As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:38-41 NIV).
Too often in our lives, like Martha, we find ourselves distracted by seemingly endless cares and responsibilities. Yet, how little these cares matter in the larger scheme of things. True, little things are important, very important. After all, Jesus taught us that “One who is faithful in a very little is also faithful in much, and one who is dishonest in a very little is also dishonest in much” (Luke 16:10 ESV). Yet, it is in the smallest things that the Lord requires of us, the easiest things, that we are most negligent as we busy ourselves with relatively petty matters.
As Mary sat at Jesus’ feet drinking in His every word and enjoying the spiritual feast He had set before her, Martha found herself getting more and more irritable at the unfairness of her situation. When she finally took her complaint to the Lord, He replied, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things; one thing is needful. Mary has chosen the good portion, which shall not be taken away from her”’ (Luke 10:42 RSV). His answer is both reassuring and disturbing at the same time, as indeed all the teachings of Christ are. Does this mean that we are free to neglect our work and earthly responsibilities and spend all day in prayer? Not at all. It does mean that all our work and use of time must be organised in subjection to the Lord’s will and purposes. This brings us to an important question – on a practical level, how can we be good stewards of our time?
On one hand, we realise that Christ is the Lord, the Creator of time and seasons, yet we have also been called to redeem the time because the days are evil(Ephesians 5:16). Redeeming the time means making the most of it, using every opportunity for doing good and bearing fruit for the kingdom. Surely this includes being responsible about our earthly tasks. Therefore, at first glance, Martha might appear to be a better steward of her time than Mary, and it is important to note that the Lord does not judge her at all for being preoccupied with her household work or for not paying closer attention to what He was saying. He let it pass, knowing that Martha’s heart was in the right place- she wanted to please Him and to serve their company well. Indeed, He would have made no comment if she had not complained.
She did, however, complain; and it is a good thing that she did, otherwise we would have missed out on this precious nugget of truth and wisdom – “…there is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her” (Luke 10:42 NABre). The point here is not that Martha’s actions were displeasing to the Lord, but that Mary had made a better choice. So, while it is possible for us to do good things for the kingdom if our hearts are set on serving Him, some people make wiser decisions in their use of time than others. The proof of this is often lies in the fruit in their lives. Towards the end of the day, we find Martha so anxious and fretful that she even begins to scold Jesus – “Lord, don’t you care that…?” Mary, on the other hand, was at peace, unruffled by all the goings on of the day… Martha clearly thought that her sister was being irresponsible and inconsiderate, but the Lord took a different view.
Now what would have happened if Martha had behaved like Mary? Would their guests have gone hungry? Consider this example. Jesus often ministered to crowds from Peter’s boat. On one such occasion, Peter had spent the whole morning fishing and caught nothing; but when Jesus had finished preaching, He asked Peter to put out his net one more time and immediately they had such a huge catch that their nets began to break. When we put first things first and lay aside time to wait on the Lord, we find that this small sacrifice yields great rewards. Things somehow fall into place and all our work gets done without unnecessary stress and worry when Christ is at the centre of our lives.
As we begin this new year, let us remember this – only one thing is needful – sitting at Jesus’ feet, listening to what He says. Let all our work flow from our waiting on Him.
Father, help us to plan our days well and find time to listen to what You have to teach us. In Jesus’ name.
‘He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain, And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil…” (Isaiah 33:15)
A Message for the New Year: Making Sense of Kingdom Senses
By
David Conlon
It is difficult to digest the above passage without dwelling on the implications of failing to grasp what the prophet is placing before us for today and tomorrow. Isaiah provides us with a concise challenge rather than a question-and-answer session. Consequently, I am asking myself, what is the specific challenge that now stands before me; however, my view and yours may be very different.
On reflection, I am wondering if the title should have been, ‘Trusting God in Times of Trouble’. The prophet Isaiah lived through turbulent times and witnessed when a famous Assyrian king was building his empire into the largest and cruelest western Asia had ever seen. He saw the neighbouring Kingdom of Israel crack, collapse and vanish in a maelstrom of intrigue, assassination, siege, deportation and imprisonment. It is in this same region that today we are witnessing a not dissimilar war involving Israel and Hamas that has the potential to draw other nations into this human and spiritual catastrophe. The barrage of words increases daily, amplified and multiplied by evermore sophisticated technology. It is through this lens that we attain a greater understanding of the ministry of the prophet Isaiah.
I am wondering if anyone could be described as walking in righteousness when so much carnage is taking place. During this point in advent, we become aware that another year is looming. Many of us will step into the new year with many spiritual expectations, while others will have spiritual hangovers. Before we move on, we must now, as a matter of urgency, step back and take stock of the constant invasion of news and what it is designed to actually achieve. It can only be described as nothing more than a proliferation of propaganda sent from hell itself. The message they want us to believe is that man holds the answers to both good and bad. They will tell us we need to be informed because our world has gone Global. Why are we not reminding them that our omnipresent God has been global since time began and His word is a detailed historical and prophetic account of what has taken place and what will take place today and in the future.
They have nothing new to tell us about the behaviour of fallen man. They cannot even tell the mothers of Nigeria where their kidnapped daughters were being held, we now need charities to bring to the attention of the public the plight of children in the slavery of labour and sex. This is in spite of laws being in place to prevent such things ever happening. We have more laws than at any time in the history of the world, but seemingly the prayers of modern-day saints are not enough to tip the prayer bowls of heaven that hold the answers for all.
“Those who walk righteously and speak what is right, who reject gain from extortion and keep their hands from accepting bribes, who stop their ears against plots of murder and shut their eyes against contemplating evil— they are the ones who will dwell on the heights, whose refuge will be the mountain fortress. Their bread will be supplied, and water will not fail them. Your eyes will see the king in his beauty and view a land that stretches afar.” (Isaiah 33:15-17 NIV)
When we read on from Isaiah 33:15 to 17, we see the position that our God has for us. Let us walk righteously and speak with sincerity, let us reject unjust gain and hold no bribe; let us stop our ears from hearing about bloodshed and shut our eyes from looking upon evil. It has been said that believers need 24/7 prayer houses, rather than 24/7 newsrooms.
Our reward for this paradigm shift is conclusive, Isaiah 33:16-17- He will dwell on the heights, His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given him, His water will be sure. Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will behold a far-distant land.
