"Then some began to spit at Jesus; they blindfolded Jesus, struck Jesus with their fists, and said, 'Prophesy!' And the guards took Jesus and beat Jesus....Who are you to judge another's servant? To his own master he stands or falls. Indeed, he will be made to stand, for God is able to make him stand." (Mark 14:65, NIV, & Romans 14:4, NASB)
I am sharing with you some thoughts on two texts from today's readings. In the Mark passage you will note that I changed the pronouns to nouns.
The Mark passage is not supposed to invoke pity. This is to tell you and me the "price" of our Salvation, what Jesus took, "bore," and, "carried," for you and me. To say it was humiliation is gross understatement, "spit on Him, and...blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists....And beat Him." And this was before Jesus went to Pilate. All was to fulfill, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain....He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by His wounds we are healed."
Then we have a passage about not getting all "bent out of shape" over some of the "convictions" of others in the Church. For much of what others do which irritate us, the Holy Spirit tells us in Romans 14:1, "....not to dispute[] over doubtful things." And beyond this command we read of a great, indeed, very great promise, "....and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." With all of our peculiarities, our failings and shortcomings, you and I have the promise that even though it may seem as though we are weak and stumbling, our Lord Jesus, "is able to make him stand." I leave you with the great reality today for all of us who are, "in Christ," and Christ in us, "....and he will stand...."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I cannot, "stand," without You. I thank You for the promise, "and he will stand." Amen.
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* Read the truth about Turkey at: jhs58.blogspot.com
I am sharing with you some thoughts on two texts from today's readings. In the Mark passage you will note that I changed the pronouns to nouns.
The Mark passage is not supposed to invoke pity. This is to tell you and me the "price" of our Salvation, what Jesus took, "bore," and, "carried," for you and me. To say it was humiliation is gross understatement, "spit on Him, and...blindfolded Him, struck Him with their fists....And beat Him." And this was before Jesus went to Pilate. All was to fulfill, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him. He was despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain....He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by His wounds we are healed."
Then we have a passage about not getting all "bent out of shape" over some of the "convictions" of others in the Church. For much of what others do which irritate us, the Holy Spirit tells us in Romans 14:1, "....not to dispute[] over doubtful things." And beyond this command we read of a great, indeed, very great promise, "....and he will stand, for the Lord is able to make him stand." With all of our peculiarities, our failings and shortcomings, you and I have the promise that even though it may seem as though we are weak and stumbling, our Lord Jesus, "is able to make him stand." I leave you with the great reality today for all of us who are, "in Christ," and Christ in us, "....and he will stand...."
Father, in Jesus' Name, I cannot, "stand," without You. I thank You for the promise, "and he will stand." Amen.
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* Read the truth about Turkey at: jhs58.blogspot.com
* Berlin Mission, October 6-27
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
