You wouldn’t believe me if I told you!
This week’s devotion is based on Cross Examined Week 5 – “Why Kill Him?” (CLICK HERE TO WATCH)
It’s hard to be objective when we desire a certain outcome.
If you want a certain car, even though the financial numbers don’t make it affordable to you, you press forward anyway.
We may have our mind fixed on being a star basketball player, but our height, weight, quickness and skill tell a very different story.
We may want to attend a certain college, but our grades, test scores and financial ability all point away from this reality.
Our emotions can skew reality and blind us to the truth.
The religious leaders of the Jews wanted Jesus dead.
After the raising of Lazarus, this was their mindset:
John 11:47-53 “What are we accomplishing?” they asked. “Here is this man performing many signs. 48 If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.”
49 Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, “You know nothing at all! 50 You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.”
51 He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, 52 and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. 53 So from that day on they plotted to take his life.
There was only one outcome that the Jewish leaders wanted: Jesus dead.
So when they put Jesus on trial, they weren’t interested in the truth…just a reason to kill him.
Luke 22:66 At daybreak the council of the elders of the people, both the chief priests and teachers of the law, met together, and Jesus was led before them. 67 “If you are the Christ,” they said, “tell us.”
Jesus answered, “If I tell you, you will not believe me, 68 and if I asked you, you would not answer. 69 But from now on, the Son of Man will be seated at the right hand of the mighty God.”
70 They all asked, “Are you then the Son of God?”
He replied, “You are right in saying I am.”
71 Then they said, “Why do we need any more testimony? We have heard it from his own lips.”
They weren’t interested in pursuing the objective truth that Jesus was actually the Son of God. They were convinced he wasn’t. Nothing was going to change their mind. Blasphemy was a legitimate death sentence. That’s all the reason they needed.
We can be just as arrogant at times and have a preconceived idea of what we “want” Jesus to be or what we “want” Jesus to say.
We want Jesus to be the healer of every problems and so when we have challenges, we can’t take an objective look at what God might be doing, but rather Jesus is to blame.
We think Jesus might owe us favors if we do things that “honor” him. When we don’t get what we think we deserve or want, we question whether Jesus is really who he says he is.
Forgive us Lord of being only interested in our truth and not THE truth. Forgive us for creating our version of Jesus and expecting him to fulfill it. Spirit of God open our hearts to always be ready to learn and believe more and more of who Jesus is and the significance of what he had done for us.
Apply: What part of your faith might you have a preconceived idea of your expectations? What happens when God doesn’t fulfill those expectations?
Prayer: Lord, keep my heart humble and always open to receiving your truth even when it conflicts with what I feel it should be. AMEN.
I’ll be there.
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Cross Examined: Were you with him? (LISTEN HERE)
Jesus didn’t forget about Peter.
Peter denied Jesus three times. His soul was crushed as Jesus looked at him. He went outside that courtyard and wept bitterly.
If you had done this to your best friend, the thought might go through your mind, “They will never want to see me again.”
Jesus certainly had every reason to deny Peter any further access to him.
But he didn’t.
The angels of Easter morning convey a message, an invitation to the disciples, but they wanted especially Peter to know.
Mark 16:4 But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. 5 As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.
6 “Don’t be alarmed,” he said. “You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid him. 7 But go, tell his disciples and Peter, ‘He is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him, just as he told you.’”
Angels speak messages from the Lord. Jesus had told them to tell the women this. “Tell the women I want to be with them in Galilee…AND make sure Peter knows too.”
Remember, Satan wanted to “sift” Peter with temptation. Jesus was praying for him. He didn’t want to lose him. Satan would continue to work on Peter to overwhelm him with guilt about the denial. He would try to make him think that he wasn’t worthy to be a follower of Jesus. He would work to get him to believe the lie that Jesus didn’t want to be with him.
But Jesus overcame these lies with a heartfelt invitation.
“Peter, I want to see you in Galilee.”
Jesus had a very important conversation to have with Peter specifically. After meeting the disciples for breakfast, John records what happened next:
John 21:15 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.
