The Gospel in a Nutshell

Prepare: Lord, help us to know the Gospel concerning the Son.
Read: Romans 1:1-7

The writer: Note the three points Paul uses to describe himself. The word for servant is 'slave'. In the Graeco-Roman world of Paul, a slave was not even considered a person. A slave was the property of the master and the owner could do anything as he or she is pleased. Thought the slaves of Christ do not have this oppression, the word shows how a servant of Christ does not have his or her own will or choice. Paul did not make himself a servant; but was called-that means specific choice of God. God chose him to be an apostle. A servant of Christ is set apart for the gospel of God. Do we display the characteristic of being set apart as Christians by and for God?

The Gospel: List the five points in verses2-4 to show who Jesus Christ the Son is. Paul begins with the Old Testament promise through the prophets and goes right through to the resurrection of Christ. The prophetic promised was fulfilled in Jesus, but when he was born as a descendant of David. He was declared to be the Son because the Holy one of God could not be held by death. This is the Son who is the source of our service to bring people everywhere to the obedience of faith. It is interesting how Paul links up his apostleship with the readers.

Greeting: How do we greet people? Do we root our greetings in God and what God does?

Respond: Lord, help us who believe in you, be truly saints.

The Continual Burnt Offering

Prepare: We dedicate, and God consecrates. We surrender, and He sanctifies.
Read: Exodus 29:38-46

The blood of Christ has cleansed us, and our past is gone. Sinful hearts are purified not by religious rites but by faith in Jesus Christ. We stand in the very righteousness of Christ and wear the garments of God's grace.

We have the Holy Spirit living within, and He enables us to minister. The priests were "marked" by the blood on the ear (hear God), the hand (serve God), and the foot (walk with God). The "continual burnt offering" morning and evening was a reminder of their complete and constant devotion to God. It speaks of the fact that the people needed a continual reminder that someone was needed to take their place, and that their sin merited death. Don't forget your daily quiet time with God.

Hebrews 9:26 brings out the truth. The Lord has dealt adequately with sin. Once at the end of the age, He appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself. Verses 42-46 give us an explanation of what all this ceremony and ritual was intended to do. God used this holy system of ritual to dwell among His people. It is only ritual and symbolism; it has to be spiritually fulfilled. We make a mistake if we model church life on it or when we invent too many similar ceremonies and rituals. We are redeemed in order to worship God and be in constant contact with Him. There can be no meeting with God, no experience of His indwelling, until after one has accepted Christ as his Saviour after confessing his sins.

Respond: Walking in the light makes fellowship with God possible. 

The High Priest's Clothing II

Prepare: God has a ministry for each of us, and He will equip us to do it.
Read: Exodus 28:29-43

God supplied the needs of the priests as they served the people. Urim and Thummim is something to do with determining the will of God. God has kept its details obscure for a very good reason - some people would try to produce a Urim and Thummim today and would claim that it would give us all the answers. God wants us to go to Him for the answers.

Verse 33 and 34 tell us about the fruit and the bells, which speaks of witness. We should have both of these in our lives. We ought to be a witness for Christ, and there ought to be fruit of the Holy Spirit in our lives. You should not be handing out tracts, friends, unless you are making the right kind of 'tracks' in this world. Too many people want to witness but do not have a life to back it up.

Josephus, the Jewish historian tells us in his Antiquities 3:7 that the high-priest out on his clothes in this order: under-garment, tunic, sash, turban (with gold-plate), blue robe, and the ephod (with the breastplate). These garments distinguished the high priest from the other priests, and they set forth the glories and beauties of our High Priest who is 'holy, harmless, undefiled, and separate from sinners.' These garments fully covered Aaron and we should be decently clothed during our worship of the Lord.

Respond: He lives at God's right hand to intercede for us. 

The High Priest's Clothing I

For April 23, 2012

Prepare: Christ is our high priest.
Read: Exodus 28:1-14

Most of the instructions given in Exodus do not make very thrilling reading, nor do they read like a detective story or a mystery, but they do reveal Christ. The priesthood was both a privilege and a responsibility. It was wonderful to wear the glorious garments and be in the holy courts, but being a priest also brought serious obligations.