Let us be discerning and not allow our eyes to be blinded to what God is doing in the midst of the apathy that has embedded itself in our western societies and churches. An apathy that if continually left unchecked diminishes the sovereignty of our God and will ultimately produce churches full of believers without a daily testimony as to the power of the living God who is able and active to maintain their peace and impact this world by bringing Heaven to Earth.
We see and hear nothing on our 24-hour news bulletins whether they come via our TVs, our PCs or free evening news papers that offer us anything that is contrary to the warning given to us in Isaiah 33:15. Look and write down for yourselves the content of the news and see it as it really is. Let us be willing to seek more of Him and by doing so receive the revelation He so desperately wants to impart to us. Reject Satan’s media machine solely designed to quieten the voice of God and be assured that the voice of God cannot and will not be quieten. His voice was there at the beginning of time, and it will be there at the end. Only you and me can quieten His voice and this is a choice we choose to make on a daily basis.
Some points for reflection:
We need to be careful about the constant invasion of news and propaganda in our lives. The media often portrays humanity as having all the answers, rather than pointing to God. We would do well to limit our intake and instead spend more time in prayer and God’s word.
Walking righteously means rejecting unjust gain, refusing bribes, avoiding violence and evil. It’s more than just avoiding sin – it’s actively pursuing justice, integrity, and purity.
If we walk righteously, God promises that He will be our refuge and provider. We can dwell on the heights with Him and see His beauty. Righteous living leads to spiritual blessings.
There is an apathy in Western church culture that diminishes God’s sovereignty in our minds. We need a revival of God’s power and daily testimonies of His goodness to combat this.
In this coming year we must be more discerning about the media we consume. So much news and entertainment dull our spiritual senses. We need less 24/7 newsrooms and more 24/7 prayer rooms. The time has come for the church to wake up spiritually, walk in integrity, reject cultural propaganda, and passionately pursue God. Our senses and lives must be tuned to His kingdom rather than the kingdom of this world.
‘And having been warned by God in a dream not to return to King Herod, the magi left for their own country by another way.’ Matthew 2:12 – NASB
A Sense of Completion
By David Conlon
Once again, the season of Christmas is upon us and soon will follow the commencement of another year. What either of these periods have in store for us, only time will tell. For each of us the outcome may be very different, taking this reality to another level, I am asking myself what the content of conversation would have been between Joseph and Mary as they sought accommodation to give birth to Jesus. The same could be applied to the Magi kings as they approached the little town of Bethlehem. For each group the culmination of their journey originated from two very different sources. For Mary and Joseph, it was due to a census being called by Caesar Augustus for all the inhabited earth, however, for the Magi kings, it was nothing earthly, it was everything heavenly. The message of the coming birth of the Messiah was written in the stars.
There is a vast difference between ‘going out of your way’ and ‘getting out of the way.’ The response to either will inevitably require some level of directional change. We see from the passage in Matthew 2 that three things had to take place for the Magi kings to fulfil their mission. The first was the acceptance of the message in the stars. The second was the discerning the real motives of King Herod, and the third was the alteration of their route back home. We must also appreciate what it’s like to undertake desert travel.
For each of us today we may never know what cooperation with God will achieve, it may be minor or major. We will only know if we enter into His purpose or plan. Had the Magi chosen to return home by the route that they came, then scripture could not have been fulfilled. Two thousand years on, we can only wonder what the cost was to the Magi kings going back home a different way. There was a [i] “A Nativity Sermon” preached by Lancelot Andrews, the Bishop of Winchester in England on Christmas Day 1622. Andrews’ original text reads, “A cold coming they had of it at this time of the year, just the worst time to take a journey, especially a long one. The ways deep, the weather sharp, the days short, the sun farthest off, the very dead of winter.”
That sermon alone provides us with a picture that there was more to the Magi kings than star gazing. They were men willing to go out of their way to fulfil the purposes of God. Equally, they were comfortable travelling the unforgiving terrain of the desert in the very dead of winter.
It has been said that whilst on their journey, they too saw in a vision “three trees against a low sky”; the single image of the three trees implies the historical future (the crucifixion) and the spiritual truth of the future (the skies lowered, and heaven opened). Whether this is fact or fiction? Who knows; one thing is for sure; the event of Christmas was never meant to be a one-day wonder.
There is of course, the other side of going out of the way: that is to get out of the way. One of the hardest things for Christians is recognising when it is time to get out of the way in order for God’s purposes to be fulfilled. We see that soon after the Magi had gone, it was Joseph’s turn to receive instructions through a dream; behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph and said, “Get up! Take the Child and His mother and flee to Egypt and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is going to search for the Child to destroy Him.” Matthew 2:13-15 -NASB
Following the birth of Jesus, God’s process was consistent with that of the Magi. This time, it was through a dream to Joseph. Again, in order for him to fulfil his mission to flee Egypt, three things had to take place. The first was the receiving of a dream. The second was the discerning of the dream, and the third was the implementation of the dream.
We will never fully understand what God is asking us to do over this Christmas or the coming year. We may never see the outcomes when God’s work requires us to go out of our way to fulfil the task set before us. Similarly, we may never recognise when our attitude or pride is becoming a stumbling block for God’s purposes. We do however know this; while many things we do may leave us with a personal sense of incompletion, we can rest assured that God has recruited others to fulfil every aspect of His purposes. The knowledge that others are in place changes our perspective. It transforms the incomplete to the complete. We too must be ready to follow the metaphorical star on the premise that a voice in a dream has told us to get up and go.
May this coming year be one of completion for everything that the Lord places before us.
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,“Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!” (Luke 2:13-14 ESV)
Once again at Christmas, we are reminded of the Source of our hope in the midst of the troubles in this world. Jesus came to this earth to reveal the goodwill of His Father to all mankind, and He still rules in the hearts of all who believe in Him.
For this wonderful day, here’s a little treat which I found on YouTube recently- a group of Ukrainian monks singing Christmas carols before the war. Enjoy and Happy Christmas!
“I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” (Luke 24:49 NIV)
After Christ had risen from the dead, He presented Himself to 500 of His followers, so that they might be witnesses of His resurrection and, usher in the next phase of His work on the earth. Before they could fulfil that Great Commission, they had to be empowered with the baptism of the Holy Spirit. “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptised with water, but in a few days you will be baptised with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 1:4-5 NIV).
The command ‘to stay…’ , ‘to wait awhile…’, ‘stay until…’ is not an easy one to follow. It was hard for the disciples to obey this very simple instruction then, and it is even harder for us who live in this fast-paced age. Consider, how the disciples responded when Jesus first commanded them to wait in the city. It is clear that all 500 witnesses fully intended to obey their Lord, and had begun ‘their watch’, waiting for His promise to materialise. Their hearts were full of joy and expectancy; having witnessed the resurrection and experienced the presence of God in their midst, doubtless, they meant to follow Him until the end.
