Monthly Archives: September 2015

They Didn’t Care

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THEY DIDN’T CARE

Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led Him away and handed Him over to Pilate. ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’ asked Pilate. ‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied. The chief priests accused Him of many things. So again Pilate asked Him, ‘Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.’ But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed. (Mark 15: 1-5)

From the beginning, this trial was a farce. The religious leaders had broken every rule in the book. O yes, they were careful to keep their own rules to make them look good, but God’s instructions?  They ignored them because it was not convenient to obey, and they didn’t care.

What would the Jews think up to accuse Jesus before Pilate? An ominous statement – they made their plans! What plans did they have to make? Jesus was either a lawbreaker or He wasn’t. He was either guilty of a crime, or He wasn’t. But, to them He was an enemy, not because He did anything outside of the law, but because He had offended them with His righteous life and His exposure of their hypocrisy and ungodly lives. How true were His words:

This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. (John 3: 19-20)

The Jewish religious leaders hated Jesus because His life mirrored the nature of God, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love and faithfulness. (Ex. 34: 6)

They were proud of their “righteous” lives as long as no one checked their motives or looked inside to see the rottenness of their hearts. Every act of compassion and mercy which Jesus did in response to people’s need, was an expression of the Father whom Jesus came to reveal. They hated Him for it because it drew attention to the phoniness of their own hard and callous hearts. And they didn’t care.  

And so, true to their real natures, they schemed to get rid of Jesus, guilty or not, so that they could continue as before without Him breathing down their necks. Unfortunately for them, life would never be the same again. Jesus had taken the time and trouble to tell them the truth. Once they had heard it from His lips and refused to believe Him, their guilt was plied on them; guilt because they had not accurately reflected the teachings of Torah in their own lives, and because they had oppressed the people by their endless and meaningless “interpretations” of Torah which suited them because keeping them made them look good.

In order to get their way, they didn’t care about doing the right thing or upholding the justice system of Torah. In spite of their claim to be “Abraham’s children”, they schemed and plotted to take Jesus’ life to get Him out of their hair. From their perspective, He was guilty of blasphemy because He claimed to be the Son of God. This was their accusation against Him, but how were they going to prove Him guilty?

Their witnesses were undoubtedly liars because they could not get their testimony to agree. They accused Him of threatening to destroy Herod’s temple and rebuild it in three days. What kind of accusation was that? Did they really believe that He would make a wild statement like that? The only way they could get a conviction was to ask Him outright whether He was the Son of God or not since He was obliged to answer. But that’s just where they deviated from Torah, as we noted yesterday. But they didn’t care. As long as they had it from His mouth, it was enough to convict Him.

But they had to have a valid indictment to put before Pilate. Blasphemy was an internal matter. Pilate would throw it out as of no consequence to Roman. Treason! That would make Pilate sit up and take notice! So their scheme was to change the charge to treason. That would not be difficult seeing that He had blatantly ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey the Sunday before, an action they interpreted as the fulfilment of the Messianic prophecy in Zechariah 9.

Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (Zech. 9: 9)

However, they did not see it as the fulfilment of a Messianic prophecy but as the action of an imposter. They refused to put all the evidence together and come up with the truth. They thought that Pilate would fall for that one because they would present Jesus as a threat to Rome. And they didn’t care that it was a trumped-up charge, devoid of evidence, as long as they could make it stick.

Everything changes when people don’t care! No rules apply; there are no boundaries, law and order collapse and society disintegrates into chaos.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Watch this space. My second book, Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing), companion volume to Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master, will soon be on the bookshelves.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com

 

And The Rooster Crowed

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AND THE ROOSTER CROWED

While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him. ’You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,’ she said. But he denied it. ‘I don’t know or understand what you are talking about,’ he said, and went out into the entryway.

When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, ‘This fellow is one of them.’ Again he denied it. After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, ‘Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.’ He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, ‘I don’t know this man you’re talking about.’

Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: ‘Before the rooster crows twice, you will disown me three times.’ And he broke down and wept. (Mark 14: 66-72)

Oh Peter, how could you? Don’t you remember Jesus’ warning?