They ministered first to the Lord (1-4): Four times in this chapter, God emphasized this point (vv/1,3,4,41). Gods servants must seek to please Him alone (1 Cor.4:1-7). We must be "bondservants for Jesus' sake" (2 Cor.4:5). Aaron as high priest had to have certain garments. These garments were not holy in the sense that you and I think of holy today. The Hebrew word for holy means 'set apart.' These holy and beautiful garments were set apart for His service.

They ministered to the people (5-14): God's people are like jewels to Him (Mal. 3:17).

The ephod is difficult to describe. Two long pieces of cloth were brought together and fastened by a stone on one shoulder and a stone on the other shoulder. The two onyx stones had all the names of the sons of Israel. When the high priest went into the presence of God, he carried the children of Israel on his shoulders. Our great High Priest carries us over His heart and on His shoulders, and that is where He carries you, friend. From time to time I get off His shoulders but He is right there to lift me back to that place of safety and continue to carry me. What a lovely picture the ephod gives us of Christ.

Respond: He represents us before the throne of God so that we are "accepted" because of His redemptive work.

Walk with the Lord

Prepare: 'Rest in the Lord; wait patiently for Him.' Keep still and He will mould thee to the right shape' - Martin Luther
Read: Psalm 37:1-40

This psalm shares the wisdom of an old king who had walked with the Lord. He had battled with evil men and knew the frustration of seeing the wicked prosper and the righteous suffer. As he reviewed the past, he gave some wise counsel to keep us from fretting against the Lord when things are not going the way we want them to go.

Trust in the Lord: If you walk by sight and not by faith, you will find it easy to fret. Believe what God says in His Word because that is where you find reality.

Delight in the Lord: Find all your joy and pleasure in His will. Make Him your delight, God will grant your desires. Living to please the Lord sets you free from fretting about what men are doing.

Commit your way to the Lord: When you trust Him and delight in Him, how could you do anything other than commit your way to Him?

Rest in the Lord: Restlessness is an evidence of unbelief.  Faith rests in the Lord and enjoys "the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding". God sometimes delays  answering prayer so that we might learn patience.

Wait on the Lord: For an answer to your prayer, to do His will. You will one day receive your inheritence, so be patient.

Respond: Let God guide your steps, choose your joys, protect you and bless your work. 

The Tabernacle

Prepare: Enter the sanctuary with reverence.
Read: Exodus 25:23-40

The table reminds us that God is the source of our sustenance (Matt.6:11). The bread also speaks of the spiritual nourishment we have in His Word (Deut.8:3; Matt. 4:4). The golden candlestick tells us that "God is light" (1 John 1:5) and that we are to be lights in this dark world (Matt.5:14-16). Just as the lamps were fed by the oil, so we must have the power of the Spirit to be effective witnesses for the Lord (Acts 1:8).

The table of showbread (also called "table for the bread of presence") had twelve loves of bread on it. God was providing equally for the twelve tribes. It was a table of provision. God, as Creator, provides all food for man and beast. The table also speaks of the Lord's Supper, as instituted by the Lord Himself just prior to His death upon the cross. The table of showbread is a pre-figuration of Christ as the sustainer of spiritual life of the believer. Too many Christians are not feeding upon Christ. You have to feed on Him in order to grow.

The lampstand is probably the most perfect picture of Christ found in the Tabernacle furniture. It sets Him forth as pure gold and speaks of his deity. It sets Him forth as He is God. Worship has to do with walking in the light.

The almond rod, a dead branch, was made to live and bear fruit. Christ was established as the Son of God by His resurrection from the dead. The Tabernacle was to be the centre of Israel's life because it was here that man approached God.

Respond: The wealth God has provided for His people for them to be able to give offerings to enable Israel to construct such a luxurious place of worship. 

Symbols

Prepare: The Tabernacle was a "copy and shadow" of what is in heaven. Heb.8:5
Read: Exodus 25:1-22

An offering: God could have made the whole tabernacle in an instant of creative power, but instead, He asked the people to bring Him their offerings. They were privileged to make a sanctuary for God. Today, we are helping to build His church (1 Cor.3:9-23).