Yet, as the days passed by slowly – too slowly it seemed, the call of their earthly duties grew persistent, and waiting became hard. The joy of those early hours of the resurrection seemed distant, the memory of Christ’s intimate presence was fading while the days seemed long and fruitless. “Where is the promise of His coming?”, they asked themselves, and “Why do we wait here any longer?” For what was promised had taken too long to arrive. One by one, each of them received ‘an urgent call’ to leave the city, to move on and to fulfil some other more pressing duty. So, they left, one by one, each meaning to return to Jerusalem once they had finished their particular task. Only a minority from that group of witnesses chose to linger on in Jerusalem.
With so little to occupy their time, Peter felt he needed to do something to make the hours count. How compelling, indeed, is this urge ‘to do something’, when we are called to wait. Yet, how careful we must be in managing this urge, for many have stumbled greatly in attempting to fill in a gap allowed by God without seeking His wisdom. Now Peter set out to replace the missing link in their inner circle of disciples – caused by the betrayal of Judas – and called for a lot. It is hard to know whether Peter was led by God or his own thinking in this matter, but their pick for the day, Matthias, is never again mentioned in the scriptures. It is a mercy, Peter did nothing too foolish, for he was kept safe by the prayers of his Master. Others were less fortunate.
Consider Aaron and the Israelites as they waited forty days and nights for Moses to descend from Mt.Sinai… when their patience had reached its limit, they decided to fashion a god for themselves in place of the One who had left them on that seemingly interminable watch with no prior notice, and so, brought terrible judgment on themselves (Exodus 32:1-10). Next, consider the tragic end of King Saul, who felt he couldn’t wait a minute longer for the prophet Samuel to come and make the planned sacrifice. The foolish king decided to step in and offer the sacrifice himself, something which only priests were permitted to do. His men were growing impatient, he reasoned… and he himself had enough of the delay (1 Samuel 13:5-15). Yet, that event marked a downward spiral in his life and career, from which he never recovered. Finally, let us not forget poor Esau returning to his tent, hungry from a hard day’s hunting, to find his brother Jacob cooking a delicious meal. When the wily Jacob demanded that he give up his birthright in exchange for a bowl of stew, foolish Esau, feeling he could not wait, but had to satisfy his teenage hunger pangs or die, surrendered his whole destiny (Genesis 25:29-34).
Perhaps, you are among those who have been tempted give up waiting, and may be you have actually begun turning back. Perhaps, the urge to do something in your own strength and wisdom has gripped your heart, and you feel you can wait no longer for God to move. Thank God that we live in this dispensation of grace. Return to Him now, and experience the full forgiveness, mercy and restoration that Christ has won for us at Calvary. Like Peter, step into the waters without hesitation, for Christ is waiting on the shore to receive you. Do not delay a moment longer. He is your peace, your rest; come to Him, be healed and made whole. Turn to Him, and surrender your longing to launch out on your own.
However, let us also be aware that to give up one’s place while ‘on the watch’ is no inconsequential thing. To endure the dryness, the darkness and nothingness, to bear the silence of God, and the sheer endlessness of the wait is very hard, but equally, the reward must never be underestimated. Of the 500, 380 departed, yet 120 remained. ‘They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers’ (Acts 1:14 NIV). Let us pause for a moment to understand why this little band chose to wait.
Among that dwindling group, was Mary, the mother of Jesus; if 119 of the remnant group had chosen to leave, we may be sure that she would still remain. For this is simply the nature of mothers… when all others give up, a mother clings on in hope that her child would yet fulfil his promise. Too often in life, this hope is destined to endure one battering after another, and many of her well-meaning friends may come alongside to urge her to be realistic, be practical, and give up. Yet, mothers have been given eyes to see what others cannot. In the end this purest of love triumphs – so Mary’s love triumphed and her hope was proven to be not in vain. If Mary had given up, all the others might have too. But, they stayed as they had been commanded for they too loved the Lord. Love, then, is the key. When gifts, sacrifice, faith and hope fail, we are taught that love remains. Mary loved Jesus, as did the women with her and the disciples. So, they waited to receive the promised gift.
In the parable of the ten virgins, we are told that ‘the Bridegroom was a long time in coming’. They all grew tired while waiting, and all fell asleep. Yet, five of these women knowing that their wait would come to an end – sooner or later, as the Lord saw fit – and they would be called to set forth with Him, remembered to procure some oil for their lamps. Soon afterwards, tiredness and sleep overwhelmed them. When the cry rang out in the midnight hour, they were all up on their feet, ready to move on. Yet, only half of them still had that love shinning in their hearts. The others found that their stores of love and hope had all run dry, and they were found unfit to accompany the bridegroom. They looked to their wiser companions hoping for some impartation, but learned the hard way that the time had run its course.
It is not just our faith that is being tested when we are called to wait, but our faithfulness. When all hope seems to disappoint, the essential Christian virtue of fidelity is proven by our staying on in the watch. Remember, Christ is called ‘Faithful and True’, so Christians are expected to be faithful. When we do not know what tomorrow holds, and the future looms before us like an endless path to nowhere, if we will still wait upon Him, clinging to that first hope with the little strength that we have, there is plenty of room for the Lord to work; and, have no doubt, He will work. Take time to say a word of thanks to our Father above, because even when everything seems dark, we know we are still His. He has never let us down and will never break faith with those who are His. The 120 in that upper room in Jerusalem, who waited, open and ready to receive the promised Holy Spirit, found this to be true.
Finally, consider the joy that is stored up for those who will keep their lamps trimmed and their hope alive until He returns. Let each one of us be blessed to hear the words, “Enter into the joy of your Master” (Matthew 25:21).
Father, please grant us the wisdom, the grace and the extra ounce of strength to hold on and wait for You. In Jesus’ name.
Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May those who love you be secure. May there be peace within your walls and security within your citadels. ” For the sake of my family and friends, I will say, “Peace be within you.” For the sake of the house of the LORD our God, I will seek your prosperity. (Psalms 122:6-9 NIV)
This is indeed a time to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. The land of Israel, which God promised Abraham long ago, is now at war. Jerusalem, the ‘city of peace’, created to be the centre of worship to the living God, has once again become the epicentre of strife and contention in the world.