Peter realized what Jesus was doing. He gave Peter’s heart to reverse the denial and affirm his love for Jesus. The interaction affirmed the denial was a moment of spiritual weakness driven by fear. The interaction confirmed Jesus’ heart of love filled Peter’s heart as well.
“Feed my sheep.”
Peter wasn’t perfect, but he was loved. Peter wasn’t perfect but he was forgiven. He was there with Jesus and experienced first hand his love and grace.
And Jesus wanted him to give it to others.
The same is true for us. Temptation sometimes wins the day. Guilt can consume us. But Jesus wants to be with us to have an important conversation. “Do you love me?” “Jesus, you know that I love you.”
“Feed my sheep.”
With the same love and grace we have experienced, Jesus calls us, even though we sin, to be part of his saving work.
He wants us with him…along with many others.
And so we follow him…proud to always BE WITH him!
Apply: What sins of your past do you need to be reminded that Jesus has covered them with his blood? What affirmation does it give that Jesus wants you to follow him and feed his sheep?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for reaffirming your love for me, even when my sinful weakness gets the better of me like it did for Peter. Thank you for your love and trust to call me, use me to feed your sheep. May I do it well, proudly connected to and confessing you! AMEN.
I’m glad I was there.
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Cross Examined: Were you with him? (LISTEN HERE)
Have you ever appreciated being somewhere, even though at first you regretted having to?
Maybe it was a party at first you didn’t want to go to, but in the end you met a connection for a new job.
Maybe it was the scene of an awful accident or tragedy, but in the end you made a life long friend that became a mutual support in life.
Maybe it was in the doctors office receiving news of a challenging diagnosis, but later you realized the blessing that came from modifying your life choices to be more healthy and active.
In the moment, you didn’t want to be there.
Later, you were glad you were.
Did Peter regret being in the courtyard of the high priest and falling to the temptation to deny Jesus three times? Absolutely. When he realized what he had done, he went outside and wept bitterly. If he could have those moments back. If he could have deleted the words he said and offered words of confident connection to Jesus, I bet he would.
But even though he couldn’t change what happened, he was blessed to experience those moments with Jesus.
He was with Jesus. He watched Jesus. He understood the sacrifice he made.
He probably didn’t realize it in the moment, but later he understood the impact of what he witnessed.
I’m sure he was glad he was there.
Here’s what he wrote in his first letter:
1 Peter 2:23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly. 24 He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed. 25 For you were like sheep going astray, but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
He heard the insults. Jesus did not retaliate.
He saw Jesus suffer. Jesus did not threaten.
He saw the injustice. Jesus did not try to change it.
But what Peter realized in these moments he witnessed is that Jesus was doing all of this for him. He was carrying Peter’s sins of denial and every one of his sins to the cross. He was carrying the sins of the world to the cross.
Why?
To forgive us.
To heal us.
To empower us to die to sin and live for righteousness.
To be our Shepherd.
Peter went out and wept bitterly, but he did not stray away, but returned to the only One who would shepherd his soul through the sin of denial to the salvation of heaven.
I can’t think of a time of sin that I wish I could go back and repeat. I wish I wasn’t there for each one of them. But, like Peter, the grace of God led me to stop straying and return to my Good Shepherd, the one who loves me, forgives me, and heals me.
And that’s a wonderful place to be.
Apply: What situation in life did you wish you were not there, but later realized that God worked a great blessing to you or others because you were there?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for your love and grace that calls us back from sin to the safety, love and grace of your tender Shepherding. AMEN.
The look.
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Cross Examined: Were you with him? (LISTEN HERE)
Anyone who is married knows “the look.”
Without saying a word, a person says everything.
In fact, a look can say more than words, even when someone says something. A look is an expression of the heart, even if the words are saying something different.
Body language experts analyze “the look” that people have as they are saying things to determine if what they are saying is accurate or not.
So what did “the look” communicate to Peter?
Just as Peter finished denying Jesus for the third time, Luke records this:
Luke 22:61 The Lord turned and looked straight at Peter.
Just as Peter said, “I don’t know what you are talking about,” his eyes must have moved from the person who accused him of being with Jesus to Jesus himself.
