“Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’ ‘But this is all happening to fulfill the words of the prophets as recorded in the Scriptures.’ At that point, all the disciples deserted him and fled.” Matthew 26:31, 56 NLT
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The best of intentions falls short at some point. Some are due to circumstances beyond our control and others caused by our human frailty. We may mean well and be totally committed to a cause, but when the pressure becomes too intense, we back away. To escalate the problem, we are now forced to eat the boastful words of our commitment, assuring that we will always be there until the end.
Jesus’ disciples ate their words after stating they would never deny or abandon Him. On the way to the Mount of Olives with His disciples after sharing the Passover meal Jesus told them, “Tonight all of you will desert me. For the Scriptures say, ‘God will strike the Shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’” (Mt.26:31 nlt) Peter declared if he was the only one left, he would not abandon Jesus. Jesus then told Peter he would not only desert Him but would deny even knowing Him. They all assured Jesus; they would not abandon Him with Peter giving a resounding response he would die first before denying Jesus.
Scripture accurately predicted the events of that night. Peter denied the Lord and he and all the disciples fled when Jesus was arrested. It’s easy for us to look back two thousand years and criticize how they could do such a thing. They followed Jesus for three years, seen His miracles, knew who He was and still abandoned Him. The disciples like us, had good intentions but they often fell short. Let us be careful in our walk with the Lord, avoid boasting words and criticizing others, may we prayerfully consider our commitments to follow through, and allow the Lord to work in our lives to provide good intentions that will never fall short.
“Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, ‘I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.’” John 8:12 ESV
Have you ever been kept in the dark about something, totally unaware of certain situations until they came to light? Once they were revealed to you, the darkness that clouded your thinking was removed and you began to see the situation clearly.
Spiritual darkness works much the same way. The world is blinded by Satan and kept in the dark of Jesus’ message of Salvation. The Bible tells us that “Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.” (2 Cor.11:14 esv) In this deception, Satan tries to convince us that all is well. He appears in many of the false religions of the world and even influences the false prophets portraying themselves as Christian ministers. The last thing Satan wants is for people to come to know the truth about Jesus, and to know of His Salvation plan. His plan is to keep them in the dark, claiming himself to be light.
Jesus’s second “I am” statement in the gospel of John is “I am the light of the world.” Jesus proclaims those who follow Him will not walk in darkness, confirming there is darkness in the world, spiritual darkness. The apostle John begins his gospel with identifying Jesus as God who made all things and “In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” (Jn. 1:4-5 esv) Becoming aware that Jesus is the light and accepting Him as Savoir instantly dispels the darkness in your life. The dark cloud in your life will be lifted by Jesus, God the Son, the light of the world. May you allow His light this Sunday to penetrate the darkness of your soul and see the situation clearly, Jesus’ love for you.
Here in the Untied States and I’m sure in most parts of the world, people look forward to a three-day weekend getaway. Some long weekends are planned, and others come up in a spare of the moment. Whatever the case the idea is for a change of pace to relax, rejuvenate, and just get away from your normal activities. Unfortunately, they don’t always go as anticipated. Sometimes you change your plans, or they are changed for you. Your goal of rejuvenation did not happen. Just imagine if you had the most disastrous weekend possible, but you came out the better for it, would it have been worth it, or would you be glad to be home?
The book of Acts records a story of Saul, a Pharisee of the Jews, going on a trip to the city of Damascus. This was no getaway for relaxation, but a mission to round up believers in Jesus and bring them back to Jerusalem for trial, even sentencing them to death. “As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him.” (Acts 9:3 niv) The light blinded him as the Lord Jesus asked Saul why he was persecuting Him. Jesus then instructed Saul go into the city and he would be told what to do. The Bible tells us Saul was blind for three days, not eating or drinking, but he was praying. (Acts 9:11)
Saul was in a position where he couldn’t do much more than pray. He was met by Jesus the one whose followers were on Saul’s target list. Saul’s plans had changed for the better, but he suffered three days of blindness for it. Saul would go on to be Paul, the apostle of whom Jesus said, “This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name.” (Acts 9:15-15 niv) Saul’s three days of blindness were worth it. He spent that time praying with the Lord God and was rejuvenated in a whole new way.
How does this apply to our three-day weekend getaway? The Lord struck Saul with blindness for three days to get his attention. God has a way of getting our attention too. No, we are not as devious as Saul with his motives, but what are our true motives in all we do? There is nothing wrong with getting away for three days, and if it doesn’t go our way, perhaps the Lord is telling us something. So may we pray for three days and come out better for it. It would have been worth it.