A pattern: God gave Moses the pattern for the tabernacle just as He later gave David the pattern for the Temple (1 Chron. 28:19). When God wants a work done on earth, He has a plan for His people to follow. It is dangerous to turn from God's plan and follow the wisdom of this world (1 Cor.3:18-20). The book of Hebrews tells us that this earthly Tabernacle was patterned after the Tabernacle in heaven (Heb.8:5, 9:23, 24).

The ark was the throne of God in the Holy of Holies, and God's glory dwelt between the cherubim on the mercy seat (Ps.99:1) . Our mercy seat is in heaven (Heb.4:11-16), and the way to God is always open. God never said that He was going to live in the Tabernacle in the sense that He was restricted to a geographical spot. The Tabernacle was the meeting place of God and man.

The ark was a chest covered inside and outside with gold. It was made of shittim wood which was more or less indestructible and much like the redwood of California. It was a perfect symbol of the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ's deity was represented by the gold and His humanity was represented by the wood.

Respond: Are you giving willingly to God what He has given to you?

Love Relationship

Prepare: The Covenant was sealed with blood.
Read: Exodus 24:1-18

The people remained at a distance because of their fear of the Lord. Moses, Joshua, Nadab, Abihu, Aaron and seventy of the elders went up the mountain to meet God. Then Moses and Joshua went further, and finally Moses went into the glory cloud alone.

You would think verse 11 would read, "So they saw God, and they fell down and prayed." But it says, "They ate and drank." The vision of God's glory should not make us careless or casual. We can eat and drink to His glory (1 Cor.10:31). But beware lest nearness to God leads to careless familiarity, for "our God is a consuming fire" (Heb.12:28-29).

J. Oswald Sanders wisely commented, "We are at this moment as close to God as we really choose to be." God invites us to draw near (James 4:8), but often we are unwilling to do what is necessary to meet Him. The people below had the Book of the covenant and the blood, and they made promises to obey God; but they did not have the vision of the glory of the Lord that Moses had on the mount.

Exodus 24 concludes the section on social legislation begun in Exodus 21. We have found that the Law of Moses is much more than the brief Ten Commandments and that the area of social legislation covers a great deal of ground. God's glory was seen with human eyes like an inflammable material. Joshua, a young man appears on the scene, he was prepared by God to succeed Moses.

Respond: Lord, grant me a vision of Your glory.  

God's Rule of Conduct

Prepare: Be careful of what you speak.
Read: Exodus 23:1-19

Consideration: Treating people justly would seem to be an easy thing to so, but the sinful human heart can lead us astray with rumours (2 Cor.13:1), false witnesses and bribe. A gossiper is as bad as a murderer, a thief, or an adulterer in your midst, yet in our society a gossiper gets by easily.

Conservation: The Sabbath was God's special gift to Israel to mark the nation as His holy people (Ex.31:13-17). It was also His gift to man and beast to provide needed rest. The Sabbatical Year showed His concern for the land and the poor. It is unfortunate that people today have forgotten these lessons and are destroying creation by their exploitation of resources. The year of Jubilee is also called the year of liberty. Every fiftieth year, the Hebrews who had been forced to sell themselves into slavery became free. Lands that had been sold reverted to their original owners.

Celebration: God wants His people to celebrate and rejoice in His goodness. Three times a year all the Hebrew males were to appear before the Lord God in Jerusalem. There were three feasts that were to be celebrated: 1. The Feast of the Passover; 2. The Feast of Pentecost; 3. The Feast of Tabernacles. The Feast of the Passover, you will recall, was instituted in memory of Israels's preservation from the last plague brought against the land of Egypt and her deliverance from that land of bondage.

Respond: Help me to hide Your Word in my heart. 

Is a Christian Under the Law?

Prepare: The Christian fulfills the Law not by being literally under them, but by walking in the Holy Spirit.
Read: Exodus 21:1-36

Having stated His basic law, God them told Moses how to apply it to specific situations so that everybody would receive equal justice, which is the principle in verses 22-25. No person was to take the law into his or her own hands. When it comes to personal retaliation, we must obey Matthew 5:38-48. The law distinguishes between the main 'Ten Commandments' and the 'judgements'. This chapter is the commencement of particular decisions or judgements about particular cases. It is this distinction that was in Paul's mind when he said the law is abolished 'with its ordinances' (Ephesians 2:15).