The glance was intentional.
Jesus wanted Peter to see he knew.
Jesus wanted Peter to see he cared.
Jesus wanted Peter to see he noticed.
The rooster crowed.
Peter went out and wept bitterly.
The look was piercing to the soul of Peter.
The look pierced a heart that regretted denying Jesus.
The look reminded him of what Jesus predicted would happen.
The look triggered a shame of a confidence that turned to cowardice.
The look caused the tears to flow.
But yet Jesus looked.
He didn’t look away.
He looked “straight at Peter.”
He didn’t look at the servant girl or the soldier.
He didn’t look at his accusers or the high priest.
He looked at Peter. He wanted his eyes to lock with Peter’s.
The look shook Peter to the core, but the look loved Peter even more.
The look told Peter Jesus cared.
The look told Peter Jesus wouldn’t deny him.
The look told Peter Jesus was doing this for him.
The look told Peter Jesus still loved him.
Jesus didn’t say anything.
Peter didn’t say anything.
The look communicated everything.
Let Jesus’ eyes lock with yours today.
Let his eyes communicate to your heart.
His look cares enough to point out sin.
His look communicates his love to forgive it.
Apply: What do you imagine Jesus’ look to be? What does it communicate to your heart?
Prayer: Lord Jesus, thank you for caring so personally for me that you would meet your eyes with mine to call me to repentance and show me your great love. AMEN.
I don’t know him! I wasn’t with him!
This week’s devotions are based on Week 4 of Cross Examined: Were you with him? (LISTEN HERE)
Just the other day someone threw out a name and asked me if I knew them. They mentioned that this person knew me. I had to admit, “I’m sorry I don’t know him.”
Someone was remembering an event and thought that I had been with them. They asked, “You were with us, weren’t you?” My recollection said, “I’m sorry I wasn’t with you.”
At times there are inconsequential interactions where we deny knowing someone or being with someone.
The interaction Peter had wasn’t a casual conversation. The answer had consequence.
Perhaps it would be similar to a police investigator coming to your home and asking, “We believe you were with John Smith last night at the time of the robbery.” The answer to this would have consequence. If you were with him, you would be arrested as an accomplice. If you weren’t, you would be let go.
So would you claim you knew him and were with him?
I suppose our “honesty” would lead us to admit it, but it sure would be tempting to say, “I don’t know a John Smith” and “I wasn’t with him.”
Once caught in a lie, the denial would get more strong.
As the officer said, “We know you were with him, for the clothes on his accomplice match what you are wearing.” You may be tempted to say, “I swear! I don’t know him. I wasn’t with him.”
This fictitious situation perhaps helps us relate with the pressure Peter felt to answer the accusations of the servant girl and soldier.
The tension was personal safety or admitting connection to the man on trial.
What would you do?
Luke 22:56 A servant girl saw him seated there in the firelight. She looked closely at him and said, “This man was with him.”
57 But he denied it. “Woman, I don’t know him,” he said.
58 A little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.”
“Man, I am not!” Peter replied.
59 About an hour later another asserted, “Certainly this fellow was with him, for he is a Galilean.”
60 Peter replied, “Man, I don’t know what you’re talking about!”
The example of Peter lets us know what is possible even for us. We are fully capable of denying our Savior when we perceive a negative consequence if we say we know him or are a follower of him.
So how do we avoid doing the same thing as Peter?
Here are two suggestions
Remember acknowledging the Lord carries more weight than appealing to mankind.
Matthew 10:32 “Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. 33 But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven.
Remember that the worst anyone can do to you is give you a ticket to heaven.
Psalm 56: 10-11 In God, whose word I praise, in the Lord, whose word I praise—
11 in God I trust and am not afraid. What can man do to me?
So stand firm. Stand confidently. It the best thing to know Jesus and be found with him!
Apply: When do you find yourself in situations like Peter. What makes it easier to acknowledge knowing and being with Jesus for you?
Prayer: Lord, keep me unwavering in my conviction of you and confident of blessing of being connected to you. AMEN.