Him flogged, and condemn Him to death, when he knew that Jesus was innocent? Why did the Roman soldiers drive nails through Jesus’ hands and feet and a sword into His side? Why did the naked body of the sinless Son God have to hang on a Roman cross in the blazing sun for all to see?

For us! We put Him there. The Jews, the Gentiles, the whole world put Him on that cross for one reason… we owed a debt we could not pay…and Jesus chose to pay it for us. 

Those who carried out the sentence were the hands and feet that did it for the whole world so that the whole can share in the blessing of forgiveness and the new life Jesus’ death provides for those who believe. 

“He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.”

‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…THE COMPANY YOU KEEP – 60

Bible Study, ,

“Then seizing him, they led him away and took him into the house of the high priest. Peter followed at a distance. And when some there had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and had sat down together, Peter sat down with them. A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.” But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said. A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” “Man, I am not!” Peter replied. About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.” Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!” Just as he was speaking, the rooster crowed. The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter. Then Peter remembered the word the Lord had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows today, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭22‬:‭55‬-‭62‬ ‭NIV‬‬

A significant detail in the story… Peter chose dangerous company! 

I don’t think that the narrator included the mention of Peter’s nighttime companions just for colour. I think that the soldiers and servants, the ”they” in the story, were the catalyst for Peter’s fall. Had he remained with his fellow disciples, the like-minded ones, they might have supported one another and stayed out of the limelight. 

Peter was a square peg in a round hole. It was obvious to those around the fire that he was from out of town. His dress and speech gave him away. He was a Galilean, from the northern province which was closest to Gentile territory, the territory of the prisoner under arrest. Was it coincidence that a Galilean was right there among them?  It was like a citizen of Louisiana visiting New York. The difference was unmistakeable. 

What was a Galilean doing in Jerusalem? A visitor from up north attending Passover celebrations…at this time of the morning…in the courtyard of the high priest’s residence? Not likely? He was there for another reason…

The atmosphere was electric with tension…suspicion…a “dangerous” prisoner was on trial. Were there spies in the company…was there someone of His group who was detailed to stage a rescue mission…to trigger a revolt? Why were the bystanders so interested in this stranger?

An unnamed servant girl set off the enquiry, rather…the accusation. “You are a Galilean!” Got you! “What is a Galilean doing here? You were with Him!”

“No, I’m not! No, I wasn’t! I don’t even know the man!” 

“But we saw you with Him!” 

“No, it wasn’t me!”

“Yes. it was you!”

“You are crazy! I wasn’t anywhere near Him!”

And so the “he said – she said” argument continued until…a familiar sound heralded the dawn. Peter stopped short, as if a bolt of lightning had struck him. In the heat of the argument, he remembered!

“..Truly I tell you,…this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” 

…and he remembered…his vigorous and “cock-sure”defence…

…“Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you”…

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭26‬:‭34‬-‭35‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…and the sound of all his empty words rang in his ears…

Peter glanced up in his moment of shame and, for a moment his eyes locked onto Jesus…

…and Jesus slowly turned and looked at Peter…straight in the eye. 

…and Peter knew that Jesus knew…

…and Peter broke…and the tears flowed down his cheeks in a river of shame and regret…

…and Peter slunk away into the darkness to lick his wounds and wonder…”Is Jesus finished with me?”

In the eyes of the Master, there was everything He wanted to say to His fallen companion, not “I told you so!” not “Why, Peter, why?” or even, “You worthless, you good-for nothing sinner!” From those eyes of fire boring deep into his soul flashed love, forgiveness, compassion…even sorrow for a wasted opportunity. 

Jesus was to Peter, even in his darkest moment, what He had always been to every “cancelled” Jewish “sinner” among own His chosen people…gentle, kind, and full of mercy.  

This “look” of Jesus lit a spark of hope in Peter’s soul. He fled the company that had triggered his downfall and rejoined his companions who were all in this together. Everyone, in his own way, had denied and forsaken Jesus. They could not return, fall at His feet and beg for forgiveness. The moment for restoration had passed, so

 they thought. They could only stand near Him as His lifeblood dripped away…but, somehow, they knew that He knew…and they were comforted. 

There is a sequel to this saga…a meeting on the beach, back at the lake where, for some, the story had begun. Breakfast shared at the invitation of the risen Master, a deliberate gesture of reconciliation. An intimate moment…love rekindled, love shared, the commission renewed, “Peter, do you love me? Feed my sheep; tend my lambs.”

A restored, reassured, revitalised Peter returned to Jerusalem to be the herald and spokesman for Jesus when the Holy Spirit fell on them to jumpstart His church and the glorious New Covenant. 

Jesus is the God of the second chance…if only Judas had known…

To be continued…