God's law shows that He is concerned about everything: men, women, children, the unborn, property and even animals. This is His creation, and He has the right to tell us how to manage it. The Law did not change people's hearts, but it did help to control their conduct and give order to the nation. Laws and government have been instituted by God, and we should respect them (Rom.13).

Some penalties given here may seem harsh to us; but keep in mind that the nation was in its "childhood" (Gal. 4:1-7), and children learn best through rewards and punishments. Forty years later, when the new generation was on the scene, Moses emphasized love when he repeated the Law (Deut.6:4)

Respond: Thank God, we do not have to depend on keeping the law for our salvation. It is the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that we are saved. 

Restraint by Fear

Prepare: The law, which is perfect demands perfection.
Read: Exodus 20:18-26

Some people obey God because of fear (VV.18-21), others obey only because they want His blessing. The highest motive for obedience is our love for the Lord. But what is we disobey the Lord? God made provision for Israel in the prescribed sacrifices (vv.22-26). He has made provision for believers today through the work of Christ (1 John 1:9-2:2). Believers are not under law but under grace. This is not an excuse for sin but an encouragement for loving obedience to His will.

God has given the children of Israel the moral code which is the Ten Commandments. However, there is more to the law than the moral code. God will also give them that part of the law which deals with social legislation. He will also give them instructions concerning an altar and the building of the Tabernacle. The book of Leviticus gives in detail the service of the Tabernacle. It is all part of the law. It all goes in one package.

God wanted to impress upon them that He is the living God. Remember that they were reared in Egypt with idols all around them-and they were idolatrous. God was moving closer to His people than ever before.

God does not want a display of the flesh in anything that has to do with His work. We need to guard against this type of thing. A country boy after hearing the preaching of Vernon McGee in Georgia, said in tears, "My, I did not know Jesus was so wonderful." We do not need the display of the flesh in the ministry, pulpit or in church work. We need to preach Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

Respond: Grace reveals something of the goodness and wonder of our God. 

Ten Commandments Second Part

Prepare: God condemns killing, adultery, stealing, bearing false witness, and covetousness.
Read: Exodus 20:12-17

Second part of Ten Commandments starts from verse 12, and it deals with man's relationship with man. It begins in the home. Home is the first institution God has created on this earth. A father and a mother should be worthy of the honour of their children. It was a command that held the entire nation together. It is noticeable that national prosperity was promised to the nation if the law as a whole was obeyed. It implies that parents would be respected. Their wishes would be valued. Their authority would be accepted. Leviticus 19:3 demands that they should be 'feared', that is, 'held in awe'. Although women were subordinate in authority in many ways, and the husband was the leader of the couple, yet in matters concerning the family, she had co-authority with the husband.

Abraham Lincoln was the first man to buy a machine gun to protect himself. It did not help him. He was shot. It is God's Word: "Thou shalt not kill." God does not forbid you to get killed, but to kill. While in the world an arms race is going on, we have to run in another race set before us, the race toward Jesus the author and perfecter of our faith (Heb 12:1, 2).

We are living today in the middle of a 'sex revolution'. Sex is certainly not a sin, but it is adultery when it is committed outside of wedlock. Covetousness is one of the great sins of the present hour. Jesus raises the Ten Commandments to a higher level of spirituality in His sermon on the mount.

Respond: Lord, help me to please You always.

Ten Commandments First Part

Prepare: "Thou shall love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and soul and strength and mind; and thy neighbour as thyself."

Read: Exodus 20:1-11

A man watched Michaelangelo shape a statue. He asked him, "What do you do if your chisel has taken away  bit too much of the nose?" Michaelangelo answered, "It does not happen." The man insisted, "Suppose it has happened. Can you repair the fault?" The sculptor answered again, "It does not happen." The man could not understand. "What if it happens?" Michaelangelo shouted angrily at him, "Shut up, and leave me alone! It does not happen!" When we are careful to obey and practice the commandments of God, we can mostly avoid mistakes in our life.

