Matthew 27:1-31 pt 1 We betray and mock Jesus

Matthew 27:1-31 pt 1 We betray and mock Jesus

New International Version (NIV)

Judas Hangs Himself

 ¹ Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed.² So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.

 ³ When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. ⁴ “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.”

   “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.”

 ⁵ So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.

Jesus Before Pilate

 ¹² When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. ¹³ Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” ¹⁴ But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.

 ²¹ “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.

   “Barabbas,” they answered.

 ²² “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.

   They all answered, “Crucify him!”

The Soldiers Mock Jesus

 ²⁷ Then the governor’s soldiers took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole company of soldiers around him. ²⁸ They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, ²⁹ and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand. Then they knelt in front of him and mocked him. “Hail, king of the Jews!” they said. ³⁰ They spit on him, and took the staff and struck him on the head again and again. ³¹ After they had mocked him, they took off the robe and put his own clothes on him. Then they led him away to crucify him.

Daniel’s Thoughts:

I split this chapter into parts because there is so much that happens. In this first part all are betraying Jesus. Judas his disciple betrayed him for 30 silver coins. The leaders of Israel bring false testimony against Jesus. The soldiers mock Jesus ironically for being the King of the Jews! As the word says

Psalm 14:3 ³ All have turned away, all have become corrupt; there is no one who does good, not even one.

I wish I could say that I would never betray Jesus, but I have and I still do as I sin. Often I do so in ignorance, but sometimes I willingly do the wrong that I know.

I have betrayed Jesus personally.

The western culture and church is very personal and focused on personal sin and salvation. But I think we miss out on the communal nature of our sin. We as a society allow and perpetuate sins such as poverty, inequality, and hypocrisy. That is hard to admit, but it still does not feel close to home. But as InterVarsity honestly I can say we fail to love some groups as well as others and even hold some judgment in our heart. We have betrayed and disowned Jesus by failing to live out his call to his church and us his followers.

But we go further, not only do we betray him but we even disown and mock Jesus. We do not acknowledge him as Lord of Lords and Lord of our lives. We make money and success our priorities in effect saying they are greater than our Lord and Savior by which all things were created. We are mocking Jesus!

Daniel’s Prayer:

Jesus

I have betrayed you.

I have disowned you.

I have mocked you.

We as your followers have:

Turned from you

Allowed and perpetuated brokenness and injustice

We your church have been hypocritical

Those you love have been hurt by us your people

Pursued wealth, success and our desires

Above you

Yet you still love us

You have been betrayed, mocked, scorned

You carry all of that yet forgive and love us!

Jesus you carry it all for us!

There is nothing we can do to thank you or earn your love!

Amen

Leviticus 16: The Day Atonement Hebrews 7: In Christ Complete

Leviticus 16

New International Version (NIV)

The Day of Atonement

 ¹ The LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron who died when they approached the LORD. ² The LORD said to Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron that he is not to come whenever he chooses into the Most Holy Place behind the curtain in front of the atonement cover on the ark, or else he will die. For I will appear in the cloud over the atonement cover.

 ⁶ “Aaron is to offer the bull for his own sin offering to make atonement for himself and his household. 

 ¹⁸ “Then he shall come out to the altar that is before the LORD and make atonement for it. He shall take some of the bull’s blood and some of the goat’s blood and put it on all the horns of the altar. ¹⁹ He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites.

 ²⁰ “When Aaron has finished making atonement for the Most Holy Place, the tent of meeting and the altar, he shall bring forward the live goat. ²¹ He is to lay both hands on the head of the live goat and confess over it all the wickedness and rebellion of the Israelites—all their sins—and put them on the goat’s head. He shall send the goat away into the wilderness in the care of someone appointed for the task. ²² The goat will carry on itself all their sins to a remote place; and the man shall release it in the wilderness.

 ²⁹ “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves^[c] and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— ³⁰ because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the LORD, you will be clean from all your sins. ³¹ It is a day of sabbath rest, and you must deny yourselves; it is a lasting ordinance. ³² The priest who is anointed and ordained to succeed his father as high priest is to make atonement. He is to put on the sacred linen garments ³³ and make atonement for the Most Holy Place, for the tent of meeting and the altar, and for the priests and all the members of the community.

 ³⁴ “This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: Atonement is to be made once a year for all the sins of the Israelites.”

   And it was done, as the LORD commanded Moses.

Daniel’s Thoughts:

If you struggle as I have with the meaning and significance  of the law, Leviticus and sometimes the Old Testament then I encourage you and myself to study this chapter. For Leviticus 16 is central to understanding Christ’s sacrifice and death on the cross.

In Leviticus instructions are given here for the day of atonement where the high priest of Israel made atonement by sacrifice first for himself and then for this sins of the people of Israel. This is a very serious day for Israel. The beginning of the chapter starts out remembering how two of Aarons sons were struck down for not taking their responsibilities seriously and approached the Lord carelessly. Aaron and the high priests to follow are at risk of death constantly in this holy place. Yet they are also called to minister there.