As Christians, we know from the scriptures that it was the mighty hand of God which gathered the children of Israel back to their ancient homeland. We saw His promises being fulfilled as wave upon wave of Jewish people, dispersed across the nations, returned home from the four corners of the earth. In our churches, we remember the Jewish people in our prayers, praying for their safety and spiritual restoration. Now, just as we had grown rather complacent about the state of affairs in Israel, what a shock we have had, as Hamas militants stormed the cities of Israel during the holiday season of Yom Kippur, taking women and children as hostages. This assault is eerily reminiscent of the attack on Israel by Syria and Egypt in 1973, exactly 50 years ago; then, as Israel regained its territory with US support, a third world war with the Soviet Union defending the Arab nations was averted by UN mediation.
This time round, it is hard not to notice the shift in popular feeling toward the Israeli state. In 1973, with the horrors of the holocaust fresh in people’s minds, most Western nations stood in support of Israel, bolstered in no small measure by influential Jewish communities in their nations. Today, those communities have been supplanted in numbers and influence by Muslim migrants. As this recent attack was reported in the world media, most western governments and media have lingered, albeit with diminished enthusiasm, on the side of Israel. However, significant sections in these nations, especially among young people, have organised large protest marches in support of ‘the Palestinian cause’, making no distinction between the civilians suffering in the siege, and the Hamas militants.
Whose side should we be on? As I reflect on this question, I am reminded of the following scriptures –‘Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, “Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither,” he replied, “but as commander of the army of the LORD I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence, and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the LORD’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so. (Joshua 5:13-15 NIV)
We should always pray to be on the Lord’s side and the above scriptures reveal that He rarely takes sides in conflicts, even in situations where He Himself has directed one side to take on another. During the Second World War, clearly one side was right and the other wrong. During the American Civil War, clearly one side was right and the other wrong. Now, consider President Lincoln’s response to one of his advisors (who remarked that he was thankful that God was on their side)- “Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God’s side, for God is always right”.
Clearly, one side is right and the other is wrong in this conflict, but God’s care extends to all, equally. As Christians, we should not forget that whatever happens, and whether God hands victory to Israel or to their enemies in this present conflict, the purposes of God are unchangeable and His love is unfailing. What is His purpose? We understand that His promise to Abraham was an everlasting covenant. As long as the earth endures, the land of Israel belongs to the descendants of Jacob. Through centuries, we have seen the hand of God gather them to this land, scatter them among the nations when they rebelled, and then restore them again, all in keeping with His promises. We recognise that like the church, Israel has often turned away from His ways and His commands. We also know that God loves all people including the worst of the terrorists, and He will gladly receive anyone who turns to Him in a spirit of repentance. God’s ultimate purpose is always to save souls.
Therefore, God calls everyone to repentance and this includes the Jews, the Muslims, and most of all, His church. When the scales of justice are applied by a righteous Judge, He takes into consideration the knowledge He has imparted to each one. To whom more has been given, more is expected. And to whom has the fullness of His truth been revealed, but to us, the church who are His ‘chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and His special possession’ called to declare His praises. Yet, how far we have fallen from His ways! How we need His mercy today!
God does not judge as we would. We might unhesitatingly condemn the cruelty and violence of various terrorist groups, and of course, we should. Perhaps, we stood aghast, when Israel declared a siege over Gaza, announcing that they would block access to food, water and fuel for the population, half of whom are apparently children, and felt relieved to learn that Israel had delayed their ground attack so that a humanitarian corridor could be created for the evacuation the civilians from Gaza. As we listen to activists and commentators, on both sides of the divide, on our news programmes, we sense their sorrow and anger, but also in many cases, their hatred and even, arrogance.
Why are they so arrogant? I have been especially dismayed to listen to some commentators from the church and from Israel. Christians commentators appear so sure of the rightness of the cause we support, for after all, are not God and His promises on our side, they suggest? The Jewish commentators often boast of Israel’s ‘self-sufficiency’ and military strength as well as the justice of their cause, often forgetting that it is God alone who will determine victory or defeat in this conflict. These are times, when we need to humble ourselves and seek His face. Just as President Lincoln called for a day of fasting, prayer and humiliation in 1863, the church needs to seek His face in a spirit of humility and repentance.
Therefore, let us not be quick to judge, but to pray. Let us plead with God for mercy and forgiveness. For we all have sinned, in one way or another. The church has been impure and we are in no position to judge anyone; we must come to the cross of Christ once again for mercy and renewal. Israel has not been sinless by the standards of the Old Covenant, so they can claim no moral superiority over their enemies, who by all accounts are simply being faithful to the tenets of their religion and their understanding of God. In this, they are perhaps better than the Jews and the Christians. Yet, their zeal is without knowledge… and how the world suffers as a result of their misguided actions.
So, let us pray, for this much we can do. Let us pray for all the suffering people of this world. Let us pray for Israel, her rest, safety and spiritual restoration. Let us pray for the millions of suffering Muslims to find peace in Christ. Most, of all let us also pray for ourselves, the fallen church, that we ourselves may be restored to our first love.
Father, hear our cry. Grant us a spirit of wisdom and revelation that we may know You better. Forgive us our many sins. Have mercy on Israel and on all the suffering people in many Muslim lands. We pray for all who suffer in this world and lift them up to Your throne of grace. We pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Have mercy on us all. For we ask this in Jesus’ name.
The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it. (Mark 11:12-14NIV)
The story continues – ‘When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city. In the morning, as they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. Peter remembered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has withered!” “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins.”’(Mark 11:19-25 NIV)
Jesus’ cursing of the fig tree seems strange because there is no other example of the Lord destroying anything during His ministry. When people rejected Him, He usually left them alone and went His way; when His disciples displayed a lack of faith, He rebuked them mildly; when people rejected His message, He simply warned them of the consequences. On one occasion, He drove the money changers from the temple. His harshest criticism was reserved for the hypocritical teachers of the law, who were stumbling blocks to many souls, and yet, even the ‘woes’ He directed at them (as also the woes directed at Judas) were warnings, not curses. No one, however wicked, was ever cursed or hurt in any way by the Messiah, for His earthly ministry consisted in being our Saviour and not our Judge. “If anyone hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge that person. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save the world” (John 12:47 NIV).
So Jesus’ response to the ‘barren’ fig tree seems, at first glance, rather harsh and whimsical. Why curse a fig tree just because it could not bear fruit out of season? On reflection, it becomes obvious that the Lord was not being angry with a tree, which as we all know, lacks the facility for doing good or evil. Any tree planted in the right conditions and cared for properly could be expected to bear fruit in season; yet trees have no power to determine where they are planted or how they are tended. The Lord was not blind to these simple facts; but He intended by the act of cursing that fig tree to teach us some vital lessons.
