Good morning to everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
Can you believe that Resurrection Day is just six days away? We have been leading up to this in the last few sermons and Sparkling Gem devotions. Then yesterday my weird brain took off on at least a half dozen rabbit trails. One was trying to place myself in Jesus’ place during this week. He knew everything that was going to happen, yet he did it anyway. He cried to the Father that if there were any other way, let it be so, but if not, he was good with his plan. He knew the torture he was going to endure, yet he did it anyway. He knew his death would be agonizing, yet he did it anyway.
I was discussing with someone recently that I am not sure which is harder to process with life ending issues with my father-in-law, the ‘knowing’ the end is near and watching it happen, or the sudden end.
Jesus, knowingly, spent three years in the enemy’s playpen with all of us. He knowingly chose, taught, and led twelve of the most uneducated and unreligious men in that area. Of those men, he chose, taught, and led his betrayer. Over the course of three years many tried to take him out, yet he escaped without issue. He could have easily said, ‘nope, not doing it.” Need to find another way.’ But he didn’t. He tried to prepare his disciples for his death, but they were too caught up in being chosen to hear this lesson. Then, think about this, on a human level, what exactly did Peter think he was going to accomplish by chopping of the ear of one man? That man was in the midst of over 10,000 troops…like really. Knowing that Jesus was the Messiah, and he didn’t take them out, what makes you think you can? Part of me wonders if Peter didn’t see, then, what was happening and felt it was necessary to do die a martyr for Jesus. Just a thought.
Now, trying to put myself in His shoes, today, the closest I have ever come …. And that is not even close to comparison …. Is standing up for my kids in school when adults were not being adults and standing up for my clerks taking the heat rounds fired by management for choices made. Not even close for a comparison, especially since I knew that there was no ‘consequence’ that could come on to me. My only consequence was I was the shield for those I was standing up for. There was no other consequence that would have stuck.
I am so thankful that He did not change his mind in the 11th hour and say, “Dad, we need to find another way. These people are not worthy of me going through all that. I was wrong when I said I could do this. I felt hunger and pain, not willing to do the big stuff. Let them figure it out. WE can sort it out in the end.” I am so thankful for these simple words that He DID say, “Your will be done.”
We have many difficulties to overcome in our daily lives. We have many choices that we have to make. But none of them compares to what He did for us on the cross. What he endured at the hands of the temple guards and romans.
Today I make the choice to see all His marvelous wonders, in everything that surrounds me. Today I choose to be humble in my prayers. Today I choose to remember what this week is truly about. Knowing that He chose me … over himself. Well, that is humbling enough right there.
Be blessed today my friends.
***My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done. – Mattew 26:42
Can you believe that Resurrection Day is just six days away? We have been leading up to this in the last few sermons and Sparkling Gem devotions. Then yesterday my weird brain took off on at least a half dozen rabbit trails. One was trying to place myself in Jesus’ place during this week. He knew everything that was going to happen, yet he did it anyway. He cried to the Father that if there were any other way, let it be so, but if not, he was good with his plan. He knew the torture he was going to endure, yet he did it anyway. He knew his death would be agonizing, yet he did it anyway.
I was discussing with someone recently that I am not sure which is harder to process with life ending issues with my father-in-law, the ‘knowing’ the end is near and watching it happen, or the sudden end.
Jesus, knowingly, spent three years in the enemy’s playpen with all of us. He knowingly chose, taught, and led twelve of the most uneducated and unreligious men in that area. Of those men, he chose, taught, and led his betrayer. Over the course of three years many tried to take him out, yet he escaped without issue. He could have easily said, ‘nope, not doing it.” Need to find another way.’ But he didn’t. He tried to prepare his disciples for his death, but they were too caught up in being chosen to hear this lesson. Then, think about this, on a human level, what exactly did Peter think he was going to accomplish by chopping of the ear of one man? That man was in the midst of over 10,000 troops…like really. Knowing that Jesus was the Messiah, and he didn’t take them out, what makes you think you can? Part of me wonders if Peter didn’t see, then, what was happening and felt it was necessary to do die a martyr for Jesus. Just a thought.