It’s so easy for us to stand back and judge Peter, isn’t it? Of course we wouldn’t do that, now would we? Or would we? Put yourself in Peter’s shoes. The events of the night happened so fast and so unexpectedly that he was caught unawares. Jesus had given him and all the others plenty of warning about what was to happen to Him, but they had chosen to dismiss His words and not to take Him seriously. Peter had even cancelled out Jesus’ words to him personally by protesting his undying loyalty.

Then things began to spin out of control. Instead of being awake and alert as He had urged them, because His betrayer was on the way and His arrest was imminent, they all fell asleep, giving way to the weakness of the flesh. When the mob fell on Jesus, they were unprepared. As usual, Peter acted first and thought afterwards. It was Peter who recklessly swung his sword and connected with the one person he would not have chosen to tangle with, an important member of the high priest’s household. Fortunately for him, Jesus was there, always watching for an opportunity to fix what was broken in spite of the adverse circumstances.

You have to give it to him, though. He was the only disciple who dared make his way right into the enemy’s camp. He mingled with the crowd in the courtyard of the high priest’s residence and tried to make himself invisible. But, unfortunately for him, he stood out like a sore thumb. His Galilean accent gave him away, for one thing, and for another, he was known to be a disciple of Jesus. He’d been seen all over Jerusalem hanging out with Jesus.

In spite of the evidence, Peter tried to lie his way out of trouble. Would he be arrested because he was guilty by association? He didn’t want to take the chance because he was not about to face crucifixion if the Romans got hold of him. Not once but three times he denied any knowledge of his Master, vehemently cursing and swearing his ignorance of the man he had confessed to be the Son of God not long before.

His conscience stabbed him like a knife because he knew he had lied. And then the rooster crowd. Suddenly his memory lit up like a prairie fire, burning and searing his heart until he crashed in a heap of misery. Jesus’ warning words rang in his mind and even more loudly his protestation of loyalty. In that moment he was stripped naked and saw himself for the first time as he really was – not the brave leader of the pack as he thought he was but a cowardly little weasel, cowering before a serving maid. He wept until he had no more tears to weep but, like feathers in the wind, he could not take his words back.

Worst of all. Jesus knew. Peter saw His glance and burned with shame. There was no opportunity to make right with Him. He was heavily guarded and on His way to death. Peter knew it. He remembered all the altercations He had had with the authorities. The crunch had come and they had Him in their power. There was no escape for Him this time. The Sanhedrin was not interested in them. They wanted the ringleader and the finally had Him.

Had you been in Peter’s shoes would you have acted any differently? How did Peter feel? Desperate enough to do what Judas did? Thank God he hung on, and eventually reaped the reward of forgiveness and reinstatement as a beloved disciple.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (copyright 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Watch this space. My second book, Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing), companion volume to Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master, will soon be on the bookshelves.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com

 

 

 

 

All Hell Let Loose!

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ALL HELL LET LOOSE!

Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?’ But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked Him, ‘Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?’ ‘I am,’ said Jesus, ‘and you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.’

The high priest tore his clothes. ‘Why do we need any more testimonies?’ he asked. ‘You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?’ They all condemned Him as worthy of death. Then some began to spit at Him; they blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists, and said, ‘Prophesy!’ And the guards took Him and beat Him. (Mark 14: 60-65)

That did it! Jesus used two loaded titles in response to the high priest’s taunt. In his glaringly illegal question – an accused person could not be found guilty on his own testimony – the high priest bated Him to indict Himself.

“Here is what the Jewish scholar Maimonides wrote in his book: “We have it as a fundamental principle of our jurisprudence, that no one can bring an accusation against himself. Should a man make confession of guilt before a legally constituted tribunal, such confession is not to be used against him unless properly attested by two other witnesses” (“Sanhedrin” IV, 2)”   

http://www.lesiecleavenir.fr/pdf/Twelve%20Reasons%20Why%20Jesus%20Trial%20Was%20Illegal.pdf (retrieved on 05/09/2015).

Look at the titles Jesus used of Himself: “I am” and “Son of Man”. No Jew would miss the implications. “Are you crazy, Jesus? Why did you have to use those words?” That really set the cat among the pigeons!

