Get ready to start a journey…a journey through the pages of the Bible and the pages of your life.
Jesus did not come to perform. He did not come to show us another sign. His mission was clear. He came to die so we could live. He purchased life for us by His death on the cross. Signs will draw a crowd; the cross drew scorn. Signs will fade away; the cross purchased life eternal. Jesus let His actions speak for Him. He came to give His life as a ransom for many.
Jesus did not respond because He was not a victim to a trial; He was a servant following the Father’s plan. The Sinless One gave no defense of His innocence. The time had come for the cross. Jesus was about His Father’s business.
For some reason, Judas couldn’t grasp forgiveness. The shame drove him deeper into his guilt instead of to the forgiving Lord. He took matters into his own hands and ended his life. Judas not only betrayed Jesus, but he also ran from the One who could forgive him, even after the kiss.
All of us can relate to Peter, can’t we? We have remained silent as others use Jesus’ name as slang. We have remained silent as His claims have been laughed at. We have even joined in the laughter as His person is satirized. We have ignored His Word by open rebellion. We have followed Peter in our own denials, but have we joined him in remorse and repentance?
God was humiliated. With the angels poised at the edge of heaven to charge, the Word remained silent. He prepared to be delivered as the perfect sacrifice for sin. He did it all for us.
But, remember, every movement leading to the cross was fulfilling Scripture. Jesus came to give His life as a ransom for us. Nothing took place outside of God’s sovereign plan.
We never have to be held back by past mistakes. God forgives and uses our failures to prepare us for the journey ahead.
Jesus was not a victim. He did not find Himself at the wrong place at the wrong time. He was not a casualty at the hands of the religious leaders or Roman authorities. Jesus went to the cross on His own accord and for a purpose. The penalty of sin is death. Jesus took this punishment on our behalf. He bore our sins in His body on the cross. He died so we could live.
Have you walked away from God? Have you betrayed the Lord? Have you turned your back on Jesus? Stop running. Don’t place your life in your own hands. Come to Jesus…and find the life you’ve always longed for.
Jesus’ command to His disciples rings through the ages, “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation.” Moment by moment, day by day, watch and pray. Temptation is always around the corner. A fall is only a step away.
Prayer is a personal conversation with God. It is not a laundry list of commands or must-haves. In the conversation with my heavenly Father, I can and should express my personal desires just like Jesus did. And, just like Jesus did, I should hand over my desires to the perfect will of God. That’s not a lack of faith. It’s called humble obedience.
Dig deep to have a better understanding of who God is and learn how much He loves you. Let His truth wash over you and cleanse your heart. It is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. Reading and studying God’s Word is the key to spiritual growth.