Current topic: Pray with us for Families.
Good morning.
Tomorrow is Good Friday. Jewish Passover will start on Saturday (http://www.when-is.com/passover-2012.asp). What happened in Jesus’ life this time, so many years ago, i.e. the Thursday before Good Friday?
“When Jesus had finished saying all these things, he said to his disciples, ‘As you know, the Passover is two days away—and the Son of Man will be handed over to be crucified.’ Then the chief priests and the elders of the people assembled in the palace of the high priest, whose name was Caiaphas, and they plotted to arrest Jesus in some sly way and kill him. ‘But not during the Feast,’ they said, ‘or there may be a riot among the people,’” (Matthew 26:1-5). Jesus was to be secretly arrested and killed before those who believed in Him realised what had happened. This is typical of the devil, whose style can so often be seen in the people of this world. Many unwary Christians would probably be caught by such cunningness, but Jesus was in too close contact with the Holy Spirit and His Father. He already had the word of knowledge what was going to happen.
How close are we to the Holy Spirit when Satan tries to close in on us? Can you recall some regrets to this regard, where you were caught for a sucker because you didn’t heed to the warning of the Holy Spirit?
“While Jesus was in Bethany in the home of a man known as Simon the Leper, a woman came to him with an alabaster jar of very expensive perfume, which she poured on his head as he was reclining at the table,” (Matthew 26:6, 7). When the disciples complained about it “Jesus said to them, ‘Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial,’” (Matthew 26:10, 12). This woman was more in the Spirit than the disciples were. We don’t know her name and we don’t hear of her again, but of the disciples we heard great things on many occasions. Yet Jesus said of her: “I tell you the truth, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her,” (V13). This woman didn’t desire the limelight or bothered about the expense of the perfume. The disciples were more materialistic than she was. She was just grateful for the opportunity to give her best to Jesus on the eve of His death. Mark 14 records this account quoting Jesus’ words: “She did what she could.” She blessed Jesus that way for what He was about to do for her.
In what way can we bless Jesus for what He has done for us? How about some obedience?
The rest of the day was taken up with intimacy with His disciples. They ate together and Jesus introduced the Lord’s Supper. For three years He had trained them and they had worked hard together. On this Thursday it was time to chill out, for this is the Lord’s greatest desire – to work hard with us to build His Kingdom, but at times to just chill out with us, having intimate communion with us. When we share the Lord’s Table, we need to remember the Thursday before His crucifixion and be intimate with Him.
The Thursday evening was traumatic for Jesus. He had had this intimate day with His friends, but as evening approached the reality of what was awaiting Him dawned on Him. His only desire was then to be close to His Father in excruciating prayer and petitioning. This was followed by His betrayer handing Him over to the authorities and Peter’s denial that He knew Jesus.
Jesus was just a man like us and it hurt so much. We form a good idea of His torment in Psalm 22 http://bibbytes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/cries-from-heart.html. I have also written three messages on this: http://bibbytes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/let-him-touch-your-heart.html, http://bibbytes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/o-agony.html and http://bibbytes.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/o-agony-part-two.html, which may be appropriate for this time.
Jesus did and still does so much for us. As we remember His crucifixion tomorrow, won’t we make a commitment to make the price, which He paid for us, worth the while to Him by showing our love through obedience? If you are not born again, take note that this is what this Passover is all about – Jesus giving His live so you can get new life in Him.
Jesus, I invite you in to make me a new creation. Please show me the way.
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