An important lesson for us in this story is the consistency of conduct that is expected of us as Christians. The tree was cursed because it was fruitless. The Master of the orchard has the right to expect fruit from His trees both in season and out of season, because He Himself is the Lord of the seasons. As Christians, we are called to always produce good fruit for the Master, both when the external conditions for our fruit bearing seem perfect, and when they fail. Consistency in behaviour is a sign of Christian maturity, for it shows that we have yielded control of our inward conditions to God, and our actions and responses are not determined by our outward circumstances. Joseph served God when he was in Potiphar’s household and in prison just as much as he did while living under his father’s roof. ‘When in Rome, do as the Romans’ does not apply to a Christian’s conduct. Following the example of our Lord, we must continue to bear fruit even in adverse circumstances.
The central lesson in the story, of course, is about faith. If you have faith, the Lord pointed out, your prayers and your declarations will hold immense power. The disciples did not understand the full implications of this teaching at the time. It was only after they had seen the risen Lord and received the Holy Spirit that they began to experience the power of faith in Christ for themselves; and then the gospel was preached with power, the sick were healed, lepers cleansed, demons cast out and the dead raised in His name. Yet, if the Lord had meant only to show His disciples that such things could be accomplished by faith in Him, He had no need to curse a fig tree. After all, He Himself had performed all these miracles during His ministry, and even the disciples were able to perform some miracles in His name prior to the resurrection.
Now, on observing the withered fig tree, Jesus suggested to His disciples that even greater things could be accomplished by faith. “Have faith in God,” Jesus answered. “Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them‘”(Mark 11:22-23 NIV). On another occasion, the Lord taught His disciples “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mulberry tree, ‘Be uprooted and planted in the sea,’ and it will obey you” (Luke 17:6 NIV). The common feature in these examples is not the scale or impressiveness of the miracles, but the nature of what was accomplished by faith – the withering of a tree from the roots, another tree being uprooted, and a mountain being cast into the sea. If we consider the scale of these miracles, greater signs and wonders have been recorded in the OT – the Red Sea being parted, manna falling from heaven, the sun standing still, and the Shunnamite woman’s son being raised from the dead. No true believer in the gospel would doubt the power of faith to accomplish supernatural works, our question is more likely to be ‘how do we arrive at such faith?’
In this post, I do not mean to address that question at all; instead, I would like to draw the reader’s attention to a common feature in the three examples of faith listed. What do the fruitless fig tree, the mulberry tree, and the mountain, have in common besides their catastrophic endings, and the faith factor involved? I believe that all three – in their seeming permanence, immovability and the space they occupy – are symbolic of things in our lives that we struggle with and often find impossible to overcome. These include specific sins, harmful character traits or entrenched habits that many individuals battle to overcome, curses afflicting certain families for generations, and spiritual strongholds evident in some communities. Such things work to hinder Christians from making spiritual progress and unbelievers from receiving the gospel, and in some cases, their impact can be extremely destructive. Yet, the remedy the Lord prescribes for their uprooting is simple and consists of a three-pronged action plan, with faith being the core ingredient of the remedy.
The first prong of the remedy is the declaration of faith.“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them” (Mark 11:23). The verbal acknowledgement of what we ask or believe, or perhaps a visible demonstration, is crucial for the work of uprooting to be accomplished. No miracle is known to have occurred otherwise. Jesus Himself always either called forth the miracle, or performed an action, such as the application of His saliva over the blind man’s eyes. Even that stolen miracle – the healing of the woman with the issue of blood – occurred when this woman touched the hem of the Lord’s garment. The miracle of salvation, likewise, is linked to the believer’s acknowledging of his or her faith – ‘The word is near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart… If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved’ (Romans 10:8-9 NIV).
The second prong is the prayer of faith. “Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours” (Mark 11:24). Perhaps you are praying for help in a time of trouble or deliverance from a pattern of behaviour that you know to be harmful. We need to move from making desperate, hopeless pleas for relief to making powerful, faith-filled prayers based on the promises of God. Even a little faith can produce wonders.Perseverance, as demonstrated by the Canaanite woman, or the persistent widow, is the evidence of faith; true faith does not give up because something is not immediately visible but continues ‘the work of believing’ until it sees the intended result. In Hebrews 11, we are shown examples of believers seeing their promises fulfilled ‘from a distance’, meaning beyond their own lifetimes. Yet, they prayed, they believed, and they declared what would be, and we are called to do likewise. The fulfilment of the promise – the desired outcome of our faith – is for the Lord to accomplish, it is His part in the bargain. This truth should greatly encourage us, for we will always be rewarded for doing our part. Our reward is not diminished because we cannot show the world the outcome of our faith. Consider Abraham and Moses – neither stepped foot in the Promised Land, but their faith was instrumental in others being able to inherit what had been promised. Sometimes, only God knows what the final result of a Christian’s faith would be.
The third prong is the forgiveness of debts.“If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:8-9 NIV). Sin is a barrier to prayers being answered. Therefore, it is important to go to the Lord to have our sins forgiven; but confession of sin alone is not enough to achieve this goal. We must also forgive everyone who has sinned against us. “And when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins” (Mark 11:25). The Lord commanded the Israelites to observe a Jubilee every 70 years, when all debts were cancelled in Israel and land restored to their original owners. When we forgive someone, we must love them just as if they had never wronged us. We must grant them a ‘jubilee’ or restoration of standing in our esteem. Perhaps, experience has taught us that we cannot always trust them and, indeed, we must act more wisely; but we should still love them and do them good. This is not always easy, so we should ask God for a loving and forgiving heart towards our enemies, and persevere in prayer until we can truly forgive them. Then our own sins will be forgiven by our Father in heaven, and our prayers will be heard.
The fig tree had withered from its roots, but by its dying, what great lessons we have been taught!
Father, we thank you that through faith in our Saviour, our prayers are heard. Help us to understand this truth and live a life of faith and victory to the glory of Your name. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
When Jesus followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear. But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him.(Luke 22:49-51 NIV)
All four gospels narrate the incident relating to the high priest’s servant having an ear cut off by one of Jesus’ followers at the time of His arrest. In three of the gospel accounts, the two main actors in that scene appear as shadowy, nameless characters, and St. John alone gives us the name of the concerned servant – Malchus, and of his assailant – Simon Peter.
