Tag Archives: trap

GUILTY!

Bible Study, ,

GUILTY!

“They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing Him. But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with His finger. When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, ‘Let anyone who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.’ Again, he stooped down and wrote on the ground. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left with the woman still standing there.” John 8:6-9 (NIV).

Jesus was in a sticky situation again, so they thought. He needed time to work this one out

In spite of all the speculation, no one knows why Jesus wrote on the ground or what He wrote. Does it matter? Perhaps He didn’t write anything. Perhaps He was practising His letters? Perhaps He was just doodling to let the woman’s accusers hear the sound of their own voices. Perhaps He was planning His defence. Perhaps a little bit of everything.

The religious leaders waited with baited breath to hear His response. They thought they had Him. They were gearing up to arrest Him on the spot for being a law-breaker. They had rocks in their hands, ready to carry out their ruthless sentence against the woman. They were not ready for His response!

Jesus stood up and looked at each one. He caught the gloating, blood-thirsty gleam in their eyes. He spoke directly to them. ‘Fair enough,’ He said, ‘go ahead and hurl your stones if you are not guilty.’ Then He bent down and carried on writing. He heard the crunch of sandals in the dirt. He heard the swish of robes as they slunk away, one by one. Then it was quiet.

He looked up. The woman was still lying on the ground, shielding her face with her arms.  He stood up and lifted her to her feet. “Jesus straightened up and asked her, ‘Woman where are they? Has no one condemned you?’ ‘No one, sir,’ she said. ‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin.'”  John 8:10-11 (NIV).

What had Jesus just done to save the day? He did the one thing the religious experts had forgotten. The law demanded that there be two or three witnesses to validate an accusation against an offender. He knew that He was bound by the Law of Moses to have her stoned if there were at least two witnesses who could corroborate her accusers’ story. But He also knew that, without witnesses He could show mercy and set her free.

He simply made the witnesses go away! How better to get them at their own game than to let their consciences do the work. He was willing to let them carry out their sentence if they were without sin or even perhaps just this sin. Who knows but that they were all part of the conspiracy and their consciences would not allow them to throw their stones at her knowing that they were just as guilty as she was/  As “holy” as they thought they were, they could not bring themselves to claim that they were without sin. That would make them liars to compound their guilt. They had no option but to leave!

Very smart, Jesus! How long would it take for these guys to learn that they were taking on more than they could handle when they took Jesus on. No matter what strategy they tried, they could not outwit the Son of God because He stood for truth and truth can never be overcome.

Jesus and the woman were left alone. It was His opportunity to apply His yoke to her as well. Many others had learned, through His compassion, mercy and forgiveness that the God He represented was full of kindness and love. There was no accusation, condemnation or rebuke — only forgiveness and counsel. ‘Woman, I am giving you a brand-new start. Take your opportunity and don’t blow it.’

The woman must have gone home, washed up, cleaned up and looked up, free from her burden of guilt and energised by the power of a great love to start a new life. Her encounter with Jesus would never be forgotten. She shed her old life like a butterfly sheds its cocoon, determined to live up to the words of her deliverer.

What about you?

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.

Nailed Again!

Bible Study, , , , ,

NAILED AGAIN!

Later they sent some of the Pharisees and Herodians to Jesus to catch Him in His words. They came to Him and said, ‘Teacher, we know that you are a man of integrity. You aren’t swayed by others, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. Is it right to pay the imperial tax to Caesar or not? Should we pay or shouldn’t we?’

But Jesus knew their hypocrisy. ‘Why are you trying to trap me?’ He asked. ’Bring me a denarius and let me look at it.’ They brought the coin, and He asked them, ‘Whose image is this? And whose inscription?’ ‘Caesar’s.’ they replied. Then Jesus said to them, ‘Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s and to God what is God’s.’ And they were amazed at Him (Mark 12: 12-17).

Would they never learn? The religious leaders could not face Jesus again. He had made them look stupid so many times that they sent representatives to try again. They so desperately wanted to trap Him so that they could arrest and indict Him for speaking against Rome that they just would not stop trying.

Did you notice the words of the ones who came to Him? Their words were strangely accurate if they really meant them. They would have been expressing their sincere evaluation of Jesus had they not been buttering Him up for the attack. “A man of integrity.” True! “Not swayed by others.” Absolutely! “Pay no attention to who they are.” Exactly! “Teach the way of God in accordance with the truth.” Spot on! So why did they refuse to believe Him? Why were they so intent on getting rid of Him?