We don't realize how backward a great part of humanity still is. Animism and fetishism are among the most widespread religions even today. The Law does not save sinners (Gal. 2:21); 3:21); it reveals God's holiness and man's need for salvation (Rom.3:20). Only Christ can save us. Under the old covenant, God's law was written on tables of stone, but under the new covenant, God writes His word on our hearts (2 Cor.3:1-3). As you meditate on the Word, the Spirit makes it part of your inner being, and enables us to fulfill the righteous demands of God's law (Rom.8:14).

The first four commandments deal with our relationship with God, while the last six deal with our relationship with others.

Respond: If we love God and obey Him, we will also love others and serve them.

God's Standards

Prepare: Reverence for God is the basics of our relationship with Him.
Read: Exodus 19:16-25

God's words, whether spoken by angels, nature, conscience or providence, always demand humanity's careful attention. Though the Ten Commandments are unique among God's communications with mankind, they are not His first such utterances. Adam, Noah, Abraham, and many others had received various oracles before this. The conscience of man already had been trained to a degree, but sin had so defaced it that it was necessary yo refresh man's memory of God's will in audible and written form.

A Submissive people: To impress the people with the fear of the Lord, God demonstrated His power at Sinai and warned them not to come near. It was a nation, in its infancy and the people like children, learned from rewards and punishments. Hebrews 12:18-29 contrasts this experience with that of the New Testament believer today. We must still fear the Lord and respect the boundaries He establishes, but we are invited to "draw near" (Heb.10:19-25). The obedience of the Israelites enabled them to enjoy all the blessings God had for them.

To be sanctified means to be set apart for God's exclusive use and pleasure. Christians are set apart by the death of Christ (Heb.10:10), the indwelling Spirit (Rom.15:16) and the Word of God (John 17:17). Jesus considered holiness to be the basic quality in man's approach to God, and made it the first petition in the Lord's prayer, "Hallowed be Thy Name". It is surprising how many people in their ordinary conversation, continually blaspheme the name of God, and use it in a light and trivial way.

Respond: The concern for the Power of the Holy presence of God.

Attribute of God

Prepare: Put away all uncleanness to worship a holy God.
Read: Exodus 19:1-15

The Israelites found themselves in the desert of Sinai in the third month after leaving Egypt. God had a special message for Moses. He was to tell the people that they were precious to God; they were to be a holy nation on the condition that they obeyed God fully.

When God came down on Mount Sinai to talk to Moses in the presence of the people, they were to observe cleanliness and keep to the limits around the mountain; thus God impressed on them that they worship a holy God.

A special people: At the Red Sea, God separated His people from their old life; at Sinai, He brought them into a new life, a covenant relationship with Himself. It was like a wedding ceremony, with God as the Husband and Israel as the wife. Whenever the nation turned from God to idols, God accused them of committing adultery (Isa. 1:21; Jer. 3:1-5). Believers today must also beware of this sin (James 4:4). As God called the Israelites a kingdom of priests, He calls the believers in Jesus Christ to a holy priesthood interceding for others.

A sanctified people: Because we belong to God, we must be separated from sin (w.10, 14, 22). God's people are set apart from the world and unto the Lord. Conscience, the Word, and the Holy Ghost within us always print to the way we should go.

For the transgressor, the Decalogue serves as a deterrent to sin. For the Christian, it serves a a benchmark which must be regarded.

Respond: Be ye holy for I am holy. 

The Triumphant Christ

Prepare: Rejoice that Christ is the Victor.
Read: Luke 24:36-53

Confusion! Look at the words describing the emotions of the disciples when Jesus appeared to them - 'startled', 'frightened', filled with 'doubt' eventhough they had heard the testimony of the women, and of Peter and of the two from Emmaus. Our circumstances are very different, but are we not frequently troubled and even in this age after the coming of the Holy Spirit and after centuries of evidence of 'the risen Christ in the Church', do we not sometimes doubt? See how Jesus reveals Himself to His confused friends, bringing the comfort and assurance they needed.