“Behold, My Servant shall deal prudently [or act wisely], he shall be exalted and extolled, and be very high” (Isaiah 52:13 KJV). In the NASB translation, this scripture verse is worded differently, “Behold, My Servant will prosper…” The narration of Jesus’ arrest and His response to the attack on Malchus in the gospels, has much to teach us – firstly, about the character of Jesus, to which we as Christians are called to conform, and then, a more practical lesson on how we might ‘act wisely’ or ‘deal prudently‘ and ‘prosper’ during crisis situations in our own lives. Christ’s words, actions and demeanour were quite extraordinary for anyone in that situation. Many times, during His 3-year ministry, the Lord had to deal with crowds wanting to stone Him or otherwise hurt Him; each time, as the gospels record, He slipped quietly out of their clutches and went His way. This night was not very different, except that now ‘His time had come’ and His task was to yield Himself to His adversaries.
Although Jesus had communicated to His disciples that the time had come for the Passover Lamb to be sacrificed, they were not quite ready to receive this teaching or to see their Master yield up His power and authority to His opponents. Confused and upset by the sudden turn of events, each of them ‘reacted’ – perhaps, not wisely – in line with his own individual character. The cross is, indeed, the place, where our true selves are exposed. Peter, who could never just stand by and do nothing, took his sword, and cut off the high priest’s servant’s ear. The others acted less rashly, choosing instead to watch and wait for a bit, before deserting Jesus and fleeing to their own homes just as He was arrested. John returned soon afterwards along with Peter and lingered near Jesus all the way to His final moments on the cross.
That night was characterised by chaos and a sense of panic, yet we know that Jesus remained calm and unshaken throughout, behaving exactly as He had on any other day, whether teaching at the temple courts or healing people. This time, the beneficiary of His healing ministry was among those who had come to arrest Him. In that perilous hour, the need of this man, struck so unfairly by Peter, was not forgotten. So, what was it that enabled Jesus to stand His ground, so gently, and yet so firmly in such a difficult hour? True, He is the Messiah, but the Bible is clear that He had laid down His divine attributes, to walk in the weakness of human flesh. What separated Him from all the others on that fateful night was the quality of His prayer life – fervent, ceaseless and constant – which resulted in an unusual sensitivity to the Spirit of God. He knew that the hour of His Cross was near, and strengthened Himself in prayer to meet that hour. While the disciples gave in to their weariness and slept, He travailed on in prayer, so that the hour – when it came – did not faze Him, while it shook everyone else including His adversaries.
Just an hour earlier the Lord had confided to His disciples that, “My soul is troubled…” (John 12:27 NIV), and “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death…” (Matthew 26;38 NIV), yet, now surrounded by a baying mob, He was at perfect peace and continued His mission to serve others. As the contingent of soldiers and officials encircled their little band, Jesus stepped forward and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said…Then Judas came up rather clumsily to deliver his kiss – a signal he had arranged to show the soldiers – ‘Here is your Man, take Him.’ When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground. (John 18:4-6 NIV). Perhaps, it was the light from His face that had caused them to stumble.
Indeed, it was as if Jesus had to assist the soldiers with the arrest, but not before He had pointed out to them the irony of the whole situation. He had been with them for so long, yet they had never tried to capture Him. “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come with swords and clubs? Every day I was with you in the temple courts, and you did not lay a hand on me. But this is your hour —when darkness reigns.” (Luke 22:52-53 NIV). In contrast to the Jesus’ work, all done in the full light of day, the temple authorities had waited for nightfall, to gather in strength and entrap Him. That was their hour, ‘when darkness reigns’, but even in that hour, they stumbled and fell to the ground.What a demonstration of the weakness of Satan’s forces before the face of Christ!
Another key aspect of Christ’s response was His singular focus on His mission. ‘The scriptures must be fulfilled’, He stated then as He had several times in the past. “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 26:53-54 NIV). Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” (John 18:11 NIV). His task on earth was, clearly and simply, to see scriptures fulfilled –‘to drink His cup’– and to that end, both His immediate comfort and His kingly authority had to be made subservient.
We also note that in the hour of Jesus’ greatest trial, He did not give up doing good to those around Him. His priority at the time of His arrest was to ensure that His disciples were unharmed, for their time had not yet come. ‘Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they said. Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.” This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.” (John 18:7-9 NIV). Next, He continued to teach His disciples – by word and example – how to act wisely. His command to Peter who had struck the high priest’s servant – “No more of this... Put your sword back in its place… for all who draw the sword will die by the sword” (Luke 22:51;Matthew 26:52 NIV) – serves to teach all those who would follow Him, that the aims of His kingdom are to be established by sacrifice, and not by the sword or brute force. Lastly, He touched the high priest’s servant’s ear and healed him.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45 NIV). So, He continued to fulfil His service that night and all the way right up to His final moments on the cross – by ministering in different ways to the many along His path. Malchus, the thief on the cross, the women of Jerusalem, His mother, His disciples and all who had come to crucify Him – were all to receive His touch one way or another. Again, the scriptures were fulfilled. “Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will bring justice to the nations” (Isaiah 42:1 NIV).
“Behold, my servant shall act wisely; he shall be high and lifted up, and shall be exalted” (Isaiah 52:3 ESV). In our own life situations, as we navigate the unknown and when things seems beyond our control, we too can ‘act wisely’ and come forth triumphant by imitating Christ and His approach to the greatest trial in His own life and ministry by 1. Strengthening ourselves through prayer; 2. Keeping our focus on the mission – to seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and 3. Continuing to serve others along our path in big ways or small.
Father, behold Your servants, Your sons and daughters. Help us as we follow our Master, who came to serve, not to be served. Amen.
Then Satan entered Judas, called Iscariot, one of the Twelve. (Luke 22:3 NIV). ‘While he was still speaking a crowd came up, and the man who was called Judas, one of the Twelve, was leading them. He approached Jesus to kiss him, but Jesus asked him, “Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?”’ (Luke 22:47-48 NIV).
Satan entered Judas, one of the Twelve. What terrible thing to happen to anyone! How is this even possible – that a disciple, who had once followed Jesus and lived in daily fellowship with Him, who had preached the gospel, and had served Him alongside other the Eleven, should turn around and stab Him in the back? The betrayal by a person we trust is very hard to bear. Imagine Julius Caesar’s final moments, as members of the Roman senate circled round him, knives drawn to kill him, and then his shock at discovering that Brutus, his closest friend, was one among them. Shakespeare puts his final words as – ‘Et tu, Bruté! Then fall Caesar.’ According to Suetonius, Caesar’s actual words were ‘Kai su, teknon’ (in Greek), meaning, ‘You too, my son?’