Simply because they were not interested in the truth. They had to defend their position at all costs because it was comfortable and lucrative for them. They had to protect their interests with Rome. Get Him on the wrong side of Rome, and they had it made. Interesting that the representatives of the religious leaders were Pharisees and Herodians – two groups on opposite ends of the scale.

So what was their problem? Always the burning question – paying taxes to Rome! Roman taxation financially crippled the people. And to make matters worse, there were some from among their own who were in bed with the Romans – collecting taxes for them and feathering their own nests in the bargain. “Let’s nail Jesus on this one,” they thought. “Surely He does not approve of the heavy taxation burdening His own people?” One word from Him and there would be an uprising because the people hung on His every word.

Without a moment’s hesitation, Jesus caught on to their scheme. He cut right through their flattering words to their hypocritical hearts. “Bring me a coin.” He ordered them. They should have known better. What was He up to now? Producing a coin, they listened intently. Was this their moment? He held it up for all to see and demanded, “Whose face is on this coin?” Mystified, they replied, “Caesar’s.” Turning it over, He asked, “Whose title is on this side?” Once again they were forced to reply, “Caesar’s.”

Suddenly the penny dropped. “Give back to Caesar what is his and to God what is His.” He declared and, turning on His heel, He walked away. Did they have egg on their faces! Once again they had made a fool of themselves in public. Instead of catching Jesus, He caught them. He neither sanctioned nor condemned the paying of taxes to Caesar. They were part of a world system that needed money to keep it going. It was neither right nor wrong to pay taxes – it was necessary.

On the other hand, there was another system in place – an unseen kingdom over which God ruled. There were obligations to fulfil in this kingdom as well. Jesus had come to teach the people that God had the right to call the shots regarding the way He ruled over the hearts of men. His was a rule of mercy and grace. His people were to live in the world system in the spirit of His truth as representatives of their God in the world. This was the part the religious leaders refused to accept. Their corrupt hearts adhered to the world system of greed and selfishness.

Every word Jesus spoke exposed their wicked hearts. They had to find a way to silence Him so that they could carry on in their evil ways without His continual prodding and poking at their sin.

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

 

 

 

 

This is War

Christian Life, , , ,

THIS IS WAR

“‘When a strong man, armed to the teeth, stands guard in his front yard, his property is safe and sound. But what if a stronger man comes along with superior weapons? Then he’s beaten at his own game, the arsenal that gave him such confidence hauled off, and his precious possessions plundered.

“This is war and there is no neutral ground. If you’re not on my side, you’re the enemy; if you’re not helping, you’re making things worse.'” Luke 11:21-23 (The Message).

The reaction of the crowd to Jesus when He drove a dumb spirit from a man gave Him the opportunity to warn them that their bigoted opinion of His mercy and their antagonism towards Him put them in a dangerous position – there is no neutral ground when it comes to Him. They could not stand on the side-lines and voice their skeptical and caustic comments and expect to be part of a kingdom that was based on love and trust.

What was His little story about the strong man intended to convey? Was He talking about His mission on earth? Was He telling them to watch out because they were backing the wrong side? Satan thought he was strong enough to guard his territory but he was powerless against one who was stronger than he and who had the authority to evict him and reoccupy the territory that He owned in the first place. The very weapons he thought were invincible, would be his undoing,

What is the weapon Satan thinks will enable him to get what he wants – the allegiance and worship of the people God made for Himself? His most effective weapon is deception, the lies he has woven around whom he is and what he does. He is the father of lies. He dupes people into believing that they can live without God, do exactly as they please and then have an afterlife of bliss and pleasure without Him breathing down their necks. What a terrible lie!

How does Jesus unmask the deceiver and take away his weapons? With the truth! The cross is the clearest demonstration and declaration of the truth. What does it say? That God is in charge, that God is just and that rebellion against Him is punishable by death. It also says that God is loving and merciful and He paid the price for our rebellion by taking our penalty on Himself. Satan’s weapon of lies is powerless to cover up the truth.

In relation to this universal conflict between lies and truth, no-one can be neutral. This is war to the death and whoever does not believe THE truth, that Jesus is the Son of God, that He came in the flesh to reveal the Father and to take the place of sinners in order to ransom them and set them free from their debt, is an enemy and doomed to the fate awaiting the devil and his demons.

That is exactly what the devil is aiming for, that he can take as many people as he can down with him. There is only one way out of his trap – to believe and receive the truth. Not to side with Jesus is automatically to side with the enemy and to side with the enemy is to choose destruction. God gives every person what he chooses.