Comfort and assurance: First, Jesus blessed them with the greeting, 'Peace be unto you'- not once, but according to John, twice! (John 20:19, 21). Next, He showed them His hands and feet. 'Touch Me and see...' He wanted to dispel any thoughts of a ghost or hallucination! He ate fish showing that His bodily resurrection was a reality. Finally, He opened their minds to understand the Word of God and its fulfilment. We can't physically touch Him, but we can find peace and assurance in His word.

Victory! Cricket enthusiasts and Indian patriots can't forget the 2011 World Cup History! The fireworks, dancing and celebration! But that is eclipsed by the victory won by Christ over sin and death. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we are to share the good news of forgiveness with others. His ascension is proof that He has conquered every enemy and that He reigns supremely 'far above all'.

Respond: No more we doubt Thee, glorious Prince of Life. Life is nought without Thee. Aid us in our strife.

A Living Hope

Prepare: Place your hopes and plans before the Lord.
Read: Luke 24:13-35

Shattered hopes: Cleopas and his companion were downcast. They 'had hoped' that Jesus was the one 'who would redeem Israel'. Perhaps like so many other Jews, their expectations were set on an earthly king who would conquer the Romans. The concept of suffering was alien to them, so the cross left them bewildered and disillusioned. Most of us experience times when our world seems to fall apart. 'We had hope that..'. Then suddenly everything changed! Perhaps a teenage son or daughter got into trouble, or cancer was diagnosed, or a promising future was cruelly wrecked. Where will you turn for strength?

The Scriptures: It is evident that Cleopas and his companion had failed to understand the prophecies. How graciously Jesus rebuked their unbelief and blindness. He explained that suffering was a 'necessary prelude to glory' (A.E Cundall), and He opened the Scriptures to them. Their 'hearts burned within' as they listened. Turn to the Scriptures daily, and find comfort, guidance and strength in a personal encounter with the living Christ.

'Jesus Himself came up and walked with them' but they failed to recognize Him! As the sun went down, they invited Him into their home. At the table, as Jesus gave thanks and broke the bread, their eyes were opened. Their shattered dreams turned to hope and they returned 7 miles to Jerusalem, rejoicing and eager to share the news. Seek the Lord in His Word and invite Him to enter your life and walk with you.

Respond: Open my eyes, Lord, I want to see Jesus. 

Mourning into Joy

Prepare: Ask God to make His living presence real to you.

Read: Luke 24:1-12

Perplexed and frightened: On this first Christian Sunday, the women who were near the cross till the end were the first at the tomb. The situation facing the women at dawn of the third day took them completely by surprise. That heavy stone had been rolled away revealing an empty tomb! The body had gone! Angels appeared in dazzling apparel! No wonder they were perplexed and frightened. We too are sometimes baffled and afraid. The loss of a loved one, illness, or financial difficulties can cause great distress. How can you cope at such times?

They remembered His words: The angels gave the women the good news: 'He is not here. He is risen! Remember...' Now, as they recalled His words, the scales must have fallen from their eyes. Mourning was turning into joy. In our times of darkness, we too can turn to God's Word, refresh our memories, and recall His promises. They will bring comfort and light. 

They told these things to the eleven: The news had to be shared, and the women became the first witnesses of the resurrection. How discouraging it must have been when their words 'seemed like nonsense'! In those days, the witness of women was not considered valid! Perhaps you have been rebuffed when attempting to share the gospel. Don't give up! Jesus is alive!

It may well be that our Christianity has lacked an essential something because we too have been looking the living Jesus among the dead. 

Respond: Christ is risen. Hallelujah!.. 'Go and tell'. 

The Depths of Despair and Darkness

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” - John 8:12

Prepare: Can God bring light out of darkness?
Read: Luke 23:44-56

'He breathed His last' : This momentous event in history is recorded with such brevity. The Gospel writers make no attempt to dramatize or play on our emotions. The stark facts are given, and in just  six verses 44- 49, six significant details are described. What do you find most striking?

