God's Sovereign Plan

While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.” Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”  (Matthew 26:27-29)

Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.”...“My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”...He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners. Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!” (Matthew 26:36-46)

Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear. “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. 

Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” (Matthew 26:50-54)

When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor. (Matthew 27:12-14)

Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him. (Matthew 27:27-31)

Jesus set an amazing example as He stood before His enemies. He willingly surrendered His right to defend Himself, even against outright lies. Jesus’ quiet dignity was not weakness but surrendered strength. He did not veer off God’s course for Him to find an easier path. 

What do you do when obeying the Lord becomes difficult? Do you question God’s goodness? Do you compromise or complain? How can you trust God for the strength you need to obey Him in a difficult place? 

God’s sovereign plan took Jesus to the cross. God’s sovereign plan for your life can be trusted.

Self-Righteousness Destroys

Those who had arrested Jesus took him to Caiaphas the high priest, where the teachers of the law and the elders had assembled...The chief priests and the whole Sanhedrin were looking for false evidence against Jesus so that they could put him to death. But they did not find any, though many false witnesses came forward...The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

“You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven." Then the high priest tore his clothes and said, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Look, now you have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?”

“He is worthy of death,” they answered. Then they spit in his face and struck him with their fists. Others slapped him. (Matthew 26:57-67)

While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered.

“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 

“Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”

When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!”

All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!” Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified. (Matthew 27:19-26)

The Jewish leaders declared their own version of Messiah and Jesus did not measure up. They steadfastly believed they were right as they pursued Jesus’ arrest, hearings, and death. They elevated their opinions and view of themselves and refused to examine and yield to the truth. They failed to recognize Jesus’ wisdom and all He had done that revealed He had come from God.

In a similar way, pride and self-focus lead us down a dangerous path. Weaponizing the opinions we judge right is acceptable in today’s world. People who think they are right draw bold lines on social media, in news broadcasts, and even within churches. Even Christians who desire to hold up God’s truth can do so in an unloving and unkind way. 

The only way to truly be right is to pursue the One who is fully righteous: Jesus. Is there an area of your life in which you insist upon being right? How might God judge your heart as you relate to others? How will you give up human “rightness” to pursue righteousness in Jesus? 

(From Bible Study Fellowship International)

His Sorrow Didn't Lead to Repentance

Then one of the Twelve—the one called Judas Iscariot—went to the chief priests and asked, “What are you willing to give me if I deliver him (Jesus) over to you?” So they counted out for him thirty pieces of silver. From then on Judas watched for an opportunity to hand him over. (Matthew 26:14-16)

While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people. Now the betrayer had arranged a signal with them: “The one I kiss is the man; arrest him.” Going at once to Jesus, Judas said, “Greetings, Rabbi!” and kissed him. Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.” Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. (Matthew 26:47-50)

Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor. When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” 

“What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself. (Matthew 27:1-5)

Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. He greeted Jesus with a kiss in the garden and called Him “Rabbi” instead of Lord. 

Judas did not find peace because he refused to seek Jesus. His life ended in tragic suicide. If he had confessed his sins to Jesus Christ...if he had waited just a few days...I believe Jesus would have forgiven him the way He forgave Peter. 

In what situation are you struggling to find peace? Will you seek the Lord and trust Him with what you cannot understand? His peace passes all understanding and gives us hope in the midst of uncertainty. 

What decision will you make today regarding Jesus? He stands close and calls you “friend.” Will you look to Him or turn away?

(From Bible Study Fellowship International)

Peter's Failure Wasn't Final

Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me...But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.” Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.” “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same. (Matthew 26:31-35)

(Just a few hours later) Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said. But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.” He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.” Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately a rooster crowed. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.   (Matthew 26:69-75)

Peter followed Jesus at a distance. He was confused, fearful, grieved, and utterly in anguish over the loss of his beloved Master. Peter’s denial, failure, and bitter tears reveal human vulnerability in a real and raw way. Peter recklessly ignored Jesus’ warnings, fell asleep rather than to his knees in prayer, and denied Jesus three times. He wept bitter tears.

Striving in his own strength, Peter failed miserably. The same is true for us today. We can never be strong enough to overcome life’s challenges by trying harder.

Only when we come to the end of ourselves and turn to Jesus can we persevere. What difficulties do you face? In what ways are you trying to power through in your own strength? How has God exposed your weakness and allowed failure to draw you to Himself? Will you fall on your knees in fervent prayer to the One who hears your cries for help?  

Peter did and it made all the difference. 

(Lesson from Bible Study Fellowship International) 

A Miracle Before Dunkirk

This is an incredible story of God's deliverance at Dunkirk that the movies/history books seem to leave out:

Studying some remarkable events in the history of World War 2, we find the deliverance of the allied armies at Dunkirk; a true story of Divine providence in modern history. It was on May 10, 1940, that Hitler unleashed his armies against France and Belgium. Within days, the British army found itself outmaneuvered and unprepared for the German blitzkrieg assault led by General Rommel and his 7th Panzer division.