When Satan first ‘entered Judas’, he began to plot to hand Jesus over to the temple authorities. How did he justify this act to himself? It is possible that he did not realise at the time that they meant to crucify his Master. Perhaps, the arrest would turn out to be a good thing, he reasoned, and Jesus, if He were truly the Christ, would be forced to show His hand and reveal His kingly authority to His enemies.
The gospels reveal that Judas had been a thief, often stealing from the ministry purse. That he had never changed his ways should surprise no one – we all know of believers who seem totally unchanged from their former ways and, nearly all of us struggle to change in certain areas of our lives. Considering that the Lord always knew that Judas was ‘the wolf’ in their midst, His dealings with him seem mysterious. Why entrust him with the money bag? Why not assign Matthew, the ‘truly repentant’ former tax collector, to the role of company treasurer? Was Judas known to have some special skill with accounting and investments? It is very likely that just as Jesus had entrusted Peter with the role of leadership among the apostles, despite being aware of his fickleness and impulsiveness, he picked Judas to be the keeper of the purse.
What do we learn from this? Jesus sets His followers deliberately in roles that are often in keeping with our natural skills, but which also have the potential to draw out the worst in us. This reveals the measure of the Lord’s trust in us, His willingness to take risks in order to perfect us and the power of His grace to preserve us through the testing. A revelation of our innate failings and wickedness can often be the first step to real transformation in our lives. Too often, we must fall flat on our faces like Peter before we will even acknowledge that we are indeed weak and unworthy, and it is at this very point that we become malleable to Christ’s reforming work in our lives, His making ‘all things new’ within us, in order to help us reflect the truth that we are now ‘a new creation’ and the old has gone. For after we have stumbled, we learn to depend on the grace of God to lift us up and carry us towards His goal for our lives.
According to the gospel of John, Satan, took over Judas’ soul fully when he had received bread from Christ’s own hands at the Last Supper. Certainly, the enemy did not take over Judas’ soul without his cooperation. The finality of the moment, the irrevocability of Judas’ last act of cooperation with the enemy should serve as a fearful warning to all believers. How long before someone succumbs to the devil’s machinations? What is the point of no return for a believer? Peter was led to the point of denying Christ, yet he was reinstated when he returned to Christ. However, our confidence in all this is the Lord’s own promise to keep us safe – “I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:28 NIV).“Now to him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you without blemish before the presence of his glory with rejoicing, to the only God our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and for ever. Amen.” (Jude 1:24-25 RSV). These promises held true for Peter, and will hold true for all who trust Him.
“You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet” (John 13:13-14 NIV). Christ showed them the importance of servanthood in Christian leadership and work, and this crucial point, Judas, to his great loss, failed to grasp. All Christian service will be tested by fire on that final day when the thoughts and intents of all hearts will be revealed. Many marvellous works, that have the world in awe today, will be reduced to ashes because the love of Christ was not at the centre of such works, but worldly ambition.
Now, a question to consider is this – how different was Peter’s denial to Judas’ betrayal? Consider the following points. Judas ‘original intent’ may appear malign compared to Peter’s for it led to his colluding with the Lord’s enemies and plotting to do harm. Yet, Peter’s resolve to be faithful to his Master melted like dross when put to the test just like Judas’ desire to be good. For there was indeed a time when Judas also desired to be good – for he chose to follow Christ. On the surface, therefore, the two acts do not seem very dissimilar; was the difference then just a matter of degrees? After all, while Judas was driven by worldly ambition, it is clear that none of the other disciples were free of such ambition.
When Jesus mentioned to the Twelve that one of them would betray Him, each of the other Eleven was worried that he might be the one to fall and betray Christ, and this speaks well of them. “They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?” (Matthew 26:21-22 NIV). Then Judas also asked, almost hypocritically, at the end, (or because for just one moment he was horrified at the enormity of what he was about to do), “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?” Eventually, the disciples’ love for their Lord overcame selfish ambition as one by one they laid down their lives for His name, but with Judas, his worldly ambition was to consume his loyalty to Jesus. Perhaps, then the real difference lay in that the Eleven actually loved Jesus, while Judas never did.
Another thing that stands out in this story is Christ’s unwillingness, to what seems an alarming extent, to interfere with our free will. Oh, why couldn’t He have done something about Judas? In order to save his soul. I can think of only two things. First, He did do something. As with Peter, He warned Judas that he would betray Him and informed him of the consequence of his betrayal. “The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born” (Matthew 26:24 NIV). If only Judas had pleaded for help, thrown himself at the Lord’s mercy, even confessed afterwards… Who knows but things might have been different? Sadly, Judas went afterwards to the wrong person – the chief priest – with his confession (and the blood money). ‘“I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility”’ (Matthew 27:4 NIV). That callous reply probably pushed him over the brink to end his own life. We know that Peter’s repentance resulted in a full reinstatement and certainly Judas’ repentance would have earned him the Lord’s forgiveness.
The Bible is silent, so we can only guess as to what might have been. The second and most important point to note is that Jesus did all things in accordance with the Father’s will. His prayer for Himself – ‘Let this cup pass away, but not My will, but Yours be done’… suggests that His prayers for Judas were similarly governed by the desire for the Father’s will to be fulfilled. It was never His desire to see Judas destroyed; His prayer for His disciples at the Last Supper reveals His thoughts on the subject – “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me. None has been lost except the one doomed to destruction so that Scripture would be fulfilled” (John 17:12 NIV)
“You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’…” Jesus said (John 13:13), and “I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you” (John 15:15 NIV). With these words Jesus revealed His trust in His disciples, even knowing that they would all abandon Him in the next few hours, in the hour of His need. To be called a friend of God is the greatest honour that heaven bestows. Consider the small select company of those whom God chose to call His friends – Abraham and Moses; it is indeed, a mark of divine trust to be not just a servant, but a friend of God. In the light of this truth, Christ’s final words to Judas, when he came with soldiers to arrest Him, are strange indeed. “Do what you came for, friend”. What an unusual way to address the one who comes with the kiss of death! Jesus showed Judas – and all of us – that even the act of betrayal had not lessened His love for the betrayer. This wanderer seemed well beyond His reach – to save and restore… for the hardening of his heart had been so thorough, so complete and, of course, the scriptures had to be fulfilled. Yet, the love of Christ outlasted Judas’ betrayal. His sorrow for the betrayer was greater than His pain at being betrayed. As Caesar said, “You too, My son!”
