Wednesday, October 13, 2010
October 14 ... Matthew 27 - 28 "Take The Risk for I'll Be With You"
Matthew 27:3 - Judas repented but then he killed himself. I just don't think of Judas as being repentant but the burden of betraying the Christ is so large. What about my own betrayals? As we close the gospel of Matthew, the last chapters pierce our hearts. Oh my...what Jesus had to endure for us. Rioting, flogging, mockery, betrayal, rejection and then...crucifixion. Overwhelming. 27:46 - My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me? The Temple curtain ripped in two. An Earthquake. What was it like for the three Mary's to watch from a distance, holding their own stories in their heart. Then, the dawn of the new week...another rumble...and an angel appears to the two Mary's. How sweet that God would choose these two worthy women to speak through an angel these words: He is not here. He is risen from the dead. He's gone ahead of you. Go on to Galilee to meet Him there. That's the message. Could they contain those words. Then, they are stopped dead in their tracks by the One and Only, their Beloved. The two worthy women couldn't stop worshipping Him...but the disciples upon seeing their Risen Savior for the first time---they held back not wanting to risk what??? May we risk it all for Him this hour, this day, this life (28:18 - 20): "Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them...oh, and as you do this, day after day, I'll be with you right up to the end of the age."
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Bev, I love the way you can summarize and still convey the detail necessary to reveal your heart so beautifully. In contrast, I, verbose soul that I am, need more words and they still fall so short of the emotion and wonder in my heart for these verses. Here we go:
ReplyDelete“From now on, it's in your hands. You're judge and jury." Pilate wouldn’t stand up for Christ. The crowd answered, "We'll take the blame, we and our children after us." Each one of us must take the blame. We are the reason Christ had to die.
“Along the way they came on a man from Cyrene named Simon and made him carry Jesus' cross.” What cross do I carry for Christ this day? Did Simon know the privilege of the burden? Do I?
"My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" He became sin who knew no sin, and for the first time, felt the separation from the Father. God in His holiness had to look away. Jesus in his humanity, bore our sins. His pain in this hours, greater than any of His physical pain, causes Him to finally cry out.
“But Jesus, again crying out loudly, breathed his last.” As many times as I have read this and know it’s coming, my heart sinks in grief as a deep shiver runs through my body.
There were also quite a few women watching from a distance, women who had followed Jesus from Galilee in order to serve him. Among them were Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James and Joseph, and the mother of the Zebedee brothers.” I can’t imagine being Jesus’ mother, watching my son, the One I knew from the beginning was God’s Son, be so abused and murdered. Mary, a witness of His holy birth, and then, a witness to His horrific death.
“Now, get on your way quickly and tell his disciples, 'He is risen from the dead. He is going on ahead of you to Galilee. You will see him there.' That's the message." The women, deep in wonder and full of joy, lost no time in leaving the tomb. They ran to tell the disciples. Then Jesus met them, stopping them in their tracks. "Good morning!" he said.” Good morning, indeed!
“Some, though, held back, not sure about worship, about risking themselves totally.” In all of Matthew, what lingers for me is this: it is criminal not to take a risk. Why do I hold back? Am I able to take the full risk, to jump in fully and swim in the River of Life He has prepared for me?
Our commission: “Go out and train everyone you meet, far and near, in this way of life, marking them by baptism in the threefold name: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Then instruct them in the practice of all I have commanded you. I'll be with you as you do this, day after day after day, right up to the end of the age."Wondering why we don’t take the rest of this charge more seriously. Every Sunday, my church does the altar call, taking out “fire insurance” as some people say, but our calling is to make disciples, instructing them in the Way. How can we take it to the next level?
Bev, both you and Annette summarized your feelings so well. I am still reeling from the impact of today's message. I have no words, I will ponder all of these things in my heart this day.