A shaft of light in the darkness : For the women and followers of Jesus, there could have been no glimmer of light that day! They had sunk to the depths of grief, loneliness and despair. It was only later that they could realize that out of death would come life, salvation, joy and light. The temple curtain was torn in two, symbolizing the new an living way opened up for us through the death of Jesus. (Heb.10:19-22). Have you discovered the joyous privilege of coming into His presence?

The secret disciples: Joseph of Arimathea, a member of the Council, was a secret disciple 'for fear of the Jews' (Jn. 19:38), but now He and Nicodemus, who had visited Jesus at night (John 3) had the courage to ask for the body of Jesus. Condemned criminals lost the right to a proper burial. Their bodies were thrown on a garbage dump outside the city; so Joseph's action ensured that the Son of God was buried with dignity and love in his own new tomb. (Matt 27:59, 60). He defiled himself for Passover week, but it made no difference: he had met the Lamb of God, and that was all that mattered.

Respond: Out of my shameful failure and loss
                Into the glorious gain of the cross,
                Jesus, I come to thee.

Eternity in One Act

Prepare: Fix your eyes on Jesus who endured the cross.. Heb.12:2,3
Read: Luke 23: 26-43

The Cross: Take time today to look at the cross and bow in humble adoration, as you remember that the Savior bore the mocking, insults, and pain for you. More than that! - He died, (the righteous for the unrighteous) to 'bring you to God.' (I Pet. 3:18). Luke highlights three incidents which are not mentioned in the other Gospels.

Prediction of the destruction of Jerusalem: Approaching Calvary, Jesus told the mourning women to weep not for Him, but for themselves. because of the impending doom of Jerusalem. 'O Jerusalem, Jerusalem.. I longed to gather you.. toghether as a hen... but you were not willing' (Matt.23:37)

Promise of life to the dying thief: The two criminals were guilty of violence and murder, but what a difference! On one side the robber joined those who hurled insults at Jesus. On the other side, the penitent thief confessed his guilt and recognized that Jesus was innocent. He saw beyond death, 'envisaging a spiritual kingdom' (A.E Cundall). What remarkable faith he showed! And Jesus responded, with His promise: 'Today you shall enter eternal life with Me.'

Prayer for His tormentors: "Father, Forgive...", another of the many details recorded which revealed the love Jesus had, even for His enemies. Marcus Aurelius, the great Roman Emperor and Stoic saint, used to say to himself every morning, "Today you will meet all kinds of unpleasant people; they will hurt you, and injure you, and insult you; but you cannot live like that; you know better, for you are a man in whom the spirit of God dwells."

Respond: 'Love so amazing, so divine,
                Demands my soul, my life, my all.'

Stand up, Stand up for Jesus

Prepare: How do you react when tempted to compromise or disown the Lord?
Read: Luke 23:1-25

Your verdict: Everyone in Jerusalem was giving their verdict on the Man who for the past three years had demonstrated God's power and love. The Jewish Council had already declared Jesus guilty of blasphemy and worthy of death according to their law. Judas betrayed Him, and His closest friends fled the scene. Peter had denied Him and now we see Jesus standing alone, facing Pilate, Herod and the hostile crowds. What would your verdict have been?

Fear and selfish ambition versus justice: Pilate and Herod had the authority to release Jesus, but Herod was only interested in making sport and seeing miracles; and Pilate only cared for his position. He declared Jesus innocent three times, but he yielded to pressure from the religious leaders who incited the crowds. Their shouts prevailed, and he handed Jesus over to be crucified. Justice did not enter into the equation. He released a murderer and condemned the innocent.

Who is on the Lord's side? Daily, we encounter situations when we have to  choose whose side we are on. We will be tempted to be silent when we should speak. There will be pressure to go with the crowd, for fear of losing friends or popularity, or in some cases, fear of persecution. Take courage! When Jesus commissioned His followers to be His witnesses, He also promised the power of the Holy Spirit. (24:48,49).

Respond: O' Jesus, I have promised to serve thee to the end. O' give me grace to follow my Master and my friend.

Condemned but Vindicated by God

Prepare: 'Who do you say that I am?'
Read: Luke 22:63-71

Mocking and ridicule: The soldiers were allowed to mock Jesus although He had not been officially declared guilty.This was in fulfillment of Jesus' own prediction (Matt 20:19). He endured it all without retaliation, as Peter later writes (I Peter 2:21,23). We are called to 'follow in His steps'.