These sacrifices were necessary to redeem and atone for the sins of the people. The blood of these animals atoned for the sin of the people. Yet these sacrifices of animals made by human high priests were temporal and not complete. They were ordained by God, but they were required each year and the high priest himself had sinned and had to atone for himself before offering for the sins of the people. This was a lasting ordinance for the people, there sins were never cleansed and removed completely for they kept sinning and the sacrifices had to be made again and again.

I am so thankful to live in your new covenant and be free from this cycle of sin and atonement. God you intervened and sent your Son!

Hebrews 7:26-28

New International Version (NIV)

²⁶ Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens. ²⁷ Unlike the other high priests, he does not need to offer sacrifices day after day, first for his own sins, and then for the sins of the people. He sacrificed for their sins once for all when he offered himself. ²⁸ For the law appoints as high priests men in all their weakness; but the oath, which came after the law, appointed the Son, who has been made perfect forever.

Christ is our one and only high priest forever and he has offered himself on the cross as the eternal sacrifice that has atoned for sin once and for all! There is no need for yearly atonement or a high priest from men. And the curtain has been torn and God you are present with us in all places and in our hearts. Praise be to you Lord!

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord

Thank you for teaching me and us your ways.

All of scripture is valuable for us

Give us a heart to love scripture especially the Old Testament

And to understand the story is complete together

God you are one and the old and new testament and covenant are one in you!

Thank you for this chapter in Leviticus

For using this scripture to reveal the full extent of

Your wisdom and love in sending your Son

Christ as our merciful high priest

To sacrifice himself on the cross for our sins once and for all.

Let us now live to you!

Amen

2 Corinthians 9:6-15 Giving out of the Abundance of God!

2 Corinthians 9: 6-15

New International Version (NIV)

Generosity Encouraged

 ⁶ Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. ⁷ Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. ⁹ As it is written:

   “They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor;
   their righteousness endures forever.”^[a]

 ¹⁰ Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. ¹¹ You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.

 ¹² This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. ¹³ Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for your generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. ¹⁴ And in their prayers for you their hearts will go out to you, because of the surpassing grace God has given you. ¹⁵ Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

Daniel’s Thoughts:

As I have read the Old Testament often amongst all of the sacrifices and offerings to God I have wondered about the willingness of these people to give to God. Yet I love the verses which are abundant in scripture that we should give what our heart brings us to give, not out of guilt or reluctantly but out of thanksgiving and joy!

God is a God of abundance and not scarcity! He provides for us abundantly so that we have all we need and all that we need for his work.

When we give generously we are blessed abundantly.

Verses 12-15 gives so much vision for what it is to give and how it is a way to partner in ministry! As I prepare for my time as InterVarsity Intern and maybe full time staff this is a blessing to see how in the bible vision for fund raising. For I will be fund raising to support my career on staff. This is not a burden, but a part of ministry to partner with other people for their support of my ministry so that together we can live out God’s calling to college students.

Daniel’s Prayer:

God

I want to trust in you alone

I know that you are a God of abundance and not scarcity!

Let my offerings to you be generous and from my heart

I want to give out of joy

I want to trust in you

Let my security be in you and not money or success

Give me vision for ministry and fundraising

I believe you have called me to ministry

I trust you will provide abundantly for this call.

I want to trust in you

God you have provided for me. 

All I have is yours given to me as a gift.

My life has been blessed and I have lived in abundance.

Keep changing my heart to give

Out of love and not obligation

In wisdom and patient care

God let my hope and my trust be in you!

Thanks be to you for all we have!

Amen

Leviticus 15: It is getting messy here in the Law - Discharges causing Uncleanness

Leviticus 15

New International Version (NIV)

Leviticus 15

Discharges Causing Uncleanness

³¹ “‘You must keep the Israelites separate from things that make them unclean, so they will not die in their uncleanness for defiling my dwelling place,^[b] which is among them.’”

 ³² These are the regulations for a man with a discharge, for anyone made unclean by an emission of semen, ³³ for a woman in her monthly period, for a man or a woman with a discharge, and for a man who has sexual relations with a woman who is ceremonially unclean.

Daniel’s Thoughts:

Honestly this is not going to be my favorite Blog post ever. Also I left out all of the details on what makes a person unclean due to a discharge and how to cleanse and give offerings to make atonement before the Lord. Ok, so yeah apparently discharges both natural and due to sicknesses make people ceremonially unclean. I think this is an important distinction: there is ceremonial uncleanness and then moral uncleanness. The past several chapters in Leviticus have dealt with ceremonial uncleanness. God cares about his people. He desires them to be clean in their heart: morally and clean physically – their health. God is pure and holy and so are his dwelling places. As a place of congregation and meeting with God, God has set regulations to keep people who are sick and could make others sick away from these holy places.

Coming from a modern day and age of disinfectants and sterilized public places makes all of this seem insignificant. Additionally because of my Christian background rooted in grace where we are washed clean by Jesus’ blood I have a hard time relating to the laws in Leviticus.