There are important lessons for us in this tragic tale. First, we must always be watchful… of ourselves more than anything else. Second, like Christ, we must seek to be free of rancour even towards the few souls who might betray us in our lifetime. Remember Jesus was ‘constrained’ by obedience to scripture – and the Father’s will – in His dealings with Judas. We, too, are constrained by obedience to the scripture and the Father’s will when we respond to those who betray us. And what does scripture command us to do? “But to you who are listening I say: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you” (Luke 6:27-28 NIV) and “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21 NIV). When we reflect on Judas’ terrible end, what a relief to know that we might yet be instruments in the salvation of those who might hurt and betray us.
Father, we have been warned in Your word to watch and pray! Yet, how quick we are to forget Your words. Please help us to watch ourselves and to be good to those who mistreat us. In Jesus’ holy name.
From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things… and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life. Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. “Never, Lord!” he said. “This shall never happen to you!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns.” (Matthew 16:21-23 NIV)
For the greater part of Christ’s ministry, Simon Peter had trouble coming to terms with the cross. As surely as Jesus prepared Himself to face the cross, He prepared Peter too, and there is much that we might learn from His dealings with this apostle.
As we read about Peter in the gospels and in the Acts, and as we read his letters, we gain a vivid image of his personality and character. He was undoubtedly a man of action, a natural leader, who had his strengths as well as weaknesses, and so, experienced his share of triumphs and setbacks. He rarely hesitated… often being the first among the disciples to step up to the call, but he was also known to stumble at crucial points in his Christian journey.
As the first of the disciples to acknowledge Jesus as the Messiah, he received this great commendation from the Lord, in words carrying both a blessing and a delegation of authority – “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven… I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:17-19 NIV).
Yet, only hours afterwards, Peter received the harshest rebuke that Jesus is known to have uttered during His earthly ministry – after he himself had ‘rebuked’ the Lord for saying He would have to go to the cross (Matthew 16:21-23). “Then Jesus told his disciples, “If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it”‘ (Matthew 16:24-25 RSV).
This is indeed a hard lesson for us to learn… Yet, willingness to take up one’s cross is an essential step to Christian maturity, and moves us from a self-centred walk to a self-sacrificing faith. It was certainly a hard lesson for Peter. Of course, the Lord knew that the cross would be a stumbling block to him, as it is for many of us (1 Corinthians 1:23).
Now the devil, also knowing the disciple’s point of weakness, had laid a trap to ensnare him, and the Lord warned Peter – “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you, that he might sift you like wheat, but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail; and when you have turned again, strengthen your brethren” (Luke 22:31-32 RSV).
Peter, typically, dismissed the whole idea as complete nonsense, being confident of his own loyalty and endurance. “Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death” (Luke 22:33 RSV), “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will” (Matthew 26:33 NIV), he repeatedly asserted. Jesus replied, “I tell you, Peter, the cock will not crow this day, until you three times deny that you know me” (Luke 22:34 RSV).” Although, the Lord knew that Peter would deny Him, His warning carried no recrimination, only prayers.
Jesus was confident that Peter would rise again from his stumbling because had already interceded for him. ‘Whenyou have returned, strengthen your brothers…’ Who can understand such love! What trust the Lord reposed in Peter… as He does in His entire church. For He Himself is committed to the building work of a holy church – “… on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overpower it” (Matthew 16:18 NET).
As with Peter, the Lord’s prayer for us is an essential part of His building work. Indeed, before He went to the cross, He prayed for all of us, for our protection. These were His prayers for the apostles, and for us: “My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one… Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth… may they be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me…” (John 17:15-17, 23 NIV).
His intercession on our behalf, as our eternal High Priest, continues to this very day. What does He pray for? Our protection, sanctification, and unity – the 3 crucial elements for the preservation of His church in every age. Let us pray with Christ, that His church, our brothers and sisters, would be protected, sanctified and remain in unity with one another and with the triune God.
‘During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with fervent cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. Son though he was, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him and was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek’ (Hebrews 5:7-10 NIV) … And ‘because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore, he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them’ (Hebrews 7:24-25 NIV).
‘… He always lives to make intercession’ for us (RSV). Christ’s continuing intercession, His obedience and submission in His role as sacrificial Lamb – have sustained the church and will sustain those of us who belong to His flock until the very end. He, not only became the source of eternal salvation for us, but He is able to save completely ‘those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them’ (Hebrews 7:24-25 NIV).
We know that Peter denied Christ on the fateful day. How sad for him, yet how necessary for us – who also stumble in many ways and forget our great calling – to know how the Lord treated him afterwards. After His resurrection, when the Lord met Peter by the sea, there were no reproaches for his falling away, only kind words and a warm breakfast.
More importantly, Christ had no intention of removing Peter from his position – as the chief among His apostles. After his denial of the Lord, it is clear that Peter himself felt he was no longer worthy of the call and considered returning to his fishing nets. There, by the Sea of Galilee, where he had begun his journey of the cross, Christ met him a second time – this time to reinstate him to his call.
Christ’s word to Peter, when He first warned him of his imminent fall had been – “…when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers”. Now, Christ renewed His commission to Peter – three times, once for each of his denials – “Feed My lambs”… “Take care of My sheep”… “Feed My sheep.” The Lord was there to forgive him and help him turn over a new leaf. We see that Peter’s return to Christ’s embrace was no painful crawling back; for Lord remained steadfast in His love and commitment to Peter’s reinstatement, and He Himself led him back. ‘Rise up and strengthen your brothers and sisters.’
This time Jesus also foretold Peter’s end: “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then He said to him,“Follow me!” (John 21:18-19 NIV).
Peter, according to tradition, was martyred for the cross; indeed, he is believed to have been crucified. Except for John the Beloved who was spared a painful death, all the other apostles and St. Paul were also martyred for their faith. In the restoration of Peter, the Lord finally prepared this apostle to take up his cross.
May the knowledge of Jesus as our heavenly intercessor be a source of great confidence for us, each time we stumble. We may waver, but Christ still has work for us to do; and He is able to work in our hearts until are prepared to take up our own crosses to follow Him.
Father, we thank You for the gift of Your Son. May we be willing to take up the cross each day, deny ourselves and follow the Crucified Son. In Jesus’ name.
Ginger Tea & Sympathy 