Now, trying to put myself in His shoes, today, the closest I have ever come …. And that is not even close to comparison …. Is standing up for my kids in school when adults were not being adults and standing up for my clerks taking the heat rounds fired by management for choices made. Not even close for a comparison, especially since I knew that there was no ‘consequence’ that could come on to me. My only consequence was I was the shield for those I was standing up for. There was no other consequence that would have stuck.
I am so thankful that He did not change his mind in the 11th hour and say, “Dad, we need to find another way. These people are not worthy of me going through all that. I was wrong when I said I could do this. I felt hunger and pain, not willing to do the big stuff. Let them figure it out. WE can sort it out in the end.” I am so thankful for these simple words that He DID say, “Your will be done.”
We have many difficulties to overcome in our daily lives. We have many choices that we have to make. But none of them compares to what He did for us on the cross. What he endured at the hands of the temple guards and romans.
Today I make the choice to see all His marvelous wonders, in everything that surrounds me. Today I choose to be humble in my prayers. Today I choose to remember what this week is truly about. Knowing that He chose me … over himself. Well, that is humbling enough right there.
Be blessed today my friends.
***My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done. – Mattew 26:42
Good morning to everyone. Grace and peace be with you.
Can you believe that Resurrection Day is just six days away? We have been leading up to this in the last few sermons and Sparkling Gem devotions. Then yesterday my weird brain took off on at least a half dozen rabbit trails. One was trying to place myself in Jesus’ place during this week. He knew everything that was going to happen, yet he did it anyway. He cried to the Father that if there were any other way, let it be so, but if not, he was good with his plan. He knew the torture he was going to endure, yet he did it anyway. He knew his death would be agonizing, yet he did it anyway.
I was discussing with someone recently that I am not sure which is harder to process with life ending issues with my father-in-law, the ‘knowing’ the end is near and watching it happen, or the sudden end.
Jesus, knowingly, spent three years in the enemy’s playpen with all of us. He knowingly chose, taught, and led twelve of the most uneducated and unreligious men in that area. Of those men, he chose, taught, and led his betrayer. Over the course of three years many tried to take him out, yet he escaped without issue. He could have easily said, ‘nope, not doing it.” Need to find another way.’ But he didn’t. He tried to prepare his disciples for his death, but they were too caught up in being chosen to hear this lesson. Then, think about this, on a human level, what exactly did Peter think he was going to accomplish by chopping of the ear of one man? That man was in the midst of over 10,000 troops…like really. Knowing that Jesus was the Messiah, and he didn’t take them out, what makes you think you can? Part of me wonders if Peter didn’t see, then, what was happening and felt it was necessary to do die a martyr for Jesus. Just a thought.
Now, trying to put myself in His shoes, today, the closest I have ever come …. And that is not even close to comparison …. Is standing up for my kids in school when adults were not being adults and standing up for my clerks taking the heat rounds fired by management for choices made. Not even close for a comparison, especially since I knew that there was no ‘consequence’ that could come on to me. My only consequence was I was the shield for those I was standing up for. There was no other consequence that would have stuck.
I am so thankful that He did not change his mind in the 11th hour and say, “Dad, we need to find another way. These people are not worthy of me going through all that. I was wrong when I said I could do this. I felt hunger and pain, not willing to do the big stuff. Let them figure it out. WE can sort it out in the end.” I am so thankful for these simple words that He DID say, “Your will be done.”
We have many difficulties to overcome in our daily lives. We have many choices that we have to make. But none of them compares to what He did for us on the cross. What he endured at the hands of the temple guards and romans.
Today I make the choice to see all His marvelous wonders, in everything that surrounds me. Today I choose to be humble in my prayers. Today I choose to remember what this week is truly about. Knowing that He chose me … over himself. Well, that is humbling enough right there.
Be blessed today my friends.
***My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done. – Mattew 26:42
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