I think of Jesus healing of the woman who had been unclean and isolated for twelve years: Jesus did not allow this woman to be isolated and suffer. Jesus even thought he is on his way to heal a dying girl stops and does not let this woman who was healed go without speaking to her. Considering Leviticus 15 and the law this woman just made all she touched in the crowd and Jesus unclean. Yet Jesus speaks to her with love calling her daughter. This woman had likely been alone and isolated for these 12 years. Here God you showed her abundant love and not only healed her but also spoke to her with love and comfort. God how can you allow people to be isolated and suffer like this? For not all were healed in the past and many people in the world still live lives of suffering and isolation.

Luke 8: 40-48.

⁴⁰ Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. ⁴¹ Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house ⁴² because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying.

   As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him. ⁴³ And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years,^[c] but no one could heal her. ⁴⁴ She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped.

   ⁴⁵ “Who touched me?” Jesus asked.When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.”⁴⁶ But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.”

 ⁴⁷ Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. ⁴⁸ Then he said to her,“Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Daniel’s Prayer:

God

You are holy and pure

You call us to be clean and holy

Yet I believe that it is what comes from the heart

That makes us unclean

Help me to understand your law and the significance to us under grace 

and in modern society

Thank you God for showing your love to us and to this woman.

Create in me a pure heart God.

Teach me what it means to be clean and to honor you.

Amen

Leadership in the Kingdom

John 21:15-19

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Reinstates Peter

 ¹⁵ When they had finished eating, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon son of John, do you love me more than these?”

   “Yes, Lord,” he said, “you know that I love you.”

   Jesus said, “Feed my lambs.”

 ¹⁶ Again Jesus said, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

   He answered, “Yes, Lord, you know that I love you.”

   Jesus said, “Take care of my sheep.”

 ¹⁷ The third time he said to him, “Simon son of John, do you love me?”

   Peter was hurt because Jesus asked him the third time, “Do you love me?” He said, “Lord, you know all things; you know that I love you.”

   Jesus said, “Feed my sheep. ¹⁸ 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.” ¹⁹ Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!”

1 Peter 5

New International Version (NIV)

To the Elders and the Flock

 ¹ To the elders among you, I appeal as a fellow elder and a witness of Christ’s sufferings who also will share in the glory to be revealed: ² Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; ³ not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock. ⁴ And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away.

Daniel’s Thoughts:

Peter one of the founders of the church here is called into his role as the Shepherd of the flock. Jesus asks Peter 3 times Do you love me? Peter is hurt that Jesus asks again.

But the call to leadership is a very serious one. I think I took my invitation to leadership too lightly. Leadership in the kingdom is different. Not all are meant to be leaders or teachers and as teachers we will be held to a higher standard.

In InterVarsity the invitation to leadership is serious, but I don’t think it is serious enough. Jesus looks at Peter and asks him Do you love me and each time he responds he tells him to feed and care for his (Jesus) sheep. For Jesus is the Good Shepherd, but he trusts his sheep into our care as leaders. I think I can imagine a little of the guilt and hurt that Peter feels when Jesus asks a third time.

As if that was not enough Jesus tells Peter that he will die like himself on a cross, and yet he still invites Peter to Follow me! The invitation is not light, Jesus questions Peter and warns him of what is to come. I know I am often afraid to tell people the whole story of what leadership will cost, because I am afraid they will say no. But what is they don’t live into what it means to be a shepherd of the flock Jesus gave them.

1 Peter 5 thoughts:

The second section shows how God has changed and made Peter into a good and wise shepherd. Peter the one who was called to leadership and challenged to love Jesus sheep is now the one inviting and teaching other leaders what it means to be a good shepherd and take care of the flock God has given to you. Peter gets it now, Jesus loves his sheep and entrusts them to our care. It is our responsibility to care for them, not because of a title or obligation but because we want to lead them. As the shepherd we need to set the example and lean into God's plan bringing our flock with us. 

The call of leadership is a blessing and a great responsibility. I know that I sometimes lose sight of this and start to worry about numbers or details instead of loving the people God has put under my leadership. Also I ask myself am I the leader I should be? Am I a good example of a mature follower of Christ? No I am broken in many ways, but God still uses me and I am growing and trying. But I believe the call to leadership has changed me and God has grown me so much to become more of the man of God he wants me to be and the leader that I need to be for God's flock under my care. 

We have to remember the cost of following Jesus and the cost of leading in his kingdom. Jesus asks Peter 3 times, because leading his flock would take perseverance and cost Peter everything as he dies for our Lord. We will have to sacrifice for God and for our flock. We will have to change our hearts and our lives. But I want to because it is worth it and I believe God has called me.  I want to see God's kingdom come here around me and in the lives of the people I lead. 

Daniel’s Prayer:

Lord Jesus

You are our Good Shepherd

Thank Your for calling me to lead in your kingdom

Teach me and humble me

Please use me to take care of your flock

and to bring a little of your kingdom here!

I know the cost of leadership

I also know the joy!

As I step into your call to ministry

make me into a shepherd like Peter

for he was foolish but you called and equipped him

Remind me of the responsibility of leadership

that I would take seriously this role

and rely on you in my ministry

Amen