Jesus identified Himself to the Sanhedrin as the same God whom Moses met at the burning bush, the “I AM”. Moses, the man they revered more than any other of their Old Testament heroes! The debates Jesus had with the religious leaders often raged around what Moses said versus what Jesus, as a rabbi with authority said, which held more weight than what Moses said because He spoke with the authority of God, which they refused to recognise.

“The Son of Man”! They could not miss the implications of that title either. It was an outright and unmistakeable use of a Messianic title according to Daniel 7:13.

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 never pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

This is the moment when the true colours of the Sanhedrin were revealed. How could a dignified court of law, under the authority of the high priest who was God’s representative on earth, permit such unruly and barbaric behaviour? This was not about the guilt or innocence of an accused man. This was about the venomous hatred these men had towards Jesus because everything He said and did was an accusation against them. He was already guilty long before they arrested Him, guilty not of being a wrongdoer but guilty of being everything He said He was and, at the same time, showing them up for who they were. There was nothing anyone could say that could prove Him otherwise.

Their charge against Him was blasphemy but it would not hold water in the eyes of Rome. From a Jewish point of view, as far as the Sanhedrin was concerned, He was guilty, regardless of the evidence. And for that He must die. But they had to get Rome on their side by accusing Him of something serious enough to be punishable by execution. Blasphemy was not on their books.  All Rome was interested in was anything that became a threat to their rule in their vassal states.

Having satisfied their phoney justice, it was time to take their case to Pilate to ratify their sentence of death and leave the Romans to carry it out their way. . .

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Watch this space. My second book, Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master (Copyright © 2015, Partridge Publishing), companion volume to Learning to be a Disciple – The Way of the Master, will soon be on the bookshelves.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com

 

God Guilty Of Being God!

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GOD GUILTY OF BEING GOD!

A young man, wearing nothing but a linen garment, was following Jesus. When they seized him, he fled naked, leaving his garment behind.

They took Jesus to the high priest, and all the chief priests, the elders and the teachers of the law came together. Peter followed Him at a distance, right into the courtyard of the high priest. There he sat with the guards and warmed himself at the fire. 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. (Mark 14: 51-55).

What a formidable bunch – high priest, chief priests, elders and teachers of the law – the whole shooting match! The most powerful civil and religious authority in the land. They knew they had Rome behind them because they were hand in glove with the Roman authorities, if they could just convince Pilate of His guilt. And Jesus. One man against a ruthless mob but, as we read on we will soon find out who was actually in charge.

The writer of this gospel put his signature to his work in two short sentences. Who was the young man who was sneaking around in the dark, watching and following the crowd to see what was happening. Why was he out in his underwear in the pre-dawn chill? Whoever he was, when he wrote the story he must have been speaking about himself. Who else would have been aware of an insignificant detail like this and included it in his gospel as if to say, ‘I was there’?

Once again Peter was out front. He was brazen enough to shed his fear and follow Jesus to see where they were taking Him. Of course, their first port of call would be the high priest’s residence – and he was waiting for them. The rest of the religious hierarchy quickly assembled.

Jesus and the might of Israel – face to face at last, and they thought they had Him. They had subdued their enemy, and now they had to find a charge that would stick, and one that would put Him away for good. What sort of a justice system was that? Arrest a man because they wanted Him out of the way, and then cook up a plausible accusation to make Him look guilty. How many governments, even the most corrupt in the world, apply justice like that?

They had a difficult situation to contend with – first a charge, then the evidence to convict a man who had dared to challenge His accusers, “Can any of you prove me guilty of sin?” Not a single person came forward with an accusation, not even His avowed enemies. O, they had lots to say about Him but they could make none of it stick.

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 their testimony did not agree. Then the high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, ‘Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are brining against you?’ But Jesus remained silent and gave not answer. (Mark 14: 56-61)

Is that really what Jesus had said? A few words changed the whole picture. He said, to quote Him accurately, ‘Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.’ (John 2:19) John added, ‘But the temple He had spoken of was His body.’ In a play on words, Jesus was speaking prophetically of what they would do to Him – destroy His body – and His resurrection. Of course they would not understand. But how could a statement like that make Him worthy of death?