ReplyDeleteSweet Annette you are far less wordy than me...I admire Bev's ability too...as for why we don't take it farther after people walk forward and make thier profession of faith is haunting me and my husband..I believe part of the church is waking up and taking the discipling part seriously. It truly doesn't matter how many get saved as it is whether or not we help them grow. As a whole the church has not truly discipled people who have chosen to follow Him. We need to wake up and get moving...that is why the Chronological Bible Study that I have been doing is such a great tool to use to disciple women. We as a church body are going to go thru the Bible chronologically this next year and SS lessons are being written to go along with the sermons, so that we can all be on the same page. Bible literacy is truly what it is all about. See, told you I couldn't use just a few words..ha, ha..seriously just had to share this..this is what I was telling you about Annette. Great movement is afoot..get in on it..you all would make great disciplers and counselors of other women. Love all of you...Mary Lou
ReplyDelete"The crowd answered, 'We'll take the blame, we and our children after us.'" Matthew 27:25
ReplyDeleteThe people spoke correctly in this verse. We are to blame, our sin, that God gave His only son, Jesus.
Music and singing has been a very big part of my life from an early age. I often recall songs and break out into singing as I am reading God's word. Again today, the Lord brought to mind, "And I'm the one to blame, I caused all His pain. He gave himself, the day He wore my crown."
I am once again overwhelmed with God's personal love for me!
--michele
The Day He Wore My Crown
The city was Jerusalem
The time was long ago
The people called him Jesus
The crime was the love He showed
And I'm the one to blame
I caused all the pain
He gave Himself, the day He wore my crown
He brought me love that only He could give
I brought Him cause to cry
And though He taught me how to live
I taught Him how to die
And I'm the one to blame
I caused all the pain
He gave Himself, the day He wore my crown
He could have called His holy Father, and said,
"Take me away, please, take me away."
He could have said, "I'm not guilty.
And I'm not going to stay
I'm not going to pay."
But He walked right through the gate
And then on up the hill
And as He fell beneath the weight
He cried, "Father, not My will."
And I'm the one to blame
I caused all His pain
He gave Himself, the day He wore my crown.
And I'm the one to blame
I caused all His pain
He gave Himself, the day He wore my crown.
Watch for this...Immanuel, "God with us."
ReplyDeleteGo...train...instruct...I'll be with you. Day after day. Right up to the end.
The promise of His Presence sustains me. He is ALWAYS with me.
ALWAYS!
There is nothing that I do in my church that gives me greater joy than discipling young women! They don't want someone with all the answers. They want someone to care. Pray for/with them. Love them. Walk with them through the scriptures.
I was in Panera recently and struck up a conversation with a young woman who was reading her Bible. The next thing I knew we were sharing about Bible studies we've done and books we've read. Her parting words were: "We younger women want discipleship. We appreciate it when you invest in our our lives."
I'm so grateful for the women who came along beside me.
Mary Lou is right. All of you have so much to give.
I couldn't wait to get to the New Testament. Then Jesus began getting to the HEART of what it means to be a christian..."But I say to you..."
"...but the real battle is going on in me, between my flesh and my spirit. I want to win that battle." pg.210 66LL
FG
Thank you Annette. Your words are always weighty to me.
ReplyDeleteAppreciate your prayers. I had a seizure and it really scared me this time. To think I could lose my ability to think unnerved me.
You know how much we love you, Bev. Breaks my heart to hear about this. I posted in the next post that I am praying for you. So much stuff going on right now.
ReplyDelete"After they had finished nailing him to the cross and were waiting for him to die, they whiled away the time by throwing dice for his clothes."
ReplyDeleteWhat can I say?
I hurt to my core when I read that. Just a few chapters before the woman with the issue of blood had reached out to touch the hem of his garment...by faith...believing she would be healed.
And now they are slicing and dicing him.
And I know I have to understand that I'm no better than they were. I have failed him, too.
Today's reading hurts. How in the world did God stand it?
And Mary, his mother.
I read one time that if the virgin birth and the message that her son was the Messiah had not been true...this is where Mary would have boldly come forward and claimed Christ as Joseph's son and not the son of God. She would have done anything to spare him this horrible death.
But Mary knew He was who He said He was.
And she remained silent. Her heart pierced through and through.