“Jesus replied, ‘I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.’” John 6:35 NLT
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Each of the four gospel writers in the New Testament portray Jesus in a manner to stress a certain characteristic of the Son of God. The gospels together create a perfect portrait of Jesus. Matthew’s main focus is on Jesus as the Jewish Messiah and King. Mark, writing to a mostly a Roman Gentile audience focuses on Jesus the servant. Luke with a much broader Gentile audience portrays Jesus as the Son of Man, focusing on His humanity. The apostle John writes to prove the deity of Jesus so that all may believe Jesus is the Son of God, and that believing they may have life in His name. Included in John’s gospel is the seven ‘I Am’ statements Jesus made. We will look at these statements over the next seven weeks.
Bread is a staple food item that sustains nourishment to our physical bodies. Other staple food products would include; milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, fish, poultry and other various meat products. But bread seems to have cornered the market (pun intended) on what foods are necessary to stock up on before an approaching snowstorm in my part of the Untied States along with milk and eggs.
Physical hunger has been satisfied, physical bodies were nourished, and lives sustained for thousands of years by the bread provided for us through the baking process. Our bodies need food to survive. Many people who were in the crowd when Jesus fed the five thousand followed after Him the next day and Jesus rebuked them saying “I tell you the truth, you want to be with me because I fed you, not because you understood the miraculous signs. (Jn.6:26 nlt)
The followers were only thinking of the physical, the here and now, much like we do today. Jesus then proceeded to tell them to believe in Him. He was the bread of God which came down from heaven and gives life to the world, in which they responded “always give us this bread.” (Jn.6:33-34) Again, only thinking in physical terms, the same is true today.
Jesus declares, “I am the bread of life.” Those who accept Jesus (the bread of life) for Salvation will receive the nourishment needed to sustain eternal life. This is the first of seven “I AM” statements that Jesus made in the Gospel of John concerning His deity and the message of Salvation. Have you received “Jesus the bread of life?”
“Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown. When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you.” Isaiah 43:1b-2 NLT
There is a misconception that when one decides to follow Jesus and trust Him for salvation all their problems go away. In our present-day vernacular, we would call that misinformation. What does go away is our destiny to a Christless eternity replaced by our assurance of an eternal life with Him in heaven. Certainly, to go through this life with Christ by our side is better than trying to do it without Him, but they are not without the problems that are common to everyone. The Lord will bestow a generous portion of His grace to those who are His just as he gives common grace to all mankind in the troubles of this world. But an extra level of grace and protection is needed for all who are His, because the truth is things are going to get heated and messy.
Christians can take comfort that the Lord knows us by name. Jesus ransomed us by His death on the cross. We are bought and paid for, we are his and He knows our names. The prophet Isaiah encouraged Israel that God knew them by name for they were His chosen people even though they were unfaithful to the point they would go into captivity. But the Lord would bring them out and continue to watch over them through the centuries up to and including our present day. When Christ rules on the earth during the Millenium Kingdom all the land God has promised Israel will be completed. (Ez.47:13-20) And He will be watching over them until that time comes.
As Isaiah encouraged the Jews of God’s protection, the same encouragement applies to Christians who have been ransomed by the blood of Christ. We are assured of His continual watchfulness throughout our lives. When the rivers of difficulties come our way God is there to help us maneuver through the currents. As we struggle in deep waters, perhaps because of our doing, He throws us life raft and pulls us out. The most difficult struggles that are sure to come is the blowback Christians face for being obedient to the Lord and standing up for the truth of the gospel. It is the fire of oppression Isaiah refers to. But our God sees all that comes our way. The fire may hurt, but the flames will not consume us. The Lord tells us not to be afraid, but to remember we are His and He knows us by name.
The world’s most expensive perfume is ‘Passant Guardant’ by Clive Christian at $7,600 per ml or $228,000 a bottle (30ml). To be a recipient of such a gift would be an honor of the highest regard. To be the giver of such an expensive gift would be symbolic of the love towards the one receiving it. The sacrifice made in presenting the gift is on display whether intended or not. The giver cares not about the exposure, but only about presenting a gift of love in the most exquisite means possible.