Who is Jesus? This question is echoed repeatedly throughout Jesus' ministry; for example, in His home town (4:22), at the healing of the paralytic (5:21), at the stilling of the storm (8:25) and many other occasions. His identity was the crucial question that revolved round His life, miracles and teaching. Jesus asked the disciples, 'Who do you say that I am?' (Matt.16:15, 16). Have you answered the question?

'.....the Son of Man.....': The title which Jesus claimed was recognized as a Messianic title from the Old Testament (Dan.7:13,14). The Jewish Council immediately accused Jesus of blasphemy. The penalty was death (Lev.24:10-16), but they did not have the right to pass a death sentence. Only the Roman Governor could do that, hence the need to bring Jesus before Pilate and persuade him to ratify the death sentence. Jesus's words in verse 69 show that ultimately He would be vindicated. Indeed from that very hour, the authorities brought judgment on themselves. 'In the act of judging Him, they themselves are judged by Him' (Wilcock). 'Jesus is seated at the right hand of God' - the place of honour, authority and power.

Respond: Praise God that in spite of all the turmoil in so many countries of the world, we know that God is on the throne working out His purposes. 

Peter's Denial

Prepare: Would I remain true if challenged in a hostile crowd?
Read: Luke 22:54-62

Satan was in the courtyard to sift Peter and in the council chamber to lead the men astray. His victory over Peter was only temporary, for the apostle wept, repented and was restored. His victory over the religious leaders was complete, for he blinded their eyes to the truth and they condemned their own Messiah.

Faith challenged: In many parts of the world and in our land, be it Orissa, Karnataka or UP, Christians have had to suffer or even die for their faith. Some of us have led relatively sheltered lives, and our faith had not been seriously challenged. I wonder how our faith would measure up if faced with a hostile crowd.

The Lord looked straight at Peter: What did Peter see in that look? Rebuke? Sadness? Love? I'm sure the 'look' was not saying 'Didn't I tell you?'! But Peter did immediately recall Jesus' words and the crowing of the cock affirmed the sad prediction of Peter's denial. That look melted Peter's heart. Filled with remorse, he went out and wept bitterly. Those words say it all!

Hope for Peter and for you and me: The crowing cock reminded Peter that he could be forgiven because along with the warning of denial, Jesus had said, 'I have prayed for you..When you turn back...' Wiersbe points out that the rooster's call means a new day is dawning. This was surely true for Peter as his tears of repentance were the first step towards the restoration to come.

Respond: Pray for courage for all who are facing persecution. 

Darkness

Prepare: 'Man of Sorrows', what a name!
Read:  Luke 22:39-53

A famous pianist said of Chopin's nocturne in C sharp minor, "I must tell you about it. Chopin told Liszt, and Liszt told me. In this piece all is sorrow and trouble. Oh such sorrow and trouble! Until he begins to speak to God to pray; then it is all right." That is the way it was with Jesus. He went into Gethsemane in an agony; He came out with victory won and with peace in His soul because He had talked with God.

The 'cup': Crucifixion was an excruciatingly slow and painful death by which the Romans punished criminals. Thousands of people have suffered physical torture; so what was the 'cup' that held such horror for Jesus? Surely the answer lies in the spiritual dimension of suffering. Others can suffer physical pain, but only He could 'become sin for us'.(II Cor. 5:21) The 'cup' was a symbol of wrath of God (Rev.14:10). The agony endured in the garden was the knowledge that He would be forsaken by God as He would bear the punishment that we deserved. Victory over darkness was won when He accepted the 'cup', praying 'Not My will, but Yours be done.'

Testing: The disciples were tested in that hour of darkness, but they were not ready because they were sleeping instead of praying, not realizing their weakness. (33.Cf Mark 14:31). So they blundered 'fighting the wrong enemy with the wrong weapon' (Wiersbe) and deserted Jesus. That sounds very much like me! I wonder if you too might have to admit failure in some of these tests.

Respond: Praise God that Jesus overcame darkness and never deserts us in our time of need.