Day of Confusion

We have the great ability to look back and see the whole picture but for the followers of Jesus , they only had that day in between . That day that had to have shaken them to their very core of who they are or who they thought they were going to be . Just think a week before , surrounded by a throng shouting and proclaiming he coming Jesus as the coming King. I can imagine the disciples caught up in the jubilation. Thinking , this is it we are about to see the true power of Jesus unleashed. The Romans rule will be destroyed and the glory days of old will be upon us. No doubt they still have ideas of ruling with Jesus .

Even when Jesus told them what would occur and had to to fulfill the reason He had come , they would put up blinders. They could not fathom or grasp a dying and publicly executed Messiah. In fairness  , why would they even if they heard over and over Jesus make it clear the Messiah had to die but would rise again. This was the man that healed disease,fed over 5000 , calmed the storms,walked on water , raised the dead . Why would they think that mortal man could harm him. They were mere men , and like us we only sometimes want to hear what we want to hear.

But now here they were . Huddled together in hiding . A broken , scared group who didn't have a clue what would happen. They had left everything to follow this Jesus . The questions running in their minds had to turn to , are we next? Will they be after us ? They had seen a inner member betray Jesus, they had all desert him in fear , one denied and then Jesus , their Messiah was beaten,stripped and crucified as a common criminal.  

Truly it was a full day of confusion , terror and fear. Plus add in the extreme grief they were feeling for losing their friend and master. This I imagine was the scene all day long . The anxiety would have been perhaps unbearable.

But then Sunday was coming , and we know what happened to this little group of men.

Verse Of The Day  :   [38] After these things Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus, but secretly for fear of the Jews, asked Pilate that he might take away the body of Jesus, and Pilate gave him permission. So he came and took away his body. [39] Nicodemus also, who earlier had come to Jesus by night, came bringing a mixture of myrrh and aloes, about seventy-five pounds in weight. [40] So they took the body of Jesus and bound it in linen cloths with the spices, as is the burial custom of the Jews. [41] Now in the place where he was crucified there was a garden, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been laid. [42] So because of the Jewish day of Preparation, since the tomb was close at hand, they laid Jesus there.

(John 19:38-42 ESV)

Good Friday , Some Clarity Please

The betrayal, the desertion of  friends,the whippings,the beatings,the mockery,the sentence of death,the staggering weight of the cross,the crown of thorns,the pain of being pulled to fit the cross , the nails cutting through tendon and bone and raised up for all to see , stripped of any dignity to die a very public shameful death. That was Jesus day , the day we call Good Friday.  Then to drink the bitter cup of the Father's wrath for our sin , our evil,our rebellion .

Jesus hung paying a debt , to fulfill justice , to satisfy God's righteous holy judgement against sin so that we , all who repent and trust in Jesus , can be made right with God.

This is the place to start if we are going to awaken the person who sits there on a good Friday service , who has come to quiet a spouse , a friend , a mom , a dad or whoever has invited them to a Easter service. To speak of God's love first and quote John 3:16 does so a disservice to the unrepentant , who is still dead in their sins . Their foul ,sin stenched carcass still breathing because of God's common grace , are still under the delusion they are alright. They don't need this Jesus , nor His cross. But at the cross all the foolish illusions of our own goodness melt into a lying heap of dung. We are the ones who cried , kill , crucify this Jesus . Abuse Him,mock Him  and despise Him. But what dies Christ say , come and see . Repent and trust in what I did for you. Hear my voice calling to my sheep .The sheep will hear and come running .

So my prayer for Pastors ,that they will start with God's wrath and hatred against sinner. Linger there and make the case of why Jesus had  to go to the cross in order for men and women to be saved. Then and only then ,I believe will we see God's grace,His love and mercy shine even brighter than before.



Verse Of  The Day  :    [9] Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

(Romans 5:9 ESV)

Communion Till He Comes

The night before good Friday , our Lord instituted the Lord's table. The bread , the wine and we will do this till Jesus returns .

Verse Of The Day  :  [23] For I received from the Lord what I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus on the night when he was betrayed took bread, [24] and when he had given thanks, he broke it, and said, “This is my body which is for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [25] In the same way also he took the cup, after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.” [26] For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord's death until he comes.

(1 Corinthians 11:23-26 ESV)

Looking To The Cross

I do not know when I am more perfectly happy than when I am weeping for sin at the foot of the cross.
Charles Haddon Spurgeon 


Verse Of The Day :  [18] For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(1 Corinthians 1:18 ESV)

These Words Stagger Me

[20] I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
(Galatians 2:20 ESV)

As we approach good Friday, and as we focus on the events that led up to the crucifixion of Jesus  lets not over generalize what was done . Let the words of scripture penetrate your heart and let the love of God in Christ overwhelm you that Jesus loved His sheep and gave himself not for a general "person" .He knows who He died for specifically. It was for you and me . The great Shepherd knows His sheep and the sheep love and hear the master say , I died for you . We heed His call to come,repent and believe. Amazing is it not.

Ministry of Silly Walks - Sounds like Real Government

In my home country we will going to the polls May 2nd. I will be voting Conservative. Not because I'm enamored with the national leader Stephen Harper ( although I don't think he is the evil leader the wing nuts in the NDP  or Liberal party paint him out to be) . But because they will hopefully, if given a majority, eliminate wasted money on programs like multiculturalism, official bilingualism and numerous other stupid government funded programs.Plus they stand closer to my views on abortion then the other two. My fear of the Liberals or NDP ever form a government , if enough minorities holler we could have a ministry of silly walks . Sound silly , not really when you think what they have wasted money on.Nuff said.

I Want This as My Hearts Cry

The Getty's music is fast becoming my favorite new hymns. Plus perhaps its my Irish/Scottish roots , but each time Kristyn recites scripture or this poem , it sounds so lyrical and beautiful. But maybe I'm biased , hey I love Bagpipes as well. Enjoy.