Jesus received such a gift just a few days before His crucifixion. Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazurus, presented this fragrance of loving service by pouring it over His head. The pouring of oil over the head in the Old Testament is referred to as anointing oil. It was poured over the head of the high priest and his descendants to mark them as holy and set apart unto the Lord. Mary, in this case, anointed Jesus as an act of worship. She was aware who Jesus was, the Messiah. It is also possible she believed in Jesus’ words when He spoke of His impending death, even more than His disciples who seemed to struggle with it. Jesus speaks to Mary’s actions, “She has poured this perfume on me to prepare my body for burial.” (Mt.26:12 nlt)
The perfume or oil Mary poured on Jesus came from Northen India and was made of pure nard. The cost is noted as 300 denarii or about a year’s wages. (Mk.14:5) Today’s value would be about $40,000-$50,000. It was not only a fragrance of loving service, but a loving sacrifice. But Jesus’ disciples complained this act was wasteful and could have been used more wisely. “But Jesus, aware of this, replied, ‘Why criticize this woman for doing such a good thing to me?’” (Mt.26:10 nlt) Charles R. Erdman writes, “No gift to him can be too great if made in grateful love, an act may be morally beautiful even though not practically useful.” (1)
Jesus is pleased with our gifts of service to Him whatever the cost. We can never give too little or too much according to our ability to give. Our motives will determine the value of the gift and our Lord will recognize its true value; may it always be a fragrance of loving service.
In the United States, Memorial Day is observed on the last Monday in May. The day is set aside to remember and honor those who have given all in the service of their country. It was known as “Decoration Day” in its beginning shortly after the American Civil War. Fellow soldiers would decorate the graves of their fallen comrades with flags, flowers and wreathes. The tradition continues to this day. These decorated graves signify that each individual is not forgotten, but remembered and honored for their sacrifice in the protection and maintaining the freedom of their fellow citizens.
Many people visit the grave-sites of their departed loved ones and heroes year after year honoring their memory. But there is one particular grave-site that is visited by thousands of people year after year, and yet they do not come to decorate for remembrance. That is due to the fact that the grave is empty. It is known as the garden tomb in Jerusalem, where Jesus was laid after His death on the cross. They come to wonder in amazement and worship the Lord Jesus Christ who rose from the dead and is alive today in Heaven and seated at the right hand of God the Father.
As we remember those who have given their lives, by paying the ultimate sacrifice for freedom; let us also be reminded of the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. His death provided freedom from the bondage of sin, and because He lives, all those who call upon His name will also live.
“In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” Luke 15:10 NLT
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We have come to the last week of Jesus’ parables with three more all concerning the lost and found. These parables are all aimed at the Pharisees and the teachers of the Law. They despised the tax collectors and the sinners who always gathered around Jesus to hear Him teach and to eat with Him, but they despised Jesus even more. In telling these stories Jesus would contrast the Pharisees exclusiveness with His love and compassion for all including the outcasts of society. These parables relate to every person who has ever walked this earth and those who will walk it in the future. It is about the lost and found.
“So Jesus told them this story: ‘If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them gets lost, what will he do? Won’t he leave the ninety-nine others in the wilderness and go to search for the one that is lost until he finds it?’” (Lk.15:3-4 nlt) A familiar painting comes to mind which most of us seen with Jesus carrying a lost sheep over His shoulders. That one lost sheep represents you and I lost in our sin before we came to Christ. He calls and looks for each of us individually. It’s not a group thing, it’s you by yourself and it’s me by myself. Jesus says, “…. there is more joy in heaven over one lost sinner who repents and returns to God than over ninety-nine others who are righteous and haven’t strayed away!” (Lk.15:7 nlt) It’s about you and me, the lost and found.
In the next parable, Jesus speaks of a woman who lost one of her ten silver coins. There were many women who followed Jesus, and this would be of considerable interest to them. A silver coin in those days was a day’s wages and she lost it somewhere in her house. She lights a lamp in the dark one room dwelling and sweeps until she finds it. When she finds the coin, she calls her friends to rejoice with her for finding what was lost. Jesus’ heavenly meaning in this earthly story is, “In the same way, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels when even one sinner repents.” (Lk.15:10 nlt) Again there is rejoicing in heaven over one individual who has come to Christ.
Jesus is not yet finished on this subject and to drive the point home, He tells a third parable. “…. Jesus told them this story: A man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons.” (Lk.15:11-12 nlt) This parable, known as the ‘Parable of the Prodigal Son’, is the most familiar of all Jesus’ parables. It also has more than one heavenly meaning. The younger son was greedy and impatient wanting his share of his father’s estate while he was still alive. This would have been extremely rare but not unheard of. The father would need to sell off part of his property up to a third, which was the portion allotted to a younger son. The father had done that, perhaps unwisely, and his son took the money and ran. “A few days later this younger son packed all his belongings and moved to a distant land, and there he wasted all his money in wild living.” (Lk.15:13 nlt)
The younger son blinded by greed and selfishness failed to remember a few important things about life. Good times don’t last forever. A party life will eventually lead to ruin. Money disappears quickly when spent frivolously. And, of course, everything comes to an end. His end came sooner than expected and during the worst possible time, a serve famine. It is often during these times prodigals of all ages, both men and women, hear from the Lord and come to their senses. The fun-loving partying son finally came to his senses and started his way back home. Upon his return he would confess his foolishness to his father and ask to take a position as one of his father’s hired servants. But the father had other plans. And our heavenly Father has other plans for us when we foolishly run away from Him. “So he returned home to his father. And while he was still a long way off, his father saw him coming. Filled with love and compassion, he ran to his son, embraced him, and kissed him.” (Lk.15:20 nlt) This parable is sometimes referred to as the ‘Parable of the Father’s Love’, and we can see why.