To them it did not matter whether the accusations agreed and whether they were false or not. They had their “proof” of His guilt and they could go ahead and sentence Him. In their eagerness to get rid of Him, they overlooked an important detail of their justice system. Anyone who bore a false witness against the accused was subject to the same sentence as the accused. These false witnesses should have been crucified along with Jesus!

What a mess – created by the very ones who were entrusted with the sacred task of exercising justice in the name of their God. God condemned to death for being God, at the hands of men!

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (copyright 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com

 

Brazen Treachery

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BRAZEN TREACHERY

Just as He was speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, appeared. With him was a crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: ‘The one I kiss is the man; arrest Him and lead Him away under guard.’ Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, ‘Rabbi!’ and kissed Him. The men seized Him and arrested Him. Then one of those standing near drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

‘Am I leading a rebellion,’ said Jesus,’ that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I was with you, teaching in the temple courts, and you did not attest me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled.’ Then everyone deserted Him and fled. (Mark 14: 43-50)

How low could Judas sink to do this treacherous deed?

The moment had come. Jesus was prepared. He had fought His battle in the garden and won. His spirit was at rest, submitted to the Father and willing to face His ordeal through the power of the Holy Spirit. It was time for the action to begin.

How terrible that it had to be one of His own who would sell Him out to the enemy. Notice how Judas did it. First of all he walked up to Jesus and called Him ‘Rabbi’. What did that mean? To every disciples, his rabbi was everything – his leader, his teacher, his mentor, his example, and his model – everything to shape him into a replica of his master. Jesus had bent all His energies to train these twelve men to be like Him, not only in their actions and behaviour but also in their very heart and attitude.

How could Judas so brazenly address Jesus as ‘Rabbi’ when his very word betrayed his hypocrisy? He had become just like the ones he now served. With a sneer and a mocking smile, he walked straight up to Jesus and kissed Him. His very action must have cut Jesus to the heart.

It was a signal for the unruly mob to grab Jesus and tie Him up like a common criminal; Jesus’ hands, which had brought healing, comfort and life to many were now bound and he was dragged off to face the hatred of the most religious of all Israel’s people! Jesus protested. Why? He did not resist arrest. He questioned their outrageous behaviour when He was at their mercy at any time. He was a public figure, teaching and preaching to the crowds, not skulking in dark corners to dodge the authorities.

They could have taken Him at any time, but they waited until He was alone with His friends and out of the public eye. He knew that the religious leaders were too cowardly to order His arrest in the daylight. It was a deed of darkness. It had to be done under cover of darkness so that, by the time the city awoke, the trial would be over and He would be condemned to die. The people would have no say, and they could do nothing about it.

What a shock it must have been for His disciples! They had chosen not to take notice of His repeated warnings. Suddenly, everything He had told them began to happen. Judas, the missing disciple that none of them even bothered to ask about, appeared out of the darkness leading a mob of ruffians. Jesus was grabbed and bound, dragged away unprotesting while they gaped in horror.

They did not wait for the inevitable. No way were they going to be arrested with Him. Without a backward look, they fled into the darkness of the olive grove while the taunts and shouts of the arresting mob grew fainter. Perhaps they stopped in the depth of the garden, breathless and trembling, wondering what it was all about and where their Master was being taken.

When they realised that they were not being targeted, they quietly retraced their steps, listening for the noisy crowd and following them into the city. Where were they taking Him? They could only guess. To the headquarters of the Sanhedrin, no doubt, or perhaps to the house of the high priest.

Their minds were in a whirl. So it was Judas after all whom Jesus had unmasked at the Passover meal. The traitor! None of them betrayed Him, but they were no better. Where were they when He needed them the most? Trembling in the darkness, leaving Him to face the mob alone.

Scripture taken from THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Have you read my new book, Learning to be a Son – The Way to the Father’s Heart (copyright 2015, Partridge Publishing)? You’ll love it!

Available on www.amazon.com in paperback, e-book or kindle version or order directly from the publisher at www.partridgepublishing.com.

Check out my Blog site – www.learningtobeason.wordpress.com