The German high command began boasting of the demise of the allied armies, particularly the 300,000 soldiers of the British army sent by then Prime Minister Winston Churchill to protect France and the low countries of Europe. As the prospect of victory waned Churchill was prepared to announce an unprecedented military defeat of a third of a million soldiers.

But then a miraculous turn took place initiated by King George VI, who ordered the observance of a National Day of Prayer. The British Monarch, along with members of the cabinet, attended Westminster Abbey to pray, while millions of Britons all across the Kingdom in unprecedented unity, attended churches to join the King in prayer. Newspapers throughout the UK reported, "Nothing like it has ever happened before."

Then the miracles began: First, Hitler ordered his troops to halt their advance for no apparent reason, which angered his generals and continues to baffle historians to this day. Secondly, a massive storm broke out in Flanders which grounded the German Luftwaffe squadrons, allowing the allied armies to travel to the beaches at Dunkirk unhindered by the German air force. A third miracle involving the weather was that simultaneous with the storm which grounded the Luftwaffe, the English Channel was as still as a millpond...an unprecedented calm which allowed ships of every size to evacuate over 338,000 troops including 140,000 French, Belgian, Dutch and Polish soldiers from the beaches at Dunkirk.

Winston Churchill addressed the British nation and described the evacuation of Dunkirk as a “miracle of deliverance.”

The following Sunday, the nation in celebration of God’s answer to prayer, sang Psalm 124 throughout churches in the United Kingdom.

Psalms 124:1-8 A Song of Ascents. Of David. If it had not been the LORD who was on our side— let Israel now say— if it had not been the LORD who was on our side when people rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us; then the flood would have swept us away, the torrent would have gone over us; then over us would have gone the raging waters. Blessed be the LORD, who has not given us as prey to their teeth! We have escaped like a bird from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Today, be encouraged knowing that our God responds to prayer and is ready to act upon it at a moment's notice. The armies of darkness may surround us, in fact, they are sure to sooner or later; but we also know the Lord is standing ready to defend His own. "Our help is in the name of the Lord, who made Heaven and Earth" [Psalm 124:8]

Bible Points to Jesus! - John 5:30-47

30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me.

31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.

32 There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true.

33 You sent to John, and he has borne witness to the truth.

34 Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved.

35 He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light.

36 But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me.

37 And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen,

38 and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent.

39 You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me,

40 yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life.

41 I do not receive glory from people.

42 But I know that you do not have the love of God within you.

43 I have come in my Father’s name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him.

44 How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God?

45 Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope.

46 For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me.

47 But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?”

John 5:30-47

In a court of law, a statement is proven by the testimony of witnesses. If Jesus alone testifies about Himself, His testimony will not be accepted because at least two witnesses must testify in order for a thing to be established (Deuteronomy 17:6). Jesus presents four witnesses to testify. These are John the Baptist, Jesus’ works, the Father and the Scriptures. Jesus states John testifies of Him and Jesus knows this testimony is true. Jesus then said His works should have been all the proof any would need to know that the Father was with Him and sent Him (John 3:3, 7:31). He then added His Father and the Scriptures as additional witnesses.

Jesus was not upset because they didn’t endorse Him, but because they had no love for God. Jesus said they did not like His claim to be from the Father. Moses, whom they claimed as their defender, will be their accuser even though they have set their hope in him. If they really believed Moses, they would believe in Jesus because Moses wrote about Jesus. But if they do not believe Moses’ writings, they won’t believe Jesus either.

*Do you believe Jesus is God? Why or why not?

John 5:19-29 - Jesus' Authority

19 So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.

20 For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.

21 For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.

22 The Father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the Son,

23 that all may honor the Son, just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him.

24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.

25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live.

26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.

27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man.

28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice

29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.

John 5:19-29

In verses 19-21 we see Jesus, God the Son, claiming the same power as the Father. Jesus begins by saying the Son only does things He sees the Father doing. What the Father does, the Son does in the same way. The Father does not judge anyone, because He has given the Son that task – so all who honor the Father will honor the Son. Any who fail to honor the Son do not honor the Father who sent Him.

Notice that we will not be getting eternal life someday. We already have eternal life now by faith. Jesus then says an hour is coming and is now that the dead who hear the voice of the Son of God, and those alive who hear, will live. The Father has life in Himself and has given the Son Who has life in Himself as well. The Father has also given the Son to execute judgment because He is the Son of Man (Daniel 7:13). 

Don’t be surprised at this. An hour is coming when all who are in their tombs will hear His voice and come forth. Those who have done good to a resurrection of life and those who have done evil to a resurrection of judgment. Jesus’ life-giving power can call a person out of the grave (John 11:43), everyone from their tombs, or anyone in spiritual death to eternal life. 

Please note the words those who have done good and those who have done evil do not mean a salvation by good deeds or damnation because of evil deeds. We are saved by the Lamb of God who, as our substitutionary Sacrifice, takes away the penalty of our sin. Salvation is by faith in Christ. Damnation is the consequence of rejection of God’s Son (John 3:36).

*According to Ephesians 2:8-10, what is the true source of our good works?