The father demands a celebration be held in honor of his son’s return. All were enjoying the celebration with music and dancing. But there was one who did not celebrate by refusing to join the party. The older brother was furious at his father’s actions that he would welcome his brother back and with a party after what he had done. He looked at his brother as unworthy of such a celebration and forgiveness. A lesson directed right back at the Pharisees who thought those tax collectors and sinners were unworthy to eat with Jesus.
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These three parables of the lost and found show the Lord’s love for each one of us. We are all lost in our sin, and He and all of heaven rejoices when we turn to Him for salvation and for forgiveness when we go astray. As the father in the parable explained to his other son, “We had to celebrate this happy day. For your brother was dead and has come back to life! He was lost, but now he is found” (Lk.15:32 nlt)
Baseball enthusiasts and movie goers alike share a common interest in the 1989 motion picture release “Field of Dreams.” For the baseball fan, especially those who would consider themselves a traditionalist, a historian and lover of the game, it brought out everything that is good about the game. Baseball has the ability to unite people of all races and generations through a game played on grass and dirt with a wooden bat, ball, and glove. Its legends and heroes have managed to survive the test of time and will continue to do so. For the movie goer and causal baseball fan, the movie brings about an escape from the day to day drama in our lives and in the world. It also affirms the yearning of all of us for something much bigger than ourselves is possible, if only in a dream, a field of dreams.
The sentimental attachment to a movie produced thirty-five years ago has not faded. It has become a national treasure in America with tours of the set where it was filmed on location in Dyersville, Iowa. It prompted Major League baseball in 2021 and 2022 to schedule two regular season games to be played next to the already historic site. As game week unfolded in both years there was much enthusiasm as to the upcoming events. People from all walks of life were anticipating the game, the nostalgia, and asking the question from that famous line in the movie, ‘Is this heaven?’ The answer of course is ‘No, it’s Iowa.’
Many people are looking for a heaven here on earth. They dream of a place if even for a moment that will absolved their tears and frustrations of life. But even in that moment as Ray Kinsella (Kevin Costner) answered truthfully in that iconic movie, ‘No, It’s Iowa.’ There was no claim that it was heaven, but a field of dreams.
The good news is, there is such a place as heaven. It is real and not a dream. God, the creator of the heavens and the earth, has made such a place. It is reserved for those who trust in His Son Jesus Christ for salvation. Yes, it is possible to enjoy a little heaven on earth through the blessings God has bestowed on us such as baseball and the movies. But the ultimate enjoyment will be in eternity with our Lord Jesus. Have you made that commitment to trust in Him? You will not need to ask is this heaven when you arrive, you will know. It’s not Iowa, this is heaven.
“Nearly one in four people worldwide — which translates into more than a billion people — feel very or fairly lonely, according to a recent Meta-Gallup survey of more than 140 countries. Although many calls to reduce loneliness are focused on older adults, majorities of those aged 45 and older do not feel lonely at all, while less than half of those younger than 45 say the same.” (1)
Loneliness affects people of all ages, but as seen above surprisingly the younger generation experience loneliness at a higher percentage than older adults. I will try to stay off my soapbox here, but it is amazing to me with all the technology and social media to facilitate communication that younger people would be lonelier. Perhaps, that is part of the problem. A recent google search reveals, “63% of people on social media report being lonely, 40% of people on social media report feeling anxious or depressed after using it, 61% of younger people in the U.S. say they are chronically lonely.” The bottom line is that people were created to be relational.
We are created in the image of a relational God. We were created to be relational with our fellow human beings, in person and part of society and not living in isolation. Sin has left a void, a large gap of loneliness, between us and our creator. That void needs to be filled first and foremost. A major cause of loneliness in the world today is the feeling of not belonging to anyone. You have no home that satisfies you to call your own. Well, God is calling you home. “(He) makes a home for the lonely.” (Ps.68:6a nasb)
The Lord God has made it possible through Jesus Christ His Son for you to have a sense of belonging and for your home to be in the kingdom of heaven. By accepting Christ as your savior, confessing your sin, and trusting Him for salvation the void is filled, and you are at home. You now have family members who long to see you to encourage you and for you to encourage them. Living life together with other Christians of like faith in a local church prevents you from slipping again into loneliness, it is a home for the lonely, both for the young and the old.
Word for the Soul 